Reading for the Future Airline Pilot

[Dangerkitty]

pilotyip, just in case it makes you feel better... I'm getting my degree out of purely personal reasons, not because I want to check off a box for airlines.

Good for you. Getting a degree gives you options that you wouldn't have without one. When you have options you are free. Just because you have a medical now doesn't mean that you will be able to get one 5,10,15 or 30 years down the road. What would you do if you couldn't get a medical? You need something to be able to fall back on just in case. A college degree helps increase your successful chances of a backup plan.

I know many pilots that tell me that not getting a degree was the biggest mistake that they ever made. One had the biggest inside track to FedEx. If he only had gotten his 4 year degree he would most likely would be flying boxes for FedEx right now. With competition being the way it is they wont bring him in for an interview until he gets that lambskin. He is desperately taking any correspondance course that he can but it is still going to take him about 2 years to finish.

 

[flyingnerd]

Yeah, I'm actually getting a degree in Applied Math and Software Engineering.... but I'm about burned out on those two, don't think I'd ever really want a job doing either.

Dang, you sound a lot like me, except I actually have a job doing that. My B.S. is in Computer Science and Math, and I have an M.S. in Computer Science.

I work as a software engineer. Every day when I go to work and sit in my cube, I contemplate gouging my eyes out. But I suppose I'd lose my medical if I did that.

I'd give both testicles to have a flying job. Considering my current status as a single loser, I guess that wouldn't be a bad trade.

 

[pilotyip]

Go for it.

Flyingnerd, given your statement "I'd give both testicles to have a flying job. Considering my current status as a single loser, I guess that wouldn't be a bad trade" Which would you rather have a job as a F/O at Spirit/Air Wis./AirTran or your MIS cubical 8-5? With that guarantee would you have skipped college and gone after a flying career? As stated many times before I have nothing against a college degree, get one for whatever reason you want, fun, personal satisfaction, a career skill. By all means go for it if it is good for you. However on this board this conversation is like peeing into the wind, almost everyone has a college degree and feels everyone must be like them to successful. But it is not the only way to skin the flying cat. If someone wants to be pilot, going to college for four years prior to starting your flying is not in my opinion the only way to a successful career. Just another option. I know too many pilots who have made it to career positions at Air Tran, Spirit, SWA, CAL, UAL, NWA, and Jet Blue without degrees. Many before their 30th birthday.

 

[pilotyip]

Oh BTW Books

This started about books and got semi hijacked. Read any of E. Gann's flying books "Fate is the Hunter", "Hostage to Fortune", "Island in the sky" and "The "High and the Mighty", plus not by Gann but a good one "Before the Jets" if you can stand the sex scenes. Pete Fusco’s "Moondog Academy and other Aviation Disasters" is a good one. These books are not tech now to do it books, but I feel these books put you into the mind of the pilots, particularly the PIC and the decisions he has to make. These are guys who have been there and done that.

 

[Geronimo4497]

deleted - peeing into the wind

 

[AdlerDriver]

Hey Guys,

So, like many here, I'd like to be an airline pilot some day. I'm currently in college and due to an easy schedule, I have some time on my hands. Can anyone recommend good books to read for the future airline pilot? Stuff that will help with interviews, getting through class easier, and generally make me a better/more desirable pilot.

I've heard that the "Turbine Pilot's Flight Manual" is a good one. I've also started reading "Instrument Flying" by Taylor, but it seems to be very elementary/basic.

Thanks much

I can't imagine what would make you think an airline pilot career is worth pursuing these days. There are very few jobs out there worth the sacrifices you'll make to get there. You want some advice? Your user name says it all. Fly F-15s.

 

[pilotyip]

Still a great career!!

don't listen to alter, flying is still a great career almost anyone can count on making $100K per year having 10-14 days off per month by the time they are in the mid to early 30's. There is growing shortage of experienced pilots, look at the times of the new hires and the increase in the number jobs. And thing is you can make that $100K with a HS diaploma. If you really like to be around airplanes and fly, it is a great career. But if you are into flying for really big bucks, respect, recognition, and QOL you may be disappointed.

 

[BD King]

This started about books and got semi hijacked. Read any of E. Gann's flying books "Fate is the Hunter", "Hostage to Fortune", "Island in the sky" and "The "High and the Mighty", plus not by Gann but a good one "Before the Jets" if you can stand the sex scenes. Pete Fusco’s "Moondog Academy and other Aviation Disasters" is a good one. These books are not tech now to do it books, but I feel these books put you into the mind of the pilots, particularly the PIC and the decisions he has to make. These are guys who have been there and done that.

