Advice

Hi im new here, i just have a few questions. Im 16, a junior in High School, and I've wanted to be an airline pilot since i was 6. What path would you current pilots recommend? I dont want to go the military path. I've heard a lot about how regionals treat their employees like crap becasue they know they're just building hours to move up to the majors, and I'm wondering if this is really worth it? I have heard of the rediculously low paychecks too. I would probably be willing to work like this for a few years if I could move up to captain or to one of the majors. Obviously I have a lot more reasearch to do but i just found this forum and was wondering of any of you guys (or gals ) could give me some advice. Should I get ATP first, or go right to a flight school and stay for the whole thing? Should i get a degree first (money doesent really grow on trees...)? Any advice is appreciated...thanks.

 

A good starting point is to get your private pilots license. You can add to that from there. It takes MONEY. Lots of it. Learn how to make money first.

If you can't find the money then the Military is next best thing.

If you want to fly for the majors check out Embrey Riddle. http://www.erau.edu/

Note, you MUST have good grades in school. Reading and comprehension is a plus. All kinds of math a plus.

You are starting at the right time. The sooner the better. Stay focused and you will see that dream but it will take a long time to get there. Competition is fierce!

Good Luck

 

Yeah, im in all honors/AP courses and have good grades. Thanks for that insight. So I should check out the local school then?

 

there are many flight schools in the country, each has its advantages. Programs like ATP are quick and get you from nothing to full Commercial Instrument in 60 days or so however you miss out on a 4 year degree which many companies like to see now days. Then you have schools such as Embry-Riddle and University of North Dakota which have tailored flight programs set up to tech you to fly and also give you other classes on weather and aircraft systems, which are useful later on in life. Then you could always go the route of getting a 4 year degree in business or something and then going to a program like ATP. One advantage of going to an Embry-Riddle or University of North Dakota is the networking and prestige of graduating from them, it helps a lot in the aviation field to know people and to have come from a accredited program. Yes, flying for the regionals will suck but you have other options as well. One option is to be a flight instructor its slow and it still wont pay as well but it builds time. The other option is to work for a FSS or Airline as something other than a pilot such as a dispatcher. Then in your free time you could go fly and build time on you own. All in all it will take many years to get to the majors, however now and for the next few years it is a fantastic time to get in the aviation field many airlines are dropping their hiring minimums and a few require little time to get on with them.

Hope that helped answer your questions, as for me I chose Embry-Riddle where i currently go to school and hope to get my Multi Instrument some time next week.

-Der Meister

 

ok, so does getting your private in advance make a huge difference? Do companies like to see that? Because right now i just dont have that kind of time, but mabye senior year i could work it in. Yeah i have looked at North Dakota's programs and find them pretty interesting. Thanks again.

 

Rob's right, you can learn your bad habits later.................

 

Ok sounds good. I like how with a school like ND or Embry-Riddle you get a degree as well, thats always very important. Thanks a lot guys, i appreciate it.

Joe