Let me introduce myself, I am 16 years old from Northern New Jersey (USA), and I have a Dream!

I will, no matter what it takes, become a Professional Airline Pilot! I am dedicated and willing to spend the rest of my LIFE chasing that dream! My plan is to go to a good - no GREAT aviation college, I've already been looking at a few, but my primary state I would love to go to is Flordia, because I know that is a pilots paradise! Next year is my senior year in highschool, I am an honor-roll student, I've taken my SAT's, and I will be taking flight lessons this summer! If any experience pilots, or just any aviation buffs can give me any usefull advice that I can really use to persue my dream, I would really appreciate it  I look up to each and every pilot, because I hope to see my self in their shoes in the future!

beaky wrote on Jun 14^th, 2009 at 11:56pm:



I would absolutely love to come down, can you give me a PM regarding directions please?

I've been attending TSTC (Texas State Technical College in Waco) for a year now, learning to fly.  I will tell you that it has the best program for pilot training in the state.  Baylor sends it's students to us for training.  If you're at all interested in living in Texas, you should go here.  However, if you can somehow manage it, definitely go to Florida.  One of my instructors spent some time there getting his CFI, and said it was one of the best times in his life.  However, living expenses are a bit on the steep side.

Every airline I have heard of requires a bachelor's degree (4 year study) in ANY field.  It could be Basket Weaving, they won't care.

As for how to support yourself while trying to get interviews and getting your bachelor's, you would be surprised at the number of jobs available to someone with a private license, especially once you get your multi-engine rating.

Travis wrote on Jun 16^th, 2009 at 6:38am:



Texas is also another possibility, I've been searching colleges every where... Theres also one in long island NY called "Dowling College" which is a pretty nice school. I checked it out and I got a tour from one of the admins.. They have their own airfield @ brookhaven and they have piper warriors and cessna 172's, the only down side is the weather :s

But Florida and Texas seem like really awesome options ...

I know it is possible to go about this profession without a college education, and trust me I've wanted to start flying as soon as I get my high school diploma BUT - my parents are simpily not happy with that, they would rather see me have a college degree incase something doesn't work out as planned, but I am aware that it is possible to become an airline pilot with out a college degree

Great Luck on your dream!!

Here is a pilot forum I go on all the time. 
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/

Cory

wow, I have to go check that out..

I just signed up to get some info on taking my first flight lessons this summer at Essex County Airport in caldwell

flyboy 28 wrote on Jun 18^th, 2009 at 2:17am:


Oh, alright awesome! I think the school name is Century Air if im not mistaken

Travis wrote on Jun 16^th, 2009 at 6:38am:


Why on earth do you need a bachelor's?? You have just sent all that time and money on pilot training and now you need to put a BA on top. Just because you have one does not mean for one second you can make it as a pilot. If as you say they don't care what it is in, then it makes it even more pointless. The US seems to suffer from qualification inflation in just about every corner of employment. Burger flipping will require a three year university course before long

Matt

It's the commitment thing.. showing that you can  take on something, and finish it. One of many methods for narrowing the field.. not to mention the evidence of intellect.. and a person no doubt leaves a university, better educated.

If you have 1000 people applying to you for a job... and that job itself requires a commitment to lots of technical training (training that you, the employer will be paying for); I think it's prudent to limit your investment risk, as the employer; to potential employees with a college degree.

It's weird how these things go in cycles..  I'm old enough to remember that at 20 years old.. airline piloting was out of the question for me. We were still on the edge of the era where  ONLY ex-military pilots need even apply... and those without perfect, uncorrected vision could forget about it too.

Then, not all that long ago.. 1200 hours and a multi-engine rating all by itself got your foot in the door.

The booming economy of the 80s and 90s had many airlines competing for both passengers and pilots.. wasn't there even a pilot shortage for a while ?

The same boom/bust that converted airports from glamorous places where adventures began; into giant bus depots with people sleeping on floors.. has turned the once glamorous and prestigious job as an airline pilot, into that of an over-worked, under-paid robot.

You can literally drop out of high school.. take a job delivering pizza.. stick with it and work your way into management, and have a MUCH more financially satisfying career, by age 30, than you could flying jets.

The big problem now, is that airlines KNOW that most aspiring pilots will work for nothing, just to be flying ...

Quote:


Yeah.. I was talking about that the other day, with my instrument instructor (now flying piston twins for mapping photography)..

This isn't racial or political.. just a fact that these "schools" know that those groups can get grants and loans more readily.. they'll put the kids into debt, and not blink.

I get the picture. I do. I've been educated on how hard it is becoming an airline pilot, especially with the struggling economy and everything else.. I dont care if I live in a tent for a few years, I will become an airline pilot. I know it will be hard, lets face it I don't come from the wealthiest family... I live in a normal suburban home in New Jersey.... but I will  become a pilot, no matter what it takes.

go to school to be a lawyer or doctor or some other profession.

buy yourself a small plane and fly when you want, on your terms.

that's the best advice i could give anyone looking to go into professional aviation.

I'm feeling retrospective   (grant me a little political, creative license, Mods)

Nobody is certain how these things happen, exactly..  What has happened to piloting, is a good microcosm of what has happened (is happening) to our culture and society. Pride, independence, self-sufficiency, character, big-picture/long-term thinking and integrity are becoming less and less important. Those are values that require a sort of "teaching"... as in they're passed from one generation to the next.

Of course, the current economy plays a role in what is happeneing to aviation as a career.., but its state (and our ability to recover) are also victims to this decline. The main reason that we were able to recover from the Great Depression; is that as a people, we proud and felt priviledged to live with such freedom and opportunity. Patriotism and civics were core parts of public education.. long-since replaced by new-age gobbly-goop. Politicians use to inspire with orations that included calls for us to, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country".. whereas today's politicians get elected (and re-elected), by convincing everyone to expect the government to take care of them, literally.

I digress....

ANYway.. the revered airline pilot, is much like the doctor. Society wanted, and even needed them to be bigger-than-life entities. Some of the reasons are obvious... we literally place our lives in their hands.. but the other reasons are more subtle. As important as the primary skills might be, we all need to feel that there's even more to it. We need(ed) to place blind trust in these men. Somewhere along the line, seeing a flight crew walk through an airport as something awe-inspiring; fell the way of the doctor's house-call. Somehow, through all of this, doctors became clinic staffers, and pilots became bus drivers...  and teachers went from proud stewards who guided even the under-achievers through a public education, to babby-sitters, happy if 1/2 their charge end up able to read.

My point ?   Maybe it's not all bad to chase the piloting dream. The other careers mentioned here aren't showing a much brighter future. Doctor-ing is headed toward being a government job.. and with the government running everything, the need for skilled lawyers diminishes. Heck, if the economy keeps spiraling downward, even the airlines might end up as government entities.. and nobody will be able to afford air travel, anyway...

BE BOLD..chase that dream  (while you still can), we need Captain Sullys , more than ever  

Just food for thought.. an aspiring airline pilot might want to research the effects that the current administration's energy policies will have on his future..

(I'll give ya a hint.. it aint good)

Hey 

Im also 16, and have just left high school with more than require education. I just started my flying lessons on a C152, its truly amazing once you get into and really no matter what dont let anything dampen your dreams. Ive always wanted to be a pilot, since 8 years old, nothing can stop me, not even money. Ive done a lot of research and people are right, you dont need to even have aviation related qualifications anymore  kinda silly. But if you have that passion for flying that we probably all share and want, you wont give up no matter how big and steep the obstacle is. I wont. Perhaps maybe ill see you in the skies one day 

Greasemonkey.