Hello Everyone,
Curious if you all can help me out. I'm sure this has been discussed before, so please bear with me...
I'm considering a career change. I'm a 25 year old, college-educated (degree in Cognitive Science from Northwestern University), working shlub. I hold a Private SEL w/Glider add-on and am thinking it's time to ditch my desk job and pursue a career with the airlines.
Two Questions:
1. Am I being stupid? I don't like my desk job although I make pretty great money. I've always loved flying, but I'm worried that the airlines are going through such upheaval right now that any job even remotely related to flying is pretty much a dumb idea.
2. Do the "flight academies" really work? Is that how most people get into flying the heavies? What is the typical career path for someone who goes from SEL rating to PIC of a 777 on the New York-Tokyo route? I'm in Los Angeles; is there a good flight training program out here? It seems like everything is in Florida, except for me...
Thanks for the thoughts, will check back regularly to see what is the consensus.
Mike
All Comments
Hi Mike, follow your heart. If you really want to be an airline pilot then go for it. You'll have to make sacrifices but if you really want it then it'll make it all the sweeter in the end. Consider my situation, I gave up my last job as a Senior Flight Instructor for a pioneering Multi Crew Pilot License school here in the Philippines (good money) to be an Airline pilot. Now, the regional that im applying at has moved training to August, I need to wait it out without steady pay. Put an expectant wife in the mix and, well, you get the point! :)
Hi Mike:
I have to agree with the last post to follow your heart.
IT will be a long hard road. Right now CFI's aren't on the field long enough to get a name for themselves but that may change. The airline industry won't go away. It will have some changes though.
As far as the airline training academies I would be carefull and read everything or have someone read it for you. I have seen many people stuck training in an environment that they didn't like.
I tell people to go hang out at the airport and meet as many people as you can. That is the best way you can get in.
It will take a long time to get that 777 route, at least 10 years.
You may find something else out there that you like. I can't tell you how many people I know who are flying corperate or forest service etc. That met their employer at happy hour in the airport bar. It is more of who you know.
Airfreddy
At 53,I'm a private pilot tired of wasting time as a surgical technician.I am university degreed in two disciplines.I'm ready to change career to be a CFI,work off an airman II medical.I want to fly cargo or get any job flying under part 135.I'm finishing IFR rating,getting commercial rating in a program that will also rate me to fly multi.I'm more than ready for the trade from the operating room to the cockpit permanently.
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