Career in airplanes.......

[harrys]

Hello everyone

There are many career options today which ever field you want to go for IT, mechanical, automobile i wanted to know can we make a career in airplane field.. or a field related to airplanes i know there are many out there who are confused with their career options....some time back i thought of becoming a pilot but it was tooo expensive for me, i am 27 now.. and really thinking to change my field i am in IT industry but my interest is in airplanes..... I have been flying rc airplanes for more than 10 years my passion is Pattern F3A. I need guidance.....

[Josh Price]

Hey man am was in the same boat not long ago. i am 26 and was faced with the same thing. As for me i became a Firefighter and love it. as for you there are lots of options. Aeronautical Enginering, military, A mechanic at just about any air port, or even a civialain contracter for the government flying dromes as fas as the rc side of it. I promise man just wiegh your options and what is ment to be will happen. You just have to keep a open mind. and jump on every oppertunity take that next step in finding what you like. Good luck man keep us posted on how it is going.

[jwilliams]

There are truly many facets of aviation you could enter. Some do not pay well, but I always say the best job to have is the one you enjoy performing. You might contact your nearest university that has a reputable Aviation program and see what they have to say. I am a pilot for UPS and aviation has been good to me, but I have many friends that would say the opposite. Be prepared for a long road no matter which area you enter. Probably the quickest is the mechanics route as you can get your A & P in about 30 months. There is no fast track way that I know of, but all the best to you in your decision.
Jeff Williams

[jeff sterner]

harrys,
Judging by your sig pic you may not find my story as funny as I do. Also, I don't want to highjack your thread but hear me out.

I go to my 5 yr high school class reunion. I talk to an old friend that frankly just hadn't grown up yet! Still partying on illegal stuff. He said he was moving to Alaska in a couple weeks. When I asked why he said he answered some ad in a magazine about becoming a brush pilot and was going to try it out. He also said marijuana grows like weeds in Alaska, nuff said.

Fast forward to our 25 yr class reunion. My friend shows up looking clean cut, married with multiple kids. Long story short, he was a brush pilot for 3 years. Flew hundreds of hours in small planes on floats. One of his fly in clients owned a shipping business and hired him to fly a twin engine prop job. He flew cargo around for another 5 years. Keep in mind my friend had "zero" flight school/training. After the cargo pilot job he became............................................ .....a pilot for Southwest Airlines. He loves his job but said to pass the drug tests he had to make a major life style change. To this day I am scared to death to fly Southwest

Morral of the story is anything is possible. Totally true story.

[Dan767]

What Jeff Williams said in post #3. Good advice.

[jwilliams]

Dan767, where you based? I am in SDF as a A300FO.
Jeff

[Dan767]

Jeff,

ONT 757/767 Capt. If you get a chance, Look on the IPA Bar and Grill Photo shop. I have a pic there with my CompArf Extra 260.

[citrus]

I always tell people interested in aviation to get a job doing line service (fueling and towing airplanes) at a general aviation airport, not for an airline. You will meet and network with people in all aspects of aviation from the small airplane mechanic, flight instructor, corporate pilot and major airline pilot who flies his Cessna on weekends. There is truely a wealth of information there and usually people love to talk about it. I loved doing line service and it was a huge spring board to my aviation career.

Chris
AirTran Airways
B-717 Capt.

[somethnextra]

Believe it or not, there is a lot of IT work to be done in the aviation field. Computers drive modern aviation. Take advantage of that. Looks like you have the right focus though. fcmodelers is awesome.

[xtra330]

Hi There,

Just want to throw something out there. I got my Airframe and Powerplant certificate back in 93...it took 18 months, 5 days a week, 8 hour days, no breaks but Christmas and Thanksgiving. It was hard holding a full time job at night, school all day. I had an understanding girlfriend back then, and the social life had to take a back seat...out of A&P school I considered going to the Airforce, good opportunities with that, but I decided to go civilian first. For the next 13 years I had worked at two 3rd party maintenance facilities, started out doing A&P, then crossed over to Structures...which I found more enjoyable...working off blueprints, engineering orders, service bullentins, you name it. Its like building/repairing a model plane...kind of. I have worked on just about every company's plane out there...and have met alot of great people...if you like working with your hands, and not afraid to get dirty, then you will enjoy it, alot of opportunties come about as well. I am now doing IT work at an aeronautical company...only because I was surplussed from being a mechanic at the same company, and I applied for this job I have now before I hit the door. I do miss working on the planes, but at least I am still around them.....if you love planes, there is a job for you...you may have to travel for it as well...to get a decent pay....

Look in the yellow pages for Aviation Tech schools in your area...I went to Dalfort Tech...but I dont think they are around anymore...go to the school for a tour and see if you like what you see...and talk to some of the guys there about their experience...

Good luck!

Joe

[Tyler Derdin]

I make a living designing, building and test piloting R/C airplanes for The Insitu Group. www.insitu.com Life is a dream for me. I pinch myself every morning because I can't believe I get paid to do what I do. And I have been doing it for Insitu for over 13 years now and I honestly haven't worked a day since I started, it's just too much fun. I would hate to have to get a real job and go back to work.
Kip Jackson
P.S. Check our website for job openings, we're hiring!

[Mithrandir]

go to http://www.uav.com and click on "Employment"...
Go back to school and get an aerospace degree....
I hire newbs with a BS in Aero right outa College at about 55k

[rob_k]

I made a living flying full time for 10 years and loved it. However, after a move to a new location, picked a doctor out of the phone book and ended up losing my medical for 2 years due to a technicality in paperwork with the FAA. Fortunately, I had an IT background in addition to my Aviation Science degree and was able to keep paying the bills. Whatever you do, it's a good idea to keep in mind that you can fly planes with any degree....it doesn't have to be an Aviation degree.

[Colonel Klank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by citrus
	I always tell people interested in aviation to get a job doing line service (fueling and towing airplanes) at a general aviation airport, not for an airline. You will meet and network with people in all aspects of aviation from the small airplane mechanic, flight instructor, corporate pilot and major airline pilot who flies his Cessna on weekends. There is truely a wealth of information there and usually people love to talk about it. I loved doing line service and it was a huge spring board to my aviation career. Chris AirTran Airways B-717 Capt.

Agreed. My son is a lineman with Million Air and loves it.

[pitviper51]

this is something iv always felt id fit in prefect, the part is all the Bull classes not dealing with anything you need.. iv been designing and flying things since i was 6... trial and error and thinking out side the box is what leads to great discoverys, even if by accident. iv been told by folks, why arent you flying UAVs?? then i reply you hiring??? heheheh as for real flying theres nothng like it,, but i like the seat of your pants barnstorming of era long past... thats why i flew sailplanes , its just you and the air, and eagles haha, and besides untell i get lazer eye surgery to fix my vision.. oh well, ill stop rambling...
mike