Pilots, pros and cons about your job.

[Jims5543]

My 13 y/o son announced he would like to be a commercial pilot.

I am curious about the pros and cons of it all. What is a typical week like, etc..

Thanks.

[cashflyer]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
My 13 y/o son announced he would like to be a commercial pilot.

I am curious about the pros and cons of it all. What is a typical week like, etc..

Thanks.

13? If he's serious about being in the aviation industry, you can start grooming him now. Get him into math and sciences, and make sure he is a "big picture" type person.

Have him at the ME for his student cert when he turns 16 and start flight lessons. If he can fight off those teenage urges and actually dedicate himself to flying, then have him at the DE when he turns 17. And when he graduates HS put him in a good aviation college. There are others, but Embry still has the name recognition.

Any history of diabetes in the family? Insulin dependence will cut that dream short.


The above are my opinions.

[Dottore]

Pros:

You fly the plane.
You see the world.
You bonk the cabin crew.
You always have a bar filled with duty-free booze.

Cons:

Financial upside is strictly limited.
It's actually quite boring 99 per cent of the time.
You are put out to pasture at an early age.
You drink too much.

[singpilot]

I did chuckle at the previous replies.

I have been doing this for 36 years. Have made a good living, enjoying (for the most part) what I do. The scenery changes every day out the window of my office (for better or worse). I have met some of the nicest people in the world. Have not bonked most of them.

It is a very demanding profession, I keep saying it would be the perfect job if it were not for the travel. It has cost me a personal life or two, but has given me the chance to live 8 or 9 lives all rolled up in one.

Yes, the math is a good start, but the ability to think your way thru stuff is even more important. You'll be asked to do things most people think are impossible, and do it on a daily basis effortlessly. You'll learn to sleep in the daytime. You'll learn be comfortable in almost any country in the world. You'll learn to hate the guy you're flying with for the next two week rotation, then begrudgingly admire the way he flys by the end of the first week. You'll be known in hole-in-the-wall restaurants all over the world. You'll be hated by guys you fly with, but they will admire the way you can fly by the end of the trip.

It will still amaze you that people will pay you (pretty well, but never enough) to do this, when you'd do it for free if the mortgage was taken care of somehow.

You'll suddenly realize you are 53 years old, have BTDT, and have only 7 more years to enjoy your profession before mandatory retirement when someone walks up to you on the street with their 12-year old son, and asks if you'd do it all over again if you were 12 and trying to decide what to do with your life.

In a heartbeat.

I leave saturday from Los Angeles to Papette, Tahiti. 3700 Nautical miles nonstop. One night in a hotel. Next day to Jakarta, Indonesia. One night in a hotel. Next day (2 actually, cuz I crossed the dateline enroute), to Dubai, UAE. One night in a hotel. Next day to Paris. One night, then to London. Two nights. Then London to Los Angeles with a stop in Gander, Newfoundland for fuel.

Around the world in 9 days. Then am off for 10 days.

In a heartbeat.

[Joeaksa]

I am lucky that I get paid (and very well at that) to do something that I love. Just finished six weeks flying all over the world and 11 days of that was sitting in London doing nothing while the bosses decided where we were to go next.

The next question is, does he want to fly commercial, corporate or military? I have done all three and the most fun is corporate. In the old days if you got a job with an airline you were set for life. Well, just ask the people at Delta or United about that today. Military? Its fun but you usually stop flying about 35 or so unless you fly the long haul cargo stuff. From that time until you retire you "fly a desk" and that gets tiring fast. Then you go and get a job flying for either corporate or airline.

Corporate can be a bear at times (spent Christmas in Sioux Falls Iowa one year) or flying to Hawaii, Hong Kong or London and sitting for a week while the pax have fun. Oh yea, you get paid to sit just as much as you are paid while you work.

In the old days you had to be in perfect shape. Eyes threw most of the people out but these days as long as you are correctable to 20/20, most of the time its not a problem.

As Dottore says it can be boring at times but then being an accountant can as well. I know which one is best for me... And everything that Michael (sing) says above is true. I could not imagine another job for any amount of pay.

[svandamme]

surely at 13 a kid doesn't know what he wants yet?
and i would think that a good basic education , one that covers the big things, teaches the kid to study and focus will leave all options open ,including flying , right?

[Jims5543]

The 2 people I hoped would chime in did. Thanks for your replies. I will show this to my son this evening at home.

The hard part of this decision, if it is his final one, is, as a dad, letting go and knowing he will be all over the world and far away. My family is VERY close and it will be tough for mom and I, to not see him for long periods of time.

