Any pilots willing to answer a few questions for school

cool_name

cool_name

Active member
so basically i need to interview a pilot for my planning class but kinda put it off(skiing >homework) so if you are pilot any level as long you have a job as an actual pilot pls help its due tomorrow?

here are the questions

1.what is your current job?

2.what eduction did you get post high school?

3. if you had to start again would you take the same path why or why not?

4.what advantages/ disadvantages does the average person in this line of work face?

5.what advice would you give to me and other students wanting to pursue this line of work?

6.what is the comparison of luck versus skill when getting promoted though the higher ranks?

7.when should i go about getting stared on my flight training?

8.how much skiing can you get done on the side?

 
My dad is a Captain flying for Westjet in Canada. I didn't check if your a canadian or not but if you are not westjet is similar to Southwest. The advice i give to you you as his child is if you ever want to have a family don't be a pilot as I have grown up most of my life talking to my dad on a phone. You also will die younger as you are exposed to alot of radiation at high altitude flying, low altitude not so much. On the plus side of things he really enjoys seeing the world from a point of view that people often don't get to see.
 
not me but my dads been a commercial captain for 25ish years.

he is a captain for Mesaba Airlines. I believe the oldest regional carrier in America. In his time they went from 6 aircraft to 90ish.

he has a BS in business management. (the degree isnt important, its simply holding one)

this is me speaking, but i personally cannot see my dad doing anything other than flying.

pro's he makes plenty of money. he bids number 5 for schedule's, so he gets whatever days, and routes he wants (this is because he has been there so long) we as a family get to fly for free. I went skiing in Park City this weekend for the day, and it cost me a rental car and ski rental. and i got 6 hours of skiing in.

con's. he has been gone for over half of my life. starting out you make absolute SHIT, you fly shit routes, and you better love it for what flying is.

my dad always says that you HAVE to get through undergrad debt free or else youre gonna have an un godly amount of debt by the time you start flying commercially. (he flys with FO's that have 100k in debt and are making 20k their first year flying) you do the math.

getting promoted. its all based on one thing, and one thing only. the date you were hired. that determines EVERYTHING about flying. at the same time, it takes a special kind of person to captain an aircraft where the lives of others are in your hands and your one fuckup could cost all of you your lives. (see Colgan air 3407)

at the same time, for the sake of your family PLEASE learn how to turn off your "captain mode" because i can tell you from personal experience, it sucks to be on the receiving end.

I think he would tell you to get started ASAP. youre gonna need a ton of hours.

skiing, N.A. my dad skies a couple of times a year on vacation thats about it.

hope that helps a bit!
 
1.what is your current job?
2.what eduction did you get post high school?
3. if you had to start again would you take the same path why or why not?
4.what advantages/ disadvantages does the average person in this line of work face?
5.what advice would you give to me and other students wanting to pursue this line of work?
6.what is the comparison of luck versus skill when getting promoted though the higher ranks?
7.when should i go about getting stared on my flight training?
8.how much skiing can you get done on the side?
1) pilot in the family2) flying school, all the necessary shit to get commercial license3/5) research your company and the guy who runs it, find the most stable one and never leave4) pros - lots of money, (i think americans get a lot less actually), flying, nice people, independence (no micro managing), dealing with new things regularly...cons - volatile business, messed up circadian rhythm, routine, being tested every 6 months, odd work hours (hard to see the same friends on the regular)6) seniority > skill/record >> luck, but different airlines have difference things going on7)asap8) a lot, equivalent to high school if your dedicated, plus theres no weekend warrior/weekend traffic on the weekdays
ive been given advice to look for something else, but if i was into flying then i would be a pilot obviously, but i know it can be profitable. just hope your airline doesnt crash into an ocean/building/mountain frequently
 
1.what is your current job?
2.what eduction did you get post high school?
3. if you had to start again would you take the same path why or why not?
4.what advantages/ disadvantages does the average person in this line of work face?
5.what advice would you give to me and other students wanting to pursue this line of work?
6.what is the comparison of luck versus skill when getting promoted though the higher ranks?
7.when should i go about getting stared on my flight training?
8.how much skiing can you get done on the side?
my dads a retired military pilot i can't answer all of this stuff as i wont be able to talk to him..
1. hes current retired but was in the canadian military, flew jets, helicopters and the aurora then went on to be a base manager for a special ops airline after he retired and right now hes just flying his personal airplane around north america but is thinking of going to africa to fly bush planes.
2. he has a masters of history and was going to do his phd but decided not too...
3. i'm pretty sure he would because he loves it a lot.
4. i think mostly just how many hours you have to get to get a decent wage because he knows people who are working for 20k and people who are working for 300k. also you end up being away from your family a lot.
5. start soon. (i'm actually doing my PPL right now and he just told me that any time i have a bit of spare money to go throw it on lessons. but thats because i am doing the PPL privately and then applying for CPL at a college) but to also make sure that its really what you want to do. if you can go take a few flight lessons and see if you really love it.
6. can't answer this one sorry i think he was around 150k as a major in the military which isn't super high compared to senior commercial pilots
7. ASAP see number 5.
8. he still managed to ski quite a bit while i was growing up but he was way for ages... plus side though you do get to see a lot of the world. now since hes retired and only like 55 he flys his little airplane over the mountains and then if it looks good he'll land and grab his skis and go play.

 
One of my best buds is a commercial pilot....his responses for you...
Pilot for American
Bachelors in Sports Studies, plus flight certifications.
Yes
Shitty hours starting off and low pay, but you get to travel to some cool places.
Make friends in the industry before you get there. It's all about who you know.
If you're good, it's all about who you know.
Now.
VERY LITTLE to none initially,
 
haha... oh you can loose the respect.. because he didn't fly the stealth sweet looking aurora.. he flew lockheed cp-140 auroras which are a 4 engine turbo prop plane that do long range missions and hunt submarines.
 
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