Chances of getting on with a Major....

[johnny taliban]

The years thunder by. The dreams of youth grow dim where they lie caked in dust on the shelves of patience. Before we know it, the tomb is sealed.

Thats a great quote and reminded me of when I was wrestling with the decision to pursue aviation. A few years after I had graduated from college I was trying to decide between going back to school for a master's degree or move to Florida and try to become an airline pilot.

I had the aviation bug since I can remember but never had anyone to mentor me. I would read all those flying magazines and try to get as much information out of them as possible. I dreamed alot about flying but never TRUELY believed that becoming an airline pilot was possible for someone like me. I had no money or connections in the industry. I did have alot of faith though and when presented with the opportunity to participate in a work/study program (first lots of work then eventually get to flight train, think karate kid ) I decided to take a chance on what was, at the time, a real unknown for me. I packed my bags and moved to Florida with very little savings, a car that barely ran, and a whole lot of faith.

All my friends were starting to make some decent money and I was throwing out the trash, cutting the grass around the school facility and washing airplanes (again, think karate kid). This was NOT my idea of "the dream" but things slowly got better. I eventually finished the work portion of the program and started flight training, got a job pumping gas, made some connections and ten years later Im just waiting for SWA,Jet Blue, FedEX, or UPS to call .
Has it been worth it? Can't answer that question just yet. Ive certainly seen and done some neat things along the way (Aspen CO for two days just this week) but have also suffered financially along the way although things are better lately.

Would I recommend that this guy give it a shot? Yes, IF and that is a BIG IF, he has his finances in order, can be happy spending his career at a regional, and has no delusions of making $200,000/year.

good luck,
Johnny

 

[Widow's Son]

Anything can happen.

There is a pilot hired at American in about 1990 who was hired within two years of getting his IFR rating. His last name is Boice and he was about 21 when he was hired and will eventually be number one on the list.

I've seen a lot of pilots hired in the commuter world with less than 1000 hours and seen them go to majors a year or two later.

1000 hours may not sound like much but it is more time than Chuck Yeager had when he broke the sound barrier.

Even though the experience level has increased dramatically of those looking for jobs, it seems like the airlines that are hiring are still balancing their classes with pilots of varied backgrounds, ages, and experience levels.

I remember when most major carriers wouldn't accept an app from anyone over the age of 27. SWA has always bucked that trend by hiring guys even in their 50's yet still having Captains occasionally in their 20's
If you've convinced yourself that you are going to fail, you're right.

 

[Kry_Webb]

I eat my poop

 

[HoursHore]

You went to all the trouble to imitate Ty Webb's Avatar, profile, aircraft flown, signature, all the way down to muck raker, and the best you came up with is.
.....I eat my poop?

 

[Poppa Hodax]

...and every former military guy will say the same ... though all the civilian guys will accuse us of being arrogant.

Sorry, bro. Gotta disagree with you. As a former carrier aviator, some of your observations were spot on. But if you dismiss every aspect of aviation other than military flying, you are in for a long and lonely career.

Military flying is fun, and offers some unique opportunities. But you make it sound like you and Goose would do nothing but spend an afternoon in negative g dives with Mig-31s. I recall that flying was a secondary duty in the Navy. You have to push a boatload of paper for every flight hour. Guys get out of the Navy after nine years with maybe 2000 hours. I have flown more than that in three years of 121 flying (I haven't updated my profile), and I didn't have to be the Admin Officer, Combined Federal Campaign Officer, Toys for Tots Officer, or any of a dozen other crappy jobs required to get a good fitrep so I could remain in the service. Military aviation isn't all high energy ACM, low levels, and volleyball games.

By the way, any pogue can zing along at 500 KIAS and land on a 12000 foot runway. Real aviators can be found behind The Boat. How many traps do you have, High Speed? If you have to flare to land, you have to squat to pee.

There are a lot of cool things in civilian aviation. I encourage you to look a little harder, LT Mitchell. You will be a lot happier if you do.

My regards to the guys down in the VFW hall talking about the good ole days.

 

[VVJM265]

Poppa Hodax,
Well Said.
VVJM265

 

[canyonblue]

I do enjoy 121 flying, even though it doesn't "thrill" like NOE on NVGs did, it is a different challenge

There are a few challenges out there in 121. Like........Taxing the airplane without putting the B Flight Attendant in the corner pocket......Descending without everyone feeling weightless...........Climbing without everyone feeling the blood go out of their head.............braking without everyone eating the seat in front of them.............and my personal favorite, greasing it at Midway and not having to touch the brakes.

