Don't pick up the phone!

Often times, we get a call at work that goes like this: "Hi, I'm Mr. Smith. I want to become an airline pilot, can you train me to fly an airliner?" At this point, I've lost interest.

First, do some research. You need to earn your Private Pilot Certificate. Then you need to earn your Instrument Rating. Then you need to earn your Commercial Pilot Certificate. Then finally, you need to earn your multi-engine certificate. Notice, I said EARN.

Second, you just don't show up for a 4 month class, and go off flying airliners. Airline training is 6-8 weeks long, that's about 2 MONTHS! And that is training highly experienced pilots to fly airliners, not going from welder to airline pilot. If you do flying full time, you will get your multi-engine commercial pilot's certificate in a year. That's working your ass off and doing 40 hours a week of aviation related stuff.

Third, this is going to take MONEY. I'm taking $30,000 or MORE. If you are making $25,000 a year as a welder or auto mechanic, that's more than a full years worth of savings! You might be able to get loans, but how to pay them back? You are now an inexperienced pilot and will make less than $25,000 a year for your first 5 years of flying.

Do you have a family? If so, how are you going to support them while you go full time flying? If you do it quickly, do you have the money saved up to support them even if the flying is paid with loans? Will you have time to do this 40 hours a week or will family obligations get in the way? Are you dedicated enough to keep at it?

If you are single, do you have the money to do this? Are you willing to dedicate the time and effort to doing this? I would put aviation as the equivalent of a masters degree. Are you willing to move to anyplace on the planet for a job?

I would say that less than 5% of the people who start on the path make it all the way. It's nowhere near as fun or glamorous as it sounds or looks from the outside. This week, I've been up at 7AM and getting home at 8PM from work. Oh, and the pay sucks.

I wouldn't want you to spend your life savings or emergency fund ($2,000 most likely) and then get nothing out of it, but I'll take your money because I need to pay rent. If you call me up and ask if we train people to fly airliners, you aren't serious about this and while I'll take your money, don't expect much.