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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 29 2009 22:32 ET by Adam Wawro
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I'm thinking about going to Embry Riddle and getting a bachelors of aeronautical science and maybe working for an airline. I have the grades to get it its either that or med school. Was just wondering if any real pilots could give me some guidance and maybe the pros and cons of working for an airline.
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA4069
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on February 18 2007
Everett 250 Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Six Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"War Eagle!"
Southeastern United States
681 legs, 2,227.3 hours
478 legs,
1,098.5 hours online
607 legs,
1,936.8 hours ACARS
25 legs,
59.2 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 29 2009 23:03 ET by J.T. Coston
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You won't make much money at all out of the start. Unless you are really set on airline flying you could just be a doctor and buy your own airplane. If you saved your money with a dr's salary you could easily own a baron 58 or something. If you are all about airline flying then go for it. ERAU is a great university from what I hear but it is extremely expensive. If you could get a scholarship or something that might change the tide though. I am personally doing my training part 61 because I can do that cheaper than attend ERAU. As far as salary goes Dr. blows airline pilots out of the water, a regional pilot makes an extremely low pay.
Pretty much to sum it up, if you wanna fly for a living, you really have to love flying more than anything and have to stick with it. If you were a Dr. you could make enough money to own your own plane and fly on the weekend.
I hope this helps some.
J.T.
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 29 2009 23:26 ET by Adam Wawro
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yea ill think about it but as you move up in the business you do get higher pay around 200k a year and i do really love flying. What about the hours and how long ill be away from home.
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 29 2009 23:27 ET by Adam Wawro
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also when you are a regional pilot the low pay doesnt really matter since your in the air most of the time
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA7620
First Officer, B777-200
OLP
Joined on July 21 2009
"Dream"
NJ USA
66 legs, 105.0 hours
55 legs,
89.5 hours online
63 legs,
99.1 hours ACARS
16 legs,
31.4 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 00:50 ET by Neil Sarna
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it does regional pilots only make like 30K a year or less. its not enough to live comfortably.
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DVA6535
First Officer, A320
OLP
Joined on October 18 2008
50 State Club
Million Mile Club
Everett 500 Club
Millennium Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
San Angelo, TX
1,045 legs, 3,604.7 hours
84 legs,
193.1 hours online
1,010 legs,
3,443.7 hours ACARS
14 legs,
25.8 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 01:44 ET by Matthew Lamay
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You have to be careful about regional airlines these days. Alot of regionals are pay to play...meaning that you have to pay the airline for a type rating. Gulfstream is a good example of this. You have to go to their school in order to fly with them. After 250 hrs, they will put you in the right seat of a B1900 flying 12 legs a day all while making $17,000/yr. $17,000/yr for rent, car payment, student loans (for going to the Gulfstream Academy), food, gas, bills...it's darn near impossible. Unfortunately, only the most senior of senior airline captains flying the long haulers are making $200K.
My advice, get into corporate flying. That's where the money is at
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DVA1038
Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on January 12 2003
Century Club
"Celer, Silens, Mortalis"
Summerville, SC USA
169 legs, 1,008.2 hours
56 legs,
288.5 hours online
25 legs,
221.2 hours ACARS
1 legs,
5.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 08:24 ET by Kevin Cornish
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Adam, avoid ERAU like the plauge! If you're looking at flying for a living you can get your Bachelors and ratings MUCH cheaper elsewhere. ERAU doesn't do a thing for you to help you get into the airlines as a pilot. Most aviation companies like seeing ERAU for engineering jobs, mait. personal, etc. Most airlines only want you to have a 4yr degree to prove that you are dedicated enough to stick with something and they don't really care what your degree is in.
Kevin CornishCaptain, B737-800
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 11:02 ET by Adam Wawro
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yea thanks for the feeedback guys ive decided to take Coston's advice and im going to Cornell and becoming an anestesiologist  Gonna buy myself a nice baron 58
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA7238
Captain, B747-400
OLP
Joined on April 20 2009
Double Century Club
50 State Club
Spences Bridge, BC Canada
267 legs, 515.2 hours
78 legs,
159.8 hours online
263 legs,
504.8 hours ACARS
2 legs,
3.8 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 11:46 ET by Robert Ross
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My experience: -
I as high school student obtained my private and instructors licenses. I taught flying to build up hours as most of us did. I those Days - in Australia you went from High school into a Medical stream at the University who accepted all who obtained "matriculation" grade in the High School certificate. The negative side was we started with 1800 students in Med One. by the end of the third year we were down to 180 but had obtained a B.Sc Med degree (not sure if this had any use). Then went into the proper Medical classes for four more years before a two year rotating internship (they called you "Doctor" but you could only work in a hospital or with supervision). The point of my story is other friends who started with me went through the aviation steps of working behind reservation desks etc until accepted to fly first officers etc in Britain Normal Islanders until graduating into the "heavy Iron". I have just recently semi retired (still do some relief). My friends have all been retired for 10-15 years with good pensions and all graduated to 747's. All carers require risk and hard work in the beginning. So do what you really want to do, the end results may surprise you.
