During my first flight, I learned something very important: Aviation is addictive.
I wanted to turn my passion for flying into a career, but like many AOPA members, I found more questions than answers. Where should I go for the best training? How will I fund it? Which direction is the shortest path to that ultimate pilot job?
Professional career planning from Kit Darby's AIR, Inc., of Atlanta, is available to AOPA members at a 10-percent discount, and it's an excellent service. But advice and more general guidance are available free as a benefit of AOPA membership. Among the most common career questions I answer:
I'm not sure I want to be an airline pilot. What other types of flying jobs are there?
Most beginning career pilots focus on the major airlines, anticipating salaries of $150,000 and up, plus 15 days off a month. The path to the left seat at a major airline starts with several years of flight training, college, and hour-building. And some luck, I might add.
Some flying jobs used for hour-building can turn into careers themselves. Although the money usually isn't as good, they offer freedom unheard of in the airlines. There are no 50-pound operations manuals, and if the weather is bad, you don't go. Some noncarrier jobs include sightseeing, cargo, aerial photography, agricultural application (crop-dusting), banner towing, traffic watch, aerial survey, military, airshow, flight instruction, corporate, and air taxi (charter).
I can give you firsthand details on most of these, and we'd be happy to send you information packages on the different pilot careers to help you plot your career path.
What is the current and forecast demand for airline pilots?
Airline hiring hit an all-time low in 1991, and by 1994 more than 1,800 pilots were on furlough from major and regional airlines. The good news is that pilot jobs are directly related to the demand for air travel, and over the next 10 years that demand is expected to double. Couple that with the increase in the number of pilots retiring at age 60, and some claim that more than 83,000 potential new pilot jobs will be available over the next 12 years.
In November, hiring was up. Major airlines took on 14 new hires, with 345 on furlough. National airlines hired 35, with 79 remaining on furlough.
What type of education is required to fly for the majors?
A college degree. More than 95 percent of airline pilots hold at least a four-year degree, and about 10 percent of those hold a post-graduate degree. I suggest earning a degree in a field you enjoy, if only as a fallback position. For flight training, airlines prefer graduates of well-structured flight courses.
Some universities offer degrees in aviation. Some of the larger ones include my alma mater, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; University of North Dakota; Purdue University; and the Florida Institute of Technology. There are also some specialized flight programs at other universities, such as the agricultural aviation program at Northeast Louisiana University.
AOPA has information packages on several aviation universities.
Flying is expensive. How can I find ways to finance my education?
You'd be surprised at the number of scholarships and grants available, including those from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, Air Line Pilots Association, and Women in Aviation International. I'll be glad to send you a list of scholarship sources, as well as information on an AOPA assistance program featuring low-rate educational loans and consultative services for college planning.
What are these pay-for-training programs that I've been hearing about?
The airline industry is changing fast, and one of the most controversial changes is pay-for-training programs. As a result of high turnover and today's surplus of pilots, some regional airlines have begun to charge $10,000 and up for the initial training required for employment. Don't expect to make that $10,000 or so back while working in the commuters, either, since starting salaries range from $13,000 to $15,000 per year.
AOPA Aviation Information Resources
AOPA Pilot Information Center for expert help and advice for pilots, from pilots, 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672).
AOPA Online on the World Wide Web (www.aopa.org) offers many of the information publications from AOPA and the Air Safety Foundation.
AOPA and Air Safety Foundation booklets are available, some free, some for a nominal shipping and handling charge, by calling 800/USA-AOPA (800/872-2672).
One of AOPA's premier member benefits is the team of dedicated pilots and instructors who interact one-on-one with members. Together, they own nine aircraft and have more than 47,500 hours accumulated over 248 years in aviation. Any member can reach the specialists by calling 800/USA-AOPA (872-2672), or through AOPA's World Wide Web site (www.aopa.org).
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