I will I will I will

[Hagar]

The US seems to suffer from qualification inflation in just about every corner of employment. Burger flipping will require a three year university course before long

LOL There's a lot of truth in that. Unfortunately it's not restricted to the US.

[Brett_Henderson]

It's the commitment thing.. showing that you can

[RitterKreuz]

[quote]It's the commitment thing.. showing that you can

[Brett_Henderson]

It's weird how these things go in cycles..  I'm old enough to remember that at 20 years old.. airline piloting was out of the question for me. We were still on the edge of the era where  ONLY ex-military pilots need even apply... and those without perfect, uncorrected vision could forget about it too.

Then, not all that long ago.. 1200 hours and a multi-engine rating all by itself got your foot in the door.

The booming economy of the 80s and 90s had many airlines competing for both passengers and pilots.. wasn't there even a pilot shortage for a while ?

The same boom/bust that converted airports from glamorous places where adventures began; into giant bus depots with people sleeping on floors.. has turned the once glamorous and prestigious job as an airline pilot, into that of an over-worked, under-paid robot.

You can literally drop out of high school.. take a job delivering pizza.. stick with it and work your way into management, and have a MUCH more financially satisfying career, by age 30, than you could flying jets.

The big problem now, is that airlines KNOW that most aspiring pilots will work for nothing, just to be flying ...

[RitterKreuz]

Then, not all that long ago.. 1200 hours and a multi-engine rating all by itself got your foot in the door.

Sadly... one new hire of ours had about 300 hours total time on the date he entered training.

[Brett_Henderson]

they are the predators of youthful aspirations.  

look at any flying magazine flight school ad - all targeting 18-20 year old kids... largely women or minorities.

this bunch of naive diaper wearers have no idea.  

Yeah.. I was talking about that the other day, with my instrument instructor (now flying piston twins for mapping photography)..

This isn't racial or political.. just a fact that these "schools" know that those groups can get grants and loans more readily.. they'll put the kids into debt, and not blink.

[MIKE JG]

I would love to sit here and disagree with everything that these two just said about the current state of the profession.  

Problem is that they are spot on and I couldn't have said it better myself.  It is really a shame what the job has become.

If you are going to get into it these days, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

[Jersey Flyer]

I get the picture. I do. I've been educated on how hard it is becoming an airline pilot, especially with the struggling economy and everything else.. I dont care if I live in a tent for a few years, I will become an airline pilot. I know it will be hard, lets face it I don't come from the wealthiest family... I live in a normal suburban home in New Jersey.... but I will  become a pilot, no matter what it takes.

[MIKE JG]

Jersey the problem with this "I will no matter the cost" attitude is that this is directly responsible for bringing the profession to the point that it's at these days.

I don't care if I have to live in a tent for a few years.

This is exactly what airline management is counting on.

[RitterKreuz]

go to school to be a lawyer or doctor or some other profession.

buy yourself a small plane and fly when you want, on your terms.

that's the best advice i could give anyone looking to go into professional aviation.

[Alonso]

I was exactly in the same situation a couple of years ago. I Said "I will I will I will."

Now I won't. Or at least won't for some time. When you choose a career, everybody says: "Do what you want", but I think aviation is the exception.

Why did I decide not to become an airline pilot? With a lot of research I discovered it is not what I thought it was. Yes, you enjoy the view, it feels great, but on the economy side, you will be much worse than with another career, and you will have put a lot of effort (personal and economic) for something that doesn't pay well at all. The facts BNL2001 and RitterKreuz mentioned are true.

I'm studying Audiovisual Communications now at Universidad de Lima. It is my second passion (discovered it last year, just like I discovered aviation 3 years ago), and love it as well. It was a VERY tough decision to make, but I hope I made it right.

I'm not saying that deciding to study aviation now is definitely a bad choice, considering I love aviation. You just have to stablish priorities.

Best of luck, mate!

Alonso

[Brett_Henderson]

I'm feeling retrospective

[Jersey Flyer]

If change is what we need, than change is what I will give. Right now, the pit of my stomach continues to churn, and I want to imagine down the road, me being broke, worrying about my money problems while being so busy with work I won't have time for anything else in life.. Its easy for me right now to sit here infront of my desktop computer at age 16 and think that. As I stated in my first post, I will do what ever it takes.

If this industry needs change, it only takes one person. It takes one person with a voice, and a dream. Take a look at Mr. Barack Obama. He achieved his goal. He may not be the most loved guy out there, but he grew up broke with no parents, and now he's running one of the most power nations in the world. Look at the United States Government before he took office. Most people would agree that the government was some what corrupt during the bush administration, but he still persued his dream and he did not settle for anything less.

I am referring to him because he has my respect to the fullest. All of this information is new to me, information of how unsatisfying it may be to become a pilot. I will be entering the workforce of Aviation in the near coming years... If we need to change the way this process works in order for the better of the future.. then I will work my hardest and try my absolute best to make it as easy and convienient as possible for future pilots like me to live.

I will never fully understand what its like to live on a Pilot's Salary untill I actually LIVE on it, and from there I am sure I will know what I want to do. Thank you all for your information, everyone has been really usefull, and I do give you the credit to say "I told you so" if I post a question asking for money to buy bread and water 10 years from now. Thank you all.

[Brett_Henderson]

Just food for thought.. an aspiring airline pilot might want to research the effects that the current administration's energy policies will have on his future..

(I'll give ya a hint.. it aint good)

[RitterKreuz]

I will never fully understand what its like to live on a Pilot's Salary untill I actually LIVE on it

Whats the difference between a professional pilot and a pizza?
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a pizza can feed a family of four.