What's your long term career strategy?

[learflyer]

If I am lucky, God will bless me with Alzheimers, which is fine because I won't remember how crappy my life as a pilot has been.

Don't make light of a serious ilness you know nothing about. It's the saddess thing you could ever be a part of. Glad you don't know how it feels.

 

[Linedriver]

So you wanna fly for a living but your smart and know or have been told about the aviation pitfalls.

If someone were in high school or college I'd tell them to get a degree outside aviation. Fly while in HS and college and instruct you senior year. Don't let your cfi expire - it is an automatic job (self employed CFI) if you get furloughed.

Then go for the military (Guard being the best). Get a heavy slot (17, 5, 135, 130 - seems these units pilots more than fighter guys). Once you back from training fly in the guard and get a regional/commuter job then when you have the times and they are hiring go to the major you get on with. Keep that guard job you never know when you'll need it.

Then keep your record/work history clean incase the worst happens. Don't get your friends on with your company/major. You want your friends at all the other Airlines so that if yours tanks they can walk in your stuff at theirs.

(right now i want all my aviation friends interviewing and getting on at NWA, CAL, DAL, UAL, Fl, JB ect. Of course I value my friends more than a "walk my resume in" but we are of no use to each other if we are all at US Air and the worse happens)

Don't piss anyone off in aviation - its a small world - you never know who is across the interview table (when you 40 something and you need that airline job at the only airline that is hiring to feed the kids/wife and house) or who was once on your right is now on your left.

Pray you have luck and lots of it.

That is a great post, seriously. I think he is really looking for some insight into the industry.

What do you think about corporate? What would you tell the guys who have a secure corporate job that pays well but not as well as a Captain at the majors?

I know there are several career paths in aviation today - commuters, majors, corporate...Given the current hiring at all, what would you recommend?

 

[Jafo73]

I would recommend fractional over corporate (of course I'm biased). NetJets is much more stable then a corporate department - as soon as something happens that worries the shareholders, bye bye flight department. Plus we have schedules and (from what I've heard) much better work rules. And our pay scales will be much more competitive if our IBB passes.

 

[charterpuke]

long term disability!

 

[A4Forever]

Ladies and Gentlemen. What happens in life is about 95% being in the right place at the right time( RPRT) and 5% who you know. 5 of the 20 pilots in my Viet Nam squadron got shot down, I didn't get a bullet hole in my airplane. ( RPRT). In class with a 121 carrier 22 days after release from active duty. (RPRT). 34 years at a major and never furloughed. (RPRT). Captain bid at a fractional the day I got there. (RPRT). Still waiting on that someone I know to come thru. Plan all you want and pray that you are in the RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME (unless you know lots of high placed folks.) Good luck!

 

[rumrnr78]

I think A4 is correct. But, I am willing to bet that A4'S attitude put him in the right spot 95% of the time! Even though I am a devout Roman Catholic, I do believe in karma, positive attitude and that we are all blessed and need to realize this! When you recognize the working of the universe and that "it is not the life that we want, but what God wants for us", that the doors will be thrown open.
I now have a job that pays well, lots of time home, bonus and stock options. Will it last? Who knows, but everytime a door gets closed a window opens. Keep the faith, fly safe and look out for others! rum

 

[pilotyip]

Luck and timing

Ladies and Gentlemen. What happens in life is about 95% being in the right place at the right time( RPRT) and 5% who you know. 5 of the 20 pilots in my Viet Nam squadron got shot down, I didn't get a bullet hole in my airplane. ( RPRT). In class with a 121 carrier 22 days after release from active duty. (RPRT). 34 years at a major and never furloughed. (RPRT). Captain bid at a fractional the day I got there. (RPRT). Still waiting on that someone I know to come thru. Plan all you want and pray that you are in the RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME (unless you know lots of high placed folks.) Good luck!

The elements of luck and timing play as much of or greater role in a career as skill and desire

 

[dirkdigler]

So, which airline??

Lots of good insights here.

Now folks, if you were (are) lucky enough to have a choice, which particular airline would (will) you work for?? Why??

 

[IAHERJ]

Lots of good insights here.

Now folks, if you were (are) lucky enough to have a choice, which particular airline would (will) you work for?? Why??

Well, this thread made it 2 pages without a petty argument. I forwee this thread going downhill quickly now.

Your question is a good one but nobody really has that answer. Lots of opinions though.

IAHERJ

 

[mdf]

Yeah ok! You are rackin up that cash at your flight school huh?

Speaking of going downhill. I like how his choice of words coincide with his avatar.

 

[A4Forever]

Dirk. How would one know. In August 1967 I got out of the Navy and was turned down at DL. They wanted 2000 hrs, I had 1550. American and Pan Am wern't hiring for 4 months. Eastern wanted me to go to MIA for an interview (the nerve). Was in class at UAL in 22 days with other pilots who waited a year for a class date. That was 40 years ago. 2 of those 5 don't exist. 2 of the other 3 went bankrupt. What looks good TODAY is NO guarantee of a secure future in aviation

 

[Joblu]

Dirk. How would one know. In August 1967 I got out of the Navy and was turned down at DL. They wanted 2000 hrs, I had 1550. American and Pan Am wern't hiring for 4 months. Eastern wanted me to go to MIA for an interview (the nerve). Was in class at UAL in 22 days with other pilots who waited a year for a class date. That was 40 years ago. 2 of those 5 don't exist. 2 of the other 3 went bankrupt. What looks good TODAY is NO guarantee of a secure future in aviation

What about Fedex and UPS? Pretty solid there.

On the passenger side yes I agree. Its rolling the dice no matter where you go.

 

[FLYLOW22]

So, now that the most of major airlines are hiring once again, how would you bet your career?

Given the fact that almost everything about our job is seniority driven, i.e., you cannot jump ship without having to start all over again from the very bottom of the food chain, it is extremely important for us to consider very carefully which airline you would want to sign up with.

Knowing what what you know about the economy and politics, domestic and global, the leadership of each company, etc., what do you think would be the best move?

Thanks for your input in advance..

NetJets for me.

-More collective bargaining power (Owners vs. ticket buyers).

-Rich, rich now and will be rich tomorrow

-No age 60

-Mix of Intl/Domestic... whatever you want.

-Lots of FREEDOM on the road.

-Lots of day flights.

-Labor/Management to agree to disagree but work through the issues prior to the issues becoming ugly public dirty underwear.

No, I'll never fly a "big plane" again, but my paycheck won't tell you any differently.

 

[Lear70]

I don't know... I'd have to go for Skybus, 'cause those stock options they promise are going to be worth a LOT someday.

 

[RP170]

My strategy: Make some dough and get outta here by age 50. Pronto dude!

Go to NetJets then.