For all you pilots out there?

Question

what did it take for you to get to where you are now? what are your working conditions like, your benefits,your pay(if you dont mind saying) whats the best part and whats the worst? whats the work schedule like too. thanks in advance

Answer 1

alot av money and time

Answer 2

It did take a lot of money and time to get where I am. I went the civilian route and got a degree at the same time. It was a private college (St. Louis University/Parks College) so it cost a little bit more than a public school. Along with the tuition, I had to pay for my flight training. I then instructed for a year at the Delta Connection Academy in Florida. While there, in 1998, I was paid a measely $6.50/hour. Barely enough to live on. When I was hired in 1999 at Comair I made about $16000/year. I am now a captain there and make about $70,000/year. My schedule sucks as I am on call. As I get more seniority and more people junior to me, I will be able to get mainly 4 day trips. The benefits aren't too bad. We get free flight passes anywhere Delta flys for my family and my parents. Insurance isn't too bad and we have a 401K.

I think the best part is the people that I work with. We have a great bunch of pilots and flight attendants here. Another good thing is the view from the "office." You can't beat seeing a sunrise or sunset from high altitude.

The worst part would be what most people would say, the bad schedule and the way some people in mgmt tend to treat the employees.

Answer 3

It took alot of money... I speak for alot of pilots I think when I say that I'd do it for free if I didnt have to pay for food and all the other bills that go along with life... My working conditions are easy as far as the physical standpoint is concerned but the mental point of view can be very stressful at times... Benifits are health insurance and free/reduced rate travel... I'll say that in my first year... a few years ago now, I made $23K... Best part is that I get to fly for a living and travel the country, my two favorite hobbies... Worst is that I know I will have trouble starting a family... My schedule typically consists of 75-85 fight hours/ month... and that means about 10-15 nights away from home per month... I will never recommend it or not reccomend it to anyone because its a lifestyle that works for some people and others would hate it...

Answer 4

It's a long rode with no guarantees. I started flying in high school, graduated with a degree in aviation from Purdue University - then the stepping stones began. Flight instructing, freighter dog, charter, regional and now I've made it as a Captain for United Airlines.

Con - It's expensive to get anywhere in aviation and most flying jobs don't pay much. You may get all your ratings, then never get a decent job. It's a gamble.

Pro - If you stick with it and succeed, it is a wonderful life. I have flown to virtually every country in the world and my family flies free. (it's great payback to the parents) The 'brotherhood' among pilots is strong and it's a great group to be a part of. There is no boredom - as people that don't fly like to spout. Flying is fun. Period. Even if you are just hanging out over the Pacific making position reports in the moonlight and shooting the breeze. It's always a good feeling to be there.

Time away from family is enormous. That's easy to accept - until you have a family.

Answer 5

1. It took me £78 to join the club.
2. Scabby static bus, reasonable clubhouse though.
3. Pay!?! Hah! I should be so lucky, I pay to be there. Even the instructors, chairman and CFI (cheif flying instructor) don't get paid a penny).
4. Best part: flying
Worst part: the ex-RAF pilot who's convinced he still is and orders everyone about and doesn't trust perfectly good kids to do anything. That and scabby weather when you haven't got a flight in yet.
5. Well, I work one day in every six weeks on launch duty. I can go flying as often as I want, normally to a maximum of three launches a day.

PS I'm a glider pilot at a club.

Answer 6

Lots of time, hard work and effort. I'm more fortunate I should say, since I'm actually paid to undergo flight school and all the trainings that comes with it. I've flew the F-5, F-15C Eagle and currently, I'm in the F-16C Fighting Falcon (and soon, the F-22A).

Our working conditions depend on where we are. Back at home state, its actually pretty routine and you just go up to 12,000 feet and to enjoy the view of the clearest sky you will ever see.

I did a couple of tours in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of OIF I, OIF II, and OEF, support allied ground forces and aerial combat operations.

The best hard of this job, apart from the variety of jets and weapon systems you encounter, is actually the people. Its the people you encounter that keeps you in. Motivated, disciplined and highly trained personnel that you will find it difficult to get when working outside the military.

And for those who are 16 years old and thinking of what to do, you might want to think about the USAF. There you will see all kinds of stuff that you might have seen on video games, like UAVs, fighters, bombers, helos, choppers etc. For those who are good in video games and fast with a mouse, being a UAV pilot might be what you want.

As for pay benefits, it pretty good. Just don't expect to take home $5K a month. Its pays good but NOT that good. Ha ha. Promotions will depend on performance, so you had better not rest on your butt. Besides, you really save a lot during training, assuming you don't bust your paycheck on booze during time off. The training phase is pretty intense (during my time that is), so be prepared to be slightly wasted. But after that, it depends on where your squadron takes you to.

Answer 7

On the helicopter side of things, it doesn't take any more time than the airplane side, but you can figure on about three times the money.
My favorite saying about the business is "you can live anywhere in the world you want, because regardless, you'll never be home". The helicopter business tends to be seasonal, so you can be away from home 6 months or more at a stretch, but not able to make enough money while you're away to survive the rest of the year. Airplane pilots typically make twice what we do.
The advantage, of course, is being able to fly a helicopter. At someone else's expense.

Answer 8

I love my job...The pay is OK for the work....i never lift anything heavy im never in the cold .....I get to see awesome places...I should warn you though...the higher you get the better the pay..only one problem....the MORE boring it gets.....these big planes fly themselves...the best time i had was running mail way up north...there it was you and the plane...nothing else no auto pilot, no mechanic...just you and the beast...now that was flying.....i make about 140 G's a year but been at it for 17 years. so if i picked doctor at 17 i would probably making 3 times that.....