Quote:
Originally Posted by atp_chris  Subpilot
but traveling and seeing new places when earning decent money later on. I'm not really interested in kids and my girlfriend and I are pretty independant and do ok with time apart. I have always hated seeing the same scenery every day and my biggest fear in life is the little middle class house picket fence and dog humdrum routine life.. |
Let me do a reality check here
I think your seeing the same thing that most folks who don't fly see in the pilot mystique.
Let me correct a few misconceptions of "Living the Dream" from the point of view of someone on the sidelines. By sidelines I mean I've been in and around aviation all my life. I'm an Instrument rated commercial pilot but have never been an airline pilot, but, I just retired from the Federal Air Marshal program and a 28 year Federal Law Enforcement Career. Since 9/11 I've been flying in the back watching the crews do their thing, I've met pilots who still absolutely love their job and others that are absolutely miserable and are there because they can't find a job that pays more with the same days off.
First of all, the office up front has the best view of any office, no doubt about it
Most of the time, you'll fly around in that office for 10-14 hours a day (Duty Day) granted some of that time is sitting in a terminal waiting for your next flight or running to your next flight. For the first few years you'll spend a lot of time sitting at home or in a crash pad on reserve waiting for a phone call.
When you have layovers they will be in hotels picked by your company (probably not the Hilton). Layovers are usually short (10 hours or so) There are times when you'll have long layovers, but they are far and few between and most of the time they don't fall into tourist hours.
Crews with the best schedules get them because they've got the seniority numbers to get them.
I guess what I'm trying to stress is that Its looks like lots of adventure and fun, and it can be
But go into it with you eyes open, it ain't all fun in the sun on the Mexican Rivera and flying your shiny jet through the friendly skies. (Unless your Doug)
The best piece of advice I've seen on this thread is don't take out a loan to get your training, save your cash and pay for it. You have a lot of time to get there and when you do you'll be able to eat more than just ramon noodles in that fine hotel room your company picked out for you
. And Remember there are flying jobs outside of the airlines
.
That being said, I've considered going the regional route, even at age 50. But more than likely I'm going the CFI route, because I love flying and enjoy teaching, and with a retirement I can afford to do it. Maybe I'll go fly my friends Super DC-3 in Alaska, who knows, but I do know I'll be flying something.
Best of luck
Bill