Getting Hired At 20yrs. Old

[lowery21]

19 year olds dude.

 

[Cardinal]

You new guys need to remember that a lot of pilots on this board had to instruct 2+ years before we were qualified for a Regional job. I instructed over 2 years and the only regional that would call me back was Great Lakes (and I was lucky). Many others had to do the 135 thing before they could move on to the barbie jet. Therefore, you will not get any sympathy from most folks on this board. If you want pinnacle, then do what you have to do to get pinnacle. Time will go faster than you think. Plus you will become a better pilot by instructing for 400+ hours and you will get more respect from your future captains. You will still have life by the balls if you start at pinnacle at or near your 21st birthday. Good luck in whatever you do.

-Flex

Hehe, what Flex81 meant to say was that Lakes is more than willing to hire pilots under 21.

I hit Lakes just after turning 21 and a year of CFI'ing. Upside? Hired at a major before turning 26. Wads of cash pumping into 401k. Laker buddies. No college-related STDs.

Downside? No college stories, no college experiences no college buddies. Learning to drink while bound by a 12hr rule. Grunting through online courses in the middle of summer on every day off. Balancing college age hooliganism with safety, human life, paying passengers, and career advancement. Never backpacked Europe, never did the Appalachian Trail.

The orginal poster may have seen "major airline at 26" and stopped reading, but I hope this is not the case. Talking to my classmates, we all feel the same way - excited, thrilled, and priveleged to be here, but wondering "what's next?" in the back of our mind. Big picture, meaning of life stuff.

I saw that same post-partum depression (bad comparison, I know) after getting hired at my first airline. When you set out just one goal in life - becoming an airline pilot, climbing Everest, getting married - what happens when you achieve that goal? It's very disorienting, you will feel lost for a while. Many descend into fits of negativity from which they never emerge. The guy who is bitching in his probationary year is that guy.

To make a long story short, don't lose track of your goal. Yet don't lose track of the legitimately important things in life. Yes, career and money is important, but so are people, so is learning, so is spirituality, so is health. I've blown off good friends to go to work. Over and over again. Even when I didn't have to. I've let this career change me in negative ways, let it affect my integrity and my morality. I have sunk to "their" level. I have watched uncaringly as good women walk away because I could only focus on the flight time, the training, upgrade, the interview, or whatever the hurdle of the moment happened to be. Should we be in such a hurry to join the ratrace? Keep careful eye on your priorities.

Would I choose this career again? Absolutely. Would I be in such a galdarn hurry? No.

 

[Garritto]

Distance learning? Getting hired at 19, 20, 21? Why would you want to do this to yourself? Why are there so many people trying to avoid going to college full time, with dorms, girls, and beer? There was a 20 year old in my new hire class that had no college experience and now, 6 months later, he's wiped out from flying regional 121 and wants to change careers. I did the 4 years of college, flight instructed for a year, and got to my regional at age 23. I still have 42 years of flying (age 65) so what's the rush???

 

[Papps]

I've noticed that some airlines have a min age of 21 listed in the qualifications for first officer positions. Do any airlines go below this?

Everyone knows that 20 year olds can't fly. The day you turn 21 the FAA mails you a packet with all the "real answers"

Just make sure after you read it you don't go rack up a DUI with your new found bar privilages.

 

[Lear70]

If a 1900 operator had a base in DTW, you bet your behind I would eventually apply there first.

Ever heard of Mesaba?



5 of the best years of my 4-year degree were spent in college partying almost every night. On the boat on the lake with either sorority chicks or strippers. Both if it was a really good weekend.

There are some fun, young PCL F/A's you can land but, for the most part, college was more enjoyable.

Watching some guys get hired into a major at 27 definitely is hard on the ego when 9/11 delayed so many of us by 4-5 years and we didn't get on until our early 30's, but so the hell what... the memories are worth it, and the 5 type ratings by 30 makes it easier to land on your feet when your airline (or the entire 121 industry) tanks.

p.s. Take a closer look at Garritto's avatar and ask yourself how often you think you'll see that sight on a PCL overnight? Hint: it's a hell of a lot less often than in college.

 

[CoAlpha]

Ever heard of Mesaba?



