I disagree with this sentiment. If you are going to commit to something in life, commit 100%. You'll hear the above a lot, but it just doesn't make sense. While you don't need a degree in aviation to be succsessful, you can gain a lot from it. Not just theory, but contacts with people who are in aviation as well.
Typhoonpilot
Mini was not particularly hostile towards you TP, he's just been around the bush a few times and uses the same logic I (and many others) do when it comes to quick ways of making things happen in Aviation. In the end it is not about what school you went to, how much time and money it took you to get your multi time or who's ass you kissed to get ahead. It's about
your patience,
your journey,
your integrity and
your ability and willingness to take this industry for what it is. Knowing people and doing what Bill said helps a lot. I got my current job while being active with the FAA Safety Team. Actually most of my better jobs came from networking, volunteering and doing something for other people.
Commit 100% of your life to your private life, friends, fun and family. You can still be successful in Aviation and it will take serious commitment to be successful in
any career. Yet, I work to live, not vice versa and airplanes make very bad friends. They kinda sit there, always looking the same, always doing the same. You pull, they fly. You push, and stuff falls off. Always make sure the front doesn't fall off!
DO NOT commit 100% to a career. The road to hell is full of parked guys and gals who had nothing to fall back on, once they had heartbeat irregularities, or any other medical denial disease or trouble with accident or job costing incident. If all you have is Aviation you'll be suffering for it. I know plenty of guys with huge degrees in Aviation Management, Dispatchers, Pilots and A&P's. If your initial desire is to be a pilot, you may enjoy dispatching only until you realize that you're
not doing what you really wanted to do. It sucks to sit in a office and watch other people fly. Be able (it takes some 10-20 years to attain this ability) to get grounded for good and never whine about it. It took me years to figure this out, and it took me a looong time to get tired enough of this industry and how it is represented by it's people, to realize that the big day will come.
2 Options:
One of these days, you'll walk out on the ramp, and realize that today is your very last flight. Don't be sad about it.
One of these days, you'll walk out on the ramp, and don't realize that today is your very last flight. Don't be sad about it.
To the OP:
The fastest way (instant or short term gratification) will yield a lot of trouble. You may be better off sticking your head into this game for a while to find out if you really want what else comes with it. I know a good amount of pilots who kicked their airline careers after realizing that there is always someone a little cheaper, quicker or better available for you to remain a number on a seniority list. Think of the monkey tree:
The higher up you are in the tree, the better the view, there is a clear path ahead, all you have to do is hold tight and keep climbing.
Whenever you look down, you see smiling faces, sweating and they are staring right at you, full of excitement and motivation.
When you are low on the tree, all you usually see is a bunch of a-holes climbing.
Take your time, take a good look around, buckle up and get ready for a rough ride. Smooth air is ahead, you just gotta make it through this heavy turbulence without loosing your wings. Listen to the people you would call old farts if you saw them. Keep your dreams and hopes up, but go into this with an open mind and WIDE open eyes. In fact the wider you can open them, the better for you. Nothing is free, and only few people have had easy luck. Nothing is a cool as it seems at first (ask Doug if he would like to land more often) and everything you do comes with it's own downs.
I crossed the Atlantic Ocean 4 times in a 747-400 in the cockpit. Takeoff = Uhhh Exciting! Cruise = rattle, rattle, rattle, ding dong = announcements, rattle, rattle rattle, (Beef or Pasta?) rattle, rattle, rattle, (Ohhh look! More water...), rattle, rattle rattle... Callout: EUROPE!!!, rattle, rattle, rattle, (More Ding Dong, push this button, put this here, (yup, AP is doing an awesome job today), click, click, turn, twist, blah blah, ARRIVAL! rattle rattle rattle... Landing - Uhhh Exciting! Thanks for flying with us today! (SMILE) Go to hotel, get s&^tfaced try to get the hot FA to go out or in with you, (maybe she won't tell you that she's lesbos, got 9 kids, or that she converted to total sexual refusal years ago?)..... and do it again tomorrow. Do this twice a month. Awesome!
Good luck!
Just because one apsect of the industry works for a certain person doesn't mean it will work for you. Most pilots careers are 30% hard work, 30% luck, 30% networking, and 10% chance! That does equal 100% right?