Aviation Career

[Glenn Maude]

Hi, I just wanted to ask what jobs there are in the aviation field? A list of jobs and experience needed would be nice. Thanks everyone.

[mustangdriver]

Well, I can only tell you my route, and the jobs that I had. I started out at 13 volunteering at Air Heritage Museum at KBVI. When I hit 15 I started flying lessons. When I hit 16 I got my first job in aviation as a fuel and line service guy. I worked there all the way through college, earning my Private at the same FBO I worked at. I graduated from college and became an intern at KPIT in the tower. I then couldn't find a job in aviation, and ended up doing manager work in a store. I hated it. I was able to get in to US Airways and worked my way up there until getting let go after 9/11 due to cutbacks. I once again worked in a store, and hated it once again. I then got my foot in the door at a local medical helicopter outfit, and moved up from there. I am now in charge of the comm center for this same outfit which is the largest medical helicopter outfit in the U.S. My advice would be that if you are going to go this route, that you need to have patience, determination, nerves, and some luck.

[mike furline]

My Dad bought his first plane when I was 10 yrs old, soloed at 17, got my A & P at 19. No jobs and no experience.
Rebuilt some T-6s and other smaller warbirds as an airport bum. No pay, but it was fun.
Was hired by Pratt & Whitney at 24, went to United Airlines at 26. I've been with UAL 18yrs now, was laid off after 9/11 and the UAL bankruptcy for 3 yrs, have had numerous benefit & pay cuts and lost my pension ( all major airlines do this). If you go to another airline or aviation related company your A & P experience counts for zero. You start at the bottom all over again.

While laid off from UAL I worked at Andrews Air Force Base on the a/c of the 89th Airlift Wing (Air Force Two). Fun job, but less pay again.

Not trying to sound bitter, I've had a lot of great aviation experiences.
I'm just tired of going backwards, which unfortunately is the aviation business.

For me, aviation was more fun when it was my hobby and not my job. I've been looking to get out of it and start something new.

Good Luck!

Last edited by mike furline on Sat Mar 03, 2007 10:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Pat]

Ditto to what Mike said...If you want to make any money in aviation, don't be an A&P Mechanic. My experiences are similar to Mikes, but I was laid off from Delta Air Lines in late 2004. It was great while it lasted, but a lot of those jobs are being outsourced...many to foreign countries.
-Pat

[Broken-Wrench]

I was a United mechanic like Mike ,,Same story, don't do it!

[bdk]

Are you looking for a job or a career?

[Randy Haskin]

Airplanes usually need someone to sit up front and make them fly, too...

[mike furline]

Airplanes usually need someone to sit up front and make them fly, too...

I thought mechanics make them fly.

Flying for a commuter would be another big pay cut for me. Sitting up front with a major carrier will be a long time coming with all the layoffs and the recall rights they have. I believe United has a couple of thousand pilots still waiting to get called back to work.

The last United Express (Mesa) co-pilot I talked with said he might make $23,000 (2006) and that was full time employment.

[Glenn Maude]

Are you looking for a job or a career?

Well Im graduating from High school in June and it would be awesome to get into some field pertaining to aviation, be it a mechanic, or restorer. Just anything really. Having a job lined up rate after high school is a wish that I would love to have granted. But I think I most likely need to get a degree in a field first, unless theres some soul out there willing to give me a chance and train me in which ever field available.

[Randy Haskin]

The last United Express (Mesa) co-pilot I talked with said he might make $23,000 (2006) and that was full time employment.

Probably not the correct forum or thread for this particular discussion, but Mesa is the LOWEST PAID group of regional pilots in the country. Not a great yardstick for the overall prospects for yearly income, especially from an FO.

With respect to getting on with a Major, it all depends on what your particular experience level is. As for the current hiring picture, UAL has 891 pilots on furlough as of a month ago...it's American that has 2800 pilots on furlough. Everyone else, inlcuding Delta, is hiring.

[Broken-Wrench]

Airplanes usually need someone to sit up front and make them fly, too...

Just wait untill you get out of the AF. It ain't so rosie for pilots either. you would be better off staying in the af..

[Randy Haskin]

Just wait untill you get out of the AF. It ain't so rosie for pilots either. you would be better off staying in the af..

All depends on what you consider "better off" to mean. There are definite pros and cons to both sides of the argument. Unlike probably 10 or 20 years ago, the grass is definitely not greener on one side vs the other, so everyone has to consider their choices carefully based on what is important to them and their family.

So, for me, no option is ever completely off the table.

[Broken-Wrench]

Some of the pilots I have seen were worse off than the mechanics. Always moving from crew base to crew base, long commutes to work, they or their wife starts cheating because they are always away from home resullting in divorce, the kids become problems because dad isn't around.. then when you think you get a little senority the airline goes belly up and you have to start all over. The whole landscape of air transportation could change in 5 years! You know you will get a pension from the Air Force but with the airlines who knows? A airline contract with employees don't really mean Sheet.. All I can say is I'm glad I 'm out of it and keep burning up those F-15 engines I need a new IO-360 for my RV-8

[mike furline]

The last United Express (Mesa) co-pilot I talked with said he might make $23,000 (2006) and that was full time employment.

With respect to getting on with a Major, it all depends on what your particular experience level is. As for the current hiring picture, UAL has 891 pilots on furlough as of a month ago...it's American that has 2800 pilots on furlough. Everyone else, inlcuding Delta, is hiring.

Just off the cuff, the majors in the last 5 yrs. United Airlines bankrupt, U.S. Airways bankrupt twice, Delta Airlines bankrupt, Northwest Airlines bankrupt. The regionals are too numerous to list.
The only way they get out of bankruptcy is by cutting employee pay, benefits, pensions etc. It's not because there was a better business plan implemented.

Last edited by mike furline on Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:37 am, edited 2 times in total.

[gtokid]

Hi Glenn. I'm an A&P for Purdue University's Flight School in Indiana. Pays ok, benefits pretty good, and I love what I do. My advice to you would be go to college, and get a degree related to aviation. Purdue, University of North Dakota, Embry Riddle all have good aviation programs. I started out in flight at Purdue and switched to maintenance. Some of my peers got jobs with the airlines wrenching. Some are tech-writers, airport administrators, tech-reps, pilots etc. The degree they got was a foot in the door even though they didn't have alot of experiance. Hope that helps.


Todd