Time from Start to Airlines?

I am currently a Junior in high school. I know I am going into aviation, and would absolutely love to be a pilot. I am not sure if I want to be one though due to the schedule they have. Anyhow, I have been considering it more lately. I have already started towards my PPL. I plan to have it before I am out of high school, and if not, soon after. I was wondering, from the time it takes starting out in aviation, if I got hired on at the bottom of the commercial aviation, like flying single or twin props (I think that is where I would have to start at?). How long would it take me to make it up to the big airlines like UPS? I know it varies for everyone, and job availability, but what is an estimate. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)

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Originally Posted by Ryan Hornback

I am not sure if I want to be one though due to the schedule they have.

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Yes, working 11-12 days a month is a tough schedule. What is it exactly about the schedule you're not sure of?
:)

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How long would it take me to make it up to the big airlines like UPS? I know it varies for everyone, and job availability, but what is an estimate. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :)

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I've known pilots that made it to a big airline by their mid 20's and I know some that made it to a big airline by their mid '40's and others that made it at all ages in between. Lots of factors play a role, some you can control, some you have absolutely no control over what so ever.

It's very possible to make it up to airlines by 20. However, you need a minimum of 1500 hours, a multiengine rating, a jet rating for the jet you are flying, a commercial license, an ATP license, an High Performance Endorsment an IFR and Private licesne. If you work hard, you can make it in 6 years. But it's hard work to earn all those in 6 years.

The main part of the schedule I would not be sure of is just the fact of being away from my the family which I hope to have some day.

If I could get it by mid 20's it would be amazing. I don't live that far from the UPS World-port hub and would love to be able to fly for them one day, if I don't become a pilot though, I am going to go into other parts of aviation such as the engineering aspect of it, or avionics, or any other branch that I come across between now and then I find interesting possibly.

Still though, becoming a pilot would be a dream. I would be getting paid for my passion. :)

Getting paid for your passion! That's awesome and that's the very reason why we all do it.

Do you plan on getting a degree as well?

Rangerofthewest,

Assuming you are, as you say, 13 years old, what personal experience are you basing your time from start to the airlines on?

Wotai,

That is what I am thinking, getting paid to do what I love would be awesome.

I do plan on getting a degree. Actually I still have not decided if I want to be a pilot, or go into aerospace engineering, but I think I would enjoy the pilot job more. Either way I plan to get a degree in something a long with it. Seems like a good idea to have something to fall back on just in case something happens.

I have a few friends that went the professional pilot route; one, a childhood friend that got his degree and all of his ratings at UND instructed for awhile after graduating, then flew cargo in a Shorts for a year or two. Last I heard he's a first officer for a regional carrier. A former college roommate of mine I think flew small twin turboprops for something, and also is now a first officer at a regional. A couple other people I know are still either in the small turboprop cargo/regional airline first officer area a few years after graduating with a degree.

Janet,

1) For one, I have studied the manuals for obtaining these licesenses, 2) I had to do research for a school project on how to become an airline pilot (which I researched very much in depth), 3) I have 2 friends who fly airlines, who have thoroughly explained the process to me, and 4) I picked up tidbits from places about this process. So, to answer your question Janet, I have had some in depth experience wit this process, and it is enough for me to draw the conclusion of which I did above.

Janet.

I have found the the average from I want to learn how to fly till you make it to a major is about 10 years. Figure 2-4 years to get ratings.1-3 years of teaching and the 3-4 years at the regionals.

Just my $.02.

Keith.