Advice to aspiring airline pilots

[Goose Egg]

TP PIC is better TJ SIC in almost every hiring situation

Interesting. I pretty much figured that.

-Goose

 

[mcjohn]

But, TJ SIC is better than TP SIC right? I'd hate be stuck in the right seat of a TP too long. That's my biggest fear.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Wow. Do you really think that way, or are you really just saying that you find it disappointing that at the bottom levels of the commercial piloting biz, it's very easy to get a better paying, better equipment job today than 10 years ago?

No...I'm saying times change. Alot of people try to say that you should go get hired by a shady operation offering quick upgrades and no pay. I say, take the better paycheck and better equipment. PIC time will come when it comes.

You and I are using the term "Paying Dues" in different contexts. I'm reffering to pre 9/11 when you had to actually go build flight time flying whatever you could find, whether it was check hauling or ferrying aircraft, etc. Today, you pay your dues in the right seat of a turbine powered 121 operator. Two VERY different worlds.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Turbine PIC is Turbine PIC, whether it's a turbojet or a prop...

 

[vectorvictor]

Speaking of paying your dues, anyone ever read E. Gann "Fate is the Hunter" or R. Buck's "North Star over my Shoulder". Talk about paying dues in the 1930's

I read 'em both. They should be as mandatory read for anyone getting into the business. I think "Fate is the Hunter" is the only book to really describe what it is like to be an FO. The other mandatory read is the Bible of avitation, "Stick and Rudder." If you are really into it you can try and digest aerodynamics for the Naval aviator.

VV

 

[pilotyip]

On an application an hour PIC TJ will carry a higher weight factor than an hour of PIC TP.

 

[OzBushWhacker]

At the end of the day it doesn't matter if its a jet or a prop, RAMEN Noodles taste the same!!!

 

[JFReservist]

just a few opinions- for what they're worth

1) uhhh, military flying is a good way to pay dues, bills and gets you PIC quickly. And lately, never a dull moment

2) All books mentioned are great except the naval whatever

3) Speaking of naval whatevers, Goose - from your posts I'd have figured you to be more of a log rider, not one of them fancy Harbours. Had one - never felt right after the bottom turn.

of course, opinions are like ...

 

[AirMugsy]

........

 

[pilotyip]

Yea I think the military is great way to pay your dues, if you don't mind being gone from home for long periods of time. Being sent places you don't want to go, living with 5 other pilots in a 12 X 10 room, and picking up 3-4 years of non-flying duties. Plus you only get about 2000-3000 hours of flight time in your 10 years of obligated service. But the equipment is great, the training the best you will get anywhere, and the guys you fly with are remarkable.

 

[Mud Eagle]

Yea I think the military is great way to pay your dues, if you don't mind being gone from home for long periods of time. Being sent places you don't want to go, living with 5 other pilots in a 12 X 10 room, and picking up 3-4 years of non-flying duties. Plus you only get about 2000-3000 hours of flight time in your 10 years of obligated service. But the equipment is great, the training the best you will get anywhere, and the guys you fly with are remarkable.

In all fairness, in a (fighter) guy's 10-year hitch (2-3 flying assignments), he will probably only have 2 years not flying. Obviously that depends a lot on career flow.

Don't forget that those hours, at least for a fighter guys, are PIC turbine from the get-go. In terms of total time, it's not a lot, you're right...but it's quality time.

Regarding the deployed locations and living conditions, are those really much worse than living in a crash pad or hotel room-to-hotel room? Yes, they're often located in countries that suck beyond belief.

 

[Kugelblitz]

If you are now or ever plan on getting married and having children, DON'T BECOME AN AIRLINE PILOT.

You will be very, very sorry if you press on with this. This job is not what you think. Currently with CAL, around 10,000 hrs. and 6 different airlines including 3 majors talking to you.

 

[MATHEWS]

Thanks for the tip Kugelblitz....sorry to say many of us leave happy family lives, its about having realistic expectations.

 

[Goose Egg]

3) Goose - from your posts I'd have figured you to be more of a log rider, not one of them fancy Harbours. Had one - never felt right after the bottom turn.

You had me figured right. This is what I'd call "trying something new." Had a logish longboard, but ended up selling it to my roomate. As a replacement I picked up a 9'4" Harbour Terry Simms. I haven't had a chance to get out on it yet, seeing as the water temp is about 30 right now. But I'll let you know how it goes. I was looking to go "turny" and was even thinking about trying out something shorter, but they my current board showed up at the shop, and well, you kind of have to jump on used longboards--they don't stay around too long, and it fit the "turny" bill. Anyway, I kind of liked it because the tail is pulled in a bit, so it could handle a little more wave energy. I noticed my previous board started feeling a bit wierd at head-high and over--couldn't quite handle the juice. And it's got those fancy Harbour channels under the nose so it can still be noseridden, or so they say. But rest assured, I'm still planning on adding a single-fin noserider log type to quiver someday soon. Maybe a retro fish too. Those just look cool.

edit: I should be mentioned that if surfing skill were comapared to flying skill, I'd just be starting my instrument rating Lots of fun though. I love to get out whenever I can.

-Goose