Originally Posted by YAKflyer

^^^^^^

This is so important. Not only should a young person start out by getting a 1st Class Physical, they should also get an EKG. I know of a couple of guys who were medically eliminated when they took their first EKG at 35. That is a really ugly time to find out you are medically ineligible for amy class of physical.

Originally Posted by Sliceback

Take a couple of lessons. Sometimes reality is different than perception. My first lesson was terrifying. Winch launched glider, it was beyond what I expected. I had a death grip on the frame (canvas glider, metal frame). Second one was almost as bad. Back to back launches and then about a 30 minute break to the next two flights. Between the two sets I decided if I wanted to become a pilot I had to get over this fear. By the end of the course I had the instructors nervous about how aggressive I was fighting for alititude on the launch.

Most of us don't get it in for the money, we do it to fly. Doing what's fun for you makes work easy.

You probably need 5,000 - 7,5000 hrs, in today's market, to reach the 50% experience level of major airline pilots with commercial pilot backgrounds. If you hustle you can get that by about 25 yrs old(5,000 hrs). With this path you can get your degree part time as long as you have it by about 24-25 yrs old(or about when you have a chance of getting hired by a major airline).

^^ This is close to the 'no life' option. Working full time and college full time, or almost full time. The payoff is a better airline career. Many have done it so it's not impossible.

The tough part is if you get on the hard core pilot treadmill how do you get your degree? In today's market it's a must. Will be a must in tomorrow's market? Maybe, maybe not. It's safer to get your degree vs. hoping the market shifts in your direction if you don't get a degree. And the degree can be used a fallback option if you have medical problems. Many have needed a fallback option. Many of us have had moments where we wondered if our flying careers were over due to medical issues.

Another excellent route is to join the Air National Guard. If you read the various military/reserve threads the ANG is typically considered the #1 choice for various reasons. If that's the path you choose getting your degree ASAP is best. The more flying experience you have prior to applying to the ANG the more competitive you'll be. But it's not just your flying resume so don't think "the most time wins." Flying experience will be just one part of the overall competitive process the unit uses to select their candidates.

Originally Posted by TwinkiePilot

Agreed.
Make sure you're not color-blind, go in for an EKG test for your heart, THEN go in for the 1st class medical exam with an FAA Medical Examiner. That's your first step.

Silverandsore nailed it.

My path was Riddle>Flight Instructor at local FBO>Regional>Major. I would definitely recommend a college degree (any), with flying on the side.

Best of luck
-T

Originally Posted by SkywardAZ

Don't go into massive amounts of debt just to get your licenses. It may take a little longer but it will be worth it. When you start with your PPL, which you can start now I believe, find a local flight school or FBO that you can trade work for flight instruction.

Originally Posted by sourdough44

Yes, I would get started at a local flight training operation. Get your feet damp towards a Pvt pilot license.

You will almost need a 4 yr degree, though there may be a few exceptions.

Keep your driving record clean along the way too.

Originally Posted by Sliceback

1) Does the college degree you receive impact airline hiring decisions? I heard getting a degree is just proof that you can make a commitment to airlines, is this true?


1. Get your degree. In anything. As part of a backup plan, or second job interest while working as a pilot, is the best plan.


2) Do well know aviation colleges such as Embry Riddle influences hiring decisions?



2. No. It shows long term aviation interest but by the time you get hired by a major it's a tiny part of your overall resume.


-Follow up to #2: If you went to Embry Riddle, can you tell me which one you went to (Daytona Beach or Prescott) and your overall impression and experience in college? Also, if you went to Embry Riddle Prescott, where was the airport you trained out of?



3. DAB. Visited Prescott. Small campus. Small town. Small airport. It's about five miles north of town.

3) Could you go through your typical schedule on a work day? (Hours in advance you prepare, get to the airport, preflight check, and flight.)



3. I try to get to the parking lot two hours before departure. That's one hour before sign-in. Gives a bit of pad for traffic, etc. If it's a early departure I reduce the pad because traffic problems are low risk at 0500-0600.

4) Layovers constantly allude me; what is a typical overnight stay like? do you have time to visit and travel around and how long is a normal layover (Overnighters and not-overnighters?) Do you pay for your housing or hotel on a layover or is that based on your airliner? Is the hotel usually descent? How would an international layover differ from a regional layover?


4. Domestically there's probably three general types of layovers - min time which normally involves a quick bite and sleep, or sleep and a quick bite the next morning. If you have a longer than min time layover you'll have time on the arrival day, or departure day, to do stuff. Tourist stuff, shopping, exercise, visit friends/family, work on projects, schoolwork, second job, military paperwork, union work, are all common events.



With w/b flying layovers in foreign cities, especially Europe, involves tourist stuff. The reality is the down side is the 'international hangover', you'll be tired. On a Europe trip you tend to go to sleep about 0400 body time, take a 2-4 nap, and then get up and play tourist for 4-6 hrs. Dinner, drinks, back to sleep, and a 0100-0300 body time wake-up for the flight back. So Europe is cool but there's a price to pay that comes with the cool factor.


5) Could you describe your experiences after college? How many years you had to work before you got a job as a pilot, how long it took you to become a captain, and how long it took to get hired by a legacy?


5. Started working full time as a pilot in my junior year. Took 5.5 years to graduate due to full time work conflict with part time college. This was before online and video streaming of courses. I was offered flying jobs before I had my commercial license - "keep doing well and we'll hire you." That happened twice before I started my junior year of college.

Time to Captain? At a corporation? A year(senior in college). Hired by a legacy? From when? First flying lessons? 8+ years. From first flying job? 7 years. From college degree? Four years. Time to Captain at a major? Six years.


6) My parents are really skeptical about me becoming a pilot and the initial investment we need to put forth for a profession that may soon die off. Has advancements in computer technology posed a risk for pilot jobs in the near future or is a transition to a fully automated cockpit a long way away?


6. Avg college cost is $80-100K in state. Community college then in state can reduce the cost. Increases income avg from $40,000/yr (HS degree) to about $65,000. $80,000 at ATP gets you a comm/inst/CFI in 180 days and you're in the job market racking up flight time (while doing college part time). Early on the financial rewards are tough but eventually you'll make more financial returns from your pilot education than the typical college graduate makes from their college investment instead of just getting a H.S. degree. Read the tread in this section about days worked and income earned. Keep in mind the typical guy spends a minimum of 6-8 years to get one with a major airline so when they're talking about year two pay it's really year 8-10 of their flying career. But these are the successful guys. Would you be happy if you're only making $60,000 flying a small turboprop around for a local company? And due to the retirement bubble coming the odds of being one of the successful guys is better now than it has been for the last 15 years.


7) What do you do while you are flying? Are you constantly sharp and checking your dashboard or is it ok to relax a little by listening to music?



7. Music is an option on long haul flights overwater. Instead of having to listen to the ATC radios you call them at specific points and times. Domestically it's impossible. Some guys have the headsets that stop the music when ATC talks but I have to think that must be brutal to listen too with the amount of radio chatter that's out there. So music listeners aren't common. You can relax but there's minor stuff going on. Guys take breaks and read something at times, do a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, or talk about their interests or hobbies. Lots of sharp coworkers so learning their areas of interest/expertise can be enlightening.

8) Why did you become a pilot and what pushed you to investigate a career in aviation?



8. Dad was a pilot. He flew gliders in the summer when I was a kid. Took me up. I enjoyed it. He mentioned glider summer course. I took it. Paralyzing fear on the first flight, learned to overcome it. Did nothing with flying for two years then took standard H.S. career tests. Guidance officer said "ever think of being a pilot?" Dad came home from a trip and I told him I was looking into Embry-Riddle. Surprised the heck out of him since he didn't know I knew ERAU existed. The more I got into it the more I enjoyed the profession, even at the bottom end starting out humping bags in the rain.

9) Do you regret becoming a pilot? If you were to go back in time, would you still want to become a pilot when you get older?



9. Is that a trick question? Regrets? No. I wouldn't trade my career for another one.

10) What were some of the biggest surprises (good and bad) that you encountered as an airline pilot?



10. You'll have to overcome fear. If you can't get past that you'll struggle. Spins, upside down, G's, winch tows, confidence maneuvers (70 degrees nose high and run the airplane out of airspeed until it stalls and flops around like a flounder duck), negative G's, diving at the ground (fighters), the speed of jets(yup, some guys quit, or go back to slower a/c), overheard patterns in the T-38(plane's chattering due to airflow separation....ie, it's talking to you), formation flight, etc, etc, are all momentums that give various people pause.



The upside? The quality of your coworkers. Lots of really good professionals you'll work with. Another upside - seeing the world from 35,000. The views can be amazing. Or seeing the world from 100'. Or 50'. Or 20'. OK, I'm lying, at 20' you're not taking in the view. You're watching your nose position because a slight dip could ruin your day, fast! And the views can be amazing, especially over sailboats. ;-)

11) What recommendations would you give to a 16 year old to help him become a pilot if he hasn't had any experience flying a plane?



11. Get airborne. It's different. And at times harder than people realize. If it was super easy everyone would do it. Niece was super achiever in H.S. and college. In shape. Went to UPT. Lost 10-15 lbs due to stress. "Hardest thing I've done in my life."



11. Since the longest time line event you're have to achieve prior to being a viable candidate for a major job is your total flight time, if I was joining the game today, I'd focus on getting my pilot licenses first. Take college courses in H.S. AP courses and test out and get college credit. Then go to pilot puppy mill school and get your licenses in 180 days. You'd be 19 yrs old, or even 18, and flying for a living. Then do college part time/online while working full time. Get on the time line of having your four year degree ASAP. Do 2-3 courses year-round and you'll achieve it in under 5 yrs. At 1500 hrs you'll get on with a regional airline. On this time line you'd be about 21 yrs old. With the right effort, timing, and luck, you could be looking at upgrading at the regional about the same time you get your college degree and 5,000 hrs TT. That professional resume, and the focus that you bring to yourself to achieve those goals, will position you to get hired in your mid to late 20's at a major airline due to the current retirement bubble.

Thanks you so much for your answers, you don't know how much these answers will help! Happy holidays and sorry that this post was so long!

Originally Posted by DickBurns

Are you medical school material?

Originally Posted by dckozak

You will find a lot of suggestions and opinion regarding aviation, both as a hobby (love) and vocation on this and other aviation forums and websites. Read, ask and learn.

I would suggest besides spending your hard saved (grassing cutting??) money or mom and dad's generosity, that you just spent time at your local airport. If you have options as to which one near you, smaller is better, but busy (as in small plane) is even better. Ask what positions might be available as far as work (don't hold your breath that you'll get anything, but show interest and try), other than that, bum around. The lounge of the flight school, the front desk where the transit flights come through, if allowed, walk around the flight line/hangers. Ask questions, show interest and pilots/owners will be happy to show you their plane. Don't expect a ride but then again, if you spent enough time and meet the same people over and over, things will happen.

All this will cost you nothing but your time and interest and could help you decide if you want to further pursue flying in the future.

Originally Posted by galaxy flyer

Go to work at the local airport as a "line boy"; that made my start right.

Your timing is perfect, when you acquire the college degree, the license, the experience; the current hiring boom will be winding down and you'll be on the leading edge of the next decade of stagnation--the '70s, then the 00's, next up the late '20s to '30s. That's a feature, not a bug, in any seniority-based system. My father was right--being an airline pilot is a lot about luck like being a pro ball player.

GF

Originally Posted by galaxy flyer

At your age, you really ought to look at a ANG or AFRC pilot training slot--it's the easiest way to slide into an airline career and serve your country. The networking, training and experience will be invaluable, absolutely no price can be put on it. Don't worry about not getting a UPT position, if you don't you will be discharged. By going to a UE unit you can select your mission and plane, too. Yes, the unit mission can change, but much of the turmoil is winding down. My old unit is already slated for KC-46s. Parents can have an opinion, but it's your life.

As to risk, life is full of it especially if you fly. You need to confirm your medical in any case.

An example of networking, when EAL folded in '89; a couple of phone calls and I had a new career. When military retirement was coming, a phone call to a former squadron member, I had a job flying a Global.

GF