The Opportunity Cost of Becoming a Career Pilot

Question 1: What's the actual opportunity available to you?

Question 2: How good are you at rationalizing away being miserable? Which applies either away - the life of a beginner commercial pilot these days is, imo, miserable. So is not pursuing something you enjoy. Or at least tolerate.

 

Military. Any other avenue to professional flying is a hugely expensive endeavor followed by miserablyow pay and ****ty hours for MANY years.

That sounds harsh, but do some googling around. It's a tough row to sow these days.

Full disclosure: I'm not a pro pilot, but have extensively explored the career and very familiar with what it takes to get in the left seat of a domestic carrier.



Mark

 

My friend's husband is a SWA pilot. He flew F4s and F16s in the USAF before going commercial in the early 90s (same airline since). I asked him a few years back how old their youngest pilot was and he said a 25 year old that didn't go the military route. It was pretty rare for that to happen, though.

I'm interested to hear in Lou's response if he chimes in. I don't recall him having gone the military route and the 747 is the only jet-powered plane he's flown (correct me if I'm wrong, Lou!). I love flight as well and would love to be a pilot, but not with a malignant company and horrid hours. Any job can be made miserable if it has terrible management, poor benefits, and long hours no matter how much you like the work itself.

I'm past the age to go the military route anyway, which would be more fun to fly fighters. The closest I can get to that is watching the Blue Angels/Thunderbirds. Only a month away for that.

 

Keep in mind that this is a very limited view of things from a military-ish person...... It's seems like a miserable existence trying to struggle up through the ranks to get a decent job. You make barely anything as you build hours working flying some crap little airplane for years. I keep hearing that the airlines are one the cusp of a huge hiring surge but I have yet to see that happen. My office is full of a bunch of military pilots that all have 2000-4000 hours in multi engine cargo/heavies and probably half of them are poised to jump at the first American/Delta/Southwest type job that comes along but so far nobody has gotten hired. Not saying it's not gonna happen but so far it seems like a tough thing to try and break into. One guy got a job six months ago flying a corporate jet for a tech firm for about $90k a year and is pretty happy with the lifestyle and perks that come with the job but from a financial perspective it's a bloodbath as he went from Lt Col pay to that. He got the job because he had a ton of hours/experience that got a toe in the door and a surfer dude personality that fit well with the company. Military dudes with lots of experience are lined up for that sorta gig so I dunno how a regular person would break into it.

From a strictly financial perspective flying a corporate jet is primarily a lifestyle choice. The folks I know who do it make high five figures and back when my wife managed the pilots for a major oil company that will remain unnamed they all made under $90k. Not terrible money but when I look around at what my peers who just drop out of flying and go into the corporate world earn its not that great. Flying for a major seems like a long and painful slog uphill for many years to come unless you get the military to pay for the first couple thousand hours.

 

You need to go and get your private pilot certificate, and see if it's something you like. You would definitely be giving up a significant amount of money, so you need to be sure you like flying.

In my opinion, the best way to have it all would be to get a pilot slot in the Air Guard. Mark can speak on that with more authority than I can, but from everything I've heard, that's a great way to do it. You can get great experience on Uncle Sam's dime, and once you're done with active duty, you can have a career in business and fly on the side.

Of course, getting a pilot slot may not be all that easy-- I know around here it's very competitive.

 

I have a lot to say, and will post tomorrow. Not sure if it will apply to your situation though.

 

Being a pilot opens up a global industry. The cost of learning is cheapest in the US, but the best paid and interesting flying jobs (not military) are not in the US. Would be worth at least investigating foreign opportunities to build your career if you are prepared to be mobile...

 

I could write pages about this but I'll try to keep if brief!
I started with Active Duty Air Force for 8 years and then did Air National Guard for 20 years. Because of this I really can't comment on getting to the airlines via the civilian route.

