If I could pick any profession to go do the rest of my life, I think I'd be a pilot... I can't think of anything else that would be as enjoyable, and that would be a job I would look forwards to doing as much on a daily basis.... Quite honestly though, I have no interest in joining the military, and doubt I would be accepted anyways as a result of rotator cuff injury I received playing football in HS that I still have a problem with. Is there anybody that is in the aviaton industry out there? I'd like to know the reality of attempting to get into the aviaton industry as a pilot via the civilian route. I know in theory it is doable, however I don't know if it is a legitate and realistic route to get to that point. Does anyone have any knowlege of going this route to becoming a pilot? I don't want to go spend thousands of dollars for something that will never realistically be anything more than a hobby. Any advise would my much appreciated.

 

I have probably talked to more pilots that went the civilian route than I have military pilots. From what I've been told, it's not hard to do if you stick with it. Expensive, yes. If you need a college degree, there is a school in Killeen, Central Texas College, that has (or at least had 15 years ago) a great flight program. Then of course there's always Embry-Riddle, but be prepared to spend lots of cash. If a degree isn't needed for you, start hanging out at airports. That's one of the best things an aspiring pilot can do. Once I get back home from this assignment I'll be getting my medical so I can get a check ride and start flying again.

 

the civilian route costs big bucks ......thats how John Travolta did it

if your not loaded with cash....and you just have to have a boring glorified "bus driver job".....get your hours in the military.

If you dont get your jet hours in the military.....youll have to build hours and waste a couple of years of your life as a CFI and that sucks.....then you might get a job with a prop puddle jumper making 18K a year........ and then after years of the most unfulfilling flying on the planet, with terrible hours and after youve amased 2500 hours of single and twin time...you still cant find a flying job you can stomach cause all those x-military pilots are taking the good jobs with their 3000 hours of in-line thrust (jet) time which looks a whole lot better than your 1000 hours of 150 time

dont do ....trust me its boring I've owned my own aircraft since 1992 ...and I know alot of pilots...the happy ones spent 6 yrs in the military and now fly for Southwest, UPS, and even with their F-15 time in the military getting the airline job was still tough...had to fly C5's for the guard until the airlines called to pay the bills.......I'm not the "I love flying poster child" as you may have noticed

 

Red 92, the only "unfulfilling flying" i've ever done is when I wasn't PIC...and even then it wasn't so bad!

 

CFII/MEI checking in. The state of the industry is not bad. You wont make much money in the begining, but you will as you gain time and seniority. Flying is more enjoyable than any activity I have experienced. If it is your lifelong dream, by all means go for it. You will probably spend around 40k dollars to earn all of the required ratings.

I am an instructor right now, and I enjoy it. I used to not want to be one, but I like it now. Its just a stepping stone in my career. Once I get a couple hundred more hours, I am going to use my extensive connections to get a little airline job, like Eagle. My career goal is American Airlines or Fed-Ex at 30. I have 6 years to get there.

Go find an airport, go to a little flight school, and take a 30 minute discovery flight. It will hook you hard, and you wont look back.

 

Learning to fly is not only about finding a satisfying well paid career prospect.

Flying will change your life.

Your horizons will change, you will meet people that you would not normally come across, it will add a perspective to your life that you would not experience otherwise.

If you can find a copy of "Gift of Wings" by Richard Bach, read it and you will understand.

(He who wrote Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, a short story that everyone should be MADE to read !!)

When I first came to Dallas from the UK in 1979 for what I thought was a one off trip to build up my experience and flying hours I never imagined that 25 years later I would look back on....

Having seen virtually every one of The United States...

Flying myself into the Grand Canyon..in the days when you could!

Meeting Buzz Aldrin

Flying the Space Shuttle (Simulator)
(I wanted to leave the last word off)

Freelancing for aviation journals about avionics and touring...

Buying and exporting Classic cars to the UK

Meeting a 4 Star General who test flew the Harrier for the US Navy

Now of course I add to the list... living in a lovely part of South Texas for part of each year in a house we designed and built ourselves, and then how about owning an F150 and a classic Mustang.
Plus so many other experiences I have to look in my log book to remind myself.
None of this would I have done without the stimulation of flying.

Don't think about learning to fly...just do it.

I never worked as a commercial pilot but I don't regret one minute of what I achieved as an 'amateur pilot'.

 

this is the nicer version of what I said
streetcrusier you sir have my respect.

 

what are you trying to do ??? scare him away from flying

Its also a great place to get sleep at cruise with auto pilot on....

 

Er......

Excuse me ?

"what are you trying to do ??? scare him away from flying"

Quite how does it do that ?!!