Best Careers 2011: Commercial Pilot

[bk53182]

http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/a ... pilot.html

Best Careers 2011: Commercial Pilot
As one of the 50 Best Careers of 2011, this should have strong growth over the next decade
By RICK NEWMAN
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The rundown:

For pilots, airlines aren't the only game in town. Commercial pilots work for other employers, often transporting passengers and/or cargo. Some are agricultural pilots who dust crops; others monitor ground traffic for television stations, fly corporate executives to meetings and trade shows, test-fly planes, or assist police and firefighters with rescue. Commercial pilots have plenty to juggle: consulting with dispatchers and aviation weather forecasters, carefully coordinating takeoff and landing, monitoring fuel supply and the condition of engines, and, of course, steering the plane. Pilots must undergo rigorous training in skills such as navigation and cockpit instrumentation, and they must accumulate many hours of flying experience.


[See a list of The 50 Best Careers of 2011.]

The outlook:

Employment in this field is expected to grow 19 percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An estimated 7,300 new jobs will be added. With mergers and cutbacks in the industry, a lot of furloughed pilots are currently competing for jobs. But that should ease as the economy improves, air traffic picks up, and a lot of aging pilots retire.

Money:

In 2009, median income for commercial pilots was $65,840, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Budding aviators should know, however, that many jobs at regional airlines come with low pay for long hours. And often, you have to pay for your own training, which can be expensive.

Upward mobility:

The government recently toughened the requirements for pilots hoping to work for an airline, requiring a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time before a pilot can transport passengers. That could discourage some aspiring pilots, but also reduce the competition for airline positions, eventually. The dream job, of course, is to captain a big jet for a six-figure salary, but with promotions based on seniority, the top jobs are scarce. Most airline pilots work their way up through small, regional carriers, retaining the flexibility to relocate in order to jump on opportunities.

Activity level:

Variable. While piloting a plane, you won't move far from the cockpit. Commercial pilots also have plenty of responsibilities to tend to on the ground, such as recordkeeping, maintenance, and loading the aircraft.

Stress level:

Moderate. Most flights are uneventful, and many planes are highly automated. But emergencies obviously require an ability to handle pressure. Some jobs involve specific job hazards. Test pilots, for example, must tolerate the risks associated with flying experimental aircraft. Many jobs involve odd hours and irregular schedules.

Education and preparation:

Many pilots earn their wings in the military, and others attend civilian flying schools. These days, most heading into the field have a college degree—a growing preference among employers. Pilots who are paid to transport passengers or cargo are required to have a commercial pilot's license with an instrument rating issued by the FAA.

Real advice from real people on how to land a job as a commercial pilot:

"I got my commercial certificate, then my flight instructor certification. So I was teaching, and making a living flying a Cessna 172 with a traffic reporter. That added up to about six hours of flying every day. I also flew a nighttime cargo route between L.A. and Sacramento, then flew an on-demand passenger charter. By the time American Eagle hired me in 1999, I had 2,500 hours of flying time. If you're not coming from the military, that's a typical sort of progression." — Dave Ryter, American Eagle pilot and chairman of Air Line Pilots Association education committee.

[scm]

Is this man an economist? "Strong growth" - lol
If people listen to their President and International Energy Agency, they would see otherwise.

My take:

Best career: Race car driver

Stable career: Health care of some sort, farmer, gun salesman.

Worst career: Climate scientist or Iraqi

[teacher]

OH NO NOT ANOTHER PILOT SHORTAGE I barely survived the last one

[BE20 Driver]

On what planet is this one of the best careers? Would I encourage my future children to choose flying for a living; not likely. What makes something a good job in my mind is stability, demand and pay. Those are three things that don't usually describe this industry.

Demand for pilots might go up 19% in the next year but don't expect pay to do so, even if there is some shortage of ATPL pilots out there. Don't kid yourself - there isn't. Demand might go up in the next few years but only because it has gone down for the past few.

Median income is $65k - well isn't that dreaming. Even after a good 6 years in the industry, I still don't make as much as an average truck driver. I've partially chosen lifestyle over a slightly bigger pay cheque or bigger planes. That said, I have friends that went into trades and were making this within a short time after paying for their much cheaper schooling.

I suspect that if you surveyed people on here, financial gain and stability were not the reasons we got into or stuck with flying for a living.

[L1011]

Demand for pilots might go up 19% in the next year

I WISH! The article said that amount of growth would be through 2018

[moocow]

Did he/she mix up the word median and average? And what kind of operation categories are included?

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... times.html

[heavymetal]

.

[vrrotate]

Farming? No I don't think so. I grew up on a farm. My Dad sat me down when I was in high school and said "Son, don't become a farmer. It's way too stressfull, upredictable and you make no money. Go get a real career."

So I became a pilot?

[North Shore]

People will always need food; pilots, not so much..

[Flybabe]

...Even after a good 6 years in the industry, I still don't make as much as an average truck driver. I've partially chosen lifestyle over a slightly bigger pay cheque or bigger planes. That said, I have friends that went into trades and were making this within a short time after paying for their much cheaper schooling...

Try 13 (or more) years and still not there

[Flaps 1]

If we don't see the 19% increase by 2018....is ACPA going to file a grievance?

[PunkStarStudios]

Oh Gawd
I hate these articles.

I will tell my kids when they get older to absolutely NOT go into aviation as a career. Do it for fun with Dear-Ol'-Dad. But don't waste every nickle you get (and mine for that matter) by funding an aviation career start.

I'd happily pay for my kid(s) to go through their PPL (and IFR if applicable at the time) so we can enjoy it together... like on weekends when they are taking a break from Law School... but yikes... as a career? I love my kids - but I don't want them living with me until they are 35 so they can go instruct, then work Chartright, then Georgian, then (wj?) before they can finally afford an apartment and get a girl/boy who'll put up with their schedule and move in with them to help pay the rent