I’m new to this forum and had a question that I wanted to ask from industry professionals. Can I choose to say go to SkyWest and fly the E175 for my entire career if I wanted? To me money is no factor and all I really wanted to do since I was 5/6 was to become a pilot. I do see some pilots on social media for example that do seem to take advantage of the career they have because people like me who have medical issues and might not become one would do anything to be in their shoes. I know I’m getting off topic but I feel like it’s relevant because I know pilots say QOL matters but as long as I am a pilot I could care less about anything else tbh.
You can choose to do whatever your heart desires, this is America.
One thing you don’t mention is how old you are. While it may be nice to sit comfy on an Embraer 175 for SkyWest (and unless you can hold it immediately out of training), they do operate the Canadair as well. While you may find it cozy to sit high seniority at a regional airline, what would stop you from obtaining a seniority number at a major airline (i.e., ULCC or Legacy) and sitting as a high seniority first officer on whichever fleet you could get?
Are you specifically looking at SkyWest for the: Base? Aircraft?
I know a few Regional lifers who are very happy. I loved my time at the Regionals. I didn’t leave for the money or to fly a heavy (both of which aren’t bad), it was mainly due to the volatility of the Regionals. I flew for ExpressJet which at one time was Continental Express. Back in the day it was the top Regional in the country. We had over 200 planes, 3,000+ pilots, and flew EVERYWHERE in the US, Canada and Mexico. It was great but now they’re gone. So are many of the Regionals who were big back in the day. The Regionals don’t sell their own tickets and are reliant on their Major partners. If/when they decide to switch partners it can mean, furlough, downgrade or even failure. Not a great way to live for the long term.
On a different note you mention “medical issues”. That implies you think your issues might keep you from a Major but you could fly for a Regional. ALL the airlines in the US are Part 121 carriers and require the same First Class Medical. That means you’d either have a medical to fly for any airline (Regional or Major) or for none.
I’m 24 (sometimes I feel like I’m behind because I see some my age who are already at airlines, I’m in my last year of college). And SkyWest for both the base and aircraft (LAX/E175).
As I said, you can either get a First Class Medical or you can’t. If you have one you can fly any plane for any airline, Regional, LCC, Major or Legacy. If you don’t you can’t fly for any of them.
It’s definitely gonna be an arduous medical process. I expect once I tell the AME everything in regards to my health I’m most definitely gonna be deferred and it’s gonna be a hefty back and forth with the FAA. But hopefully I will get a special issuance medical at the end of the day. In order to do flight training like at one of my local airports do I need a 1st class? Or would it be advisable to try to get a lower medical?
Flight training only requires a Third Class Medical.
We however always recommend getting a First Class to make certain you can get one and have a career vs spending alot of time and money on training only to find out you can’t.
Makes total sense. I went to ERAU for a little bit but since my medical was deferred and I didn’t have one, I couldn’t get assigned a flight instructor. And I have a math learning disability so trying to get an aeronautical science degree was incredibly stupid on my part tbh.
Since there seems to be some medical concerns, I would recommend reaching out to an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), inquiring about what you have listed. More than likely you WILL have to provide documentation and/or follow-up with exams/procedures if they seem it is a deferral. I would abide by any FAA letters and provide them with exactly what they want.
Will do. I think for me deep down I feel like if I ultimately get disqualified I keep asking myself how is it fair? I didn’t ask to have depression or other medical related issues.
Brendan my friend, life is not fair (or at least sometimes seems that way). All we can do is the best we can with what we’re given. Sometimes that sucks but that’s reality. What’s also reality is you often don’t know what sucks and what’s a blessing till much later. With that it mind you’re young and you never know where life will lead you. I’m not saying to give up on your dreams or goals, I’m just saying you might have to modify them or change direction, and that’s ok.
There’s a movie line that I always fall back on and like very much: “everything will be alright in the end and if it’s not alright, it’s not the end”.
Again you’re a young man and you have no idea what lies ahead for you. While that may seem scary, it shouldn’t be. What I’m saying about blessings is sometimes you don’t know where you’ll end up or more important, where you’re supposed to end up. This is my story.
When I was young I wanted to be a muscian and I had no doubt that Id be a famous rockstar someday. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to England with a band and live there for a while. While I was there I was surrounded by the most incredibly talented people Id ever met and I came to the realization I wasn’t one of them. I was good, but they were amazing! Thing was even with their talent, most of them were still living at home waiting for their break (which sadly for most of them never came). While playing music was all I thought about for years, the truth is the truth and I needed to pivot. I went back to the US feeling very lost and defeated. With no clue what Id do next I went back to school. After that I had a series of careers, too long to list here (at my first airline interview the Chief Pilot actually said after looking at my resume that it was “very random and haphazard”), I ended up flying planes (which I decided to do purely for recreation). Something that if you told me Id EVER doing back then I would’ve said you’re crazy! With all said I now have an amazing life with a wonderful family, BUT, the fact is had I made it as a musician, I wouldn’t be HERE (where I believe I was meant to be). I’m living the dream but honestly I didn’t really know what the dream was until I got here! So not making it as a muscian, while it sure didn’t feel like it at the time, was a HUGE blessing! Make sense?
I was looking on google for advice but then I realized I could come on here. I was considering dropping out of college and since I didn’t need a degree to become a pilot I am feeling like I am wasting my time currently. But then I realized if I ultimately can’t get my medical cause the FAA says no, do I try and pursue ATC or just give up on this entirely, throw in the towel, and work a desk job? I’m in my last year of college and am majoring in History.
Dropping out of your last year of college would be a mistake. First off while the airlines don’t require a degree, they ALL prefer one. While everyone was getting hired for a brief period when the airlines were panicking, things have slowed, competition has increased and the pilots with degrees will continue to get hired first.
Next, want to be an ATC controller? Same deal my friend. While they don’t require a degree they list it as a “preferred” requirement.
Finally as I said before you never know where you’ll end up and there’s no situation that having a degree will hurt.
You’re in the home stretch, finish what you started. I promise you’ll be glad you did!
Okay, thank you. A part of me had this straight shot plan to be a pilot and as I see people my age who are at airlines already and my plan has completely derailed it just makes me feel hopeless…
Dropping out in your last year would be a massive mistake. Not only would you not have a degree, depending on how much tuition came from student loans vs scholarships, you’ll be on the hook for them in 6 months. And, the real killer, without a degree, you’ll never be eligible for any kind of IDR and/or 10year loan forgiveness, you’ll never be able to release your cosigner if you have one, and you will never be able to refinance the loans thru usual means. Basically for the rest of your life, your options will be to pay it off or die. Finish school.
And now is a good time to get your medical process started. If it goes to Oklahoma, it will take every bit of your last year or college to get your medical