TSC- Airline Pathway 0 to 5 years
Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:01 am
You are considering a career in aviation. You were inspired by a family member who flew or a spoke to pilot on one of your flights as a kid. Soon it's time to apply to college/university and you are thinking of choosing a career that's different from all your friends. You look up at the sky and see a plane and think I'm going to do THAT for the rest of my life. I know you may even have some self doubt as to whether you can pull it off or even afford a flying education. And even if you did all that, would you ever get a job flying big airplanes and make your family proud.
Well let me help you.
What you need is a strategy. Think of it like a GPS, without one you would be driving aimlessly and get lost. These are the proven strategies to work. But, before you move on you must be willing to ignore the naysayers, the people that convince you otherwise (some maybe on this very forum). Alright let's begin.
Complete your basic training first at a flying club, college or university. The important thing is to take it one step at a time. If you worry about a process too far ahead you will cause yourself frustration. The trick is to celebrate each step of the way and move on to the next to stay motivated.
Year 0-2:
Flight Instruct and build 1000 hours flight time. To speed the timeline further I'd suggest getting your instructor rating prior to graduating.
Year 2-3: Work at the 703/704 operation flying small turbo-prop aircraft that usually seat up to 19 people and build another 500 hours flight time. This brings you to 1500 hours which is the Airline Transport Pilot Licence mark. Now your application will be seen by larger operators.
Year 3-5: Work for a regional airline flying medium size turbo-props/jets that usually seat up to 50 people and build an additional 1500 hours. This brings you to a total of 3000 hours total time and have your entrance ticket to a mainline airline. While working for the regionals you would have started an application with the major carriers and possibly even a flow through agreement.
Year 5: Work for a Mainline Carrier flying big jet aircraft that usually seat 100 or passengers. Making more money than your previous flying jobs and flying much safer aircraft.
That's it. Now let me tell you that some will say that this is too simplistic of an advise. The truth is that it is exactly what it should be. A simple roadmap with a lot of work in between. You will find that at each step of the way if you stop and enjoy the view out your window it really does make it fun. If at any step during the above phases you feel discouraged and wonder when you will get to move on. Take a step back and remember all the things you are grateful for. The human brain is a 20,000 year old device. It is looking for ways to constantly find something wrong. That worked well when we were cavemen as it kept us safe from predators. But, doesn't help in the modern world where we literally are living in the best times of any generation ever.
Put the blinders on, Get your time in, Focus on your goals daily. The view is really something from the top.
Well let me help you.
What you need is a strategy. Think of it like a GPS, without one you would be driving aimlessly and get lost. These are the proven strategies to work. But, before you move on you must be willing to ignore the naysayers, the people that convince you otherwise (some maybe on this very forum). Alright let's begin.
Complete your basic training first at a flying club, college or university. The important thing is to take it one step at a time. If you worry about a process too far ahead you will cause yourself frustration. The trick is to celebrate each step of the way and move on to the next to stay motivated.
Year 0-2:
Flight Instruct and build 1000 hours flight time. To speed the timeline further I'd suggest getting your instructor rating prior to graduating.
Year 2-3: Work at the 703/704 operation flying small turbo-prop aircraft that usually seat up to 19 people and build another 500 hours flight time. This brings you to 1500 hours which is the Airline Transport Pilot Licence mark. Now your application will be seen by larger operators.
Year 3-5: Work for a regional airline flying medium size turbo-props/jets that usually seat up to 50 people and build an additional 1500 hours. This brings you to a total of 3000 hours total time and have your entrance ticket to a mainline airline. While working for the regionals you would have started an application with the major carriers and possibly even a flow through agreement.
Year 5: Work for a Mainline Carrier flying big jet aircraft that usually seat 100 or passengers. Making more money than your previous flying jobs and flying much safer aircraft.
That's it. Now let me tell you that some will say that this is too simplistic of an advise. The truth is that it is exactly what it should be. A simple roadmap with a lot of work in between. You will find that at each step of the way if you stop and enjoy the view out your window it really does make it fun. If at any step during the above phases you feel discouraged and wonder when you will get to move on. Take a step back and remember all the things you are grateful for. The human brain is a 20,000 year old device. It is looking for ways to constantly find something wrong. That worked well when we were cavemen as it kept us safe from predators. But, doesn't help in the modern world where we literally are living in the best times of any generation ever.
Put the blinders on, Get your time in, Focus on your goals daily. The view is really something from the top.