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DVA7238
Captain, B747-400
OLP
Joined on April 20 2009
Double Century Club
50 State Club
Spences Bridge, BC Canada
267 legs, 515.2 hours
78 legs,
159.8 hours online
263 legs,
504.8 hours ACARS
2 legs,
3.8 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 11:50 ET by Robert Ross
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| As an ad don. Doctors with lots of money (not as much as you think) buy planes usually well beyond their abilities unfortunately with bad outcomes. If you want to fly - be a pilot. If you want to be a Doctor be one. The mixture can often be tragic.
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DVA2370
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP, COMM, VFRADV
Joined on May 26 2005
Online Triple Century Club
Commuter Conquest
Six Century Club
Stage 1 Prop Triple Century Club
50 State Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Flagler Beach, FL USA
675 legs, 726.8 hours
319 legs,
311.4 hours online
179 legs,
146.1 hours ACARS
1 legs,
1.6 hours event
0 legs dispatched, 4.0
hours
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 20:11 ET by Scott Clarke
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Had one, bought it from a doctor! 
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DVA7561
Captain, B767-300
Joined on July 18 2009
"Semper Gumby (Always Flexible)"
Oklahoma City, OK USA
41 legs, 164.2 hours
38 legs,
152.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 20:39 ET by Michael Hehn
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Here is another option for you Adam. Do your 4 years and get a degree and then get a commssion in the Air Force. You get paid pretty good money as an officer, plus to get all the training you need to fly. Then after your commission is up, you can use those skills in the civilian world. Just a thought.
Michael HehnCaptain, B767-300
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DVA3438
Senior Captain, B717-200
OLP
E-MAIL
Joined on August 12 2006
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Everett Bi-Millennium Club
US Coastal Club
US Mountaineer Club
Three Million Mile Club
Tri-Millennium Club
Events Century Club
Online Millennium Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Honolulu, HI
3,901 legs, 8,778.3 hours
1,366 legs,
2,824.5 hours online
3,760 legs,
8,263.1 hours ACARS
130 legs,
355.9 hours event
106 legs dispatched, 98.6
hours
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Posted onPost created on
August 30 2009 20:46 ET by Kyle Catlin
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UND!! haha
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 09:18 ET by Adam Wawro
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oo airforce sounds good
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
|
Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 09:21 ET by Adam Wawro
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HELP!@!@!@!@!@!@ im going to go off on another topic but i began to take the EMB-120 FO exam but then closed my browser. I went back to retake the exam but it wont give me any answer choices and i cant exit the exam. Im eligible for captain in the CRJ but i cant take the exam because it only lets you do 1 exam at a time and i cant close the EMB-120 FO exam or continue doing it. HELP ME PLEASE!@!@!
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA5001
Senior Captain, MD-88
OLP, 737-ATP
Joined on September 16 2007
B757 100 Club
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Million Mile Club
Globetrotter
Online Century Club
Quad-Jet Quartermaster
White Knuckles Club
US Capital Club
Flying Colonel
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Lake Dallas, TX USA
1,791 legs, 4,744.0 hours
131 legs,
236.5 hours online
1,728 legs,
4,603.4 hours ACARS
19 legs,
36.8 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 10:00 ET by Art Forsha
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Adam,
Contact the ACP/CP for the E120 or create a help desk issue for the test. As for being a pilot, follow your dreams. There is one shot at this life. I did my best and it didn't work out for me.. I was so close I was literally in the training building. But no regrets... that's the big thing. Dont watch life pass you by and later on you wish you had at least tried it. But be aware of what you are getting into.. low pay, always on the seniority bubble for furloughs in bad financial times. The days of extreamly high pay, little work and tremendous retirement packages are over I'm afraid. Perhaps someone here who works for a major can shed some light on that. I may be wrong, but I dont think so. All I'm saying is if it's what you want go for it! But dont just look through "rose colored" glasses... you cant live on love. Have a backup plan and a second job, especially when you are an F/O. Even if it's working at a grocery store. You'll need the extra money just to survive.
