Alternate career path

[pilotyip]

I have been PMed about this a couple timnes on what would be an alternate career path to the college path. So here goes. I know this will draw more flak than a B-17 over Mersberg. If you want to be a pilot start flying. That means in High School get your private by the time you are 17. You may discover you do not like flying, this will save you time in college studying aviation. You can then go to college and get a real degree that leads to a good paying job. Then you get a job after high school that builds flight time, work the ramp, and wash airplanes, anything for flight time. If you lived in the YIP area I would have you paint my house, cut my grass in exchange for flight time. Work on your inst. rating. Once you get, the hours for a Comm rating get your Comm and then a MEL rating. Go to a Certificate mill, pay the bucks get it done. Then find somewhere flying a CA-212 to something needing a F/O, doing sky diving or something, volunteer to sit in the right seat for peanuts. Go where the job is. Be gracious. Get a job on the ramp where a cargo operator flying turbo props, Metroliners. Skyvans, etc, that comes through in the middle of the night; get to know the crewmembers, make sure they always have fresh coffee, loan them your airport special to get something to eat. Never pass up an opportunity to be a great guy to hang around with, never complain. Ask if they are looking for F/O’s. You will probably be one of the first they think of when hiring comes. Fly the turbo prop for a year or so. Until your hours get into the 1200 range with a good amount of MEL. Then start applying to the On-demand Turbo Jet operators. Within a couple years, you are logging TJ PIC. Never kick back; study your butt off on Regs and IFR procedures. Get a PC based sim force your self to fly instruments on it. This is an alternate career path I have seen succeed compared to the go to college get a CFI rating and then a job as a regional F/O. Is it guaranteed to work? Nothing in life is guaranteed, but it has worked for others.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

or....

Take your time, go to college (any college) have fun, get laid, meet friends, travel, learn a few things -- then, use those connections and education to land the better aviation jobs....

without all the blatent torture described above...

The choice is yours!!


.

 

[pilotyip]

Good to hear from you, where have you been. Someone has to represent the 5% who make it without a four year degree.

 

[Xfr8dog]

Love the avatar Gulfstream 200! Grey Goose, dry, three olives on the side is my drink of choice... I also dig the advice, party and network in college while thumbing your nose at the goofy piece of paper!


Brilliant!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Yip just hates the reality check - and I guess his 6 month sabbatical from college posts is over..

His advice for the 1000th time ---

"take the hard road, beat your head against the wall, its good for you, builds character."

"fly cuz you love to, not for the money"....

(Fuk ALL that)

Take the easier road folks...the one traveled by the masses, the proven method....



And Sorry Xfr8dog....a martini IS NOT made with Vodka. Shame on you.

.

 

[Princedietrich]

Gin and Vermouth, people. Gin and Vermouth. What is it with all these trendy "martini" wannabes out there these days?


Ok, got that out of my system.

My advice is to not whore yourself out for flighttime, because you still need to eat and pay bills. There are countless aviation employers out there who know that you are desperate for flight time and will do anything to get it, and they will exploit this to their fullest benefit. How many of us have gone 2 months without a paycheck because we were getting flight time that we didn't have to pay for? Sure it pads the logbook but it doesn't fill your stomach when it's hungry. How many of us have been office slaves or chained to a receptionist's phone for the fleeting chance at another hour in the Cherokee or 152?

Don't undersell yourself bro, your skills are valuable and you deserve to be compensated for them. Perhaps not enough to live like a king, but at least enough to LIVE.

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

I have read many posts regarding the the requirement of a college degree for advancement in aviation. Unfortunately we live in a world in which with the exception of an act of God or extremely good market conditions for pilot's, a degree will be required TO GET THE INTERVIEW! To enhance one's chances to the fullest extent possible get the degree-it certainly won't hurt you.

Remember, with more than ninety five percent of candidates interviewing for the major's with a degree, it doesn't take rocket science to realise that other factors determine wether you get the job! It is a shame that our major airlines cannot think outside the box when truly determining good pilot candidates.

 

[Flyin Tony]

Here is what I have been doing,

Got my PPL on 17birthday and 18 now. I then went to IFR ground school and meet a bunch of people in there and they all wanted to fly so I must have got 10 hours doing that stuff. Then when you take your Mom and Dad flying rent the biggest POS around. If your lucky they might buy a plane. At about 100hours my Dad bought a plane for me to haul him around in. Got my IFR in the comanche. Now im at 300TT and tons of XC. And STILL IN HIGHSCHOOL. Dont ask me when I will be out of there because im on the 6 year plan. I have all the hours for the commercial, but I need to take the written. After that on to the CFI-II and I've got a job at my local FBO for that once I get them. Its a freelance thing, They dont pay me the students do. And they are going to need me soon because they will only have 1 CFII there full time. Other then that Im going to do the online college thing.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

6 years of high school?

fill us in..

 

[pilotyip]

Thinking outside the box, Is that not JB's operating mode? If they find a pilot who can fly, 3000 hours 11 PIC, is fun to be around, and looks like a good catch, JB hire him. They could care less about a college degree because it has nothing to do with success at thier airline. Again explain how does a non-four year degree guy get hired at JB in from t all those piltos with 4-yr degrees?