Yeah. Especially HOSTAGE TO FORTUNE, ISLAND IN THE SKY, and THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY. I would throw in THE LEFT SEAT, also. Of course the fact that I publish these books has nothing to do with my recommendations.

www.bdkingpress.com

 

[pilotyip]

roger "Left Seat" read it in 1968, it ended with the Electra where I was begininng.

 

[ATRedneck]

The best practice you can get is to pull an uncomfortable chair up to about 3 feet from your TV, put one foot on the floor and another on the TV, and read the USA Today.

 

[flyf15]

The best practice you can get is to pull an uncomfortable chair up to about 3 feet from your TV, put one foot on the floor and another on the TV, and read the USA Today.

That kind of sounds like what I'm doing already....

 

[414Flyer]

That kind of sounds like what I'm doing already....

He said reading USA Today,not watching Girls Gone Wild.

 

[Goose Egg]

I work as a software engineer. Every day when I go to work and sit in my cube, I contemplate gouging my eyes out... I'd give both testicles to have a flying job.

Man, I love my flying job!

However on this board this conversation is like peeing into the wind, almost everyone has a college degree and feels everyone must be like them to successful... I know too many pilots who have made it to career positions at Air Tran, Spirit, SWA, CAL, UAL, NWA, and Jet Blue without degrees. Many before their 30th birthday.

Yip, what you don't seem to be getting is that not all of us define success in those terms. Maybe a degree is important for an airline job, and maybe it isn't. The fact of the matter is that I have my education, and I wouldn't trade it for anything on this planet. It is one of the ways in which I define my success.

And to be quite honest, I have very little interest in flying for the airlines, save a certain 402 operator only.

-Goose

 

[NTXPilot]

Anyone mention Stick and Rudder?

 

[Dangerkitty]

Anyone mention Stick and Rudder?

Ahhhhhhhhh forgot that one!!!! That should be a part of everyone's aviation library. A true classic.

Good call.

 

[pilotyip]

goose good for you, as I have stated many many times I have nothing a against a college dgree. Get one for whatever reason you want to, but it is not the route to a successful flying career. I am just a voice in the widerness saying you do not have to follow the "college is the only way" crowd to be successful in this buisness.

 

[cforst513]

but yip, come on!!! what about when you LOSE YOUR FLYING JOB?! due to furlough, medical, who knows? what do you fall back on? do you support your family at burger king or what? having a degree, especially one outside aviation, is a great back-up plan. what's your plan?

 

[mayday1]

but yip, come on!!! what about when you LOSE YOUR FLYING JOB?! due to furlough, medical, who knows? what do you fall back on? do you support your family at burger king or what? having a degree, especially one outside aviation, is a great back-up plan. what's your plan?

Yip will say that a degree that hasn't been put to use because you've been flying will not hold any value (not trying to answer for you Yip, but I have seen your response to this question)... However, I disagree. Sure, the degree's value is augmented by experience, but there are plenty of people out there with philosophy degrees working in business, or people with business degrees working in healthcare. Point is, the degree was a requirement to get your foot in the door.. the major or concentration is less important.

Here's a hypothetical.. you're 30, a pilot, and you no longer can/or want to fly (medical, furlough, just want to do something different, whatever). I can tell you that an undergrad degree will provide a couple of key benefits: 1) as mentioned above, it can get your foot in the door where a degree IS REQUIRED; 2) it can be the academic background you NEED to pursue a graduate degree... i.e. you ain't goin to grad school w/o an undergrad degree.

Not to mention, if you're this 30 yr old, which situation would you want to be in.. presenting yourself as having a lot of flying experience with no other skills or education to speak of, or someone with professional flying experience AND a degree? And that degree being the stepping stone you'll need to pursue other career options... easy answer for me.

 

[rvsm410]

Personally, the pursuit of flying/aviation is an exciting and wonderful fulfillment of ones personal dreams....I would only caution you of the pitfalls of that life....its not very good on mot marrages and family life...which is nothing new....however as some here have aluded too, do your research, ask questions and understand that making the hugh dollars seen in years gone by are Gone!...I would say based on my experience and the many pilot friends I have, that you should expect to top out at around $135K/yr sometime in your flying career....depends on how you progress from company to comany....The most important thing is to really enjoy what you do, except that no matter where you go, do or who you work for, there will always be the down sides...

Its great that you have your degree..it will go a long way to serve you...look at aviation, like sports professionals do, you know you have something to fall back on when the flying days are over, and they will be over someday, hopefully you will have a long aviation career...good luck...

 

[scubabri]

Professional Pilot, John Lowery

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0813820987/ref=pd_ys_pym_a_1/103-5271533-5529449?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance