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, non-university 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 with 15 years previous experience in airline ground operations. I have previously flown as a commercial skydive pilot and ferry pilot.
Organizations 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 in the Southwestern USA) and mentor student pilots.
Education/Credentials Embry Riddle Aeronautical University certificate in Aviation Safety/Accident investigation.
A.S. in Aerospace Science.
Question Hello my name is Juliana, I just graduated from high school and I would like to pursuit a career in the aviation field. The truth is that I love airplanes, my dream is to someday be able to fly one, now how I'm getting there I don't know. Unfortunately I don't have any in my family or friends that are pilots so I'm completely lost. With all do respects I would like to know if there are any classes that I can begging to take this fall term, any advise, any information on scholarships for women, internships or opportunities. I would also like to know how was your experience as a commercial pilot? Was it difficult for you to have a family if you do? Was it difficult for you to enter this field? How are the future outlooks for the career? Do you need to have military experience to be able to become a pilot? Is it easy to find jobs? In time of crisis how is the outlook? How is a normal daily routine? One of the most stressful days, how was it?
I will be waiting for an answer
Thank You,
Juliana
Answer Juliana
I had no relatives working in aviation and I was also the first pilot in the family, so I understand your predicament. All you need to do is arm yourself with all the info you can, get involved with aviation organizations and network with their members and things will take shape for you.
There many be some aviation classes in your area. I suggest finding a local community college "ground school" program as that ought to be an inexpensive way to get introduced to the topics you will need to master for flight training. Here is a site to track down schools with aviation programs- http://www.uaa.aero
Since you are still a 'young adult' I suggest joining the Aviation Explorer Scouts or the Civil Air Patrol. Both will get you into the world of aviation and the cost will be minimal. You may even find reduced cost flight training.
Aviation Exploring is a youth development program centered around aviation careers. Member benefits:
* Take orientation flights in military transports, helicopters, gliders, or single-engine general aviation aircraft
* Visit Air Force bases, aviation museums, air shows, or FAA facilities
* Learn to preflight an aircraft
* Take pilot training ground school classes
They also offer scholarships for those on the aviation career track. http://www.aviationexploring.org/
The Civil Air Patrol offers cadets the chance to take orientation flights in powered and glider aircraft at no cost to them. Paired with an experienced CAP volunteer pilot, cadets help preflight the aircraft, observe takeoff procedures and while aloft actually manipulate the controls and perform basic flight maneuvers. The program also enables cadets to learn about meteorology, navigation and aircraft instrumentation and technology. CAP Cadets fly approximately 16,000 hours in powered aircraft and 7,000 sorties in gliders each year. CAP cadet info- http://www.cap.gov/visitors/members/cade...
As an aspiring student pilot, you'll want subscribe to Flight Training magazine. It's like a flight instructor in your mailbox every month and full of lots of great information. Get your free 6 month trial here- http://flighttraining.aopa.org/
In response to your numerous other questions (military, outlook schedules), I created a page to help answer such FAQs in more detail (with resource links too) since I get many similar inquiries. Check it out as it ought to answer a lot of what you want to know- http://www.pilotcareer.info
It isn't that difficult to get into the field as long as companies are hiring (not the case right now in this economic slump) and you are qualified. Being a female doesn't really matter in this day and age. This leaves you plenty of time over the next several years to get a degree and get qualified to apply. By then, things should have turned around. I don't have family yet, but some of my girlfriends do. It can be easy for some and very difficult for others to have children and be a pilot. Essentially, you need to have a very supportive and nearby family to help care for your child when you are working OR you need to be paid very well to afford a live in nanny. (I only know of one family who did this as BOTH parents were airline pilots.) Another friend is divorced with a 4 yr old and her parents are there to babysit. Without their support, she couldn't do it. Another friend has had to leave piloting after having her baby because there are no family members nearby to assist. The cost of day care would take a huge portion of the income from flying if she went back work, therefore it was decided it was best to stay at home with the baby, take the income reduction and not let her be raised by daycare.
Since I am very focused on flight scholarships, I also created a site with my database of non-collegiate awards- http://www.flightscholarship.info
The International Organization of Women Pilots: "The Ninety-Nines" is a great source of mentoring, support and they also offer scholarships for women pilots. http://www.ninety-nines.org
There are several airlines that offer aviation internships, but you would have to be in their area or be willing to relocate temporarily. Many also require you to be attending an accredited college or university to apply. The application deadlines for some are rolling throughout the year and others are filled for the summer term, so there are no listings. Here are some links:
Alaska Airlines offers a Management Development Program and a variety of internship opportunities in the fields of Customer Service, Maintenance, Accounting, Marketing, Sales and Information Technology. - http://www.alaskasworld.com/jobs/asjobs/Alaska-Internships.asp
