After looking into all this information about tests, certifications, flight times, etc; I’m not sure where to start. It’s a lot of information to take in at 0 experience.
Adam
My one question I also had was along the lines of home life. Based off where you are based how often are you home and how much vacation time do you have per year? Also I saw the mandatory retirement is 65 but is that just for saying you can’t work over 65 and can retire early I’d you wish?
Zac,
Schedules vary dramatically based on seniority (you can take a look at our Schedule section for actual examples) but most pilots are gone about half the month. To start you’ll get a week vacation and that will increase to 3-4 again after years and building seniority.
Adam
Zach,
In the beginning you should expect to work about eighteen days per month, with that getting slowly better over time. If you live where you are based, you will have more nights at home. If you decide to be a commuter, you will spend more nights on the road.
Yes, you can retire early if you wish, that all depends on how much you save for retirement and how much you will need in retirement.
Chris
Zach,
Every airline operates on a different schedule. You will see better schedules as you gain seniority and upgrade in time, typically you can see 11-12 days off at minimum a month during your first few months/years.
Adam posted the exact link for the steps to getting started. I recommend spending quality time on the ATP website and throughout the forum. The other thing you can do is start by taking a few introductory lessons at your nearby airport or flight school to ensure this is something you really could see yourself pursuing.
Brady