To all airline pilots, if....

[MDT06]

If you had to do it all over again, would you? What would you do different?
What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?
Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

[Kristie]

Please read the sticky's in the forums that say "READ ME"...this isn't a job posting and didn't belong in the jobs available forum, so i moved it for you.

[BCTAv8r]

Originally Posted by MDT06

If you had to do it all over again, would you? What would you do different?
What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?
Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

The search feature can be very useful.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by BCTAv8r

The search feature can be very useful.

Search?

What's that!?!!

[Cptnchia]

Originally Posted by MDT06

If you had to do it all over again, would you? What would you do different?
What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?
Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

1.Yes.
2.Start earlier in my life.
3.If you aren't committed 100%, you either won't finish training or
will leave the industry within a few years, plus educate yourself about
all aspects of flying.
4. Any good, reputable, quality flight school or FBO. Again, research your
decisions and good luck.

[Velocipede]

Start earlier.

[DE727UPS]

1. Yes
2. Get a non-aviation degree
3. Don't quit
4. Local flight school

[jynxyjoe]

Would I do it again?

Ask me next year.

[david2000]

Originally Posted by MDT06

If you had to do it all over again, would you? What would you do different?
What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?
Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

Anything i'd change, i say God's blessed me with my dream, in the way i've planned, and things have come right on the way, and the advise i'd give to those aspiring to be an airline pilot, is to set a goal first, cause if don't have it, it'll be harder, i'm telling you by own and by others experience, and the best training you can get it's to study, and prepare you're self.

[ZapBrannigan]

1. No
2. If I had to start over knowing what I know now, I would have either stayed at Chautauqua (i'd be in the top 15 or 20 Captains), I would have stayed at AirTran (i'd be in the top hundred or so Captains), and I never would have gone to Comair after being furloughed by US Airways.
3. Get a Non-Aviation degree and always keep 6 months salary in liquid assets or short term high yield accounts (CDs, high interest money markets, etc.) where you can quickly gain access without too significant of a penalty.
4. Any FBO is fine. Training is what you make of it.

[BobDDuck]

Zap, you think 6 months? I've always been told 2 to 3. I like the thought of 6 though.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

Zap, you think 6 months? I've always been told 2 to 3. I like the thought of 6 though.

I've been doing a lot of financial research recently. It all depends on the "expert" you talk to. 3-6 seems to be the general consensus though.

I think it would also depend on the stability of your profession.

[ZapBrannigan]

I'm over conservative. Comes from being furloughed 3 times, and -- at one time -- living in my car in a Parking garage in PIT and taking showers at the "Y".

Never again.

[wheelsup]

I like "salary / 10,000".

If you make $30,000/year, 3 months is good. If you make $100,000/year, 10 months. This is because it will probably take someone longer to find a comparable job making $100,000 than someone making $30,000.

For pilots, it should be "don't become a pilot until you can retire and not worry about money".

Just a joke. Sort of.

[blee256]

Would I do it all over again? I probably would. Because the job is fun, the debt load that I gained getting here sucks. So I would change how I got to this point. Maybe an FBO with a pay as you type deal. I would have joined the guard earlier to take advantage of the GI bill. And I would of tried to start flying earlier, maybe getting my ppl in HS, and the other ratings while i was getting my degree as opposed to after it.

This job sucks because you love it. And if you got tired of the BS of airline management and the industry and you left, whatever job you have, you'll always wished you were back in the flightdeck.

[Fly4Pay]

Originally Posted by BobDDuck

Zap, you think 6 months? I've always been told 2 to 3. I like the thought of 6 though.

It completely comes down to your comfort level. How much breathing room do you want if you lose your job? Some folks are happy with three, some with six, some with even more.

Zap has seen some pretty tough times, and as a result, he doesn't want that to happen again. Others who have other sources of income or a higher risk-tolerance might be happier with less of a safety net.

The important thing is to get to where you and any significant other you may have BOTH feel comfortable. Financial stresses are the #1 marriage-ender. (For those of you who must know, sex only made #2 on the list) So have a plan and stick to it!

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by MDT06

If you had to do it all over again, would you?

Yup.

What would you do different?

If I did anything different, I might not be where I am today. No point in looking backwards!

What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?

Know what you're getting into. Surround yourself with people who are where you want to be and those that have common interests.

Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

Depends on your learning style.

[FlyChicaga]

Originally Posted by MDT06

If you had to do it all over again, would you? What would you do different?
What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?
Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

I absolutely would choose this career again. I've met so many great people, flown to so many cool places, and learned so many new things... This really is a great career. It has its ups and downs, but overall I doubt I'd do anything else. If I had to do anything over, I'd probably go back and tell myself to do less talking and more listening.

The best advice I can give is to realize that you will have bad days. Just roll with it, and keep pressing on for your goals. Don't get discouraged if you have a setback or something doesn't go your way. You never know when things might swing the other direction...

Best training available is at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

[surreal1221]

If the price of training was the same as it was last year when I started. . .yes.

If I had to start today. . .at the price of training that it is right now. . .no.

Good luck.

[Cav]

Would I do it over? Yes

What would I do differently? Join the Guard. The security netting provided would be priceless plus the flying would be cool.

Are you considering the military route? If you are young enough I wouldn't rule it out. Training prices these days are out of control. Unless you have the money the debt you will incur will be tremendous no matter what route you take. Pair that with low starting salaries and a very unstable job market and the fun can be sapped out of this business really quickly, not to mention possible long term financial hardship....THAT's why I say go the guard route if possible.

I've been lucky but unfortunately I feel like I'm in the minority.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by MDT06

If you had to do it all over again, would you?

Without a doubt.

What would you do different?

Not a single thing.

What is the best advice you could give to those who want to make it?

Stayed focused, know exactly where YOU want to be, and don't associate with whiners at all . . . they want more than anything to bring you down with them.

Where do you think you could get the best training besides the military?

Look for safe airplanes and hardcore instructors. That's all you need.

[SoCalAprch]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Without a doubt.



Not a single thing.



Stayed focused, know exactly where YOU want to be, and don't associate with whiners at all . . . they want more than anything to bring you down with them.



Look for safe airplanes and hardcore instructors. That's all you need.

Nice meeting you at CVG the other day.

But agree with knowing what and where you want to be and the hardcore instructors.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by SoCalAprch

Nice meeting you at CVG the other day.

But agree with knowing what and where you want to be and the hardcore instructors.

Great meeting you as well, Russ! Much better landing than I can ever pull off!

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Stayed focused, know exactly where YOU want to be, and don't associate with whiners at all . . . they want more than anything to bring you down with them.

Very good advice right there. There are many who would love to see you give up or end up being miserable like them.

[SoCalAprch]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Great meeting you as well, Russ! Much better landing than I can ever pull off!

Im sure thats not true, unless of course your avatar is a good landing in your opinion. Again pleasure meeting you...