Expert: David A. NewMyer - 4/27/2004

Question
Dear David,

I am thinking about getting a pilot's license & would like some advice on the subject. I am 36 yr's old. I am an experienced powered paraglider pilot, but have no experience flying GA aircraft. I did take a "Discovery Flight" in a Cessna some years back. But that was just a very small taste. I have worked in the graphic arts field for my entire career, but I want to get out of it & do something else.

So, here are some questions (Sorry for so many!):

If I wanted to become a pilot & work in the aviation field, where should I begin? Training options? Cost of training? Can I do it while working full-time?

What kind of pilot license should I go for to begin with?

What kind of jobs are available to new pilots with little or no experience & what is a realistic starting salary for such jobs?

Any insight/info you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Jim Forney

Answer
Hi, Jim:

Sorry for the delay in responding.  Today is the last day of the Spring 2004 semester at Southern Illinois University Carbondale....it has been busy!

There are three things that you must do to enter into the aviation field as a pilot:

1.  As you already realize, complete your flight training...which is at least a Federal Aviation Administration Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings.  You might also want to complete a Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate so that you can build your flight time while teaching others to fly.  Training options:

A.  Local FBO or flight training company.  Likely the least expensive option.  Has the advantage of, perhaps, allowing you to continue to work at what you are doing to pay for the flight training (although, eventually, you will need to totally focus on aviation if that is where you want to end up).  Cost:  $20,000 to $30,000 just for the flight training.  Little financial aid is available for this option:  Maybe bank loans.

B.  University or college aviation program...only if you need a degree, too.  If you have a BS or BA degree in hand, then, skip this option.  Most larger collegiate flight schools charge $30,000 to $44,000 for the training alone PLUS tuition, books, room and board, etc.  One advantage: If you are earning your first BS or BA degree, there should be financial aid for you do to it this way, plus scholarships and loans not available in the other two training options.

C.  Large FAR 141 Flight School such as Delta Airlines Academy, Flight Safety Academy, Pan Am International Flight Academy and others.  They are listed in Flying Magazine, etc...see their ads.  Key advantage:  They have placement programs that give you a "leg up" to that first job, many times with a regional airline for their best graduates.  Costs are high, particularly if you do the training in residence.  But, you can get throught the training in a speedy fashion.  Loans are generally avialble via the company providing the flight training.

2.  License to start with:  FAA Private Pilot Certificate must be done first before moving on to the FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating and Multi Engine Rating.

3.  Kinds of jobs:

A.  Low time (below 500 hours pilot in command or PIC):  Usually just flight instruction jobs are available for beginning pilots.  Once in a while I hear of a banner towing, pipeline inspection or aerial sightseeing pilot hired with less than 500 hours, but, that is unusual.  Pay for beginning flight instructors at a local FBO will likely be $8 to 15 an hour with few benefits.  Our university flight program pays $1750 a month for a beginning CFI with 40 hours of dual given experience and 350 hours of total flight time but we DO offer health, dental and other benefits.  For comparison purposes, you will have between 215 to 300 hours of flight time after completing all of your basic flight training, depending on where you do it.  So, from that point, you are building flight time.

B.  At 500 hours, you become more insurable for charter operators flying passengers and cargo, usually on-demand, 24/7, etc.  Pay is just slightly better than for a flight instructor job.

C.  At 1000 or so hours....some a bit lower, some up to 1500 hours PIC time, with 100 to 300 hours of multi engine time, you become qualified to apply for regional airline flight positions.  The bad news is that their starting salaries are not too good...$20,000 or so a year.  But, the larger regionals now have top salaries of $80,000 to $100,000 a year for Captains with ten years+ experience.

D.  At 2500 to 4000 hours the larger national and major airlines may start looking at you as long as you have 500 to 1000 hours of turbine (jet) pilot in command time.  This type of flight time is likely earned at a regional airline, or, sometimes in the general aviation community flying with charter or corporate flight departments.  Pay at nationals and majors is better than regionals to start...and, some majors pay $200,000+ per year for twenty year captains.

I hope that these answers are helpful.  Good luck to you,

Dave NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu