CWU1919

I know that people have talked about it over and over again about if the regionals are worth shooting for and I would like some advice, some positive advice and encouragment. To give you some background im going to be attending the flight officer program at central washington university this fall and upon completion and assuming i have enough hours from flight instructing would like to end up in a regional preferrably Horizon which has a partnership with CWU and occasionally from what I hear ask for pilots to be interviewed. I currently have a PPL with 80 hours TT in 150's and 172's and a lot of time on microsoft flight simulator which helped spark my love for flying and taught me a great deal, it's nice to already have an upper hand on things coming into the program. However I am somewhat I guess frustrated by how people coin the regionals as such a negative place. No not everyone but i've read many posts on this forum bashing the regionals saying don't degrade yourself to work for one of them the pay is bad the work hours long the QOL poor and you're life will be a mess paying bills and trying to just get by.it's not like I am going into this with little knowledge of what Im going to be shooting for. I know 4 years is a long way a way and a lot could change but to be honest its also not that far away because I have already made the decision to get my "parents" to invest money into making me a professional pilot and completing the 4 year program at CWU. It's not that I am ignoring other people's advice not to start a career in the regionals, it's not like I do not know the various insecurities and complexities of the job, I've been researching and exploring the topic since I was 14 years old I guess I just want someone who flies for a regional to encourage me to give me not necessarily reassurance since I know the field has quite a bit of instability but a positive outlook on how it could be beneficial and how I'm making a good decision instead of all these other folks who have to negate the job and point out every one of its flaws. i care little for the military route I don't want to fly cargo or corporate I want to fly for the regionals and move on to the majors if I get the chance. Sure some of these people are smart and experienced in the field and there is certainly some truth in their words and I respect them. I understand many of these people had bad experiences and some on this forum use their experience to discourage others from signing on to an airline job. that's what I question. I want to prove these people wrong I want to prove I can succeed and maybe be a small part that helps to rectify and reglorify the industry as a whole and give it some credibility that it seems to lack in this day and age. Maybe Im overanalyzing maybe im being over the top in my approach towards things. Im 19 years old i have hardly any1 around my age who can relate to me besides my parents and friends who encourage me to follow my dream, there's no one out there it seems like who's my age and wants to do what I want to who can say look you can do it and you can feel good about what you do and we're here to back you and encourage you in your quest. Comments appreciated regards, Chris

Brav989

I guess I can't really give professional advice but, is it worth it to you? To you personally is it worth the risks you of possibly never making it onto a major? Of possibly getting furloughed? Only one of two things will happen; you'll either crash and burn(no pun) or you'll succeed. If you know all of the risks and accept them all, then you know what to do.

kansas

This may draw some flames, but I just don't care, because it is the truth to me...

Flying is in my blood. It's what I do. Granted, several other things are in my blood (golfing, running, talking too much) that keep me a well-rounded person, but when it comes to jobs that pay, I just can't see myself doing anything else. In fact, I have done other things, and hated them passionately. While some jobs will pay better, many of those jobs will have you sitting at your keyboard for at least eight hours per day, going nowhere. Trying not to fall asleep after lunch is your excitement for the day. One cream or two in your coffee is a big decision. And when it comes down to it, your "view" consists of the same people, the same desk, etc. etc.

It's tough. It's been tough already. And it is probably going to get tougher. But that is life. Best of luck...chase your dreams.

freezingflyboy

Just don't spend too much money to get to a regional because you will never be able to make it back. Seems like you are pretty firmly set on your path which is both good and bad. You have to watch out that you don't get so focused on flying an RJ that you miss other oppurtunities that might come your way. I guess I would sum up my advice as this:
-Don't go nuts with your training expenses. Beg, borrow and steal as much multi time as you can to help keep costs down.
-Keep your options open. Some of the best, most interesting pilots I know took roundabout routes to the airlines.
-Don't fall in love with any airline because they will all break your heart.

Uncle Bose

Here's some advice: when the time comes, have someone else write your cover letter.

Brav989

Still waiting to hear from Skyhigh and Browntail

SkyHigh

CWU Dude,

In the end it is only your choice to make. Finding your place in this world can be a difficult thing to do. If you feel that aviation is someplace to invest yourself then perhaps you should explore it.

Your pal and CWU alumni,

SkyHigh


PS. if you respect yourself at all I would get a business degree or something else. Flight tech at CWU is an expensive dead end.

Brav989

Agreed. Can't go wrong with a 'fall back' degree.

CWU1919

well i appreciate all of your insight so far...some of you have had some interesting things to say i appreciate the realistic perspectives from both kansas and freezingflyboy. skyhigh almost pleasantly surprised me until the little p.s. comment haha...a business degree? majoring in something else? i guess we have two different perspectives...i want college to be a place I can look back on and said I had a meaningful and valuable four years at a place I can always say Ill remember and cherish and have an emotional attachment too..something I cant say for my high school experience. i've been looking forward to this for so long i get to go far away from the arid and mundane surroundings of southern arizona and come fly in one of the most beautiful parts of the world in my favorite area in the world I first discovered when I was 12 years old, washington. The whole point of college for me at least is getting to pursue what you want to pursue something once again in high school I couldn't do and a generic business degree doesn't sound nearly appealing as getting to use up credits to do what I love and progress in a field I want to learn more about everyday while meeting people who I can relate to and have similar interests that I do. while i understand your perspective on an airline pilot is an aerial bus driver which airbus I suppose agrees with you on , I look at it as a way to discover a part of the world few get to see on a daily basis while working in a professional enviornment with hard working people who have the same passion as you. While im sure a business degree is certainly a useful tool and practical to many, i'd rather spend the next four years of my life doing something I love and feel good about than something that just doesn't have the same emotional attachment and color that flying does. as for expenses, time will tell but I feel that if you love what you're doing enough and are smart about it you can get by sure sh*t will happen, but I do plan on minoring in something else like psychology or geography which both interest me and I understand it is not wise to put my eggs in one basket as freezingflyboy emphasized but I am going to set my sights on achieving my first and foremost goal and that's being an airline pilot. Once again all thanks for the replies and keep them coming regards, Chris

freezingflyboy

As much as people hate the SkyHighs and Browntails and KillBills of the world you need to listen to them. The biggest disservice you can do for yourself is ignoring the advice or opinions of people who you don't agree with. BY nature we all hear what we want to and put more weight on opinions that agree with our own but we need to listen to the others even if we don't like what we hear, you never know what gems might be contained therein. You may not like the idea of a "boring" business degree but it is VERY easy to lose your medical and then what?