dman4486
5,000+ posts
RememberedHowToChangethis
define "professional pilot", and what do you want to get into?
- Thread Starter
- #3
corporate pilot or atp/cargo is what i want to get into
if i had my way i'd get into cargo i.e. fedex/ups etc
if i had my way i'd get into cargo i.e. fedex/ups etc
dman4486
5,000+ posts
RememberedHowToChangethis
o...I have been working toward CFI, and will be opening a school in a few years....
I don't plan to do the corp thing...maybe private transport or air-taxi, but not corp
I don't plan to do the corp thing...maybe private transport or air-taxi, but not corp
dman4486
5,000+ posts
RememberedHowToChangethis
BTW check out fed-ex benefits...they are hard to beat
edit: if you have not already
edit: if you have not already
- Thread Starter
- #6
i havent seen their benefits but i saw a supposed pay plan and //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif
the ceo is supposedly a former marine and likes to hire marines so hopefully some day down the road it pays off for me
the ceo is supposedly a former marine and likes to hire marines so hopefully some day down the road it pays off for me
dman4486
5,000+ posts
RememberedHowToChangethis
the only thing I know about them is that you need to get lots and lots of air-time before even applying
they typically hire retired military pilots because of experience
AcidicDreams
10+ year member
I don't need one of these
Are you looking at being an airline pilot?
If so my father is a captain for Continental and my brother has his AP&P license and is finishing a degree in aviation maintenance at Utah valley University. I guess the airlines don't necessarily require that you degree be in aerospace. However my brother already has his commercial license so he's a little ahead someone walking into college trying to work up from scratch. My Dad on the other hand only got an AP&P license and walking pickett lines in the 80's to get a job at continental (he was flying corporate jets before so he had ratings and hours) and they didn't fire him after the strike ended and has been there since.
The prospects look pretty good as an airline pilot. The current crop of pilots are all in a similar age range so soon there is going to be a huge glut of jobs needing filled as a whole. You might be worried about all this economic hardship and how it's affecting airlines but it shouldn't be your concern until you are actually ready to find a job. In 3-4 years I'm sure we'll be in a whole new place with the economy and the airlines will be in good shape again.
As for the airline industry as a whole it's very cyclical, and it works similar to a commodity market, especially in the past (kinda). For the most part airline seats are a commodity to 85% of travelers. Business people who have got to be in a certain place at a certain time and have deep pockets are a different matter though. In any case you must think of all the combined seats available as a commodity. When there is a glut of passengers all of the airlines are fat and happy. They make lots of money and constantly expand fleets and routes as well as having their union gobbling up profits as fast as possible (in new labor contracts). When there is a downturn and say 15% of seats are suddenly empty it is an industry wide downturn and everyone is affected (we'll get to exceptions in a bit).... Now everyone is losing money and losing it fast. However some airlines have huge cushions of cash (Continental), , have resisted massive and gluttonous expansion (Southwest), and have contracts with labor that are reasonable (Southwest & Continental). These airlines might still be losing money but float to the top relatively unscathed. Those airlines that are not properly managed sink to the bottom while losing billions every year. Eventually one will go out of business or be eaten by a strong airline or they will merge with another weak airline. Suddenly their capacity is off the market and planes are full again. Also speaking of M&A in the airline industry, it's basically very ugly and cutthroat. The unions never agree and strong airlines will sometimes string weak ones along until they are on the verge of collapse, worsening their situation since they are expecting to be bought out, then they cut them loose and watch them fail..
There are exceptions, notably Southwest airlines and possibly Jetblue (they are kind of new). Both seem to be managed very well and have bucked the old guard airline model that is so cyclical. These would be good airlines to work for since if you end up in an airline that goes out of business you are F**KED! This is because all airlines work on a union step system for seniority. Therefore if your airlines goes south and you start somewhere else you start at the bottom making 35k. This could be a big problem if you where high up the ladder to be making 200k (what my dad makes)...
Now there are some amazing benefits to being a commercial airline pilot. Like the 250k+ working 16 days a month for your last 5 years, but you have to be smart about the airline you choose. My Dad got lucky, Continental was one of those airlines at the bottom of the barrell several times but due to excellent management (Gordon Bethune) they have risen to the top. If I where you and aiming to be a pilot I'd go for it. The benefits are insane, the pay is off the charts (nothing like the responsibility of keeping 100+ people alive 2-3 times a day), and there will likely be a job there for you after college.
If so my father is a captain for Continental and my brother has his AP&P license and is finishing a degree in aviation maintenance at Utah valley University. I guess the airlines don't necessarily require that you degree be in aerospace. However my brother already has his commercial license so he's a little ahead someone walking into college trying to work up from scratch. My Dad on the other hand only got an AP&P license and walking pickett lines in the 80's to get a job at continental (he was flying corporate jets before so he had ratings and hours) and they didn't fire him after the strike ended and has been there since.
The prospects look pretty good as an airline pilot. The current crop of pilots are all in a similar age range so soon there is going to be a huge glut of jobs needing filled as a whole. You might be worried about all this economic hardship and how it's affecting airlines but it shouldn't be your concern until you are actually ready to find a job. In 3-4 years I'm sure we'll be in a whole new place with the economy and the airlines will be in good shape again.