 

[AMRCostUnit]

...and I didn't have to be the Admin Officer, Combined Federal Campaign Officer, Toys for Tots Officer, or any of a dozen other crappy jobs required to get a good fitrep so I could remain in the service.

I had completely wiped CFC Duty from my memory banks until you had to bring it up! (Hands over ears) "LALALALALLALA...I'm not listening...make it go away"

Unit
Former All of the Above and Commmand Post DO too...

 

[Big Beer Belly]

But if you dismiss every aspect of aviation other than military flying, you are in for a long and lonely career.

After getting paid to ride a "Hog" for several years, renting a Moped just doesn't raise my blood pressure like yours.

Guys get out of the Navy after nine years with maybe 2000 hours. I have flown more than that in three years of 121 flying

I haven't flown 2000 hours in 10 years of 121! Then again, you Navy guys do like to spend a lot of time "together" in small areas!

If you have to flare to land, you have to squat to pee.

Trust me ... flown with enough Navy guys to know you'all still require a little remedial training in that area.

PS ... you do know what a Moped and a fat chick have in common, don't you? Both fun to ride till your friends catch you! ("I crack myself up." <---- from your favorite movie)


Happy Trails Poppa ...

BBB

 

[BeeKeeper]

Just so you know what you are getting into, this is what I didnt think about enough before I got into flying:

Average worker hrs away from home per week/month/year : 40/160/1920
Average pilot hours away from home per week/month/year : 75/300/3600

Multiply that out over 25 yrs of flying and you just spent 42,000hrs/1750 days/4.79 years extra away from home as a pilot.

It's a huge price to pay. I like my job, but those are huge chunks of time to give away. If you have a family, stick with academics. I'd gladly trade my seniority for your situation.

 

[321 busdriver]

So, the obvious question to me , without reading any of the other posts is, do you want to look back on your life and wonder, " what if "? If flying for a major is your dream, don't accept anything else. You have the college background, you're just lacking flight experience. If you're looking to make big bucks, have a great retirement, and work 12 days a month, then you're too late. I had all of that at one time. Now I don't. Would I have it to do all over again, what would I change. Absolutely nothing! You can't put a price tag on personal gratification. If you have a choice to make on flying or having a career that might be more finacially rewarding, only you know the answer to that. But again, if your post is accurate, then flying is what you should do. Even after all the bs, it's still the best gig going. Good luck!

I know I'll get the "anything is possible answers," but I have a question regaurding my future. It's been my dream since a child to become a pilot for a major airline, and I currently have about 425TT/18M at age 35. I also have a MS in Physics and have been accepted into a few PhD programs in physics.

My question is.......provided I continue to shell out thousands of dollars to work through my ratings ang forego the PhD program, do you think I will have a chance at getting a good "return on my investment" by getting on with a major......or any lucrative flying job for that matter?

Although a dream, I'm trying to rationalize of shelling out $30-40 on flight training, and the furthest I can go is to a regional or small cargo carrier.

What would you do if you were in my shoes.....I guess that's the gist of my question. Thanks in advance for the responces.

 

[semperfido]

So, the obvious question to me , without reading any of the other posts is, do you want to look back on your life and wonder, " what if "? If flying for a major is your dream, don't accept anything else. You have the college background, you're just lacking flight experience. If you're looking to make big bucks, have a great retirement, and work 12 days a month, then you're too late. I had all of that at one time. Now I don't. Would I have it to do all over again, what would I change. Absolutely nothing! You can't put a price tag on personal gratification. If you have a choice to make on flying or having a career that might be more finacially rewarding, only you know the answer to that. But again, if your post is accurate, then flying is what you should do. Even after all the bs, it's still the best gig going. Good luck!

i'll second what he said. and i can say the same thing about about my career path. you gotta sift through the bs--but it is still a sweet gig

 

[capt. megadeth]

Again, in my experience (yours may vary) it takes about fifteen years start to finish to make it to a major airline job. If you're female or a minority, or daddy bought you a 152 when you were 14, then things can be different.

Bite me.....it took me 15 years start to finish too.

 

[Ty Webb]

You went to all the trouble to imitate Ty Webb's Avatar, profile, aircraft flown, signature, all the way down to muck raker, and the best you came up with is.
.....I eat my poop?

Heh-heh. I just saw this.

Boy, they just don't make trolls like they used to.


Sigh.