Alternate career path

[hyper]

I'm probably biased, but....

I'll agree that college isn't for everybody and if I had to do it over again I'd PROBABLY do the 4 years for the security of that piece of paper.

However, and more importantly IMO, if you want to be a better, efficient pilot and get an invaluable education to assist you for the rest of your flying career (college degree or not).......fly freight. I'm flying people now (as opposed to boxes) and I can say as a rule, the FOs I fly with that have freight experience have much better real world IFR, sit. awareness, and in most cases, flying skills than others from alternate backgrounds. Does it mean they are better pilots? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on the type of operation I guess. But if/when the $hit hits the fan, I sure hope I'm next to another dawg.

 

[bobbysamd]

What proof would Bobby like, Names, DOB's, SSN#'s, home ph #'s? In addition, what percent makes the numbers significant? 5%, 10%, 25% who make it without a college degree? What period is needed to make the proof acceptable, last year, last three years, and last month? On the other hand, is there no proof that would meet Bobby's requirement of success without a college degree?

You still haven't answered "how," Yip.

 

[qmaster3]

Why not sell porn and make $$$ to fly????

 

[pilotyip]

Bobby sure I did, it is the start of this thread

 

[bobbysamd]

Alternate career "path"

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.

So, now, an aviation degree, along with women's studies, is not a "real" degree?? Baloney, Yip. Any degree, as long as it comes from an accredited college, is a "real" degree.

If you lived in the YIP area I would have you paint my house, cut my grass in exchange for flight time . . . .

I'll bet your house is always freshly-painted and your lawn freshly-mowed. The point being is there is no shortage of aspirees trying this strategy. There are only so many houses to be painted and lawns to be mowed in exchange for flight time.

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.

I'd be careful about giving/receiving this kind of advice. The time may not be legally loggable. Insurance requirements may preclude "riders." Moreover, these opportunities, in reality, are few and far between.

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 . . . .

You don't know that for sure, because dozens of others try the same strategy. What about the other jobs in which more education than high school is being sought? Without that education, those folks are SOL. Moreover, how many companies will hire some 19-year-old with a thousand hours to drive around its turbine airplane. Not many.

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.

That is the key. Nothing is guaranteed. Aviation has turned out to be a dead-end for so many people. Better to have credentials, so as to improve one's chances.

I had numerous colleagues at ERAU who earned their Aeronautical Science degree there, were hired as instructors after they graduated, only instructed, and were hired by the regionals almost as soon as they hit 1500-2000 hours with the appropriate amount of multi. By the way, Yip, they were hired with instructing time only and not "TJPIC." Did I not mention that the four-year degree came in the package. Substitute Purdue, U.N.D., Southeast Oklahoma State U., etc., for ERAU and the story is the same.

Or else, MAPD. I don't care especially for Mesa as a company, but the program works and you don't have to stay there forever. It potentially gets one into the right seat of TJ equipment at 300 hours. An A.S. degree is part of that program. You can move on as soon as you build enough Part 121 "TJPIC" appropriate to your next job.

 

[pilotyip]

A real degree

A real degree leads has market value that leads to employment in a career field. A degree in women's studies without going on to law school etc. does not lead to a high paying starting job, nor does aviation technology without an A&P certificate. Much better career starters are available in the skilled trades that do not require a four-year degree.

 

[pilotyip]

Legal SIC

If you are flying a CA-212 in the right seat, it is legal MEL turbin SIC. To log it, you need to go home and read the ops manual, make three T/O's and landings per year. And then you are a 100% legal CA-212 SIC.

 

[labbats]

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.

This made me laugh and laugh.

I had two walked in resumes and the captain who I'd be flying with talking directly to the hiring director of a turboprop cargo company. I flew the plane down there on a mx flight with the captain, had a mock interview that went well, but was told at 700 hours of flight experience that I wasn't worthy yet. At 1200 I still got passed over. And all this with a 4 year degree and another 2 year degree in aviation. Yet somehow, some 18 year old ramper is going to get hired at 500 hours. Yeah, it's happened in the late 90s, but I seriously doubt it's going to happen again anytime soon.

There's an exception to every rule, but to use that as an example of how to get ahead in general is painting a false picture.

 

[pilotyip]

Happened in 2002 in Hancock, Mich

Exact story, Superior Aviation, 500 hours Comm, Inst MEL right into the right seat of a metro.

 

[labbats]

I'll say it again.

There's an exception to every rule, but to use that as an example of how to get ahead in general is painting a false picture.