Post: #51

To add to the above questions: what are some jobs in the aviation industry that will give you similar benefits (free standby flights) as being a pilot?

Post: #52

(07-19-2018 01:34 PM)asdfk Wrote:  To add to the above questions: what are some jobs in the aviation industry that will give you similar benefits (free standby flights) as being a pilot?

I have a few friends working in corporate roles (corporate finance, marketing, etc) for major US airlines who fly around the world for free or close to it 1-2 weekends a month. Pretty good gig if you can land it.

Post: #53

Cool! Are these guys foot soldiers or high on the chain?

Post: #54

(07-19-2018 02:29 PM)asdfk Wrote:  Cool! Are these guys foot soldiers or high on the chain?

They're recent business school grads so I guess you'd call that junior management for the most part.

Post: #55

(07-18-2018 04:57 PM)d3traktion Wrote:  For current pilots, how difficult is it to maintain relationships as well as the pilot career? I assume you miss a ton of holidays and important milestones in a child's life (if you have kids).

Also, pilots are just reading books while they are cruising? is this for real? you can just read in the cockpit?

I'm almost 30 and strongly considering a change in career, hell, with the whole job outlook looking great over the next fifteen years, becoming a pilot is a something i've gotta think about. I also noticed flight schools like ATP do offer a first lesson/first flight thing for around 150$ here in California (gotta look into it more, but assume you go up and decide if flying is something that even interests you), maybe thats the first step for those that are on the cusp.

Missing holidays and events can be an issue. If you're already in a relationship, you need to make sure your loved ones understand and can handle the situation. To me, holidays are just numbers on a calendar; I can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner on the 4th Tuesday of November as easily as Thursday.

I'm not saying you can read in the cockpit, but you can read in the cockpit. Just make sure you can divide your attention and not miss too many radio calls and warning lights.

I don't know much about initial training these days. It's a different world from when I started. It's a great career for those who are cut out for it.

Post: #56

(07-19-2018 01:34 PM)asdfk Wrote:  To add to the above questions: what are some jobs in the aviation industry that will give you similar benefits (free standby flights) as being a pilot?

Hey asdfk, I think you'd be a FABULOUS flight attendant! Seriously though, I think straight male flight attendants have one of the easiest jobs with the best benefits (official and unofficial) out there.

At my airline, and I think most others, all employees have flight benefits. Pilots can ride in the flight deck, so they have more flexibility on full flights, but even the janitors and secretaries can hitch a ride when there are open seats.

Post: #57

I'm currently going through a fast track Aviation school and that seems to be the most popular route these days where you have all of your credentials within 6-8 months depending on instructor and weather.

These programs are incredibly time consuming. You have a mixed bag of instructors basically. Most come in with only 200 hours, just looking to time build and don't care about the student.... and you have others who are genuinely interested in their job as flight instructors. Basically in these schools, the instructor is only there to make sure that you don't crash the plane and they give you feedback while up in the air/through email. The rest is entirely on you.

I was prepared for my Private Checkride and they gave me a date that was 3 weeks out and that ended up being moved back, so I basically flew zero time for an entire month. I went back up to knock some of the dust off and to my instructors surprise, it was quite difficult to readjust.

I went out to the PPL checkride yesterday with another guy in my program who did very well on the written exam, like me. We went with a new DPE that we have in the area I'm in. Everything was standard, the other guy went first, gave the examiner the money and my instructor and I left to go out for a quick flight. We come back to find out that the student who went before me (who got into Med school, and scored a 98% on the knowledge test), failed his PPL Oral within 40 minutes. A standard Oral is around 3-4 hours. Apparently this DPE was an A&P (IA) mechanic at some point who basically only went over how all the systems were connected in our plane and OTHER planes as well. We train in Piper Archers and this DPE was asking about Cessna's. Needless to say, the poor guy blew 500 bucks only to fail for things that we are not taught to cover in our training.


Aviation is a terrific career but you have to be able to keep up and basically learn everything on your own if you choose one of these fast track "guarantee" programs (to those interested). You will get help and a lot of people will be around to help you out, but rarely will you find a person who is at the same level you are at. You have guys in Instrument, Commercial, Private and everyone moves at different paces. I recommend the housing option they offer to those who are interested. They pair you up with other students in the program and I have learned way more from fellow students than anything my instructor has "taught" me.

