Going for Private License!

[EKI16]

is this the legendary airshow pilot matt chapman? the man that flys the cap 580? could it be?

[mikeyj86]

theres alot of good info from all of you guys on here, I started in r/c because of my interest/obsession with aviation in general, I've been working on my privates for a while and want to go to school, but can't afford it, have been talking to miltary recruiters about joining and getting my a&p through the service and using the money from the G.I. bill to pay for college

[Texx]

You da man JeeUm! Those Katanas look like powered gliders. I'm supprized that guy didn't rip the wings off!


As for BIFF and MATT....Ohhh my, there's gonna be a throw down!
Did you know that BIFF flew in the Korean War too?!? That boy really gets around...a regular John Wayne Type!

[3dav8r]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Flyinrazrback
	Most fighter guard units deploy 120 days every 15 months, so there is good stability there, and you know way in advance before you go. I mention the guard as its a good deal, and you get the best pilot training available, which looks very good on any resume for civilian flying jobs.

Just be aware that the 120 day deployment every 15 months is on top of the 8-9 days a month. Can't argue with the training and stability, knowing way in advance before you go, can't go with that one. If you want flight time go for the tanker/transport job, it takes a fighter guy 3-4 times longer to get flight time, nature of the beast.

[Biff]

Thanks Tex,,Who do think taught Bob Hoover to fly?? Like I told him as I signed him off for top secret airplane testing,,"Bobby (that's what I call him) I've worked with better,,,but noy many." Chucky Yeager on the other hand is a whole other storie. I miss those days strapped in a fighter. Too bad I was declared TOO DEADLY FOR COMBAT by NATO.

[Leardriver]

There is a big difference between being bitter and a real cold shot of reality! I am willing to bet that almost everybody on this thread that is painting a wonderful picture of avaition as a career had there "cushy" airline gig with seniority long before 9/11 ever happened. I am not blaming everything on 9/11 as the airline industry was fixing to do exactly what the stock market did all by itself...crash! The airlines in general overhired and in general the guys at the top of the aviation food chain (read airline seniority) simply cannot relate (at least the ones that have not had their pensions yanked...like all the United Pilots). They have no fear of furlough because they have plenty of Junior guys below them that get to worry about loosing their homes every time the economy hicups for a week. And honestly..the guys that are here on this thread are guys that can basically afford to fly these $$$ planes because they got into avaition in a different time. Again...more power to them, they are having/have had a good career but in this day and age in aviation they are in the 10% of aviators that can honestly say that....the minority. As I said...the last reports have between 8-10 thousand pilots furloughed right now. Many of those people will never get the jobs back......ask the US AIR pilots! Those guys were furloughes and than told that they would not be brought back..thier services will no longer be required!

Someone here asked how much a CFI makes....well guys...why don't some of you happy pilots give the guy an honest answer. For the record.....my first full year I made $8k and the next I made $12k. That was before taxes and full time 6 days a week. Of course that was here in NJ where things do slow down in the colder months, so tack on another few thousand for a better climate. Bottom line is that you would be LUCKY to make $20k...and I mean lucky. It will cost you at least that to get qualified!

NOw I am sure someone will jump in hear and have a story about "someone" they know making twice that....yea whatever. There probably is "someone" out there making that but again it would be 1% out of the the flight instructors out there at local airports.

Don't get me wrong..there are a few desirable gigs out there...Fed EX would be great...if you know somebody in the hiring process. The last guy I know that went for the interview was a former Bombardier test pilot, flight safety ground and flight instructor, 121 experienced guy with part 121 (read airline experience) guy in his early to mid 30s. Basically the perfect candidate. One of the sharpest guys I ever met...with a great personality. Bottom line....was sent home packing! There is no rhyme or reason when it comes to airline hiring...unless you are a female or a minority. That is just the way it is. Guys can say "oh no" but it is the sad reality of it all.

Now...you want more? Ok....last year in May I took off 8 days and went to Joe Nall. Days I was owed. When I got back I was rewarded with 28 out of 30 days of work. My planes did not fly again until October because my schedule did not allow it. And on the few days I did not get "paged" to fly...it was during the week and I couldn't get anyone to come out and fly with me. So....it simply didn't happen. I was lucky to get the lawn mowed once every three weeks...that is NOT an exaggeration. I have Super Extra that was 95% complete since May...it never flew last year. I spent 17 days on average (yes I actually averaged than) last year not sleeping in my own bed. This is reality. The money....it was ok...after 5 years with the company (which is actually a good company as far as charter ops go). They had 5 citations, 2 lears, 2 hawkers, a Challenger, and a G-IV. If you wanted to sell your soul, fight with the dispatchers about flying "broken" planes, fight for the days off you were actually scheduled for and get yanked because the company's newly booked trip is far more important than ANYTHING you could possibly have going. The list goes on.

But hey man....an aviation career is great man! Perhaps I should post a pic of the Space Shuttle and encourage you to go for it.....after all somebody does get to fly it....right? I mean, why not shoot for the stars! Is it possible? Is it probable.........well.......no. But is that bitter? NO! It is reality! Again..could it happen? Sure..but what are the odds?

