Expert: Ismar Avdic, Eng. - 12/20/2006

Question
Hi. I am interested in pursuing a career as a pilot. Do you recomend a career in that field? Are there good opurtunities for jobs in that catergory? Is the pay good? And do you have any adive on this subject? Thanks!

Answer
Caitlin!
That is very hard question that really requires a deep answer. Lets see all advantages As a pilot you do have glamorous job, flying an huge airliner over 45,000 feet between continents. No doubt that sounds fantastic and glamouros. You will making aprox $250,000 with possibility to travel all over the globe for free of charge even when you are not on job. That sounds fantastic. Now lets see disadventages. Well first start with how much money will be required just to get all pilot licenses, you must be ready to pay aprox between 55,000 to 75,000$ at least to get all required rating and licenses, plus you have to work as an instroctor or very low pilot to accumulate all flight hours required to be accepted to one regional airline. That takes time and takes money. If you got lucky and accumulate enough turbine hours within 2-3 years, now you will be MAYBE elegible to apply to major airlines. If you got accepted with major airline now you are starting working as an pilot in full reality however your pay will be minimal probably about 50 or slightly above in first year. At that point you have to get and spent years in order to get on seniority list and that in reality gets you higher position routes, higher payt rates and so on. If this sounds something interesting and you have some serious money to spent then this career is worth to persue. You are looking in full reality to spent at least between 5-10 years to get on high pay scales that I mention in the beggining. I am saying between 5-10 years in reality is more!!

Good Luck
Ismar