Expert: David A. NewMyer - 4/30/2005

Question
Steps/pitfalls/issues to start a new career in aviation. 40 years old. Always wanted to fly (no time/family/$/etc).  This is my mid-life crisis (no red Ferrari and arm candy).

Currently in a VERY technical field -  2 BS / 2 Masters and PhD (without dissertation). (Do not need a refresher course in aerodynamics or soliton theory).

I live in Florida (MLB) (by FIT and 2 hours south of embry riddle).

How does one fast track into the industry?

What about all the military pilots, will there be a glut in the industry?

Best path - recommendations?

Is the job boring? Some part of me says … flying from point A to B, turn around to point A …repeat.
If the above is true … Are there any “non-boring” (tedious) recommended positions?

PC training – I see the Microsoft stuff .. Are they worth the plastic they are pressed on?
If a positive response to above - What recommended “gear” is needed. Stick/pedals etc
How much time is suggested on the PC vs on-site?

Thank you,

Brian CS  

Answer
Hi, Brian:

Thanks for your question.  I will try to assist.

Before you make any jumps into a new career, make sure that you go for an INTRODUCTORY FLIGHT at any nearby flight school just to make sure that flying is for you.  You did not mention any sort of prior flight experience, so, I thought I would start there!  Also, I am assuming that you want to fly as your career....keep in mind that about 10 to 15 percent of jobs in aviation are professional pilot jobs, about 20 percent are mechanic or aviation maintenance jobs and the rest of the 2.2 million or so aviation employees in the USA do something else!

As far as a fast track into the industry, the best way to fast track into flight would be to attend one of the national pilot training academies such as Flight Safety Academy, Delta Flight Academy, Pan Am International Flight Academy or something similar.  They have an accelerated format....BUT you DO have to be ready to pay for the format.  It is accelerated, but, that means the costs will come flying at you as well!  At our university, we can provide the FAA Private Pilot Certificate, the Commercial Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating and the Multi Engine Rating in 5 semesters (about 2 academic years and a summer term).  The flight schools that I mentioned above can do it in six to 12 months in most cases, IF your money holds out!

If you go the national flight school route, make sure that you select based on the placement record that they offer...Flight Safety, for example, works with American Eagle, ASA and one other regional airline on direct placement of its graduates....but, that is AFTER the basics AND after regional airline training which costs about $27,000 BEYOND THE BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING RATINGS mentioned above.

As far as the boring aspects of the job.  Yes, an airline job CAN become routine....in fact, you want it to be routine and not always punctuated by bad weather and by mechanical problems.  But, to me, the variety in the flight job is best exemplified in three places:

1.  Airlines that eventually offer the chance for you to fly globally (which may not happen right away, but, after you move up to larger aircraft);

2.  Corporate flight departments that fly the larger globally capable aircraft such as the Grumman Gulfsteam IV, IVSP, 450 and V or the Global Express, etc.

3.  Some government aviation flying that involves either law enforcement or involves earth sensing or environmental protection.  

All of these do offer some variety.

Another way to look at this choice is:  Would you rather be flying along in your "office" at 41,000 feet or where you presently have your office?  How much do you enjoy what you do every day?  Once you do some flying, think about how much you will enjoy doing that every day EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO FLY TO THE SAME PLACE DURING A PARTICULAR MONTH BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THE AIRLINE SETS UP ITS "DUTY RIGS?"

As far as PC training is concerned:  It is generally good for practice.  We have two PCATDs here in our program plus an Elite MFD (Modular Flight Deck that replicates a Beech 1900 airliner).  But, you can not log flight time in them...they key is to build flight time in an aircraft or in an approved FTD (Flight training device) or simulator.  Everything else via PC is just extra for practice....if you are going to fly for a career, you need to build loggable flight time.  Don't waste too much time otherwise except in review or for practice before a test, etc.

Finally, with regard to military pilots, the cuts in the military since Gulf War I (in the early 1990s) and now have made it such that there will be no similar glut in the pilot market due to military pilots.  There are simply less of them AND the military is giving them bonuses to try to keep them!  The only place where the military pilots make a big difference is in the civilian helicopter pilot market...there the military pilots have a big advantage due to shear numbers of military helicopter pilots that are trained vs. the # of jobs that are out there in the civilian world for helicopter pilots.   Fixed wing jobs are far more plentiful.

I hope that this answer has been of assistance.  Email another question via the AllExperts site if you have follow on questions.

Best wishes,

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