In this episode, we will discuss the 10 reasons you should NOT become an airline pilot. In our last episode, we talked about the many great reasons to become an airline pilot but there are some reasons you should NOT become an airline pilot.
10 Reasons You Should NOT Become An Airline Pilot:
You are away from home many nights.
You will miss many holidays, birthdays, and family events.
If something goes wrong at home you might be thousands of miles away.
You like changing jobs often.
Don’t like an unstable industry prone to swings in the economy.
You don’t like continuous training and testing of your skills and knowledge.
You don’t like working in an enclosed environment.
You can work 16-hour days.
Income comes later during your career.
You don’t work well in stressful environments.
In the last episode, we answered whether you should become a pilot in 2025. In today’s episode, I want to get very specific as to why you should become an airline pilot. In future episodes, we will discuss reasons you should become a General Aviation Pilot.
Send us your accomplishments and a photo if you want us to share in the podcast on YouTube to feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com
10 Reasons You Should Become An Airline Pilot:
Visit the world and get paid.
Safest aviation work environment.
Great Pay and Benefits.
Travel the world for free.
When you are off you are off. No calling into work on days off.
No office politics since you don’t work in an office.
Should you become a pilot in 2025? If you are considering becoming a pilot to pursue a career or work part-time as a commercial pilot I think 2025 is going to be a great year to become a pilot and I will show you why.
Send us your accomplishments and a photo if you want us to share in the podcast on YouTube to feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com
Talking Points
Why you should become a pilot even if you are not looking into a full-time career in aviation.
Benefits of being a pilot as a part-time career and how it will help you in your full-time job.
Why this is a perfect time to become a full-time pilot.
Hiring is about to increase.
18,500 jobs estimated YOY for the next ten years according to the BLS.
Even with bankruptcies, there is a rosy picture.
How to become a commercial pilot.
Most schools can help you with that.
How to become an airline pilot.
Build 1500 hours.
Do I need a degree?
No, but it makes you more competitive.
How To pay for it all?
Find a mentor or career coach. https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/coaching/
Watch upcoming videos including 10 reasons to become an airline pilot, 10 reasons you shouldn’t become an airline pilot, and how to not make a 3 million dollar mistake in your career.
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
Can airline pilots make $1,000 per hour? Yes, but we need to understand the context of the question. After my last episode of “Understanding Pilot Pay” https://youtu.be/n3KiUhPblKA , a conversation started about how pilots can get paid over $1,000 per hour. In this episode, I want to debunk any myths and make you understand the context of how pilots, including myself, make over $1,000 PER FLIGHT HOUR.
Send us your accomplishments and a photo if you want us to share in the podcast on YouTube to feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com
Talking Points
Understanding the context of the question.
Pilots on the internet will divide their annual pay by the number of hours flown.
For example, a captain at a major airline making 300,000 a year who only flies 250 hours in the year makes $1,200 per flight hour.
This may be misleading but is also true. Let’s discover how.
Watch How To Make A Million A Year As An Airline Pilot – https://youtu.be/o2YBK-20AMU
Understand pilots get paid a minimum even if not flying.
Example:
Narrow body captain at a major making $320 an hour.
70 hour guarantee on reserved
Flew 20 hours in the month
240 per year x $320 = $268,800
$268,800/240 hours in a year = $1,120 PER FLIGHT HOUR
This example includes deadheading when in the plane in uniform.
Why it is important to look at work rules and not only pay rate.
How many people are claiming that they make $1,000 per hour as an airline pilot but really what they are saying is PER FLIGHT HOUR.
With that said it really is a good job and you can have a wonderful lifestyle as I discussed in this video:
How To Have An Amazing Quality Of Life As An Airline Pilot https://youtu.be/JoUKcc3lZDA
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
Pilot pay especially at the airlines is foreign to most workers and can be best summed in a question. How can a pilot making $30 per hour only make $30,000 a year? I will explain this and more in this video.
Send us your accomplishments and a photo if you want us to share in the podcast on YouTube to feedback@aviationcareerspodcast.com
Talking Points
How are pilots paid?
By the flight hour.
Trip rigs
Duty rigs
Minimum guarantee pay.
Vacation pay.
Why do some pilots make much more than others?
Watch How To Make A Million A Year As An Airline Pilot – https://youtu.be/o2YBK-20AMU
Differences in airline and corporate aviation.
Flight Instructors.
Can you have a great lifestyle as a pilot?
ACP397 How To Have An Amazing Quality Of Life As An Airline Pilot – https://youtu.be/JoUKcc3lZDA
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
Will AI Replace Pilot Jobs? That is a question I get often and is one I have a keen interest in because I started my career studying AI in the 80’s. I don’t think so and here is why.
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
Today I am speaking with someone who took a unique approach to financing her flight training and turned it into a lucrative business. FlyGirl Detailing is a successful business started by a person passionate about aviation and is a testament to how hard work and dedication can make your dreams come true. Joining me is the owner Claire Maher a successful entrepreneur and pilot!
What Is FlyGirl Detailing?
How Claire started her Aviation journey.
The inspiration behind Flygirl Aircraft Detailing
The struggles of not taking a loan to fund training.
Challenges learned in early start-up business days.
The impact of Flygirl aircraft detailing on my aviation career.
What my goals are for the future of the company and my career?
Sponsor:
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
You get a letter that you are involved in an FAA investigation. What should you do? Ignore or comply? We will answer these and more questions in this episode.
What is an FAA investigation?
How do FAA Investigations work?
Should you talk to the inspector?
What happens after an investigation?
What is a compliance action?
How Does This Affect My Career?
Should I speak with an attorney? https://www.strumorlaw.com
Sponsor:
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
In Today’s Episode, We Answer Your Questions Concerning Your Career.
Sponsor:
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
Questions:
What rating causes most pilots to not progress in their careers?
Is it a good idea or even possible to get my PPL, Commercial, and then CFI to start building time? I don’t feel like doing an accelerated program only to be dropped due to me not putting in all my effort as I have to maintain a job to pay the bills. I have a school 5 miles away. Any feedback will help thank you.
One of my coaching clients asked me how I could successfully predict the future hiring landscape. One reason is I tirelessly study the industry and have a background in forecasting and pricing as a market maker from a previous industry. Many of you sign up for my group coaching mentorship to listen to my hiring and industry updates, but you should also look towards many other resources available online. A valuable resource for news is https://airlinegeeks.com/ and their career page. To discuss AirlineGeeks and their career page is the founder Ryan Ewing.
Sponsor:
The sponsor of this is Stratus Financial, Private Student Lending – For Pilots, By Pilots. Stratus Financial offers student loans for pilot training from zero to hero. Stratus Financial Understands your needs because they are pilots! You can find more at https://stratus.finance/
As a sponsor of this podcast, Stratus Financial is giving away scholarship guides and you can get yours for free using the coupon code “Stratus” when you visit https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/free/
Whether it’s financing your dream of flying, or simplifying the process by taking care of your student loans; their efficient, hassle-free funding can connect you to the life of your dreams of becoming a professional pilot sooner than you ever thought possible! To find out more visit https://stratus.finance
Talking Points
What is AirlineGeeks.com?
Ryan’s industry experience.
What you can find on the career section of the website.
News content and Evergreen Content
Career Corner Newsletter. https://airlinegeeks.com/newsletter/