5 of the best years of my 4-year degree were spent in college partying almost every night. On the boat on the lake with either sorority chicks or strippers. Both if it was a really good weekend.

There are some fun, young PCL F/A's you can land but, for the most part, college was more enjoyable.

Watching some guys get hired into a major at 27 definitely is hard on the ego when 9/11 delayed so many of us by 4-5 years and we didn't get on until our early 30's, but so the hell what... the memories are worth it, and the 5 type ratings by 30 makes it easier to land on your feet when your airline (or the entire 121 industry) tanks.

p.s. Take a closer look at Garritto's avatar and ask yourself how often you think you'll see that sight on a PCL overnight? Hint: it's a hell of a lot less often than in college.

If I could

1. go back to a REAL 4 year college again and spend it drinking and fornicating for 5 years with some of the best friends I will ever make.

or

2. PFT and not get a real education, and brag about seeing chicks that they never interacted with then getting to a "major" faster (is there even such a thing now days)

I would choose 1 and live my life on campus hosting keggers and skipping class, for the rest of my life.

The guys that argue with theses statements never did this, and are rationalizing this to them selfs by trying to clown on it.

*** and unfortunately this is well evident by the way some of you interact in the cockpit, with a lack of people/social skills. That could of been learned around a keg/breaking in hot young freshman***

 

[Papps]

Jesus H..... if you have the chance to go to a real college do it. (that means a real college with girls and football...not ERAU) I can almost guarantee you that college will be the best years of your life. I love flying, but the airlines are very boring....they are a job. College is a cool fantasy land where the beer flows like wine, and girls making out with each other has strangely but thankfully become a huge fad.

 

[pilotyip]

Everyone knows that 20 year olds can't fly. The day you turn 21 the FAA mails you a packet with all the "real answers"

yea the average bomber pilot flying out of England in 1944 was 19 yrs old and we know they could not fly.

 

[relief tube]

this job isnt going anywhere.

go to a real college and enjoy the best 4 years of your life.

then when youre done youll have more hours so you can get on with a better regional.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

No one ever regrets going to college.

nuff' said.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Embry Riddle Football...still undefeated.

Distance learning? Getting hired at 19, 20, 21? Why would you want to do this to yourself? Why are there so many people trying to avoid going to college full time, with dorms, girls, and beer? There was a 20 year old in my new hire class that had no college experience and now, 6 months later, he's wiped out from flying regional 121 and wants to change careers. I did the 4 years of college, flight instructed for a year, and got to my regional at age 23. I still have 42 years of flying (age 65) so what's the rush???

Go to a real college...one that has a big time athletic program. One where the Homecoming Court isn't paraded around during the halftime of the school's men's soccer game.

Besides, Garritto's avatar might be your lab partner for science class.

 

[PCL_128]

I would choose 1 and live my life on campus hosting keggers and skipping class, for the rest of my life.

The guys that argue with theses statements never did this, and are rationalizing this to them selfs by trying to clown on it.

"Clown on it?" I don't think any of us are trying to "clown on it." Some people just have different priorities, and not everyone wants to spend four years of their life at college. Why do you think that everyone has to live life the way you did?

Everybody's different. Traditional college is good for some people, but it's not for everyone.

 

[flyinhigh21]

I already have gone to a "real" college for 2 years. I am about 80-90% done with my bachelor's. I have fun, trust me. It's not so much that I'm "in a hurry" as much as I just wonder if it is possible to get hired if I am qualified flight time wise before I happen to be 21. Thanks to all for offering your replies!!

 

[Lear70]

Sure, you can get hired. With the pilot shortages facing the regionals if you had even ONE internal rec, I can think of 3 or 4 places that would snap you up and throw you in a CRJ in a heartbeat.

PCL is right, some people simply don't want to party every night or play football (thank GOD it's August again), but if you're one of those people who enjoy college, I'd get out there and party while you're still young enough to grab those late-teen college girls.

Unless you're rolling in money or have the comedic talent of Tom Hanks or Jeff Foxworthy and the looks of Tom Cruise, the ability to land them past 35 recedes faster than my hairline...

Personally, if I had it to do over again, instead of going to MTSU which has one of the worst football teams of all time, I'd likely go to Notre Dame or UGA and LIVE ON CAMPUS this time instead of at home and then go on to Law School while still getting my ratings on the side.

