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

[pilotyip]

Only pursue this career if you like to fly more than anything else you could possibly think of. I did and it has been a fantastic adventure. I would change little.

 

[cezzna]

This kid has a future in ALPA. If we groom him right here maybe ALPA will have a future leader with real vision.

Seriously, your gift of expression and wisdom is uncommon for someone your age. Don't limit yourself to flying tin, I think you may have a future bigger than just flying.

Just promise us all you won't start an airline flying sheep around the country for $99 each way.

 

[Annie]

Given your present interests in computers and also in rhetoric, I would suggest you look for a school that offers a program in Infomatics. Maybe Indiana at the Burlington campus. The study of how language will be used to influence our processing of information in the brave new world of computers and the internet is very interesting, and the additional ability to focus on rhetoric brings in the extra money upon graduation. You could google "Infomatics"+University.

 

[mcjohn]

And he fly's RC aircraft. The more I flew my RC plane and started putting on airshows for friends, I realized I was meant to fly for a living. No luck yet though.

 

[Beer&Brauts]

If I compare the airline pilot profession to other professions there are great differences. For example if I am accepted to Medical School I will have a 95% chance that I will become a doctor. Or if I am accepted to law school there is a 95% chance I'll become a lawyer. The same is true with most all other professional schools. But it seems that the airline pilot profession is quite different in that regard and the career seems to be unstable too. It appears that through no fault of your own a good pilot can end up as a gypsy moving from entry level position to entry level position, as was told to me privately. This does concern me and is something I must deal with.

You hit the nail on the head - this career is one big crapshoot! I try to explain this to my doctor and lawyer friends but all they do is ask me for free airline tickets - nevermind you can't buy a ticket on my [charter] airline. So if these moron friends of mine can become doctors/lawyers you certainly could as well. Make a lot of money and buy your own airplane! Of course, my job is much more fun than their's and if I were single I would assume I could get more chicks, just as long as I lie about my income.

 

[FlyBieWire]

Here is my plan:

• Complete my flight training up through the Commercial before I start college.
• Attend a college with an aviation program but I’ll major in Computer Science or Political Science. Or both.
• Work at the airport giving flight instruction.
• Graduate
• Get a job with a commuter airline until that airlne goes out of business
• Get a job with another commuter airline untill that airline goes out of business
• Move up to a major until that airline goes out of business
• Get a job with another airline.
• Become a captain.
• Enjoy life for a few years

Plan “B”

Work for a living at something I don't want to do.


As bad as Plan "A" may be it sounds better than Plan "B"

Plan "A" is flying. Plan "B" no flying.


I don't really like plan "B"

 

[FlyBieWire]

Delete

 

[Metro752]

i sure hope by the time you get anywhere people still aren't getting laid off.

 

[smellthejeta]

Here is my plan:

• Complete my flight training up through the Commercial before I start college.
• Attend a college with an aviation program but I’ll major in Computer Science or Political Science. Or both.
• Work at the airport giving flight instruction.
• Graduate
• Get a job with a commuter airline until that airlne goes out of business
• Get a job with another commuter airline untill that airline goes out of business
• Move up to a major until that airline goes out of business
• Get a job with another airline.
• Become a captain.
• Enjoy life for a few years

Plan “B”

Work for a living at something I don't want to do.


As bad as Plan "A" may be it sounds better than Plan "B"

Plan "A" is flying. Plan "B" no flying.


I don't really like plan "B"

Looks pretty decent, and I see you even have a sense of humor Don't lose it, you need it to survive in this business! Purdue has a very good engineering program, so it's definitely worth a look. "That school" down in FL also has a C. Sci program.

 

[Donsa320]

Here is my plan:

• Complete my flight training up through the Commercial before I start college.
• Attend a college with an aviation program but I’ll major in Computer Science or Political Science. Or both.
• Work at the airport giving flight instruction.
• Graduate
• Get a job with a commuter airline until that airlne goes out of business
• Get a job with another commuter airline untill that airline goes out of business
• Move up to a major until that airline goes out of business
• Get a job with another airline.
• Become a captain.
• Enjoy life for a few years

Plan “B”

Work for a living at something I don't want to do.


As bad as Plan "A" may be it sounds better than Plan "B"

Plan "A" is flying. Plan "B" no flying.


I don't really like plan "B"

And you will do fine. I have been watching guys like you for over 30 years. They all have done fine. Welcome aboard! Let the naysayers wallow in self-pity.

PM me if you want and I'll respond more specifically than I can here.
DC