Any pilots out there? Advice needed

[cpa]

After 5 years of being a controller and running the business I'm getting burned out, the stress just isn't worth it. I really wish that 10 years ago when I started school I would have realized that I really wanted to be a pilot not an accountant.

So are there any pilots out there that can tell me what the job market is like and some advice on what is the best way to become an airline pilot. I'm just about ready to sell the sleds, truck, and house if needed, and go to flight school but does it matter which one and where? If we seriously downsized for a few years we could live off what my wife makes and I could pay for school if I sold everything cause its all paid for. My kids are still young enough (6,4,and 2) now is the time to do it if I'm going to.

What does everyone think? Am I kidding myself thinking that flying a plane for a living would be more fun/exciting and less stressful. Or are there any exciting rewarding accounting jobs out there....oh that is a good one.

 

[triple]

I had the same issues years ago. I wanted to fly helicopters. I had 50 grand in the bank and no kids. I checked into all the best flight schools, made sure I had every thing I needed to get it done and went to visit a large helicopter company that has a base near where I live. I toured the operation, talked about the job with pilots etc. and had a meeting with the base manager about future job prospects. That's when it went south and my feet are still firmly on the ground. His comments to me were "Do you love your wife?" and "Are you planning on having kids?" etc. When I answered yes to those first 2 questions he told me to lose the desire to fly for a living, get a real job and one day look at flying fixed wing as a private pilot.

 

[NDflatlander]

I don't think the airline industry is exactly booming right now. I attended college at the University of North Dakota, one of the best flight schools in the nation and it always seems as though I hear of someone that I knew in college is getting laid off from their positions as pilots.

If you enjoy being away from your family for a couple weeks at a time then being a pilot might be for you. Most of the individuals that I went to college with that are flying are single with not children.

The aviation program is a spendy program to get into. Many of my friends were sitting on $100K balances on their student loans after their 4-5 years of flight school. Some of those individuals were sick of flying after a year or so and are now in graduate school, either law or mba programs.

 

[Himark]

You can attend any flight school and get your license at a cost of xx.xxx then you will need to get a complex aircraft endorsement with so many hours of time at a COST to you of xx.xxx (keep in mind complex props are not as cheap so seat time is getting higher) Then you will need to get into more complex airplanes most likely turbo prop twin type stuff and once you get that at YOUR cost you MIGHT get a job doing short hop stuff mail..checks.. whatever for low pay but will be building hours. THEN you need to get jet time...of course I am not sure if your pocket book permits you to get this at YOUR expense. So you will need to beg someone to try and let you get some low man on the pole time in one at very little or no pay to you. THEN you may get on as etc. etc. etc. In my lifetime I know 3 commercial airline pilots 2 of which were x-military and got all this experience there and the 3rd guy was like winning the lottery when he got his break to get on with a company as there pilot and the company later grew to jet with him as there pilot. In a nutshell its unlikely to achieve this IMO without support of the military or like my last guy that just got lucky.

 

[slyrydr]

i graduated college....went into air force (tough, i repeat, tough entry requirements)....did five years of active duty and got out, but stayed in the air force reserve, flew fighters, last six years in the f-16.....at age 28, after my first active duty tour, i hired on to an airline, good job, pay was poor at first but got better...after 14 years, company merged with another airline that i really hated...quit and went to work for southwest airlines, and worked there for 16 years....awesome company....always had enough to raise my family, many very good years with total compensation in the 250-300 range....retired now, and most would say very comfortably....i had five kids, had them all go into medicine (physicians) except one who went into finance....i loved the jobs, even though i was gone a lot, i had an exceptional wife, only one, still have her....wouldn't trade what i did with anyone, and would do it all over again....and besides, it beats working...

 

[afrank3594]

From what I know and the guys I know that fly. "that was then and this is now" The airlines are sucking major wind and they know there are a ton of kids willing to fill the old guys shoes at half the price. Yea, you may make a living if you call $35,000 a year and being gone all the time a living. Dont get me wrong $35,000 is all good and well but Im sure not going to be gone 4 or 5 days a week to make that kind of money . Alaska Air pilots took a 25% haircut a couple of years ago , and the starter guys are making in the low $30's with all that debt it took to get them to that spot.
For me the math cant add up.

 

[Calvin42]

Flew for 22 years in the Air Force and am now retired. Still fly for the Air Force but as a contractor. Civilian flying jobs that pay well are hard to find and If you fly EMS helo's or fly the oil rigs in the gulf the money isn't that great either. If your a civilian and are trying to build time it's very expensive. Flying is the best job in the world in my opinion but right now with the ecomomy and all the young guys out there willing to work for peanuts I don't think it's the best career move. Fly recreationally to clear your head but don't quit the day job.