Thanks again guys.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by svandamme
surely at 13 a kid doesn't know what he wants yet?
and i would think that a good basic education , one that covers the big things, teaches the kid to study and focus will leave all options open ,including flying , right?

Why not?

When I was 13 I had it narrowed down to either a machinest or a draftsman. Growing up blue collar and accepting that my parents could not afford a higher education for me I decided to find a field that payed well with little schooling. More so because I did not want them to try to pay for i any more. We were not well off at all and I knew it would be hard for me to pay my way. I just wanted to get out there and work.

BTW- I ended up a drafter. I job shopped for 3 years after high school and landed myself in a Land Surveying company where I took advantage of a grandfathered law that allowed me to go for my state license.

[singpilot]

I forgot to mention one other perk. You'll have heard (and probably forgotten) every joke known to man.





A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly
Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in
sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket and jeans, boat shoes with no socks.

Saint Peter addresses this cool guy, "Who are you,
so that I may know whether or not to admit you to
the Kingdom of Heaven?"

The guy replies, "I'm Peter Pilot, retired American
Airlines Pilot from Dallas."

Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says
to the pilot, "Take this silken robe and golden
staff and enter the Kingdom." The pilot goes
into Heaven with his robe and staff.

Next it's the minister's turn. He stands erect and
booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint
Mary's in Pasadena for the past 43 years."

Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister,
"Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter
the Kingdom."

"Just a minute," says the minister. "that man was
a pilot and he gets a silken robe and golden staff,
and I get only cotton and wood. How can this be?"

"Up here - - we work by results," says Saint Peter,
"while you preached - - people slept; while he flew - -
people prayed.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Why not?

When I was 13 I had it narrowed down to either a machinest or a draftsman. Growing up blue collar and accepting that my parents could not afford a higher education for me I decided to find a field that payed well with little schooling. More so because I did not want them to try to pay for i any more. We were not well off at all and I knew it would be hard for me to pay my way. I just wanted to get out there and work.

maybe so for you, but i doubt that the majority knows what they want, let alone actually getting what they want

and for piloting , i don't really see why one should exclusively groom the kid for just that, and that alone...

a broad education never hurt, and will cover aviation just as well...and it will do so without limiting if say the kid turns to the dark side, and decides he want's to become a lawyer...

if the basis is good, at 18 , he can decide to become whatever he wants...and be successfull by just adding "motivation"

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
The 2 people I hoped would chime in did. Thanks for your replies. I will show this to my son this evening at home.

You may want to edit the part about boinking the crew

not that there is anything wrong with that.

i.e. if you tell you average thirteen year old boy that if he became a dentist he would get to boink a lot the next day he would be signing up for dental school.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by svandamme
surely at 13 a kid doesn't know what he wants yet?
and i would think that a good basic education , one that covers the big things, teaches the kid to study and focus will leave all options open ,including flying , right?

Had to laugh a bit at this comment. I normally would agree with this statement. When my Mother died we when through all of her things. One thing that she had saved was a drawing I made when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. All sorts of colors and airplanes on it. At the bottom it said "I am going to be a pilot when I grow up"... She had saved it all these years and I am glad she did.

I had a very successful career as a sales rep before being a Pilot. Worked for seven years and really enjoyed my job. One day just realized that making money was not everything in life and started that day to make my dream happen. After 35 years in the cockpit am very happy with that decision.

[rattlsnak]

There are BIG differences on the kinds of flying they do versus Airlines. I could never go to a fractional and work 7 days on, 7 days off, or worse 10 or 14 days on. I hate being away from home for more than 3 days at a time. Corporate, unless you get on with a great corporate flight department, you basically have no schedule and live by the beeper, never knowing where you going next. Airlines is all about seniority. The sooner you get in the better. I am in the top 10% on my airplane in my domicle and can pick whatever trips i want, whether they are 3 days on, 4 off, or 2 x 2 days, or I can fly CDOs, and be home everyday and fly 3 nights a week. I average 16-18 days off a month and if i want to make alot more money, I can pick up trips whenever they are available. The downside right now of course is the payscale and the industry as a whole. It will change, but it will never be the way it was. I dont ever find it boring. I have the BEST office view ever. I do hate the industry at times.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Had to laugh a bit at this comment. I normally would agree with this statement. When my Mother died we when through all of her things. One thing that she had saved was a drawing I made when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. All sorts of colors and airplanes on it. At the bottom it said "I am going to be a pilot when I grow up"... She had saved it all these years and I am glad she did.

