Pros and cons of being a commercial pilot flying people.?

Question

(Future Career Decision Please Answer If you know what you are talking about)

Answer 1

Get a subscription to Pro Pilot magazine. www.propilotmag.com. They did a survey with that very same question. You will learn alot.

Answer 2

one thing i never liked about flying for the airlines is that your basically a flying bus driver.. passengers complain to much.. I would much rather be a flying limo driver or truck driver.. but their schedules are more difficult to deal with since its non existent..

Answer 3

I enjoyed commercial flying, but I think I would have been bored to tears if I had done it as a long term career.  Commercial airlines are in such a state of termoil that it would be risky to think that you would have assured long term employment.  The bad thing is that the airline unions are strictly seniority based.  If you lose your job with your current airline and go to work for another airline, your start at the bottom of the pay scale.

Having said that, if you enjoy flying, go for it!  

If you think you're going to get rich, those days are pretty much over.  As a FO in the regionals, you're lucky to get $15-$20K per year until you can upgrade to Captain.

Answer 4

I just retired from the greatest career anybody could hope for flying executive jets. All of my airline captain friends from several airlines agree that they'd trade me anyday.

Answer 5

Well, Ive only been flying for the regionals now since December but here is the deal.  First off the days of flying 1 week a month and making 250,000 a year are over with.  Most regionals, which is where you will start, give you 10-13 days of a month and they pay you a guaruntee plus per diem.  Guaruntee is usually 72-75 hours depending on the airline.  So, if you fly 60 hours, you get paid for your guaruntee regardless, if you fly 80, youll get paid 80.  So that there is  kind of nice.  Now, the problem for your first couple years is youll only make 18-25 dollars an hour and on average 1.25 to 2.00 an hour for per diem (hours away from base)  Your average time away from base is usually 300-400 hours a month so when you do the math a first year FO after taxes and all only brings up 1700 or so a month.  Now this number varies from regional to regional but this about an average.  Going through training is very intense, its alot to learn and short time to do it and they have no tolerance for slacking and lazy people generally.  The simulator will be fun and hard at the same time but it definetely will kick your on SOMETHING.  Once you get done with training youll be on reserve for some time, sometimes a few months sometimes years, it just depends on how stagnant the seniority list is at your airline.  While on reserve you will have to sit at your base with a 1-2 hour callout time to the airport to cover a trip for someone to show up.  Now, this is ok if you live at your base because your just sitting at home on call.  If you dont live at base you have to find a place to stay and buy food and all and keep in mind, your at base, so no per diem.  It can get expensive eating out and paying for a crashpad or a hotel every night on only 1500 hundred a month.  The best part though is flying, if flying is your thing there is nothing more rewarding than saying hello to passengers then climbing into your CRJ cockpit and blasting off somewhere.  My opinion, long story short....If you can put up with the low pay and bullcrap for the first 2 years or so its an enjoyable job.

Answer 6

The question I have for you is how much money you got how old are you.What are you willing to indure to be a pilot. Those answers above are true.Borrowing money for flying will be very expensive.Loan companies will only lend to those that qualify and only lend to the very few schools allowed.When "rated" as an instructor you make lousy money better have a 2nd income.