Just a thought. Good luck to you!

 

[JSky26]

Everything said about college on this thread puts a smile on my face...because it's so damn true...

Hell, I'm typing this hungover as hell....it's frickin' Wednesday! They would call that alcoholism if I weren't in school. But hey, you only live once. I've got one year left at this place and I'm trying to take it to the fullest.

College has been the best decision of my life.

Yeah I'm an aviation major, but I didn't go to a place like ERAU. I go to a big state school that has a smaller flight program....along with the above stated...beer, chicks, parties, football (Lear, I hear ya about football season comin' around), basketball (sweet sixteen last year)..etc. There's only about 200 of us against the 20,000 that attend the university.

I'm instructing now for the school and yeah, I'm not building the time I could somewhere else and it doesn't pay all that well but it's a good gig. I have a friend that left school at 19 when he was a freshman to go to a regional. He saw the opportunity that a couple regionals were hiring and went for it. It turns out that 3 years later they are still hiring and even moreso than before! He definetly missed out and he knows it... I feel bad for the guy. The grass is not always greener....

We have a LONG career of flying ahead of ourselves....why enter adulthood prematurely?:beer:

 

[Papps]

Enjoy college to the fullest. You miss so much cool stuff if you enter the real world before you have to. Notice the far away gaze that us working folks get when we talk about our college days.

College is gods way of saying "sorry for what im about to put you through" hehe

 

[poor2thecore]

I have a little different perspective, but somewhat one the same lines. A large 4-year would have put a financial burden on my parents, and I didn't want them in that situation with 2 other younger siblings planning on college as well. I made the decision to join the military (NAVY) instead. 1) The travel is awesome. 2) With the benefits I will have the ability to finance my bachelors, and continue that even further and get my masters.

At 19 years old, I've crossed the Atlantic twice by ship, transited the Suez Canal, and have been to Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, Crete, Bahrain, Seychelles, and a small African country called Djibouti. I've enjoyed 2 dollar beers (way too many ) with some of my best friends half way around the world in Bahrain, snorkeled in Seychelles with amazing gorgeous German chick on holiday, and went wine tasting in southern France. This is only 1 year of being in the Navy.

Yes, it isn’t college, and I don't live the dorm life, but I am actively pursuing a degree, getting paid, flying 2-3 times a week and working towards my instrument rating, and get to see the world on Uncle Sam's dime, plus some of the people you meet here will be friends for life.

I used to be all jung ho about getting to a regional at 20, but its experiences like the gentlemen above and myself that makes it worth looking back at, and laughing. A job is a job... but fun stuff in your early life is something you can only experience once.

I still have 3 years left, lots of drinking, crazy port visits, plenty of time to go to school, and tons of time to fly. I'll get out with a bunch of cool stories, my ratings, half of my BA (or an AA), instruct, and find my way to a regional about the time I turn 23, then start up again taking night classes to finish my BA. Still incredibly young in my opinion.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Kids, you'll be flying all your life. There's a small window for attending college and getting the partying out of your system. Do it while you can. No one ever has regrets about going to college. The other way around, I'm not so sure.

Remember, there's a lot more to life than flying airplanes. Go get cultured and educated with a liberal arts degree. The flying will still be here when you're done.

In fact, you can get through college in 3 years if you want. I did it in 3 and a half.

 

[pilotyip]

I regret going to college I could have been a Delta Captain, never laid off, if I had skipped college. Could have started Navy Flt training in 1963, got out in 1968, almost a shoe in for a job a DAL. I know too many non-degreed guys that pulled it off.

 

[QuasarZ]

Kids, you'll be flying all your life. There's a small window for attending college and getting the partying out of your system. Do it while you can. No one ever has regrets about going to college. The other way around, I'm not so sure.

Remember, there's a lot more to life than flying airplanes. Go get cultured and educated with a liberal arts degree. The flying will still be here when you're done.

In fact, you can get through college in 3 years if you want. I did it in 3 and a half.

I totally agree.. Ill be done in 3.5 as well. So far college has been a blast. So many great friends, stories, oh boy do I have stories.. haha, great teacher recomendations and this is only after two years. Granted, I do love flying and would like to start my career now, but I have the rest of my life for that.