I had a very successful career as a sales rep before being a Pilot. Worked for seven years and really enjoyed my job. One day just realized that making money was not everything in life and started that day to make my dream happen. After 35 years in the cockpit am very happy with that decision.

you can laugh about it , but you have to agree that
1 not all are as lucky as you
2 good basic education is better then limiting the education for one purpose
3 kids , do change their minds as they go through puberty and sjit
4 unforseen circumstances(i shall not name disaster things you know what they are) can occur...

[Eric Coffey]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
My 13 y/o son announced he would like to be a commercial pilot.
Thanks.

If he is serious, I would contact the nearest EAA "Young Eagles" coordinator for a free demo flight:

http://www.youngeagles.org/programs/

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by svandamme
you can laugh about it , but you have to agree that
1 not all are as lucky as you
2 good basic education is better then limiting the education for one purpose
3 kids , do change their minds as they go through puberty and sjit
4 unforseen circumstances(i shall not name disaster things you know what they are) can occur...

I agree, I am not going to discourage him though. I went through life with a dad that slammed my every decision.

I am sure his mind will change again. There is not a set of wheels going into motion just because he wants to fly.

A good friend is a pilot, I'll see about arranging a flight with him. We will just take it from there.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by svandamme
you can laugh about it , but you have to agree that
1 not all are as lucky as you
2 good basic education is better then limiting the education for one purpose
3 kids , do change their minds as they go through puberty and sjit
4 unforseen circumstances(i shall not name disaster things you know what they are) can occur...

That is the difference between us. Luck had nothing at all to do with what I do today as a living. I made it happen and it happened from hard work.

Early on in my career I trained as an aircraft mechanic. Never wanted to do it full time but wanted to cement my having a job as a pilot. Many places will hire a younger pilot who has their mechanics license as they can fix the plane should it break out in the boonies, as well they tend to know more about the plane's systems than others.

I worked as a line mechanic while building my flight time. 07:30 in the morning until 5 PM was twisting wrenches on planes. Then went home and rested until 9 PM when I returned to the airport and jumped in plane. I flew cargo at night to build up my flight time. Arrived at the destination by 11:00 PM and offloaded the cargo. Slept either in the back of the plane or in the FBO (airport) office. Woke up at 04:00 and flew the plane back home with the return cargo. Returned home, did the three SSS's and then went back to working on airplanes.

Did this for 18 months to get my hours then was hired full time as a pilot. This part was not luck, it was work and a lot of hard work.

Agree that a well rounded education will help anyone. Thats why I also got my EMT (emergency medical Tech) license while at school and its helped me as much as my aircraft mechanic's license. Turns out that the airlines and corporate people like having a medic on board in case something happens.

Anyone, not just kids, change their minds. Thank God that I changed mine. Once I had made this decision, yes luck did enter into the situation many times, and hope that it stays with me until I die but hard work helped more than anything with my career.

Joe

PS this reminds me of something I saw on an old gents office door. It really is true...

Everything comes to He who waits, as long as while He waits he works like Hell.

[svandamme]

still a percentage of luck involved Joe
you could have been born in say Somalia
you could have been born disabled
or have had a cripling accident at 16
be swayed by some biotch chick and gone all mellow and ball&chained...
have had parents doing every textbook thing to mess up a teen
or have been born plain stupid...
...

the fact that you have the ability to decide on something and have the focus to follow through is one not everybody is lucky to have...

[jester911]

You got it Joe. If it is something you want badly, you will find a way to make it happen. Sometimes luck is on our side but I believe for the most part you make your own luck.

If you end up in the right place at the right time it is usually because you worked your ass off to get there.

Being a pilot is like any true profession. You have to be dedicated to doing everything possible to make it happen.

Jim, it sounds like you got it right. Let your son see what it takes to become a pilot. If he really wants it he will do what it takes to make it happen. All you really need to do is give him the opportunity.

People like Joe and singpilot show the passion they have for what they do. It comes through the words they write.

Anyone that has that passion can succeed in the career they choose. That passion is a drive that makes it happen.
I for one find it inspiring.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
I agree, I am not going to discourage him though. I went through life with a dad that slammed my every decision.

I am sure his mind will change again. There is not a set of wheels going into motion just because he wants to fly.

A good friend is a pilot, I'll see about arranging a flight with him. We will just take it from there.

When I was thirteen I wanted to be a pirate... until I found out what a poop deck really was... and the whole cabin boy thing freaked me out a little... and I have a deep seated fear of parrots.

But seriously, my dad told me I could do anything I wanted however he discouraged me most of the time. I wanted to be a photographer and he told "that's nice but you will never make any money at it"
Last Friday one of the artist I work with was at my desk and was looking at one of the slide shows I have on my computer of pictures I have taken and he commented "you know whenever I look at you computer I am always impressed at how well your pictures are composed".
I am happy doing what I do not but it made me stop and think.