Chris0799

Hi, I'm Chris. I'm a 20yo college student (just completed 2 years) I am wanting to pursue a career as an airline pilot! I've done a good bit of research on it but can't seem to find out the possibly of me actually being able to become a pilot for a commercial airline(Southwest, AA, Delta ect.) I hear that most of those jobs are taken by the military. Military is not an option for me at this point and time in my life due to personal reasons. I just need to know where to start with this! Any help would be great guys!

crxpilot

Just apply to them Chris and tell them you are suuuuuper motivated. I am sure once they see youve got 2 years of college under your belt, youre biggest decision will be to decide who to accept your job offer from. What do you have to lose?

gloopy

These days around 50-60% of new hire pilots at major airlines come from a civilian background. The military pipeline is smaller than it used to be and with the hiring numbers we're seeing, they can't source as big a percentage from there anyway. The civilian path is very viable.

You'll need a degree, but it doesn't really matter what its in. I suggest you do not "double down" with an "aviation degree" and instead get something you can potentially use as a plan B if you later choose differently or can't fly for whatever reason. GPA is important, so get the best grades you can, but if possible try and get a good degree you can use to make good income versus a "basket weaving" degree.

You can fly during college, especially if there is a flying program there, as well as concurrently at separate flight schools. Or you can knock out your degree and then learn to fly right after. Stay flexibile, keep your driving record as clean as possible and obvoiusly stay out of trouble. When you do start flight training, try and keep it as condensed and congruent as possible. Save your money and time to knock out at least large blocks/ratings at a time, rather than scrapping to log 1 hour every few weeks as you'll just end up spending more repeating lessons just knocking the rust off.

Find a way to build time after your ratings. Instructing is not the only way but it is one of the better ones for a variety of reasons. There will be a need for instructors too. Focus on that, and avoid mirrage opportuities like some "corporate" gigs. For low time pilots it may seem like a quantum leap to go from instructing/check hauling/banner towing/etc to get to fly anything turbine, but there are a lot of "jobs" out there that are absolute quick sand. Particularly be aware of part 91 single pilot planes where you will sit right seat and "double log" PIC with the other pilot. Every airline hiring department knows this trick. More importantly though, many of those jobs require you to be completely available 24/7, yet you won't end up flying that much.

Its way better to smash bugs in a C-172 for 75-85 hours a month than to get 10-20 hours a month of questionable King Air or Citation time. Once you get your 1500 hours then you can consider things like that, but make sure its legit from a logging perspective.

Keep your logbook updated and get really good at filling out extensive airline applications. Make a history now of everything since you graduated high school. Every address, every job, every speeding ticket, every period of unemployment for any and every reason lasting more than a day or two.

Avoid debt as much as possible. Even when you start making decent money (however you define that) don't spend to the limits of your credit and live paycheck to paycheck, because the industry really has a way of punishing people who do that.

Good luck, you are getting in at a pretty good time historically.

Chris0799

Thanks guys I really appreciate all the help! I plan on starting flight school in August when I go back to school! That way I can get as many house and experience as I possibly can while I'm finishing my degree in Pharmaceutical Science. This has always been a dream of mine. It's just that I've heard so much negativity about the chances of actually getting there that it sort of drive me away from it for a while. But I've made my mind up! This is for sure what I want to do with my life!

Loon

Stick with pharmaceuticals.

Chris0799

It's easy just to say that. But this is something I've always wanted to do! It's not something I'm going to give up on easily. I will try and try until someone tells me I'm not good enough. I'm simply just looking for the best path to get to my destination.

Cubdriver

Welcome to APC Chris. A couple of links to required reading-

The Truth About The Profession
OOH/ USBLS Commercial and Airline Pilots

Loon

If you were my son(which our age difference would compliment) or a friend, I would not give you any advice other than to stay away from this business. This passion that you have, can be fulfilled by owning your own airplane some day and flying it: where you want, how you want, when you want, and with whom you want. Be that "weekend warrior" that we hear on the radio; and have a normal life in a normal career(pharmaceuticals, etc).

jaded

Chris, I was your age and in the same boat as you when I was asking myself these questions. I was going to college for computer science when the flying bug hit me 11 years ago. (I've always liked aviation since I was a kid though). I figured, since I already had a job while I was in college, I can get my private license through a part 61 flight instructor and see where I can go from there. After my first demo flight, I was hooked and knew this was something I wanted to do for a living. My parents and friends thought I was nuts, this was in 2003 right after 9/11. Within a year I got my flight instructor's license and instructed for about 3 years and got hired by my first regional airline in 2008 when I had about 1,500 hours of total time. Here's the reason why most people would persuade you not to do this path... To recap the last 6 years of my career, I am now with my 4th airline (where I want to be, luckily) However, between 2008 and now, I was furloughed twice, went through bankruptcy, a concessionary contract, pay cut/pay cap, a really messy pilot seniority integration and never upgraded as captain. In the meantime, I supplemented my income by doing what knew best other than flying, which is building websites and making iPhone apps, (good plan B just incase). Last year, I was so close to calling it quits since I was still an FO, no upgrade in sight, quality of life was diminishing and the pay was horrible. However, around that time I finished my government mandated ATP rating paid off by my regional company and I hit the minimums for an airline that I've been eyeing for years, so I applied, got hired and now I am where I want to be, back in my hometown, driving to work, with a pretty good quality of life.

Sorry for the long winded story of my life, but the takeaway here is that it took me about 10 years to get where I want to be. Some were not as lucky, some got in at an even better timing and had better luck. So if I can give you one advice with the airline industry; results may vary. But don't ever chase pay, or airplane, or even a certain company because of whatever reason other than quality of life if you want to last in the industry. And most importantly, do the job that will make you happy for the rest of your career. If you're no longer happy, it's time to hang up the hat and possibly move to plan B.

Goodluck in your future endeavors and remember that, it might seem like a ways from now and a lot of hard work, but a lot of guys would kill to be able to go back in time and be 20 again with this decision to make.

On a side note: I remember when Cubdriver welcomed me to this board 7 years ago when I got hired with my first airline, what a throwback!

Zivko

Why even read these forums? You sound burnt out