Preparation for a career

T

TylerPilot007

New Member
I would appreciate some advice concerning my preparation for a career as a pilot (airline, corporate, freight, etc.) I will graduate from the Air Force Academy in May of this year and I owe 5 years to the Air Force after. The Air Force skunked me by not giving me a pilot slot, so I have made other plans. My goal is to become competitive for a professional pilot job after my 5 years are up. I am a Private pilot about halfway through my Instrument rating. I plan on using my GI Bill to help pay for my Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Commercial. Also, I plan on using Tuition Assistance for my Masters degree in Aeronautical Science; Safety Systems from Embry-Riddle's Worldwide campus. Aside from all these plans, what else can I do to open more doors to a flying career in 5 years? Thanks in advance!
 
While a Master's would be nice to have, I wouldn't worry about that for helping you get a flying job. If you want it for other professional aspirations or as part of a "back up plan", more power to ya.

Make being a warfighter in whatever field the Air Force puts you in your first priority. That's what they expect from you. That's why they paid for your school.

I have several friends who did not get selected to be pilots right out of the Naval Academy but were able to transfer to aviation after their initial tours. Maybe you can do that in the Air Force too.

Obviously building time and getting your ratings is where is starts. I got my flying time in the Navy so I don't have much experience doing on your own time and your own dime. I'm sure plenty others here do.

Good luck.
 
TylerPilot007 said:
I would appreciate some advice concerning my preparation for a career as a pilot (airline, corporate, freight, etc.) I will graduate from the Air Force Academy in May of this year and I owe 5 years to the Air Force after. The Air Force skunked me by not giving me a pilot slot, so I have made other plans. My goal is to become competitive for a professional pilot job after my 5 years are up. I am a Private pilot about halfway through my Instrument rating. I plan on using my GI Bill to help pay for my Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Commercial. Also, I plan on using Tuition Assistance for my Masters degree in Aeronautical Science; Safety Systems from Embry-Riddle's Worldwide campus. Aside from all these plans, what else can I do to open more doors to a flying career in 5 years? Thanks in advance!
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If you don't care where your assignment is, try to get an assignment where there is an Aero Club on base and get your CFI. Do as much flying as you can on your days off. That's what I would do. I did my primary training with the GI Bill and it saved me a ton of money. If I had not called my girlfriend every night for 3+ years I would've finished earlier and probably gotten my CFI and taught before I separated. The rest of your plan sounds great.
 
TylerPilot007 said:
I would appreciate some advice concerning my preparation for a career as a pilot (airline, corporate, freight, etc.) I will graduate from the Air Force Academy in May of this year and I owe 5 years to the Air Force after. The Air Force skunked me by not giving me a pilot slot, so I have made other plans. My goal is to become competitive for a professional pilot job after my 5 years are up. I am a Private pilot about halfway through my Instrument rating. I plan on using my GI Bill to help pay for my Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Commercial. Also, I plan on using Tuition Assistance for my Masters degree in Aeronautical Science; Safety Systems from Embry-Riddle's Worldwide campus. Aside from all these plans, what else can I do to open more doors to a flying career in 5 years? Thanks in advance!
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I would do whatever it takes to get a pilot slot and stay in the military, I'm sure you have a better chance of getting a pilot slot down the road with the guard or whatever is available. There are tons of pepole that are alredy flying at the airlines that are trying to go into the military because of the benefits and job security. I would make plans about staying the military instead of thinking about what to do when you get out.
 
falconvalley said:
If you don't care where your assignment is, try to get an assignment where there is an Aero Club on base and get your CFI. Do as much flying as you can on your days off. That's what I would do. I did my primary training with the GI Bill and it saved me a ton of money. If I had not called my girlfriend every night for 3+ years I would've finished earlier and probably gotten my CFI and taught before I separated. The rest of your plan sounds great.
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My dad lives down the street from Patrick Air Force Base near Melbourne FL. It seems like besides the C-130s based there and various planes on X-country flights the aero club is about the only thing using the runway most days.
 
Perhaps I am holding the USAFA in too high an esteem, but I've always considered military academy grads a cut above typical college graduates. To me, it seems almost a waste to put that education to work patrolling the friendly skies in a flying bus. You may not be able to fly for the Air Force, but your status as an Air Force Academy grad marks you as an extraordinary individual, even amongst fellow Air Force officers. Why do something ordinary?
 
greaper007 said:
My dad lives down the street from Patrick Air Force Base near Melbourne FL. It seems like besides the C-130s based there and various planes on X-country flights the aero club is about the only thing using the runway most days.
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I live in the pattern there.

I'd agree, lots of bounces from visitors. Unless there is a launch the 130s are usually soaking up rays.
 
skydog2 said:
Perhaps I am holding the USAFA in too high an esteem, but I've always considered military academy grads a cut above typical college graduates. To me, it seems almost a waste to put that education to work patrolling the friendly skies in a flying bus. You may not be able to fly for the Air Force, but your status as an Air Force Academy grad marks you as an extraordinary individual, even amongst fellow Air Force officers. Why do something ordinary?
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No offense at all Skydog (seriously), but as someone who has heard this COUNTLESS times as an Ivy League graduate, I can't stand it. Every profession, from waste management to medicine, needs good people, regardless of what school they attended. If we codify who should and shouldn't enter any given industry, we would see no new methods, procedures, and overall improvement in how we do business.

