High School To The Airlines - Roadmap

[UndauntedFlyer]

I like what PILOTYIP says here,

"Fly because you like to, if you are in it for the respect, prestige, recognition or money you may be disappointed."

This is all very true.

 

[FlyinKiddo]

I'm a sophomore in highschool and i want to start flying as soon as i can. I've been out to my local airport and theres two flying clubs there, so I can go to one of them. I think Im going to stop playing lacrosse and go to the airport after school instead. I read what you wrote but can i get all of that stuff done before I'm done with highschool?

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

The answer is it all depends. If you have the money, the interest and a real desire it can be done by the end of the summer following your graduation from high school. I know of many young people who have done this. In order to be on schedule you will need to solo within a few months after you turn 16. Then work to get your Private Pilot certificate on your 17th birthday. Then train most every day after school and on most every weekend plus throughout the summer. Yes, it can be done it just takes money, interest and desire.

 

[RipCurl]

I sure hope people out there aren't really pursuing college degrees so they can just "put a check in the box".

One thing that I learned in college is that a lot of people are there for that express purpose. It's all about getting a degree via the path of least resistance rather than actually getting something out of that huge investment. I'll admit that it took me a year or two to realize that I was doing the same thing... what a waste.

 

[Regul8r]

I agree with Undaunted, go for the degree. It provides a learning environment in which (in my experience at least) 75% of the learning takes place outside of the class rooms. VERY valuable in my opinion.

 

[Hamburger]

First, my hat is off to Undaunted for starting a thread offering good, solid advice to kids wanting to get in the game. We disagree severly concerning the Age 60 rule, but it is truly refreshing to see he cares about the younger generation. Kudos.

The previous advice is spot on. Many factors to consider. The fact is, having a degree is a filter when it comes to getting many jobs. Many give preference at the least, require at the most. I have never seen an Aviation degree officially given more weight than another degree. Psychology seems to equal Aeronautical Science, officially.

A lot of people will tell you to get a non-aviation degree as a backup. While that may be practical, I personally feel that is loser talk. Don't plan for failure, go all in. Assuming that a degree is financially available to you and you truly want to be a pilot, why the hell would you get a degree that is not going to maximize your understading of your chosen profession? If I wanted to be a CEO, I'd go to business school, not medical school. If I wanted to be a scientist, I wouldn't go to business school.

You will see a lot of bile spewed at guys from Riddle. There is a high Dork-factor there to be sure, but it actually is a top-notch education. It's a good feeling to be sitting in the lobby for an interview with a bunch of FBO guys next to you. Are they good pilots? Probably. Can they handle the job/training, sure. But they would have to be extremely self-motivated to have an understanding of Swept wing aerodynamics (mach tuck/dutch roll/etc...), Turbojet systems (Accumulators, Pressurization, Hydraulics), Avionics (What a transponder looks like on an occiliscope), Weather (adiabatic lapse rates, wave cylcones), Physiology (the difference between Stagnant and Systolic Hypoxia). I can almost guarentee that none of them know that cracks are stop-drilled because a circle brings the K-factor to infinity, thus minimizing propogation. My Aerodynamics class was taught by the guy that literally wrote the Book on Single engine performance (Raise the Dead).
Are these things trivial and ridiculous? Absolutely. Do they have any bearing on real life pilot operations on the line? Very little. Do interviewers ask you questions on such things? Absolutely.

If you have the opportunity to get an education and you want to be a pilot, I strongly suggest you get one in an aviation related field. If your head is going to be filled with information you'll never use, it might as well be aviation information. If my shakers are going off and things are core-locking on me, I don't want random Accountant/Psychology/Communications bouncing around inside my head.

And by no means am I endorsing Riddle. When I went there, it was a comprable $300/credit hour. In the last ten years it has tripled to $1100/hr. Rip Off. Has the cost anything else (besides gas) quadrupled in the last 10 years? UND and Boilermakers and others have good Aviation programs. Most important, pursue an INTERNSHIP with the employer you desire to retire with.

If you are not finacially able to deal with, or don't want to pay for college, Miltary is a VERY good option. Look into it. There will ALWAYS be jobs for military pilots.

If Mil and College aren't your bag for whatever reason, this is one of those jobs left where you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and have the career you desire. You have to have the ratings, but beyond that, (bad pun I know), the sky is the limit. Be congenial and respectful to EVERYONE you encounter along the way. This is a small and unforgiving world. Your private pilot student could very well end up being on the hiring board at the job you desire. Having buddies write letters for you and walk your stuff into the Chief Pilot are FAR more valuable than any credentials on your resume.

If you want to work for Southwest, get a job throwing bags for Southwest while you are in College/training. Many, Many bag throwers end up being pilots.
Bottom line, if this is what you want to do (and it probably is if you've found this board), Nothing will be able to stop you. Unless you are very lucky, you are going to come on hard times when it seem like this was a bad idea. The worst pilot job is better than working at the DMV, an bank, or a (gasp) cubicle. Keep smiling and GOOD LUCK! I guarentee it will be a hell of a ride.

Let's not start jumping on me about the post. I'm not trying to play "Mr. I'm so smart guy." I've already stated that books don't make the pilot. This info seems to stick in my head for whatever reason. I wish I could replace it with my wife's birthday, but it just isn't happeing. I'm not the aviation all day and all night guy either. There is a standing policy at my house that any airplane/work talk is punished by pounding whatever drink gets handed to you by as many people as can hand them to you. This keeps it to a minimum, I've found. Many, Many other things to talk about.

The only point I'm trying to make is that it is that in a very competetive industry, it is logical to make yourself as competetive as possible.

 

[Hamburger]

All else being said, When you decide to join this profession, do so knowing that it is a Federal Law requires that you retire when you reach sixty years of age. Every pilot alive has known this when they decided to join this profession.

If you are not comfortable with this and you desire to work past the age of sixty, you should seek other employment. This, or plan on working in any other sector of aviation. Charter, Corporate, Scenic, Instruction, Float fly-fishing, really anything other than Airline will let you work past Sixty.

Please understand that one of the reasons that you recieve that first call from an Airline to get your first job, it is because those who held the job before you moved on to your "dream job" airline. Those that move on from your 'first job' airline to your "dream job" airline do so, in large part, to having to replace those at your "dream job" airline who were forced to retire.

Therefore, if those who desire to raise the age 60 retirement, knowing full well that was the deal when THEY got THEIR first job, get their way and change the rules, those of you gunning for your first job will have to wait (five years?) to start your career. Keep in mind that those who are nearing the age sixty are Baby Boomers who vastly outnumber those of you trying to get that first job. For every one trying to get in at the bottom, there are two or three at the top, clogging up the pipes.

As I have previously stated, UndauntedFlyer, This is a great thread and I respect you and the fact that you started it. However, if this is truly in the interest of informing the next generation. I feel it is very important to fill them in on how the age 60 rule affects their potential careers.

 

[JSky26]

Great post Hamburger!

 

[pilotyip]

Hamburger, come on High school er and age 60 in the same thread? No one has any idea what will happen in the next 44 years to airline retirement age, most of us could not even count on collecting on a bet placed on what retirement age will be in 2050. BTW if you want to be an airline pilot, you start flying airplanes as soon as possible, flight hours and experience get you your next job. Be prepared for disappointment and only fly because you like to.

 

[Wingmaster]

Age sixty will be gone by the years end.