Now I am not actually comparing the possibility of "getting a flying job" to flying the shuttle. And truthfully if you really want to fly you probably can "find a way". But as someone earlier said....you "will" have to sell your soul to do it and don't "expect" to have a nice comfortable career, choose where you get to live, have a stable relationship (it happens but is not the norm.....I would say 70% of all the pilots I have ever met are divorced), earn a wage comensurate with your experience. Drive a nice car...prob not for your first 15years anyway. Buy a house....I hope you marry well. How about buy a nice 35% airplane on a commuter pilot wage (picture much laughter mixed with crying from the commuter pilot pool).

I won't say don't go get your private, instrument, or whatever...it is very rewarding. But DO NOT trap yourself into an aviation school like Embry Riddle. Save your parents $100,000 and go to school for something else. Of the Pro Pilots out there there are more without a degree in an aviation related field than there are with it. Not to mention you DO NEED something to do to actually make money while looking for a job, getting furloughed (it's not if it is when), or simply realizing through experience that I am not all wrong here and needing a new career. THis not me being bitter...i have actually always had a flying job of some kind and currently make very good money working for Flight Safety. But would I go back and do it again knowing what i know now.......NO FREAKIN WAY! It is not worth it. Yea there are some good company's out there, but they are the few and far between and what most people go thrigh before they find a good situaltion is obscene...there is no other word for it.

There will always be a guy that had an easy time of it....true. But 95% of the guys that tried to get flying carrers happening after say the mid ninety's.......wish they had done something different.

If you want to call me bitter....go ahead. But telling a young man to go for it is doing him a serious disservice because you are NOT giving him the reality of the situation.

Lemme ask you senior guys a question.....how bout giving up 20% of you salary so the new hires can make at least $40k to start? I gaurantee it would NEVER happen...avaition is way out of balance as far as salary goes....the top 10% of senior guys account for 50% of pilot payroll in most airlines. Are these actual numbers..no..but I am willing to bet that I am very close. Airline is typically mostly have nots witha few at the top of the heap that are "haves". I had a copilot that was a retired United pilot...was making in the neighborhood of $250k a year for working about 8 days and he though he was completely justified....until he came and actually worked as line pilot in a charter op and realized what it was actually like. Now before you say "I wanna job like that"..I SAY HELL YA! But those days are over! Never again will pilots starting out ever see anything remotely close to that.....never. It is part of why the airlines are in the sad state they are in. ONe of the many reasons. Economics aside.....if you do the math it is really almost impossible for an airline to actually "make money". Very few atually long term.

As far as going oversea's...it is always an option if you don't have anything of value are home....like a wife, kids, house, R/C PLANES..you get the idea. If you hav nothing here in the US..I spose it's cool.

This whole thing is about quality of life. If traveling constantly, low pay, miseable conditions, constant stress over schedule is worth it than maybe it is for you.

[Texx]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Biff
	Thanks Tex,,Who do think taught Bob Hoover to fly?? Like I told him as I signed him off for top secret airplane testing,,"Bobby (that's what I call him) I've worked with better,,,but noy many." Chucky Yeager on the other hand is a whole other storie. I miss those days strapped in a fighter. Too bad I was declared TOO DEADLY FOR COMBAT by NATO.

Dude!!! You forgot all about little Chucky Lindberg and those crazy two borthers that used to build bicycles...uh...Wright was thier name as I recall. You really did a good job with those two boys! Gosh...you really are an avaition Iocn BIIF!

And I got a sweet little two lane bridge in good ol' Brooklyn I wanna sell you too!

I know you were lying because MR. HOOVER likes to be called R.A.!

[Biff]

By those he don't fear.

[SBR_RV]

not quite true matus, but anyways.
just about to go solo once i have my medical. my dad teachs me which is great.
been around planes since i was born. iv done work experience at a aviation services place and am considering a career in aircraft maintanence

[Texx]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Biff
	By those he don't fear.

True...true. You scare many!

[3dav8r]

I have to agree with a lot of what LearDriver has to say, it can be a tough way of life. I've had 8 corporate jobs, 2 airlines jobs, the last airline job has stuck since 1986. I do consider myself one of the very luck one's that got hired early, it's a roll of the dice and I won (so far). The majority of my friends are either laid off, starting over in aviation, or are completely out, only a few still have their original jobs. I've lost my pension, all my stock, and taken a 44% pay cut, sign of the time's I guess. No need to whip out the violins, I can still pay my bills, feed the fam and fly RC, life is good. My one big suggestion is get a degree in something other than aviation as a back-up if flying doesn't work out.

[jordan]

i have about 7 hours in a 150 and countless hours in a cherokee 180 along with a big handfull of hours in a home built 1932 pietenpol.(the rc pete n poke model is like this plane) my papa and my brother and my uncle are pilots but none of them are certified to give lessons except my uncle and he can teach instrument but...so for now i have been putting all my money into these 152 lessons at my grandpa's airport...the only problem is that its in illinois and i live in tulsa, ok. so i can only go there during the winter summer and my birthday. sooo...im hopeing to solo this summer! and by the way i will be turing 16 on march 23 so i think i have a pretty good head start!

JORDAN