AboutDottie Norkus Expertise I can address questions about airline pilot employment & entry level airline careers in the United States, women pilots, flight training, pilot certification, U.S. flight scholarships (mostly for women), aviation & airline safety topics, aviation accident investigation and airline operations.
***Please note, I cannot address flight training & career queries from outside the United States, or aero engineering degree programs/careers, aviation management topics. ****
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 International Organization of Women Pilots, Women In Aviation International, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Organization, Air Line Pilots Association
My obsession with flying which bloomed since the age of 3 was aborted when at 17 they told me I was color blind (blind to any weird color, save red, green and white!!).....that was breaking-point.
Since then, I have been a career-vagabond because I have done things that never interested me.
Flying was my Life!! I would pearch on the aerodrome wall for hours staring at planes just parked outside the hangars!
At 36, how could I claim what I was born to be, given that what crucified me at 17 is now removed from my way...that is, the blooming fuss over color blindness (no matter what color).
I dont mind flying for FedEx or plain corporate jets.
Cordially
Greg
Answer Greg,
"how could I claim what I was born to be, given that what crucified me at 17 is now removed from my way...that is, the blooming fuss over color blindness (no matter what color)....I dont mind flying for FedEx or plain corporate jets".
It sounds as if you want to make a career change. However, I am sorry to disappoint you on a few points. Fed Ex (or UPS for that matter) is one of the hardest companies to get on with right now. Their requirements are on par with the major airlines and at the moment very overqualified furloughed airline pilots are inundating them with resumes. Corporate is also the same way. Large cargo or corporate jet flying will be a hard nut for you to crack until you have a few thousand hours of flight time I am afraid.
Additionally, most of the flying jobs you are probably dreaming of require an FAA first class medical as a requirement of employment. To be eligible for the first class medical certificate the applicant must meet in general these requirements:
Distant acuity of 20/20 in each eye, and Near vision of 20/40
*Ability to distinguish aviation red, aviation signal green, and white.
Normal field of vision
Normal field of hearing
*This will be your determining factor. If you are going to purse flying with the intent of making it a career, you need to take and pass a First Class Medical exam. Having this along with a commercial certificate is a requirement even to do jobs as small as banner towing or flight instruction.
The FAA states that:
"Applicants for medical certification must be able to see the colors they need to perform airman duties safely. Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) check color vision by using special color plates. If you can't pass the initial color vision test but otherwise meet medical standards, we may issue you a medical certificate with the limit “NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLIGHT OR BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL.” If you have a medical certificate bearing a color vision limitation, you may request reevaluation by writing to:
Aerospace Medical Certification Division, AAM-300
Federal Aviation Administration
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
The medical examiner will probably ask you to demonstrate your ability to perform tasks that require color vision by giving you a signal light test. The Aerospace Medical Certification Division will consider the results of the test in reevaluating you."
So, even if you cannot pass a medical required to fly for hire, you probably can do so recreationally. Your first order of business will be to contact an AME and make an appointment. Expect the medical to cost $100-140. Since you are over age 35, you will have to take an EKG to get a First Class as well. You can find one near you via this link-
Yes, flying is a cool job but many see it only as they dream about it, not the reality of the daily grind. Especially in a job market that has been affected so much by post 9/11 wage cuts. Being an airline pilot is not all the glamour and money that it used to be for sure. Can you eventually make a good living? After probably 7-10 years from your first lesson. The paying your dues years are hard in this industry. The first few years can be painfully low paid, i.e. less than $20K/yr. (As a new hire at age 34 I was taking home less than $1400/mo with a regional airline.) You should really see if you like it as much as you think you do by getting your Private Pilot and Instrument rating. Then you can decide if you want to go all the way without risking $30K+ on your training. If not, you still have what it takes to fly for a hobby to get away from it all.
Since all you need to know about making a career change cannot possibly be covered in this forum, I will suggest some reading to educate yourself:
My site about getting your license and pilot careers-
www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html
By reading this page you will find anwser to common questions about flight training, time building and what to expect for pay and lifestyle in the airline business.
These sites also have an abundance of information and have message boards where you can post and read other career changers messages-
