The future of pilot jobs

[germb747]

As I understand, the US economy is falling down, the aviation industry is not good either, so would anyone reccomend a pilot career?
I am only 14 right now, so I can't start getting my PPL in the next couple of years, but since I remember myself I always wanted to be a pilot.
ps: sorry for my bad english, i moved to US only a year ago

I started flying at 14-15, once every couple of weeks or so until I could solo. Unfortunately, this is a MUCH more expensive venture than it was then. I feel like I was able to keep my priorities in order by flying enough to keep it enjoyable, while not really worrying about what was going on in the industry until I had a college degree in hand. At that point (2002-2003), there weren't many jobs to be had then. Since then, there's been a full swing in the market place and we're returning to what we saw in that timeframe. There will be a swingback in the other direction, perhaps two or three by the time you're ready to fly professionally. Keep an eye on what's going on, but don't worry about the things you can't control and just enjoy being a kid for now. Trying to time this job market is rather pointless, so work on getting your ducks in a row and making yourself into the type of individual a company (aviation or otherwise) would want to hire. (i.e. do the best you can in whatever it is you do--school, sports, jobs, outside activities, etc.). If you want to fly, then do so for the love of flying. You said you just came to the U.S.--not sure where you came from, but as a society, Americans place a lot of value in individual achievement, more so than many other parts of the world.

 

[BPF]

ok lets flip the thread...it's about pilot jobs, what about other jobs in the industry?

121 cargo
corporate
charter
instructing
135 ops
etc.

The pilot I was referring to in my previous thread was a pilot for a fractional operation

 

[BPF]

And I am an instructor, and I pointed out that business is much slower than it had been a few years ago. The school I went to/teach at has gone down in overall hours flown every year since 2002. The slowing economy effects just about everyone.

Now I don't know for sure how it is in other sectors of the industry, but yes it is probably better in some areas, worse in others. Only those who are there can say.

 

[pipepatrol]

The discussion of oil is really interesting... a bit off topic, but very interesting nonetheless.
I wouldn't profess to say that airline execs are our countries brightest business leaders but...
If those at the top thought oil would long term come down to a more 'reasonable' level (whatever that may be) I somehow doubt they'd be placing a 1200> fuse backlog on the 787.

This is just my opinion, as I know little about oil other than its costing me more at the pumps.

Oh and in keeping with the thread I haven't heard the age 65 and its potential impact mentioned. Anecdotally its keeping me from a widebody.

I heard an interesting perspective the other day about oil. The price of oil isnt likely to drastically decrease in the next 5-10 years. But if we dont do anything about global warming the arctic ice will melt and open up more oil reserves. These reserves are estimated to be at least as much as the accessible reserves today.

You may think this is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. But if you think about it, by the time we've used up this arctic oil our grandchildren will have better technology for alternative fuel sources. So if we can just ride out the next 5-10 years and keep contributing to global warming, everything will be alright.

 

[esa17]

The last five years will not be the same as the next five years.

They never are.

 

[frequentflya]

So it's about 8 years until you finish college. You're asking people to forecast 8 years into the future of an incredibly volatile industry. Nobody can answer that question for you.

You can learn plenty about expected pay, observe industry trends, read up on the history of the industry, and read perspectives of those who have lived the pilot life. Just browse this website further.

Bingo, If you are letting other people make your decision, it's probably not the right one.

 

[PGT]

well the guard always flies

 

[aifiji]

Hi everyone! I just joined here and find the posts to be very informative. I am just about to wrap up my Instrument rating in the next couple of weeks, and it's great to see a place to have insightful discussions with experienced pilots!!
In this discussion, my two cents are that there absolutely is no right or wrong answer, as everyone seems to have valid arguments. I am a person seeking a career switch into aviation. As a person who has an Industrial Engineering degree, experience as a product development engineer, and the past 5 years in sales, the outside world can be just as rough as the lows some of the disgruntled pilots speak of. While there are not furloughs, there are lay offs, and I did have the unfortunate experience of getting caught up in one (British company, said I was being "made redundant"). Corporations outside of aviation will toss you out on your ear with no regards for your well being just as quick as the airlines. And if you think the Airlines don't appreciate you, try making 120% of your sales quota like I did last year, and then get a S### review only pointing out your flaws, and threatening your job if new goals aren't met. Pretty darn frustrating. All goes to show that no matter who you work for, the job you do is never good enough for the Suits.
Now maybe this is my wide eyed "I love flying" attitude (which I am fully expecting to catch heck for on this board), but a job is what you make of it, and if you truly love flying and make the most of it, I would like to think your career could turn out to be okay. I have been in the position of dreading Monday mornings, as I know the week is going to be the same dull, predictable routine. I don't know any pilots that can say with any degree of certainty what their week will hold, and to me that's a wonderful thing to a point. I am sure the long trips away can be stressful, especially if you have a family, but my wife told me she thinks the worst thing would be regretting not doing this at age 60, so I am going for it.
Again, very happy to be here, and look forward to future discussions!!!

