What are my chances of becoming a 747 captain for a major airline.

[FlyBieWire]

OK, I'm 15-years old and a high school student. I like flying and I make good grades. Most important is that my parents will probably be able to pay for my education including flying lessons. I'm also in good health and I stay clear of trouble.

My question is: What are my realistic chances of my evantually becoming a widebody (B747, B777, A380) captain in my lifetime?

 

[nyboilermaker]

Your chances are excellent. Start flying. Go to college (you don't HAVE to get an aviation degree) and start logging hours. Become a CFI and teach, and teach and teach, network, spend time at the airport. Apply to corporate/commuter and reputable aircraft operators. Spend a summer interning with an airline. Be persistent. "You gotta want it."

Is not an easy road, but it's a great skill and career. Every career has it's good and bad, but if yourdream is to fly the widebody's, then it's very attainable with persistence and work.

Good luck,
NYB

 

[pilotyip]

About the same as getting F-18's in the Navy or F-22's in the USAF. He can be done, but there is a lot of obstacles.

 

[Donsa320]

Double post

 

[Donsa320]

OK, I'm 15-years old and a high school student. I like flying and I make good grades. Most important is that my parents will probably be able to pay for my education including flying lessons. I'm also in good health and I stay clear of trouble.

My question is: What are my realistic chances of my evantually becoming a widebody (B747, B777, A380) captain in my lifetime?

The wide-body that you can and will fly is not even on the design boards yet. Just keep your eye on the ball and don't get too far from the airport. You most ceratinly can do it. At 15 you could start getting dual and solo at 16. You can solo gliders at 14, so if there is a glider operation near where you live, have at it. Line boy jobs can be had at 16 or 17 years of age depending on the state and you can get valuable aviation knowlege from that. Good luck and in spite of the complaining on these boards, the career is great, just watch your step and don't get sidetracked by the doomsayers.

DC

 

[mcjohn]

I started flying when I was 27. I'm now 30 and instructing. I would do almost anything to go back in time and get into this at your age. I planned on it at your at age but coming from a not so wealthy family I had to wait until I could afford the training on my own. Parents offering to put you through training? That's the opportunity of a lifetime and you are very lucky. Sky's not even the limit for you bud. Wide body jets eh? If I were you I'd be thinking about spacecraft. Seriously.

 

[inline]

OK, I'm 15-years old and a high school student. I like flying and I make good grades. Most important is that my parents will probably be able to pay for my education including flying lessons. I'm also in good health and I stay clear of trouble.

My question is: What are my realistic chances of my evantually becoming a widebody (B747, B777, A380) captain in my lifetime?

Join the military and become a pilot ( but Army pilots don't get the consideration that the other branches get.) They go to the head of the line for most airline jobs, especially FedEx and Delta ( that is when Delta starts hiring again.)

 

[Beer&Brauts]

I started flying when I was 16, and had similar aspirations as yourself. While I do not fly for a major airline, 15 years later I am flying widebodys (as an FO for now). There are plenty of widebody jobs other than the "traditional" majors: World, Atlas, Cathay Pacific, etc.
The number one thing necessary to have in this career is an absolute passion for flying, otherwise it is simply not worth it - you're better off going into another profession. This is a great job but a very difficult career (furloughs, forced commuting, strikes, paycuts).
Otherwise either go into the military (knowing you aren't necessary guarenteed a flying spot) or go to college and get your ratings and work your way up through the regionals - where your commitment to aviation will be tested! I would recommend a degree in anything other than aviation - it's no better for getting that dream job. Great grades won't help you that much, but bad grades can hurt your chances. Keeping out of trouble is very important as the airlines are sticklers for a squeaky clean background.

 

[EMB Skillz]

If you want to do things the long way, go to Embry-Riddle.

BEGIN SARCASM:

Here's what you DON"T WANT TO DO:

If you are looking for a faster route, enroll at Gulfstream Academy out of high school and then you will be able to move up to Pinnacle and fly the RJ. One day, you will upgrade to captain and apply to AirTran. And that's when the BIG BUCKS start rolling in!

Forget the majors, they will all go out of business when low-cost widebody service at AirTran begins to cross oceans.

P.S.- Hurry up and start flying, because when the illegal immigrants become legal, they will take all of our jobs away.

END SARCASM

 

[PastFastMover]

Good luck with your journey that is just starting. You are ahead of most folks because you already know what you want to do.

A lot of good advice here on how to start. Be sure to go to college, and be sure to hang out at the airport and get your ratings or go to that aviation college.

I did all the above and also flew fighters with the USAF. There is no better training or experience than the military schools bar none. Having said that, if I could go about it again, I would try to get into the Air National Guard after college. You will go through the same training, fly the same equipment, and get the same experience but you won't have a 10 year or whatever commitment to Uncle Sam. You can then get your airline career going that many years earlier while still flying fighters, or tankers, or whatever. If flying the biggest widebody jet is your goal, then go for it. You might change your mind once you get into the business on what type of flying you actually like to do. Alot of folks do not like flying widebody aircraft on super long haul routes. Not the aircraft, but the super long haul flying. You might end up liking to fly completely different routes and that will dictate what type of aircraft you will fly.

This business is all about cycles. If you are 15 now then you will be about ready to go the majors, assuming you don't go into the military, in about 8 to 12 years. What are the retirements looking like at that time? This business is full of extremely well qualified pilots and unfortunately whether you get a job or not is when the majors are hiring. If major retirements are in full swing due to an earlier hiring binge then you are in good shape and vice versa. If the industry is in a down trend as now then even "Steve Canyon" would have a hard time landing that coveted job.

Alot of hurdles in your way right now, but if you want it there is nothing that you can't jump over.

Good Luck!!!!!!!