FAA forecasts dwindling student pilot numbers

[beagle pilot]

The industry is just not what it once was and there are far more lucrative places to go than aviation with far less grief per dollar...

Good advice for those who are only concerned about making money.

Don't get me wrong; I think we deserve fair compensation for our work and decent working conditions and schedules. I'll never turn down extra money in my paycheck. Money is good to have, but I'm not all about the money. I like flying. When I got out of the military in 1991 the legacies were furloughing. I could have gone into middle management somewhere and immediately started making $50K+, but I wanted to fly as a profession. So I applied to the only airlines which were hiring; the regionals. Now I'm an RJ Captain making $100K. It's not great but it doesn't suck either. Beats sleeping in a tent eating canned food while people are trying to shoot you when you go out into the trees to take a dump.

 

[Rally]

disregard wrong place

 

[xjlifer]

I said what I said because I am tired of this new moderator moving threads all over the place.

This article is not NEWS either.

I do agree you have valid questions and responses though.

To the moderator(s):

Stop moving threads so much. You're smothering this message board.

Yea not only do they move them they send ya a nasty gram as well.

 

[NuGuy]

I know a person who is a family practitioner who spent $250,000 on her medical education, and didn't complete residency until she was 33, and has just been practicing a little over a year. She makes low $100s. Doctors salaries aren't all they are cracked up to be, unless you are a surgeon, or other in-demand specialist. Even then, the difference in the number of years of residency and other training makes the calculations favor other careers. It is better to make a smaller amount over a longer period of time than a larger amount for a short amount of time.

I find it funny how many people on here talk about doctors and their pay, and most of them (surprise) don't know WTF they are talking about.

Sorry, this math does not compute unless she started much later than the normal med student.

Graduate from college at 21. From MD/DO school 25. Intern for 1 year and that's 26.

That's all you need to be a general practitioner. Family practice rarely adds more than 3 years. Even if you take a year off somewhere, it doesn't add up.

Now if she started later in life, then that's also understandable, BUT that is one of the pitfalls of career changing into medicine. You've got a HUGE bill due (unless you go the in-state school route), and a shorter time to amortize it. By the time you're 35-40, the relatively long footprint, and the cost of switching is just way too high unless it's just something you have to do, have a well-to-do spouse, or if you have the money burning a hole in your pocket.

I will grant you that Family Practice pay comparatively sucks. But you rarely run into giant malpractice bills, and you're home every night, rarely do nights/weekends and are probably out the door of the office by 6pm even after dictation.

It's a very popular choice for wannabe moms, too, because of the extreme flexibility. There is lots of opportunity for part time and fill-in work without all the hassle of being part of or owning a private practice. As with anything, there is a risk/reward tradeoff.

Nu

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Sorry, this math does not compute unless she started much later than the normal med student.

Graduate from college at 21. From MD/DO school 25. Intern for 1 year and that's 26.

That's all you need to be a general practitioner. Family practice rarely adds more than 3 years. Even if you take a year off somewhere, it doesn't add up.

Now if she started later in life, then that's also understandable, BUT that is one of the pitfalls of career changing into medicine. You've got a HUGE bill due (unless you go the in-state school route), and a shorter time to amortize it. By the time you're 35-40, the relatively long footprint, and the cost of switching is just way too high unless it's just something you have to do, have a well-to-do spouse, or if you have the money burning a hole in your pocket.

I will grant you that Family Practice pay comparatively sucks. But you rarely run into giant malpractice bills, and you're home every night, rarely do nights/weekends and are probably out the door of the office by 6pm even after dictation.

It's a very popular choice for wannabe moms, too, because of the extreme flexibility. There is lots of opportunity for part time and fill-in work without all the hassle of being part of or owning a private practice. As with anything, there is a risk/reward tradeoff.

Nu

To quote her, "That's total bull, no one is out be 6 PM."

Apparently, no one will hire you after one year of internship, though you technically can be a licensed physician. Again to quote, "I've never seen anyone not do residency, nor should you, as a patient go to anyone who hasn't done residency."

So she was a little on the older side, but she was by no means the oldest in her class.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

My point is only that there is a cost/benefit to any job, and being a doctor is not what most people think it is. It is a difficult job, costly to get into, with a definite "pay your dues" situation with residency. For those crying about first year pay/and reserve at an airline, try being a resident for 3 years, then we'll talk. 60-80 hours a week, for $40,000 per year. It sucks.

The basic point is, don't get into aviation for money. It is a well compensated job, in my opinion, but it isn't the best way to make money. Being a family practitioner is the same. It isn't the path to riches.

I think most of us aren't into aviation for the money. I'm in it for the flexibility of where to live, and flexibility of schedule. I'm sure most of you have other reasons too.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Wait wait wait...they FORECAST dwindling numbers of students....


Here, let me check my schedule and bank account...yup...student numbers have dwindled...

 

[wscrj]

From June/July 2007 Air Line Pilot:

In the recent poll the Wilson Center conducted on the Age
60 rule (see “A New Chapter in a Long History,” page 20),
thousands of pilots were asked whether they would fly to age
65 if the rule changes.
“And we find that very, very few want to stick around to
65,” Comstock says. “Many more are saying, well, maybe 62,
that’s about it. So on the issue of pilot shortage, if the trump
card was that if the rule changes, you’d have a huge surge
of pilot supply, flying to age 65 to make up for lost benefits,
etc.—it’s not going to happen.”

Hmmm.......

At AS, 95% of those hitting 60 have stayed.

 

[Lynxman]

Economic times were much different in 2007 than those of today.