![Illustrations BTV doc3_2_far3c2 [Converti] copie.png](http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/learmount/Illustrations%20BTV%20doc3_2_far3c2%20%5BConverti%5D%20copie.png "Illustrations BTV doc3_2_far3c2 [Converti] copie.png")
In fact, don't become one. Unless...
But it's by no means all he/she needs. Pilots must have a gypsy soul to survive. That may not be new, but it's particularly true right now as the downturn bites.
Ideally, pilots should have no family ties beyond mum and dad. If they acquire a family en route, every member of it has to be incredibly tolerant of the pilot's chosen lifestyle.
Why the need for a gypsy soul? Well, for new young hours-builders, it helps to be prepared to go wherever in the world somebody will hire you as a bush pilot or night mail flyer. Your employer will pay you survival wages to do it. Small US operators have been known to charge the pilot for the privilege of working.
For the very young and unattached, bush/agricultural/night mail flying sounds exciting, but if you've just borrowed $100,000 from your mom and pop to train to CPL on the premise that you'll soon start paying them back, the stress can wreck the experience.
You are condemned to seek a relatively dull but steady airline job as soon as you can get one because your soul is owned by a bank.
Being a happy gypsy also helps when the economic downturn dumps you on the scrapheap with a load of other pilots. Along with all the others, you begin scanning the world's websites for jobs - prepared to go anywhere.
At times like this the airlines - bless their cotton socks - will charge you several thousand dollars for a simulator selection ride and the privilege of being inteviewed, followed by the $20,000 - $30,000 cost of a type rating if you need one. Heaven help your family life/love life.
The new multi-crew pilot licence (MPL), under which pilots train from scratch for a job in the right hand seat of a particular aircraft type with a particular airline, looked as if it had the potential to stablise training arrangements for the student pilots and deliver SOP-ready, type-rated pilots at a rate the partner airline had chosen.
But this also turns out to have been a mirage. The world's first nine MPLs were dumped during cutbacks at Sterling on the good old last-in, first-out basis. It's worse for them, because the MPL qualifies them only to fly as part of a crew, not as a single pilot in command, so they can't go for night freighting or bush flying in Cessna Caravans and the like unless they convert to the old CPL. More dollars please.
For what to do instead of flying for the airlines, read the next blog.
Good summary of a pilots life.
What about the 'not that old' pilots of 26 & 40 who feel permanently fatigued, increasing poor memory but can't work out what's wrong with themselves? They eventually stop flying (as is their duty) but never realise the cause of their demise as the industry refuses to share with them the best kept secret in aviation. It actually stops you from working it out.
It is toxic poisoning from the air that they breathe.
Don't expect any help, as officially, it doesn't even exist....
Familiar? Find out, before it gets you too.
A lot of bullshit in this article.
Some facts are true but if you don't accepted it won't happen.
To my mind, the fault lies with the ridiculously low cost of flying now demanded by the public. Aviation has always been expensive, in part because of the safety/technology requirements, and in the past these costs have been passed on in ticket prices.
Today, the 'Ryanair' effect means that the public demands to fly in new aircraft for £2. Costs that were previously inherent in airlines - mainly training costs - are now passed on to the new pilot. Any new entrant must expect debts of at least £70000, reduced salary or no salary at all, no pension, recurrent training costs (base checks) whilst trying to take out a mortgage and start a family. It can't be done, and the current world problems are focusing only on high fuel costs.
Anyone trying to start out now as a pilot really disqualifies themselves on grounds of insanity.
Woah! $20-30K for a type rating? What are you getting, your Space Shuttle license? I wouldn't pay more than $7K for a Boeing 737 type rating, but yes, that doesn't even guarantee you a job at Southwest with a fresh one in hand after a successful interview. Borrowing $100K from mom and dad? Why? There are so many other options not even considered here, one of them being the military. You can even pick up a Master's degree that they will pay for.
Anyway, times have changed, yes. I too have considered changing my profession. But then again I do have a wonderful family, am actually stable and love my job. How many people love their jobs anymore?
RO
JetBlue
Unfortunatelly I cannot agree with this article. In today;s world where the bottom line is most important we speak of "The company" as if it where an animate entity. Higher Management have bestowed titles and salaries upon themselves which does not reflect their responsabilities. When was the last time a banckrupt company CEO got investigated? When was the last pilot investigated for an incident?
In this light I must say that things are not the way they used to be in every profession. All the top people have the majority of wealth and the new entries have to climb up the ladder. I am sorry but most professions have a mobility factor,but saying it's a gypsy lifestyle is a bit far fetched. If anything layovers have reduced to minimum legal. Which arline let's it's crew idle for a week at some destination?
I can only speak for myself as regards being an airline pilot. I love every minute of it. I have an other degree and when I look at my ex-collegues I feel I made the right decision to persue my dream. I still have my ups and downs, but anyone who thinks he will find a perfect job or life will be disillusioned and needs to smell the coffee.I am also happily married. When my wife read this article she laughed and found so many examples of worse professions in every aspect you point out.
I am very sorry but I take offence to read such an article, trying to dicourage aspiring pilots is something I am totally against. It will not always be a bed of roses but if you really want it, do it!
...or you could stick it out and reap the rewards as I have. There is nothing wrong with becoming an airline pilot, in just 3 short years at this airline I work for I have gone from second officer to captain.. I make a lot of money and love my job.
figure it out for yourself.
But are you married? ; )
Nobody's knocking the job. It's running a family life at the same time that's difficult.
Mr. Learmount, you hurriedly asked Ryan if he is married, but didn't take some time to read my post it seems. Personally I find that it is up to you if you have a good family life or not.
Straight answer. Yes, I am very happily married, I live a very comfortable life and enjoy the lifestyle together with my family. At the moment, touch wood I have no complaints! I am a Captain on a small to medium haul jet with a national carrier.
It seems you are knocking the job, in my opinion the article is OTT. Sorry.
Speaking of Air Quality in an airplane...
Doesnt OSHA have any control of this ?
My entire family gets sick just about every time we fly.
NASTY NASTY air in the cabin...not to mention the lavs.
Unless of course the flight attendants have stocked up on LUSH Bath products....lol
dee
umm you only focused on the negatives...and speak for urself if ur job is crappy.
I loved the job, but my family didn't. I got paid while I trained, but most don't. I think you've missed the point.
on the contrary, the only way to achieve airline pilot status is to be married, letting her flip the bill for everything until you "make it" --defined by many of you as 60k in the left seat of an RJ.-- She still makes more than you do (ha, ha).
I am sure he is gay!
Hi,
I am a pilot for a european carier. We only fly 600 hrs on average per year but I fly the 747 and I am usually in a hotel room or fatigued at home. Initially it was great in my 20's but now I am 40, have a wife and 3 children and I wished I had a job with regular hours. On top, I see many colleauges with broken marriages because life in hotels with a crew is great when you're single but not good when you're married. I have seen good guys make mistakes that they regretted years after. Think hard and deep. The money and status is great, but it's not all that is important in life.
Erik