Anyone here a pilot?

4wheelpeel · 02-22-2008, 10:52 AM

I am thinking of getting into flight school and try and make a career out of being a pilot. I am just wondering if anyone could give me some true life input not just what the school wants to tell me. Is there any money to be made and how hard is it to find jobs ect.

**DeadRiver** · 02-22-2008, 02:49 PM

what type of aviation?

you can do anything from crop dusting to commercial flights, or even a corporate jet..

my dad has his license but only ever flew personal aircraft for pleasure.

wish i had some more input for you. have you tried searching for jobs on monster or other job sites? that'll at least give you salary and benefit info.

mjw357 · 02-22-2008, 03:09 PM

I am a private pilot, been flying for about 5 years. Have a friend that flys for an airline, I will tell you what I know.

As far as flight school costs, just to get your commercial certificate, instrument and multi-engine ratings, will probably set you back $50,000.

Then you will need to build some hours, I dunno thinking at least 200 hours in twins before any airline will consider you. Some turbine time will help too. Various ways to accomplish this. You can try to find a job flying for an aerial photography service or something to get the time, pays dirt. Paying for twin time will cost you big ($200-$250/hr) so you have to find a way for someone else to foot the bill.

So, supposing you can get through all that, and actually get someone to hire you, your starting salary will be around $18,000 and you can bet it will be a rough schedule (nights, weekends, holidays, away from home for a few days at a time.) The jocks with seniority get the better routes and schedules. The pay does start to get better after a couple years.

So, if you really, really, REALLY love flying, sure go for it. But you won't get rich at it.

**helomech** · 02-22-2008, 08:29 PM

You could get your helicopter license, for about 50k, and then you intsruct others while building your time. Air logistics the company I work for will hire with 800 hrs, and starting pay is around 55-60k a year working either 7 & 7, or 14 & 14. My company actually own 2 flight schools. You could look up air logistics on the internet and get some info. I am sure they have a link to their flight schools.

TallTexan · 02-22-2008, 09:58 PM

I am a private pilot but started too late in life to go deeper. I learned on a tail dragger and never switched. I like to fly a plane but I don't want the plane to fly me. You can get into a good plane fairly cheap and if all goes well, move up to bigger plane. It's all good.

4wheelpeel · 02-23-2008, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helomech

You could get your helicopter license, for about 50k, and then you intsruct others while building your time. Air logistics the company I work for will hire with 800 hrs, and starting pay is around 55-60k a year working either 7 & 7, or 14 & 14. My company actually own 2 flight schools. You could look up air logistics on the internet and get some info. I am sure they have a link to their flight schools.

I would be interested in that but where do the fly out of or where would I have to relocated to?

**ArmyAviation** · 02-23-2008, 07:49 PM

join the military, its free and you get paid, this is the easiest way

4wheelpeel · 02-23-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyAviation

join the military, its free and you get paid, this is the easiest way

yea except for the thing that I have to give up my freedom to the government.
I will just spend the 50k.

**ArmyAviation** · 02-23-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheelpeel

yea except for the thing that I have to give up my freedom to the government.
I will just spend the 50k.

military pilots will get hired over a non military pilots due to experiance and flight time. Most companies will not hire you with less then 1500 hrs

**anmut** · 02-23-2008, 08:57 PM

Let me tell you as a guy that flies ever week for large airlines I talk to many pilots. You do NOT want to be a commercial airline pilot. Most are in it now because they've got too much time in to switch careers.

**helomech** · 02-23-2008, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheelpeel

I would be interested in that but where do the fly out of or where would I have to relocated to?

All of air log bases are along the gulf, most of ours are in louisiana. I work in Houma la., once you are a pilot with airlog, they provide housing while you are on hitch.

**helomech** · 02-23-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArmyAviation

military pilots will get hired over a non military pilots due to experiance and flight time. Most companies will not hire you with less then 1500 hrs

That isn't as true anymore, airlog will hire pilots from there flight school at 800 hrs or sometimes less. If they don't go to there flight school then it is 2000 hours. Most military pilots unless they are flying alot because they are in combat don't get very many hours.

Yeti77 · 02-24-2008, 08:17 AM

ATP has a flight school here in Panama City, FL. No idea how much it costs or what they teach. Some of the students live down stairs from us. Reality military would be your best bet though. As stated before they teach you and pay you. My father went that route. Flew Navy C-130's and C-12's for 20 years. Then got out and flew for Comair for another 14 years till he turned 60. Now he flies for Delta Elite flying rich and famous folks around. Flew Garth Brooks last week.

master_1011 · 02-24-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helomech

That isn't as true anymore, airlog will hire pilots from there flight school at 800 hrs or sometimes less. If they don't go to there flight school then it is 2000 hours. Most military pilots unless they are flying alot because they are in combat don't get very many hours.

Were you in the military??

Let me tell you something. I know TONS of guys with over 1000 hours...in a helicopter. That is only flying 2-4 hours at a time. The military never stops flying.

If you are a fixed wing flyer, they get 8-12 hours at a time. 20 years in the military will net over 5000 hours for some guys.

**helomech** · 02-24-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by master_1011

Were you in the military??

Let me tell you something. I know TONS of guys with over 1000 hours...in a helicopter. That is only flying 2-4 hours at a time. The military never stops flying.

If you are a fixed wing flyer, they get 8-12 hours at a time. 20 years in the military will net over 5000 hours for some guys.

Yes, were you ? I spent 6 years in aviation in the military, and if you aren't in war time then you are hoping to get your hours so you don't loose your flight pay. A thousand hrs is nothing, our pilots get a thousand hours in less than 2 years. We have pilots with way over 20k hours. We have some with over 20k in just one type of helicopter. I know that in the 6 years I spent in our pilots were almost fighting to make there minimum hours a month. I don't know what military youre in, but in rotary aircraft they don't get than many hours. Most of our new pilots have a thousand hours and have been flying for less than 2 years. There is no helicopter job in the military that will do that. Most of our aircraft average between 4 to 8 hours every day 365 days a year.