Would it be a bad idea to become an airline pilot?

Question

I was wondering with how things are going with the airlines now if it would be a bad idea to become an airline pilot (or any pilot for that matter). I would also like to just get something like a sport pilot license to fly for fun and I don't know if I would get bored or not of flying if I became an airline pilot being it would be my job and get old after a while. Any input?

Answer 1

Being a pilot is pretty cool, but unfortunately depending on the job (corporate, airline, or military) there are the pluses and minuses. You are asking about airline pilots. As one poster said it is very volatile. For instance things were looking up a year ago, but in the past 6 months with the ridiculous gas prices there are alot of furloughs now. Things may bet better in 3-5 years due to the mandatory retirement being moved to age 65. We thought this was going to happen sooner but the age was raised to 65 from 60 just recently so that delays alot of the old farts from retiring another 5 years.

Get a private pilot's license. You cant do much with a sport pilot license. If you are looking at aviation as a career the Sport Pilot will be a waste of your time.

Answer 2

If being a pilot is really what you want to do go for it and don't let anybody else tell you different!!! I also want to be a pilot someday and people say it is bad but I ignore them! Airlines are in such high demand of pilots right now, there is not enough! Most airlines look for pilots that have flown in the military but if you have lots of flying hours and went to a good flight school go for it!!! Being a pilot has lots of prestige and honor! If you want to become a cargo, commercial, or private pilot go for dreams and don't let anybody get in the way of them!!!!!!!

Answer 3

First of all it doesn't sound like you are sincerely passionite about flying. Owning your own plane is like owning an expensive sports car or restoring a car. If you are not in love with the hobby it will get old real quick just like any other whim.

Being an airline pilot becomes just as routine as any other job but with a lot more responsibily. "Hours and hours of bordome interspirsed with moments of terror". Only kidding, that's an old pilot joke. You fly the same route each trip in most cases but are well compensated as a seasoned captain.

Flying a for a corporation is also very rewarding. Your trips will be diversified and be more challanging because you are usually not flying the same route each time.

In most cases a college degree will be required, a commercial  and instrument rating and eventually an ATR (Air line Transport Rating).

If you have a degree research the compensation projected for those in your field and compare it to the potential as an airline or corporate pilot.

One thing for sure if don't a license yet you will need to invest a tremendous amount of $$ and time to become qualified. You will competing with X Military trained pilots and others that have a lot of hours in the air.

Do a lot of research. Go to airport where there is a flying school or even corporate operations and ask around.

It's a wonderful experience and remember boring is just a state of mind.

Fly high!

Woody

Former Corporate Pilot

Answer 4

if u like flying its great...most pilots still come from military...so fly if u want....for fun

Answer 5

Right now it is a really bad time to pursue an aviation career, especially if you desire to be an airline pilot.

There are other kinds of pilot jobs that are "somewhat" stable, such as cargo or corporate pilot , but everyone is being affected in some way by the cost of the oil.

I would just fly for fun, get a Private license and maybe an Instrument rating if you want more challenging flying (and not to be held back by the weather).

BTW, There is a shortage of Air Traffic Controllers, so that may be something in the industry that you can check into.

Answer 6

Bored of flying?  HA!!!! Ya right, my friend.  Just go and enroll in flight school (i advise doing it full time) and see how you like it.  I flew aerobatics and absolutely loved it.  It's like driving a Ferrari in 3D.  

You will never get bored of it as long as you find the plane that suits you.  It is awesome to be able to go to a small airport and jump in an aircraft and in 4 hours you can be 600 miles away.  Not to mention some of the sweet fly-in communities that are available to pilots.

And there will ALWAYS be demand for a pilot as air travel will only increase.  Not so much in the lines of public transportation, but the private air travel industry has been booming.  Especially with Honda's introduction to the "mini-jets"  ... like a minivan with wings and a jet engine.

Good luck and have fun!!!!

Answer 7

Yes.

Answer 8

It is NEVER a bad idea to fly.

Answer 9

In terms of interest, becoming an airline pilot is a natural and logical objective if you truly love flying, and that's what motivates most commercial pilots.

It's true that sometimes doing something for a living takes the fun out of it, as opposed to doing something just as a hobby, but it really depends on how much you enjoy flying, and what aspects of flying you enjoy.  If you like aerobatics or crop-dusting, the working environment of flying a large airliner might bore you.  If you are fascinated by technology and enjoy working with complex systems and instruments as you fly, being an airline pilot might be a dream come true.  If you long to fly fighter aircraft in dogfights, the military might be a better option, as you'll never have the opportunity to do that in commercial aviation.

From an economic standpoint, the future of aviation is extremely volatile.  There's no telling how stable the industry or the occupation of airline pilot will be years from now.  Commercial piloting doesn't pay much in relation to the initial and continuing requirements one must meet in order to work in the field.  A few lucky pilots make a lot of money flying 747s between continents, but they are the exceptions, not the rule.  Nevertheless, if your love of flying is intense, becoming a pilot might still be the way to go.  The future isn't bright or dim, it's just unpredictable, so if you want stability, this isn't the field for it, but if you like to fly, there's no particular reason to hesitate.

Answer 10

Do whatever you want. If you love flying like I do, you will always get to the top.

Answer 11

Yea...airlines are cutting flights and oil prices wont come down for any time soon.  It'll be hard to find a job.

Answer 12

I'm an ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, attorney and I fly private jets and practice law. It amazes how so many here on YA only have "airlines" as their frame of reference for aviation. Sad, really, b/c the airlines are, in my opinion, about the least enjoyable aviation experience out there these days. In fact, downright un-enjoyable. Having said all of that, there is a saying which I believe originated outside of aviation, but which applies to so many posts here on YA: "If someone can talk you out of it, then it's not for you."