Enlisted Going Civilian Pilot?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 20:53:48 -0500

This one is for the Warrants and Commisioned aviators out there. I am going to a civilian flight school to get all of my ratings, in 89 days I should have my Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, and CFMEI. I know this will be a lot to cover in one stretch, but since I figured I was in the grove might as well suck it up, and get some intestinal fortitude. With that being said, do you think its a better idea than staying as a mechanic? I have always wanted to fly just was unable to qualify for the 1W Flight Physical required by the Army.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 8:56 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 20:56:04 -0500

Anything is better then being a mechanic... lol

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 9:26 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 21:26:35 -0500

  What do you want to do with all your ratings?  Do you want to fly commercially?  If so, it is a pretty arduous road ahead.  Look at what different airlines' minimum requirements are for employment.  Then look at what their pay scales are.  (check out airlinepilotcentral.com for these numbers)  If you can get picked up by a regional, you'll be making about $20k a year, initially.  The majors are starting to hire again, but you're competing with folks that have been flying multi-engine aircraft for many years already.<div>  If you're getting your ratings to be able to rent a plane and go wherever you want, then you might not need all the aforementioned ratings.</div><div>  In the end, do what makes you happy.  It is better to make a decision and do what you think you'll enjoy rather than sticking with something and always wondering "what if?"</div><div>  I will caveat the "whatever makes you happy" comment with you should really take a logical look at your decision.  Don't just consider what puts a smile on your face, consider how much life is going to cost (food, housing, kids, bills, etc etc), how much loan payments for the flight school is going to cost, and then see how much you could possibly make (If you're scraping by and not making ends meet, I guarantee your happiness will be affected).  Check both your best and worst case options.  If you're willing to live with that worst case option...Then go for it... Go all out and don't look back!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 21 at 2014 10:00 AM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 10:00:28 -0400

My brother could speak to this much better than I can, as his mid-life crisis manifested in selling his granite business and becoming a pilot. What I know from him is pretty much in line with the comments of Maj Private RallyPoint Member. If your financial well being is already set, then by all means, follow your dream. I'm a private pilot myself, so I well know that flying is a bug that doesn't un-bite you. Ditto the previous comments on low pay and a long road...that long road being spending A LOT of time as a flight instructor to get enough hours to even be considered by a regional, which is a must in order to be considered by a major airline. You can also pick up alot of time by flying charters, etc.

Quick story that came to mind while typing this: A friend of mine went to a helicopter flight school a couple years after high school. His goal was to fly for Columbia Helicopters in Portland, OR. After the school and a couple hundred hours staying at the school as an instructor, he paid them a visit and was told that he needed 2000 hours minimum to be considered as a copilot. He bucked up and found a job flying a crop dusting bell-textron helicopter (the ones that loook like M*A*S*H helicopters) until he got up to about 2500 hours and went back. They offered him that copilot job...for $16k a year. He said "screw it" and went to work for a logging company falling trees for about 4x the money. The moral: You really have to want it.