Expert: D. Norkus - 7/21/2006

Question
Hi - My son is 14 years old and all he talks about it being a pilot (flying commercial jets).  I have looked into various routes to becoming a pilot.  Some people say the Air Force is the best training available.  Others say a flight school.  I considered calling an airlines to see what they prefer when hiring pilots.  I have called an air force recruiter and asked what I can be doing now (9th grade).  They said plenty of math and science courses.  So he has taken 2 levels of math that students in his grade wouldn't normally take.  What advise and words of wisdom do you have?  He does not want to make the Air Force a career, if he chooses that route.  I realize this dream of his could also change (he is only 14), but would like to find out information now so I can make any preparations.  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Gina-

"My son is 14 years old and all he talks about it being a pilot (flying commercial jets)."

That is great he has some aspirations. However what the "daily grind" actually is and what he perceives it to be may very well be two different things! Many dream of the career and what they think it is, but few actually have a good idea of the reality. Think hotels for half the month, most if not all holidays away from your family and countless days on the road for far less money than what people think you get. That is the reality! You really have to love aviation to get into this career in a post 9/11 environment as many perks of the career have been raided in the concessions airlines are demanding in these tough times. It is simply not what it used to be, so if he really wants to pursue this, he needs to do so with his eyes wide open as to the benefits AND drawbacks of the career!

"I have looked into various routes to becoming a pilot. Some people say the Air Force is the best training available.  Others say a flight school.  I considered calling [the] airlines to see what they prefer when hiring pilots."

The airline minimums requirements to apply are published in their website. Often this is 2,500+ hours of flight time (at a minumim) for the major carriers and 1,000 hours for the regional. Of course many will say "Air Force training is the best", but that is just an opinion. These days about more than half of new hires come via a civilian background and it is a more viable route to a career than ever before. At the site http://www.aviationintervoews.com you can see the recent applicants interview "cliff notes" and who has been getting hired along with their qualifications.  

"I have called an air force recruiter and asked what I can be doing now (9th grade).  They said plenty of math and science courses.  So he has taken 2 levels of math that students in his grade wouldn't normally take."

Sorry to break it to you, but advanced math beyond what is required for any degree just isn't necessary in the airline world (thank goodness as I was awful in advanced math). Basic algebra, at best, will be all the math any pilot will need to figure time/speed/distance problems in their head. These days most math is usually done by the aircrafts flight management systems or "FMS", so the pilot doesn't really do any math at all. I have used basically none of the math & calculus I was required to take for my degree other than very, very basic algebra and addition & subtraction. People say to take all the math & science you can as an aspiring pilot, but all in reality there really isn't an opportunity to apply any of it. For all the math any airline pilot will ever need to know for their job, check out the book "Mental Math for Pilots" by Ronald McElroy-

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1560275103/ref=pd_sim_b_4/103-9905649-1292634?%...


"What advise and words of wisdom do you have?  He does not want to make the Air Force a career, if he chooses that route."

If he simply wants to be "an airline pilot", do not have him join the Air Force as a means to that end. He should do it only if he wants to serve his country. Don't think of it simply as a way to get "free flight training" to become an airline pilot.

In all reality, it's not truly "free" and the openings for military aviators are fewer and more competitive than they have ever been. If he somehow manages to even get accepted into the service as a pilot candidate and make it through flight school, he will be committed for a dedade or more. He could also get killed in the line of duty.

In decades past, the major airlines drew almost exculsively from former military pilots. Former military pilots either dominated the hiring boards or they would recommend their friends who were getting out of the service and looking into airline careers. This big "squadron buddy" network was how the majority of pilots got hired.

That is not the case today. For several years now the airlines have been increasingly hiring pilots from a civilian background. According to statistics compiled from Air Inc, about 65% of new hires are civilian. This is partly the result of a smaller pool of military pilots available to the airlines than in decades past and the increase in the number of civilian trained pilots with previous jet and airline experience. Almost all the regionals now fly jets, many that go higher or are more advanced than mainline aircraft. Additionally, most pilots looking to move onto a major carrier will have several times over the amount of flight experience as a military aviator because of their regional job.

I suiggest reading these links for more on the "big picture"-

My site- http://www.geocities.com/av8trxx99/FAQ.html

and http://www.jetcareers.com

There is so much more that you need to know than can be covered via this kind of forum, so I hope you read through these sites and their associated links. This reading will 'educate' you and help give you the "big picture" about what is needed and what to expect in this career.

Hope this can get you started-
Dottie