 

[Chris_Ford]

To reiterate: the point isn't that you can get furloughed... It's that if (WHEN) you get furloughed, you start out at $20,000 a year again. Even if you were a 747 captain... it's back to square one.

 

[Boris Badenov]

what about other jobs in the industry?

135 on demand stuff is pretty thin, from what I can see. What bank runs remain are still going strong, since the Fed can always just print more funnymoney to keep us paid.

 

[Flyin_bryan]

I heard an interesting perspective the other day about oil. The price of oil isnt likely to drastically decrease in the next 5-10 years. But if we dont do anything about global warming the arctic ice will melt and open up more oil reserves. These reserves are estimated to be at least as much as the accessible reserves today.

You may think this is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. But if you think about it, by the time we've used up this arctic oil our grandchildren will have better technology for alternative fuel sources. So if we can just ride out the next 5-10 years and keep contributing to global warming, everything will be alright.

if the polar caps melt.... there will be bigger problems than not having any oil.

-More extreme weather
-Drought
-Floods
-agriculture messed up
-change in water currents
-collapse of ocean systems and their fisheries
-migration changes
-infect infestations
-spread of disease from tropics
-rising sea levels casuing large-scale migrations of people
-security implications

 

[Bama]

Yikes! who the hell wants dat?

 

[mwflyer]

i love the way everybody complains about this job so much, but nobody is turning in their resignations. if its so easy to find another job that pays so much more than the airlines, with so much more security, why are you still flying?

 

[jtrain609]

i love the way everybody complains about this job so much, but nobody is turning in their resignations. if its so easy to find another job that pays so much more than the airlines, with so much more security, why are you still flying?

There are folks leaving every day, you just don't hear about them on here when they leave the industry.

Or in other words, most people don't post a huge, "I'm taking my ball and going to graduate school" posts on forums just so newbies can keep track of who's coming and who's going.

 

[badboy8787]

I have been working for the a city agency ( non law enforcement) going on 10 years now and I just want to point out that the only good thing about this job is stability. Thats it!. Otherwise, same ole boring dull routine for the next 28 years of my life until I can finally collect that if you even want to call it a pension. Stabilty and safe dosent always mean happiness and satisfaction. It means the chances of gettting fired is less likely to happen. But I also work with a bunch of lazy two faced people that will always complain about every little thing and talk S#$% behind your back and bosses that pretend to be your friend. People that will constantly back stab other people to go higher. Every job has its ups and downs. Thats corporate America for you. There is no "perfect job" out there. Remember that the more money you make at a company, the more jealous people will get. Like it was said on the previous post, the perfect job depends on the individual's belief. If you can make a living flying, riding motorcycles or even collecting rocks, than indeed that would be the perfect job, why? because the love is there. I would rather get paid less doing what I love than get compensated more, and work at a place where I am miserable day in and day out. This summer, I will be finish up my multiengine training where I left off 3 years ago. Depite all the crises thats going on right now, I am willing to take that chance. Whether or not its an RJ or GA, at least I know that I am doing something that I love. I am 36 right now and WAS married. So I guess this will be a little easier since I am now single again. haha. I fully understand that if I do get married again and have a family, things can go either smoothly or rough. After all, it all depends on the "wife" aka the Boss. But if the ship shall ever sink, at least I can say to myself "I've tried". And, when I do get to the age when I qualify for AARP, I would not kick myself in the butt because I didnt go for it.

 

[jtrain609]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I can't stress this enough.

Flying is a very small part of this job.

Keep that in mind, please.

 

[Sprint100]

I've said it before, I'll say it again, and I can't stress this enough.

Flying is a very small part of this job.

Keep that in mind, please.

With that in mind I have a question. Is it a job where you can just get your days/routes and fly them dealing with the occasional bad customer or does management give you admin type stuff to do? Just curious because alot of us not in the profession may not have a clear picture of what the job really entails.

 

[jtrain609]

Honestly? I think I've built time slower than any other person in the history of aviation.

In the last 10 months at my company, I've flown 400 hours. During an average week I'll spend 5 days a week in Newark, and 2 days a week at home. I'll sit at the crashpad for maybe 3 of those 5 days, and fly under 10 hours in a given week.

Why do you think I post on here so much...

 

[stuckingfk]

Honestly? I think I've built time slower than any other person in the history of aviation.

In the last 10 months at my company, I've flown 400 hours. During an average week I'll spend 5 days a week in Newark, and 2 days a week at home. I'll sit at the crashpad for maybe 3 of those 5 days, and fly under 10 hours in a given week.

Why do you think I post on here so much...

I have you beat train! Well predicted anyway...lol

0 hours in 42 days.

1 hour in 49 days.

I'm hoping only for 237 total this year!!!!

p.s. Megan Fox from Transformers is extremely hot!!!

 

[Ian_J]

Honestly? I think I've built time slower than any other person in the history of aviation.

In the Army I flew 700 hours in 5 years. Beat that.

By comparison, at Airnet I flew 700 hours in 7 months.