 

[03RMK800]

Not a pilot, but watch the industry. Flight crew positions can't be fun. I've known a few pilots, several flight attendants,and a number of mechanics. I'd rather be a mechanic (if you could get a job).

One of my college roommates spent years and years getting a good job. Couldn't seem to handle the fly by wire planes, so no big airlines. Got on with a private charter company and finally (fifteen years of school and trying) had a good job.

I read a blip this weekend somewhere that the commuter pilot in this spring's crash back East was making $16,000 per year (no citation or confirmation on the blip).

Watch the airline people at the airport-- its gotten to the point that its driving a damn bus, though a special bus. These people are in the air every minute allowed, have to fly for hours on end, then get in the next plane, or to the hotel at midnight, and the next plane at five or six am.

 

[cpa]

Thanks for the replys. It's amazing how much info can be gathered in a short amount of time on snowest what a great site. I'm really suprised to hear how low the starting wages are for pilots. Really wouldn't have guessed that. I guess I better learn to enjoy what I do again.

 

[akstormin]

Being a commercial pilot is only a great job at the very top end of the industry. There are 3-4 well paying companies to work for right now and that's it, and they are not hiring right the moment. Anything lower on the totem pole and you're making in the mid 20K range and working your tail off in less than ideal conditions. Plus even at the top companies life only gets real good after 5-10 years of seniority. If you can get one of the top jobs its well worth it, but you are looking at years and 100's of thousands of dollars plus some luck to eventually get there. Best of luck with your decision.

 

[revpilot]

There's no shortcuts for the first 200 hours, take some lessons. You'll have to get your student, then private, then in 200 hrs. you can get your commercial to do anything. Once you're that far, then think about which way to go for a career. You're at least a year out if you start today, don't cash out yet, about half of all student pilots drop out before they solo. It's not for everyone but if you make it you'll figure out how to get a job.

 

[FCR112]

Someone I know worked a 14 hour day yesterday flying priceline and orbitz customers around all the thunderstorms and hail, then shooting an ILS to mins at 1:30am. Delayed today for 2 and 1/2 hours waiting for the weather clear out before departing.

for $17000 first year pay after about $40000 in flight training... those dollars are six or seven years old after VA benefits...

Industry trends_

first year pay about equal to above...$17-$19000
fifth year pay at a good company with current progression rate $50,000

flight training costs for CFIIMEI average of over $75000 right now....

Work rules, worse than those of an over the road truck driver.

That being said... Heard it's a great job until "Crew Support" starts F'ing you over saying you are legal to fly, "check the FAR's..."
The Senate hearings are in progress about it...don't hold your breath for any changes...

If you are anything other than single, you had better be married to a rich Angel to support you through the process and if you have kids be sure your entire rich family is behind you!

The Retired Southwest Pilot hit the haydays.... That sort of compensation is LONG GONE for somebody starting today. Congrats on your success!

Don't let anybody paint you any rosey pictures of six figure income and 20 days off a month... It takes Decades of experience, seniority, and a strong economy.

Sorry to burst any bubbles with the current reality of things, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!

 

[Ultra]

My brother got a taste of the "hay days" for about 10 years as a captain at a major airlines. They decided in october to contract their pilots at under half the cost so they laid off all the in house pilots. He can't find anything near what he was making but is still looking. He figures he is pretty much done flying at 46 years old because he will do something else before he will go back to poverty wages.

The pilots that are flying for cheap are doing so for the hours. Some of them earn less than the guy's that pick up your garbage. One of the reasons I won't get into a plane anymore. The friendly skys are getting filled with inexperance, scares me.

 

[trinitypowder]

I flew for 10 years as a corporate pilot. I made $45,000 a year and worked an average of 2.5 days a week. Pretty good gig. My wife is a pilot for United. She was hired in 1997. First year pay, about $40k. 2nd year, about $65k. 3rd year about $90K. 4th year, about $120k. As of Oct.2001, her pay went back down to $87k a year. She hasn't had a raise of ANY AMOUNT since then. She used to have 18 days off a month, now she has 9 or 10. The "glory days" of Aviation might just be behind us. You got to REALLY, REALLY want to do this. Think long and hard-just like before tackling a big chute!!! It's often "fun" until you reach the top and realize things are "different" up here.....................................