I decided to leave the airline dream and now I'm a cop. Benefits: I'm home to see my wife and kids every day (which is of great importance to me), make pretty good money and I'll have just about all my debt except for my house paid off in about a year or so.. then I have my eyes on a flying club where I can rent at reasonable prices a plane that I want to fly and take my familiy on vacations or just go on the hamburger run with my son. It's not all bad.... plus I dont have to worry about being furloughed or the owner of the business jet selling his plane and I'm pounding the pavement, wondering how I'm gonna pay my bills, keep my house, feed my family. Cons: I never see a cop car pass by and wish I could be at work. But every time an airliner passes over I dream of flying it.
Art ForshaSenior Captain, MD-88
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 10:06 ET by Adam Wawro
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thanks alot being a cop sounds pretty fun especially with the awesome strobe lights Ill try to contact the ACP/CP
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA1038
Captain, B737-800
E-MAIL
Joined on January 12 2003
Century Club
"Celer, Silens, Mortalis"
Summerville, SC USA
169 legs, 1,008.2 hours
56 legs,
288.5 hours online
25 legs,
221.2 hours ACARS
1 legs,
5.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 18:09 ET by Kevin Cornish
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Adam, this may sound weird, but you'd actually have a better chance of becoming an aviator if you joined the Navy. As crazy as it sounds the Navy actually has a higher percentage of thier officers in flying billets as either Aviators or Naval Flight Officers than the Air Force does. Most AF officers never even get near an airplane, at least acording to one of my freinds who is the Ops Officer for the 14th TRAWING in MS. Hope that helps.
Kevin CornishCaptain, B737-800
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DVA7561
Captain, B767-300
Joined on July 18 2009
"Semper Gumby (Always Flexible)"
Oklahoma City, OK USA
41 legs, 164.2 hours
38 legs,
152.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 19:25 ET by Michael Hehn
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Kevin you are totally right! And I am an Enlisted Aircrew in the Air Force, but you do have a better chance being an actual pilot in the Navy.
Michael HehnCaptain, B767-300
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 20:46 ET by Adam Wawro
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thanks for the feedback but the navy ehh. I dont know landing on the carriers i dont like it especially with dozens personnel and other aircraft within 10ft of the runway.
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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DVA7561
Captain, B767-300
Joined on July 18 2009
"Semper Gumby (Always Flexible)"
Oklahoma City, OK USA
41 legs, 164.2 hours
38 legs,
152.8 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
August 31 2009 21:40 ET by Michael Hehn
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The Navy also has TACMO.....they are stationed here at my base in Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City. The TACMO is a 707 airframe. They also have some other heavies that they fly.
Michael HehnCaptain, B767-300
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DVA2724
Senior Captain, L-1011-100
Joined on December 04 2005
Million Mile Club
Seven Century Club
"Long Live the TRISTAR!!"
Concord, GA USA
714 legs, 3,467.6 hours
43 legs,
80.2 hours online
466 legs,
2,709.6 hours ACARS
5 legs dispatched, 26.7
hours
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Posted onPost created on
September 01 2009 10:03 ET by Ken Nesbitt
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Adam,
Coming from someone who does it day in and day out, I will just tell you this. If you want to fly, then fly. Don't let anyone talk you out of what you want to do. If you want to talk facts, then email me and I will give you facts about life/pay or anything else and then you can make your decision. I would not sit here, regardless of how I feel, and tell you to do one thing or another. You need to enjoy your job and regardless of how much money you make, you shouldn't dread it.
I will only recommend one thing. I would go to a non-aviation college. Airlines do not care that you went and got your degree in aviation whatever. In fact, they like to see that you were in something different. Not only that, but it gives you something to fall back on if you choose not to pursue it. Please feel free to email me. CHEERS
Ken NesbittSenior Captain, L-1011-100
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DVA7690
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on August 27 2009
Northeastern United States
11 legs, 11.3 hours
11 legs,
11.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
September 01 2009 10:35 ET by Adam Wawro
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ill take you up on that offer ken its just that im afraid if i go into aviation and become an airline pilot i wont have much of a life with my family or children and ill miss out on so much it might not even be worth to get married and start a family if im going to miss so much
Adam WawroCaptain, CRJ-200
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