From the sound of your work history, you of all people should know that you can virtually write your own ticket - even at a regional airline - if you have the motivation and work ethic. I am NO shining star by any means, but my educational background has influenced several revisions to our manuals, profiles, and training. I have also made inroads at a business jet manufacturer's technical flight ops division, and might eventually work in that field.

I agree that the OP should definitely think long and hard whether or not this is the industry for him, but if he does, more power to him. There are plenty of opportunities in aviation, and 121 is a great starting point.


Again, this isn't a dig towards you at all. Just some thoughts from personal experience. I also want to add that there are more than a fair share of idiots that attend prestigious schools, and I very well may be one of them!
 
TylerPilot007 said:
I would appreciate some advice concerning my preparation for a career as a pilot (airline, corporate, freight, etc.) I will graduate from the Air Force Academy in May of this year and I owe 5 years to the Air Force after. The Air Force skunked me by not giving me a pilot slot, so I have made other plans. My goal is to become competitive for a professional pilot job after my 5 years are up. I am a Private pilot about halfway through my Instrument rating. I plan on using my GI Bill to help pay for my Instrument, Multi-Engine, and Commercial. Also, I plan on using Tuition Assistance for my Masters degree in Aeronautical Science; Safety Systems from Embry-Riddle's Worldwide campus. Aside from all these plans, what else can I do to open more doors to a flying career in 5 years? Thanks in advance!
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Just a quick question here, since this is up my alley. But how did the AF skunk you for a pilot slot? In the Academy, if YOU are qualified, you generally get a slot. In fact, if you're qualified and you DON'T want a pilot slot, you have to justify why you don't want one.

What's the "rest of the story", as the late Paul Harvey would say?
 
To answer MikeD, I am qualified, medically & otherwise, to be a AF Pilot and indeed this is what I want to do, if possible. I am currently on a waiting list that will run down until May as cadets that have a pilot slot are rejected medically. (We pick our jobs first, then get medical clearance, as necessary)
I originally enlisted in the Air Force in '03 and would not consider myself a scholar by any stretch of the imagination. Although I can hold my own, this affected my class ranking and brought it down considerably. Many factors go into your class ranking and pilot selection, none of which is actual aviation experience.
To make a long story "longer", the Academy does not base career selection on traditional quantifiers, so my focus on building flight time and working on my Instrument Rating had no effect on the outcome.
The reason why I started this thread was to find out how to most effectively put "Plan B" into action. I hope this clears the water.

BTW: The Academy no longer requires that a cadet justify why they don't want a pilot slot if they turn it down. From what I've heard, this practice stopped in the 90's.
 
TylerPilot007 said:
To answer MikeD, I am qualified, medically & otherwise, to be a AF Pilot and indeed this is what I want to do, if possible. I am currently on a waiting list that will run down until May as cadets that have a pilot slot are rejected medically. (We pick our jobs first, then get medical clearance, as necessary)
I originally enlisted in the Air Force in '03 and would not consider myself a scholar by any stretch of the imagination. Although I can hold my own, this affected my class ranking and brought it down considerably. Many factors go into your class ranking and pilot selection, none of which is actual aviation experience.
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Agree with all. But have you truly been denied a slot yet, or are you just thinking you won't get one? Don't throw in the towel too early.

To make a long story "longer", the Academy does not base career selection on traditional quantifiers, so my focus on building flight time and working on my Instrument Rating had no effect on the outcome.
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Also true. Agree.

The reason why I started this thread was to find out how to most effectively put "Plan B" into action. I hope this clears the water.
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Thats fair.

BTW: The Academy no longer requires that a cadet justify why they don't want a pilot slot if they turn it down. From what I've heard, this practice stopped in the 90's.
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That's the info I have from Academy guys who are in UPT now, that they're still requiring a "why" you don't want one if you are otherwise qualed. I'm a lowly OTS guy, so I can only go by what I've heard.
 
I wouldn't shy away from UAV's if that becomes an option and a pilot slot doesn't happen. It would be the next best thing to flying and it seems like it would be a money maker when you get out of the AF. Also, like somebody else said, get your CFI and instruct and build time on the side as much as you can.
 
Tyler, your enlistment in 2003 - care to expound on that? How did your enlistment into the Air Force reduce your placement in class? Sorry, ignorant enlisted Airman here. . .

Just surprised to see that the Academy doesn't value prior service experience.

When did you get to the Academy?
 
Surreal1221-
Let me clarify...I enlisted in May of 2003 and entered the Air Force Academy Prep School in 2005. My prior enlistment had nothing to do with class standing...I was just pointing out that I wasn't a direct entry into the Academy from high school and that I didn't have the academic aptitude to get in the "normal" way. I was a 2A332 F-16 Avionics Specialist stationed at Cannon AFB, NM. Blue Skies!
 
Excellent, appreciate it. My old man's last assignment was there in good ol Clovis NM. Fond memories.

Anyway - had no idea about prior enlisted going through the prep school to get to the academy. Learn something new everyday.
 
Some of my best memories were from instructing at Wright Patt AFB Aeroclub. I didn't get to do it for very long, but it was a blast. Nothing like like preflighting the warrior while 141's are doing touch and go's.
 
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