What I would recommend, for those who are considering Aviation as a career, is to go to a smaller mom and pop type place and do an introductory flight. Try to knock out your private pilot cert there first before moving on to a fast track program. This can all be done while you are in school/working/whatever. I am approaching my 30's so I chose the fast track option because I need to start establishing credit/building a savings after traveling for 6 years in my 20's after college. However, in hind sight I wish that I went to a smaller FBO to get my private done before this program. After being out of school for 6 years and partying it up down in South America, the fast track program has been brutal.

But at the end of the day, those who want it and really grind at it will get there. If anyone has any info you can PM me as I know a lot about current programs/recommended options for getting into this career/career changers. It's pretty easy for me to see now why pilots make so much (depending on which airline, my dad is a 777 pilot), you get paid for what you know, not for what you do. My dad spends most of his flights doing those sudoku puzzles and reading books/taking turns napping on his international flights.

Now starting salaries at regionals are 55-65,000 a year when they used to be only 20,000. There is a desire for pilots as more and more retire. They are also offering tuition reimbursement. I have seen this first hand through people who have gone through my program. Now is the time to get in if you think this is what you want to do and want a cool career that allows a lot of freedom with seniority.

Post: #58

I've been involved in aviation for a while now , and i don't think there's ever been a better time for pilot recruitment .. the airlines are gagging for new pilots.
That said I'm also glad i didn't go into professional flying.

Post: #59

(07-20-2018 12:52 AM)Duke Main Wrote:  

(07-19-2018 01:34 PM)asdfk Wrote:  To add to the above questions: what are some jobs in the aviation industry that will give you similar benefits (free standby flights) as being a pilot?

Hey asdfk, I think you'd be a FABULOUS flight attendant! Seriously though, I think straight male flight attendants have one of the easiest jobs with the best benefits (official and unofficial) out there.

At my airline, and I think most others, all employees have flight benefits. Pilots can ride in the flight deck, so they have more flexibility on full flights, but even the janitors and secretaries can hitch a ride when there are open seats.

Thanks for that amazing compliment. But seriously, thanks for answering my question
I considered briefly to apply for a job as a flight attendant. I spoke to someone who did it on an international airline. Everything paid for, free international travel, lots of hot girls to hit on, free stay in cities you fly into + entrance to clubs. The doors that can be opened by working 1-2 years in that industry seem pretty insane.

Post: #60

El Mono, which aviation school are you attending? where do you live? Also, banging out your private flight cert before moving to the fast track program, that requires you to pay for your hours then correct? from my understanding its like 100/hr at a private?

Also you mentioned the housing programs, do they assign a roomate with you or is your own place?

Post: #61

I work for a company that runs missions for the military overseas. Basically, we are the pilots and we have military personnel on the plane doing whatever you think they might do. If I make 650 a day (I'm the little man on the company pay scale), pilots are starting at 750 and making up to 900 a day, I believe. Those guys don't even fly everyday. On a 60 day rotation, they might fly 40. Unlike the airlines where you make money from jet bridge the jet bridge, these guys make money per day.

Still the pilots are leaving for the airlines. I don't know why. I don't talk to them. Why leave a job making 900 a day for 60 days flying 5 hours a day with 6 months off (minus training). I couldn't imagine myself flying for the airlines but that's just me.

Our TT is only 1000hrs, but you need 500 PIC and 350 multi engine. I don't know how to get multi engine time outside CFI. I'm not trying to go the CFI route at all.

Most sky dive pilots are just building time to get to regionals. Turn over is high and you can get 100 hrs a month if you are about that grind. There's a company in AZ that runs through flights like it's nobody's business.

The pilot message boards are a great resource. I'm trying to decide if it's worth it right now. I honestly don't know. 20k to get you commercial if you stay on track. That with only 90 hours. Most companies what you to have 500hrs of TT.

You can rent a bird for 150 wet an hr, 90-110 if you are lucky. Fuck that.

I'll let you posted if I decide to get my PPL and commercial license. I wouldn't start till my January break though.

Post: #62

SWA flight attendants top out at 60hr after 12 years. The only drama you really have is the flight crew.

Becoming a flight attendant is as easy as applying though. SWA is hiring another 500 this year and are going through 10k applicants from 2 years ago. I don't know of the other big 4 are in the same boat but I believe so.