is a pilot a good job?

CorkMan

I was thinking it would be a good job I would like. You would get to see much off the world, you would be in the sky, whenever I flew in the past I enjoyed that.

Ironman76

I worked for an airline. Im not too much up on it but you earn very little starting off and its really only when you make captain you start making serious money and get good time off etc.

I think its something that would work out or you if you were passionate about it and loved flying. But if youre looking for a glamorous career from the getgo id forget about it.

Im sure theres others could give better advice.

xflyer

An oldie but a goodie.

'WHY I WANT TO BE A PILOT:
I want to be a pilot when I grow up because it is fun and easy to do.
Pilots don't need much school, they just have too learn numbers so they can read instruments.
I think they should be able to read maps so they can find their way if they get lost.
Pilots should be brave so they won't get scared if it's foggy and they can't see or if wing or motor falls off they should stay calm so they'll know what to do.
Pilots have to have good eyes so they can see through clouds and they cant be afraid of lightning or thunder because they are closer to them than we are.
Pilots are always rich, they make more money than they can spend. This is because most people think airplane flying is dangerous except pilots don't because they know how easy it is.
There isn't much I don't like, except girls like pilots and all the stewardesses want to marry them and they always have to chase them away so they wont bother them.
I hope I don't get airsick because if I do I couldn't be a pilot and would have to go to work.'

If only it was true:(

Lustrum

A guy doing his training with me was telling us recently that he flew to dublin with Ryanair, and as it was late he waited to be the last off and asked could he stick his head into the cockpit to have a look. The was no problem and he had a grand chat with the cappie and f/o, at one stage the captain said to him "I'll tell you one thing about this job..."

The buddy cocked his ears, thought he was about to hear some career making info that he'd never forget

Captain says, "this is the ****ing best job in the world!"

I haven't been in the cockpit of anything bigger than a Seneca, but I'd tend to agree with the captain that day

Joe 90

I was in a flying club one day a long time ago, early 80s. One of the instructors, a CPL was complaining about getting a letter from his bank.

He said that there were two great myth sbout being a pilot:
1, All stewardesses were rides and
2, All pilots get paid a fortune.

kona

CorkMan wrote: »

I was thinking it would be a good job I would like. You would get to see much off the world, you would be in the sky, whenever I flew in the past I enjoyed that.

Awful awful job. You tend to just walk into the job

Honestly, I dont think its what the general public perceive it to be (some pilots in the US are flying for very little). But it is a good job if you are looking for something less ordinary.
Theres also a difference between flying on holidays, and doing it for your job maybe doing a few cycles a day.

EI_Flyboy

It depends on where you fly and who for really. Since the airlines stopped training their own, they've cottoned on that a lot of people will fly for buttons because it's their dream, this is especially the case in the States where, according to Michael Moore, some pilots even qualify for food stamps. When I started training about 8 years ago, I was told that Ryanair paid their captains six figures Sterling and they're one of the fastest airlines to make captain, 4/6 yrs, but that they ride you til you get there. That was secondhand info.

If you're training abroad, YOU MUST GET MEDICAL INSURANCE. I cannot stress this point enough as not having medical cover in the states put a halt to my training when I was told I had to prove my kidney infection wasn't kidney stones. $150 for an xray was inconclusive, ultrasound inconclusive(crate of beer to a friend), next step MRI which was way beyond my budget so came home to get it done here, arrived home to recession and as such no more funds to carry on.

Like any job, put in hard graft and you'll reap the rewards eventually if you've a mind to but you must must must take care of your health. Piloting is the MOST regulated job there is and for good reason.

Darwin

I was absolutely obsessed with planes as a kid and was dead keen to become a pilot. It didn't happen for me and I can see the glamour associated with flying has long given way to commercial pressures. I'm sure it's still an exciting career, but like every job it must also have its downsides. I like to listen to ATC feeds during bad weather and think of those at the pointy end who are truly earning their crust!

el tel

When you are a pilot everything in life is better than it would be if you weren't a pilot.

You will see the sun every day.
Every beer will taste nicer.
Every night out will be more fun.
Every movie in the cinema will better.
Every concert will better.
You get more sex, with more, better looking women.
Every BJ will be wetter, better, harder, longer.
Your wife will be better looking.
Your children will be more intelligent.
Your car will be better.
Your house will be bigger.
Your days off will be more frequent and more interesting.
You will be a more interesting person.
Just sitting there, doing nothing will be better.



And if you believe all that, you'll be very disappointed. It's just a job.

veetwin

Its been linked here before but it is funny;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkAKAheQIAA

Delancey

Certainly in the past it was seen as an extremely well-paid and glamorous job but then again so was being a Stewardess , nowadays the Cabin Crew role is seen as little better than skivvying.
Pilots haven't sunk to that level but when you look at what has happened in the States where starting out some pilots earn less than McDonalds crew and bear in mind that what happens in the US has a nasty habit of crossing the pond.......

I foresee a situation where cost reduction will be the critical factor in the sucess or failure of an airline and that will put Pilots pay , perks , pensions, etc nicely in the firing line.

A pilot relative took redundancy from Aer Lingus some time ago , he is glad to be out of it and has advised his eldest son not to apply for the EI Cadetship scheme - make of that what you will.

xflyer

It's just a job, just a job. If you keep that in mind when pursuing the career. You will be happy.

Look, I hate my job as a pilot but I hate it less than all the other jobs I ever had. That's partly because despite all my low paid jobs. This qualifies as the worst paid with the longest hours and the least prospects. But it's the flying that counts, sometimes just sometimes you look down and think. I am so lucky. There is nothing like it short of being an astronaut.

I recently met a pilot for an airline that's reputedly one of the best paid in the world. He envied me.

Funny world.

EI_Flyboy

el tel wrote: »

When you are a pilot everything in life is better than it would be if you weren't a pilot.

You will see the sun every day: You can actually make the sun set twice.
Every beer will taste nicer: No it won't, the low cabin pressure alters your taste buds, for the worse...
Every night out will be more fun: Well, you'll certainly get to have nights out in different cities.
Every movie in the cinema will better: Not on a 5" screen it won't...
Every concert will better: If you're not happy, catch the band in a different country some other day.
You get more sex, with more, better looking women:NSFW http://www.coolbuster.net/2011/08/cathay-pacific-cockpit-oral-sex-photo.html
Every BJ will be wetter, better, harder, longer: See above.
Your wife will be better looking: And Have to be very understanding.
Your children will be more intelligent: So long as all the radiation exposure doesn't keep your boys from swimming.
Your car will be better: Your bumper sticker will read "My Other Car's A Boeing."
Your house will be bigger" It could be anywhere and if you work for Ryanair, read "Sleepyhollow."
Your days off will be more frequent and more interesting: No doubt.
You will be a more interesting person: Chicks dig pilots.
Just sitting there, doing nothing will be better: What autopilot is for.



And if you believe all that, you'll be very disappointed. It's just a job: Oh but what a job.

wittymoniker

Best job in the world, if you have a job you love you'll never work a day in your life.