Expert: D. Norkus - 7/28/2006

Question
Hello. My name is Nick and I turn 16 in about a week. I really want to become an Airline pilot so bad. Ever since I was a little kid. I own all of the Flight Simulator games up to the new one Flight Simulator X. So far and I am really good at it. I really want to fly 777's for United or Delta Airlines. I have a few questions. What steps does it take to get to the airlines? Can I start now? How much do you get paid to fly Triple Sevens? What do pilots do during a long flight or during cruise? What does an Airline Pilot do from the time he/she gets up, to the time they takeoff? And finally, have you heard of the Delta Connection Academy? That's where I plan to go. Thanks a bunch. Nick

Answer
Nick

Your questions:
What steps does it take to get to the airlines?
How much do you get paid to fly Triple Sevens?
What does an Airline Pilot do from the time he/she gets up, to the time they takeoff?"

Are generally addressed in the website had to create to answer all the similar questions I received-

http://www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html

I got so many, I had to put that site together to help address the topic as covering all one would need to know about flight training and airline careers is just not possible via this kind of forum where I type a reply.

The typical civilian career track progression is outlined there as is a link to a specific Delta Connection Academy topic at the popular FlightInfo.com pilot message boards. DCA is not quite what it claims to be for many students. Several of them detail their experiences on the thread I linked and there are hundreds more about DCA at that site.

As far as a typical workday, I also created a page about a day-in-the-life of a typical regional pilot on my page.

Here is an example of a day-in-the-life of a major-
http://www.jetcareers.com/content/view/36/59/

(My text is also on that site under "Regional". Jetcareers.com is also an excellent place to do some more research. It was created by a Delta pilot for aspiring airline fliers.)

This is another forum to post questions-
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/

"Can I start now?"
Since you are already 16, you can begin working on your PPL as you can take the flight test when you turn 17. It would be wise to save up as much as you can to cover the cost of the PPL before you start, otherwise you will end up paying too much with big breaks in training. Read more about that on my site.

"What do pilots do during a long flight or during cruise?"
Talk, eat, read, Sudoku puzzles or just about anything a passenger in the back would do that doesn't interfere with their duties.  

"And finally, have you heard of the Delta Connection Academy?"
Yes, as mentioned above. DO read the topics on DCA at the message boards on FlightInfo.com as well as the Flight Training forum on the boards at Jetcareers.com. You will find A LOT of information abot DCA at those two places that isn't sugar coated by their recruitment department.

Regarding 777 pay, the pay rates can be found here-http://airlinepilotcentral.com/pay_comparisons/_widebody_aircraft/boeing_777_2006011614.html

A UAL Captain who has been there for well over 12 years (topped out on the payscale) would take home a minimum of $11,800 per month before taxes (figure -25% for tax) not including per diem. A DAL captain is basically the same. How airline pay is calculated is explained on my site. First Officer pay for around 7 years of seniority would be about $4,800 per month bfore taxes without per diem). FYI- Since Delta has only eight 777s, there are less than 120 pilots there making that pay scale. UAL has 52 of them, so they have a far greater percentage of their pilot group making that pay scale.


After you have investigated my site, www.airlinepilotcentral.com and www.Jetcareers.com please let me know if you have any more specific questions that you need addressed.

Hope this provides some insight.

Dottie