Like many of us here, I've dreamt and thought of a career in aviation. More specifically, flying. I've had my PPL for a few years now and I may or may not proceed further. One of the things that gives me pause is what seems to be the state of the profession.
I own a business, and until 2 1/2 years ago I flew commercially as a passenger 6-8 times per month. Unlike a lot of business travelers, I actually enjoyed flying. Whenever I would schedule a flight, I would always choose a window seat. I had to sit by the window so I could stare out and take in all the wonder that flying would bring. Childishly, I'm still bothered to this day when people close the blind on their window. My family and I still travel commercially about a half dozen times a year, but for business travel(I typically travel a four state area) I fly a DA40. There's a couple of reasons for this. First, DUH...why wouldn't I fly myself. Secondly, and more important, I'm nervous about the low times many of these PICs and SICs have. Some of them don't even look like they're old enought to have a driver's license!! It's really not about their age. It's mostly about their inexperience and the route many of them took to become a pilot.
Many of these F/O have less than a thousand hours total time. Of those, many have 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 hundred hours. Alot of office personnel that I hire can't even be taught to be proficient at cash application or AR/AP in 4 or 5 hundred hours! How can one reasonably expect to be competent and proficient at flying a sophisticated jet in that amount of time? They can't. Not to what I would deem competent and proficient. In today's society, so many people have the "I WANT IT NOW" mentality. I won't get into where that comes from here. That would take too long. Here's where all of this is heading. We've all heard or overheard people saying "There are no shortcuts in life." That is simply not true. There are shortcuts available to us all. And every single one of them comes at a price. For many beginning pilots these days, a shortcut is available. It's called an overpriced flight school. Who will pay the price? Maybe just the pilot. Maybe the pilot's mommy and daddy. Maybe the pilot's spouse and children. Or the worst case scenario. Maybe the pilot, his flight crew, and 50 or 70 or 90 passengers on his flight. There is no doubt in my mind that the day(s) for the last scenario is/are coming. That's why I fly myself as much as possible these days. When my family and I fly commercially, we fly on a major. Not a regional. I want to know that the people in the cockpit are competent and professional and experienced.
In the end, what's my advice to anyone looking to become a professional pilot? EARN IT. Treat your profession professionally. Just finishing college? Get a decent job and gain experience and time flying at your local FBO from trained PROFESSIONALS. Career changer? Don't quit your day job until you've earned an appropriate amount of experience and time flying at your local FBO. Spoiled brat whose mommy and daddy will pay for anything you want???? That's a topic for a different forum on another day. In the end I just want people to think about the price they, and potentially, many others will pay for their shortcuts. It's not worth it. Aviation is a profession. Treat it accordingly, and the carriers will have no choice but to improve the pay and quality of life for their PROFESSIONALS.
Just some of my thoughts and opinions. These are not statements of fact. And if you disagree with anything I've said, well, you're wrong...
