Questions about going into the airlines as a pilot?

flyguy 96

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Hi, I have a few questions in regards to flying for the airlines. I would like to fly for a major carrier someday. However, I may not go into the military. How much money should I expect to spend for training? Should I go into the regionals after college, or should Ii go fly business jets for a type rating?
 
This is a forum for questions pertaining to the service academies and ROTC, not to provide advice regarding random other career choices. I'm sure there's a forum for commercial aviation someplace.
 
I'm still on vacation but I'll do an abbreviated reply.

It will cost somewhere in the area of $120k to $150k for an aviation degree with required flight time to get your PPL, CFI, and Commercial endorsement. Then you'll need 3-4 years of flying as an instructor making $20,000 a year to get the 1500 hours minimum to get hired by an airline. Then, if you can get hired by a regional, you'll fly right seat and standby for several years making $30,000 while you wait for a major to hire you. All this time you'll be paying on your loans for your degree.

Flying business jets is a sought after job for pilots and you'll have no chance to get one right out of school.

Stealth_81
 
Hi, I have a few questions in regards to flying for the airlines. I would like to fly for a major carrier someday. However, I may not go into the military. How much money should I expect to spend for training? Should I go into the regionals after college, or should Ii go fly business jets for a type rating?


This isn't about the military. Take this somewhere else....
 
Good comments by Stealth.

The non-former-military, non-Embry-Riddle spouse of a co-worker in my office took that route. Flew for a small feeder for 8 years. Got laid off twice. Had a second job at Best Buy. Stuck with it, finally got hired by United in his 30's. Will probably spend some years as co before moving up. Finally making a better salary but not stupendous.

Every corporate jet pilot I have met over the years has been a well-seasoned vet from the majors enjoying a different part of the business. It's highly competitive.
 
Not sure of the exact degree program, but a young man I know graduated from Oklahoma State University with some kind of degree that also earned him a pilot's license. The flying was part of his degree program - not something on the side. He is currently working for Beechcraft (I think) delivering custom corporate jets around the world. Living the life! Maybe something worth exploring.
 
"Hi. I'd like to go to West Point and learn the secret handshake that gives me access to all of the country's secrets. After I graduate first in my class I'd like to become a Navy SEAL before I fly jets and become an astronaut. After my time with NASA I'd like to become a CIA spy and FBI special agent, and eventually become a doctor. I'm really good at footbal and I joined the Junior Beta Club in 6th grade. I'm number 372 out of 500 in my class, but I don't try hard because my classmates are all idiots. Is there anyway to graduate from West Point in two years (I'm in Civil Air Patrol and Jr. ROTC, so I have the military thing down) so I can start to work on my real dreams? Oh and is there anyway to skip the first summer? Is that something I can request? Thanks for your help!"
 
Apparently the OP didn't like my hypothetical question, and decided to PM me some naughty words. Kid, you're welcome.

Don't come onto a forum about the military and ask how to become something without a military tie-in. There are plenty of commercial pilot forums you can ask questions in. Getting career advice that has nothing to do about the military, ROTC or a service academy, isn't what these forums are here for. It's a waste of time.

Scout, at least the doctor questions have SOME root in starting in a military service.

And maybe the OP thought the hypothetical question was directed at him. I looked at his past posts and realized he's actually talked about NASA and being in space too. It wasn't directed at you. I didn't even realize that was your old thread.

Every few weeks or months someone comes here and asks about the impossible path of being a fighter pilot SEAL with an M.D. and an FBI badge who also works for the CIA and has a secret handshake.

The nice thing about those rediculous scenarios is, they at least have some root IN the military, even if there's a huge departure from reality. You on the other hand had the audacity to skip that pesky military part of the equation and said screw it, just tell me how to get a job....
 
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True, though I wish the tie-in boiled down to more than "I want a prestigious education, and a medical degree, and I'd like to pay for neither" in most cases.
 
At Navy we call that the SEAL Astronaut Space Shuttle Door Gunner service assignment.
 
Hi, I have a few questions in regards to flying for the airlines. I would like to fly for a major carrier someday. However, I may not go into the military. How much money should I expect to spend for training? Should I go into the regionals after college, or should Ii go fly business jets for a type rating?

So as not to continue this thread, I am willing to answer your questions via PM. My spouse and I have been professional airline pilots for 30+ years. Both took the non-military route, yet our paths were vastly different.
 
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