AboutDottie Norkus Expertise I can address questions concerning: airline pilot employment & entry level airline careers in the Unites States, women pilots, flight training, pilot certification, flight scholarships (mostly for women), aviation & airline safety topics, aviation accident investigation, air carrier accidents and airline operations.
***Please note, I cannot address flight training or career queries from outside the United States. If you are not in the USA, please direct your question to the message boards at www.PPRUNE.org as you can surely find an answer there. For those in India try http://www.indianpilots.com
Also, I cannot address questions about aero engineering degree programs/careers or aviation management careers.
Experience U.S. Regional Airline Pilot. I have also had 15 years previous experience in airline ground operations, as well as a part 91 commercial skydive pilot and ferry pilot.
Organizations I belong to I am a charter member of Women In Aviation International as well as the International Organization of Women Pilots: the Ninety Nines. I keep a database of flight scholarships for women (mostly SW USA) and mentor student pilots.
Education/Credentials Embry Riddle Aeronautical University certificate in Aviation Safety/Accident investigation.
Question Hey dottie, i want to become a commercial pilot but also fly for the air force. Does the air force help me become a commercial pilot? if so does it take a while or is it an advantage? thank you
Answer Michael,
Yes, you can become an AF pilot and it will help qualify you for a job as an airline pilot later on. However, you shouldn't try to become an AF pilot simply as a route to the airlines.
If you want to serve your country first and foremost, including putting your life on the line- and possibly lose it like some of our military in Iraq have- then by all means, do so. While getting some quality time in the armed forces will look good on a resume to the airlines, it will be a whole differnt animal in the meantime while you serve. I am not sure of the commitment, but I think it is upwards of 10 years now. So, yes- it does take a while!
Additionally, the military pilot slots are not a numerous as they have been in years/decades past and the military is striving to retain their pilots (as it costs a bundle to train them). This makes extremely stiff competition for the slots available and even after going into flight school, the wash out rate can be very high. For this reason about 65% of airline new hires are from a civilian background. (According to http://www.jet-jobs.com - Air Inc.)
I suggest going to the message boards at http://forums.military.com/eve and ask there about flying careers in the military.
