As a professional pilot, it’s best to decide the type of flying you want to do. Most aim for the airlines, but there are other rewarding pilot careers to consider. Airline jobs offer great stability but over time, routes become routine, and the flying is so automated that many pilots consider airline piloting a boring job.
If you’re looking for a little more excitement, consider becoming a corporate or charter pilot. With this type of flying, every day is different, and you will fly to many more destinations than the airlines. These pilot positions come with many perks if you work for high profile companies.
CONSIDER OTHER PILOT JOBS
Also, as a charter or corporate pilot, you do many more duties compared to the airlines. You should be personable because of your clients, and you will do more flight planning that is already done for you if you work for the airline.
You should also consider becoming a tour pilot somewhere in your career patch which tends to be a time builder position where pilots move on to airline or corporate jobs but, tour pilot’s jobs are really fun. You’ll generally fly in good weather and almost guarantee you will be home every night with your family with flexible days off.
Medivac pilots are great jobs that can be very challenging and time sensitive where you are on call most of the time. If you’re the type of person that doesn’t mind being on call 24-7, you’ll find this job exciting where no day is the same.
ALL PROFESIONAL FLYING JOBS REQUIRE SAME BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
Again, it’s your choice to decide what type of flying job you will like best and make plans to get there. Most professional flying jobs require 2 to 3 years of full-time training starting from zero experience. There is not much difference between training to be an airline pilot or a corporate pilot.
The public demands that their pilots be well qualified, so there is very little difference in pilot training until you reach aircraft specific training. Once hired, your profession becomes airplane specific whether it’s a Boeing 737, corporate Lear Jet, Gulfstream or a Beach 1900 tour plane.
What you should realize about flying for the airlines is the pilot shortage is here, and there will be a massive amount of hiring in the coming years. Once you get the required flight hours of 1000 to 1500 hours, you’re almost guaranteed a good shot at being hired as an airline pilot.
LIFESTYLE REALITIES OF BEING AN AIRLINE PILOT
Work salaries at the regional airline are not very good. The regional airline is where you will be initially hired. You’re essentially an apprentice pilot before flying for the major airlines. In other words, you work one to two years at a regional airline and move on to the major airline of United, Delta and American. Once you’re flying for the major airlines, you will get a substantial boost in pay.
Also, as an airline pilot, you’ll probably never get a weekend off until late in your career. You fly 3 to 4 days a week, each and every week. That means you’ll miss family events and other very important life events. This is just a fact of life as an airline pilot. The airline basically chooses where you will live, the days off you will get and the number of hours you will work. You have very little control over those factors. You’re essentially married to the airline, so keep that in mind when seeking an airline pilot position. As you get more seniority with the company, you will get better choices as all work schedules are open bids and pilots with the most seniority get the better working schedule and routes.
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