jetcareers - View Single Post - Need some carreer advice; is piloting right for me?

WAFlyBoy · March 9th, 2008, 16:14

1. Hang out at your local airport, take a discovery flight and talk to some airline pilots. With those experiences, you should be able to answer this question better than strangers.

2. With diminishing pay and less favorable work rules on the horizon for air traffic controllers, I would avoid this profession personally.

3. Very low starting pay, being away from home quite a bit (living in base helps though), and working in a turbulent industry that has never made a profit. On the other hand, the actual flying and the people you work with can make the job a lot of fun.

4. Ever worked in a restaurant? Pretty much like that.

5. Very low to start. Although high W-2's ($200K+) are still out there, overall there is a downward pressure on pay.

6. All it takes is money and a desire to learn.

7. Is there an AME in the house?

8. Probably safer than a paper route.

A suggestion, Rxq: First, go to college and study something you're passionate about. (Other than aviation.) Enjoy the life experience, learn lots of different things, and get a 4-year degree. In the mean time, explore aviation in bits and pieces. ie, take a discovery flight now. Then, maybe one summer, work on a private pilot's license. When you graduate, once again weigh your interests against your opportunities.

March 9th, 2008, 16:14	#8
WAFlyBoy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wa Posts: 684	Re: Need some carreer advice; is piloting right for me? 1. Hang out at your local airport, take a discovery flight and talk to some airline pilots. With those experiences, you should be able to answer this question better than strangers. 2. With diminishing pay and less favorable work rules on the horizon for air traffic controllers, I would avoid this profession personally. 3. Very low starting pay, being away from home quite a bit (living in base helps though), and working in a turbulent industry that has never made a profit. On the other hand, the actual flying and the people you work with can make the job a lot of fun. 4. Ever worked in a restaurant? Pretty much like that. 5. Very low to start. Although high W-2's ($200K+) are still out there, overall there is a downward pressure on pay. 6. All it takes is money and a desire to learn. 7. Is there an AME in the house? 8. Probably safer than a paper route. A suggestion, Rxq: First, go to college and study something you're passionate about. (Other than aviation.) Enjoy the life experience, learn lots of different things, and get a 4-year degree. In the mean time, explore aviation in bits and pieces. ie, take a discovery flight now. Then, maybe one summer, work on a private pilot's license. When you graduate, once again weigh your interests against your opportunities.