As for the airline industry as a whole it's very cyclical, and it works similar to a commodity market, especially in the past (kinda). For the most part airline seats are a commodity to 85% of travelers. Business people who have got to be in a certain place at a certain time and have deep pockets are a different matter though. In any case you must think of all the combined seats available as a commodity. When there is a glut of passengers all of the airlines are fat and happy. They make lots of money and constantly expand fleets and routes as well as having their union gobbling up profits as fast as possible (in new labor contracts). When there is a downturn and say 15% of seats are suddenly empty it is an industry wide downturn and everyone is affected (we'll get to exceptions in a bit).... Now everyone is losing money and losing it fast. However some airlines have huge cushions of cash (Continental), , have resisted massive and gluttonous expansion (Southwest), and have contracts with labor that are reasonable (Southwest & Continental). These airlines might still be losing money but float to the top relatively unscathed. Those airlines that are not properly managed sink to the bottom while losing billions every year. Eventually one will go out of business or be eaten by a strong airline or they will merge with another weak airline. Suddenly their capacity is off the market and planes are full again. Also speaking of M&A in the airline industry, it's basically very ugly and cutthroat. The unions never agree and strong airlines will sometimes string weak ones along until they are on the verge of collapse, worsening their situation since they are expecting to be bought out, then they cut them loose and watch them fail..
There are exceptions, notably Southwest airlines and possibly Jetblue (they are kind of new). Both seem to be managed very well and have bucked the old guard airline model that is so cyclical. These would be good airlines to work for since if you end up in an airline that goes out of business you are F**KED! This is because all airlines work on a union step system for seniority. Therefore if your airlines goes south and you start somewhere else you start at the bottom making 35k. This could be a big problem if you where high up the ladder to be making 200k (what my dad makes)...
Now there are some amazing benefits to being a commercial airline pilot. Like the 250k+ working 16 days a month for your last 5 years, but you have to be smart about the airline you choose. My Dad got lucky, Continental was one of those airlines at the bottom of the barrell several times but due to excellent management (Gordon Bethune) they have risen to the top. If I where you and aiming to be a pilot I'd go for it. The benefits are insane, the pay is off the charts (nothing like the responsibility of keeping 100+ people alive 2-3 times a day), and there will likely be a job there for you after college.
AcidicDreams
10+ year member
I don't need one of these
ohh.... that's different. If I where you try to call someone in HR at Fedex cooperate and ask them who'd they hire (other than military pilots). Also look for schools that have a reliationship with fedex for recruiting....
Also look here for FEDEX reqs:
https://www.pilotcredentials.com/careers/index.php
In any case I hear Fedex/UPS pilots do really well and they aren't subject to the airline cycles...
- Thread Starter
- #10
great posts acidicdreams
i didnt realize that about leaving one airline and going to another makes you start all over again. that must ****
yeah as it is now i sign off maintenance actions for aircraft gripes and also sign off the overall daily inspection of the aircraft saying its safe for flight. hvaing peoples life in my hands isnt new, to include my own butt on that bird.
just wish i had been an officer and could have flight hours that actually count instead of just being enlisted aircrew
i didnt realize that about leaving one airline and going to another makes you start all over again. that must ****
yeah as it is now i sign off maintenance actions for aircraft gripes and also sign off the overall daily inspection of the aircraft saying its safe for flight. hvaing peoples life in my hands isnt new, to include my own butt on that bird.
just wish i had been an officer and could have flight hours that actually count instead of just being enlisted aircrew
AcidicDreams
10+ year member
I don't need one of these
yup, that would have been nice... getting hours and ratings is the key. A school should hand you the required ratings (ie through the required classes) to get into the industry. I would take a list of reqs from the job you want and make sure the school you are going to will give you that while at school. Flying is **** expensive so being able to use school loans to pay for the time is a major advantage. Plus most if not all major operations (airlines/fedex/ups etc) will require SOME type of degree as long as it's a 4yr degree.
- Thread Starter
- #12
yeah im planningon going to embry riddle and using my A&P license towards some of the credit and the gi bill should cover the rest i need to get my degree with my previous college i already have. i already have a private and inst rating but havent flown mudch since i joined the corps
im just tempted to go ot a school in texas bc i can do it for free but riddle has such a good name in teh industry
im just tempted to go ot a school in texas bc i can do it for free but riddle has such a good name in teh industry
I had always assumed you needed to go through one of the Forces to become a pilot.
I recently graduated in Aero Engineering and have a couple friends who fly but only small, private planes. I've toyed with the idea of taking flying lessons, but would rather learn how to fly with the intent on working for a commercial jet company like you, OP.
*tuned in*
I recently graduated in Aero Engineering and have a couple friends who fly but only small, private planes. I've toyed with the idea of taking flying lessons, but would rather learn how to fly with the intent on working for a commercial jet company like you, OP.
*tuned in*
AcidicDreams
10+ year member
I don't need one of these
MY dad didn't even have an associates degree, but military pilots will have priority since they will have all the ratings they need and more. In reality you need a bachelor's degree (my dad started during a strike so he got around that) and the right ratings and you can apply.
Buck
5,000+ posts
little alien on campus
after ur an airline pilot for several years the pay can get up to $200k
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