I am going into my sophomore year of high school and training for my private pilot certificate. I am looking into a career flying cargo for FedEx or UPS some day. How would I get there?
It's never too early to start career planning. All of life's great adventures start with a dream.
There is an important fact that would-be "freight dogs" (a term of endearment) who aspire to fly for UPS and FedEx, as well as Kalitta, World, and Polar, need to keep in mind. Flying boxes is no different than flying passengers in terms of qualifications. Whether United Airlines or UPS, you will find that the same regulations apply and, generally, so do the same hiring minimums. If you were to apply today to any of these airlines you would need about 1,500 to 2,000 hours of flight time and a good amount of turbine experience as a minimum. However, to be truly competitive, you will need to acquire nearly 5,000 hours of flight experience.
Getting there can happen in myriad ways. AOPA Flight Training has a dedicated Web site just for you.
After finishing high school, you will want to consider getting a degree and earning all of the FAA certificates and ratings. The best jobs at the best airlines go to those pilots who have earned some kind of college degree.
All the aviation colleges you read about in AOPA Flight Trainingwill get you to the commercial pilot certificate with multiengine ratings and flight instructor certificate. These are the minimum qualifications to launch a flying career. You can choose one of the fine aviation academies and really immerse yourself in flight. Once you leave the college or academy, you will have about 250 to 300 hours of flight time. But, you will need to get thousands more.
There is no better way to build up turbine time than to fly 70 hours per month at a regional airline. Even at that, though, it might take another seven years after graduation to get to the total flight time that makes UPS and FedEx take notice. Or think about becoming a military pilot. The airlines have always sought military aviators as prime candidates. You could get a job at FedEx in Memphis or UPS in Louisville doing something for the company. These companies offer advancement opportunities to the flight deck for front-line employees who serve the company in other capacities. There are stories out there of men and women who drove delivery trucks and are now driving jets for the companies. You will still need to get the minimum flight experience but will normally not be looking at the 5,000 hours or so that make applicants from outside the company competitive.
Wayne Phillips is an airline transport pilot with Boeing 737 and Falcon 20 type ratings. He is a B-737 instructor and operates the Airline Training Orientation Program at the Continental Airlines Pilot Training Center.
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