I really think the best route to go is thru an Air National Guard/Air Reserve route. Once you complete your training you can then pursue another job. The thing to remember with this is you will still have a commitment to serve in the military until you complete your commitment, and don't think it's easy. I think in today’s environment you can probably expect to do at least 90 days per year as a guy in a guard or reserve unit, some aircraft, think fighters, will have an even higher commitment. Now having said that, the military training is excellent and quite frankly you will get to do some really awesome stuff while in the military. I was an A-10 pilot, not that I'm trying to talk myself, up but this is a very elite group of and very few people in the world will ever have the opportunity to do this sort of thing. Even flying an airplane like the tanker is still well beyond airline flying. I flew the KC-135 for 20 years and went on many incredible missions. I refueled fighters on numerous missions when we intercepted Bear Bombers. I had the opportunity many times to be a deployment commander where I took airplanes, crews, maintainers, and all required support personnel halfway around the world and fulfilled mission requirements, once again, this is stuff that very people will have to opportunity to ever do. In case you couldn't tell I really liked my time in the military, and yes there are crappy times also. One last thing to keep in mind is the military pay and benefits are really pretty good.

Now let me tell you about airline flying, and I'm probably going to have a little different take on this than Lou. I will start off by saying I don't think there is an employment situation like the airlines anywhere else. Let me explain. When you are hired as an airline pilot you and every other pilot is hired to fly airplanes, this of course makes sense. Where things are different is everyone’s career is vastly different. Once you are hired you are along for the ride, you have no control of your career. There are many reasons for this. One, everything is based on seniority. Once you are hired you move up as people retire. There is really no moving around form airline to airline because every time you would change companies you start over at the bottom, this essentially locks you into the company you work for. Also don't forget if your company goes out of business you will start over, at the bottom, where ever you go. The other big thing is the demographics of the airline that hires you and how much the airline expands or contracts. I was hired in 1998. I have worked for the airline for 17 years. Because I was hired at the end of a hiring cycle I have moved up very little in the last 17 years. As a matter of fact I will most likely never be a Captain at the airline. Sure I could fly out of JFK and never have weekends or holidays off, but short of that I'm stuck in the right seat, and I don't know of very many pilots are truly happy knowing that they will never be in command of the airplane. Now at my airline we are at the beginning of a huge retirement cycle. The guys getting hired today will be Captains in well less than 10 years while the same thing is going to take me well over 20 years. This is what I mean when I say you hired to do the same job but the careers can be completely different.

 

How are you going to repay the $100k loan while making sub 15K a year as a flight instructor while you build time?

The 'Airline Pilot Shortage' is a marketing gimmick of the flight school companies. Unless you want to move to China....and I dont know what there minimums are.

I had 4 jobs including flight instructor, gambled for flight money, was homeless for a stretch. Slept in my 1972 LeSabre behind the flight school. almost 3 years of poverty, thank the lord I didnt take out any loans.

I have flown Corporate since 1996. It fits my lifestyle.

 

Agree with lear60man. There is only a shortage of good paying jobs.

Air Guard units are hiring and will send you to pilot triaining. Here's just a few: Job Categories UPT Pilot

I went Air Force (T-37s/C-130s) and have been with FedEx now for nine years. If you really want to be a pilot, you need to get started soon. No one walks into a good airline gig without paying their dues. Trust me, you definitely pay dues going the military route too.

 

Don't do it. Get a "regular" job and fly for fun. That's what I did. Never mix business and pleasure. The cost is so high just to get there. Now you need 1500 hours for ATP.
You're always a few hours or a rating short of an open job.

 

Out flying right now but will post later. I did it the "hard way" and worked by way up to left seat AA international. It's a GREAT career.

 

I see being a pilot like being a racing driver, with two paths:

1) commit early and spend the best years of your life struggling to survive in the hopes of it turning into a legitimate carrer

2) spend those same best years of your life building wealth so you can buy your seat anywhere you want, in whatever plane you want.

 

Being a career pilot, if you have the passion for flying you say you do, will be one of the best decisions you can ever make in your life. Non pilots or private pilots will always bring up the long hours and early low pay but they really have no concept of how great the career is because they haven't done it. One of the nice things about being a career pilot is you have the time to start OTHER businesses which then can become very lucrative.

I flew 22 years for American and during that time started a hotel business which then took off allowing me to retire early. I miss the airline game.

If you love flying, then there is no substitute for being a professional pilot.

 

Just from a financial stand point, how can anyone support a family/mortgage on the starting pay in commercial flights.

I've always said it would be my dream job, but if it was my job and I had no control over my position/promotions through my hard work, effort and skill then would I really consider it a dream or just a job...

My best friend from child hood just recently got his first full time gig as pilot, hauling freight for Ameriflight..

But his is not a usual path to a career, he's the kind of guy that's had more jobs than I can count. He is a good enough professional musician that kept him fixing cars on and off during the day if you get my drift.

Never had a mortgage, got his PPL around 40, earned enough to get all his ratings, divorced his wife (one advantage of never having had anything its a cheap divorce ).
For 3 years slept on a pull out bed at the FBO working full time giving flight instruction and ground school, started making pretty good money, racking up hours like no ones business ( had well over the 1500hrs when the rule changed) and his first job offer was right seat for Horizon at $18.5k a year.
Now he didn't have all the loans to pay back, but still, big hit from what he was making.

I know Ameriflight aren't paying a fortune, but he's a capt and flying solo most days, and can advance pretty quickly up the ladder, and has told me that Southwest and a few other majors look favorably on Ameriflight pilots...time will tell, he different from most 45 year olds in that he loves to fly, doesn't have any bills and has no problem sleeping in his car...Not for me.

On the other end of the scale I have a friend who fly's left seat on the triple 7 , makes mid six figures and works 20 hours a month, and has two successful aviation business on the side...bur he's been at the airline 30 years......

I still think it would be cool to do, but just on my terms..which means I will keep on fixing cars and flying Cessna's at the weekend..

 

Lots of paths you could take. Military and most Airlines require a 4 year degree, so you got that going for you. If you go the 'corporate route' MOVE TO WHERE THE PRIVATE PLANES ARE (sorry but is important) Teterboro, Ft. Lauderdale, So. Cal, Dallas. Any good flying job is competitive including corporate. We quickly weed out the guys who A) Cant fly and B) Jerks. We want to travel well together for days, weeks at a time. FYI, getting into a good corporate flight department isnt a walk in the park. You have to have quality time flying smaller planes (cargo etc). Then typically start in a smaller jet and work your way up as skills and need arise.

To echo what others have said, make sure its in your blood. Most of my childhood pictures are of me holding some sort of airplane model. I dont know what I would do if I couldnt fly.

 

Mmmmmm.......I've got a couple of guesses......

 

I think it's kind of sad hearing stories where the regional pilots make <$30k/yr, working horrendous hours, praying to move up the ranks if ever when you hear the other end of widebody captains flying far fewer hours making tons more money. I don't get it...at all. Those are the jobs people hear about imo that gets others interested in the field whereas the horror story jobs of regional pilots is likely more common. The SWA pilot I know makes good money, but he works quite a bit and isn't home that often. Certainly works much more than 20 hours a month.

 

It was always pilot or porn for me. Not sure how much "stunt cock" pays. More to follow

 

Aint that the truth....I'm sure some of his stories have a bit of hyperbole, but he is senior enough to where he gets to pick his work schedule, I bet he's "at the office" more than 20 hours a month but on a long haul with back up crews etc he is at the controls only half the time.

Oh and on his airline he gets to fly anywhere in the world first class for free...

 

I wanted that job but I failed the physical

 

When people ask me about starting a pilot career I try to persuade them not to.

There was a time (mid 80's) that pilots for the big carriers in the U.S. could eventually make $300,000 as captain on a large aircraft. That time is gone.

All of my friends that work for airlines want to quit. don't get me wrong, flying, once you depart from the BS of your base can be beautiful. Money wise the average captain now makes about $120K to $150K. Pilots are asked to fly more and more hours for less and less pay. Retirement? Forget about it. the best pilot jobs in this country are now Fedex and UPS. they usually are gone from home about 2 weeks then are off for 2 weeks. That is what my schedule was when I worked for ONA and TransAmerica (TIA). You could live anywhere and commute. then I got a job at EAL (due to the others shutting down) I worked 3 days on 2 off. then they went out of biz. Then a series of other jobs until I started my own company.

If you PM me I'll tell you what I really think about the industry. flying is cool, I've been to over 100 country's but being an airline pilot..not cool.

bob

 

Ask him how that works today, Most likely he will be waiting for days for an empty seat.