I am an 18 yr old PPL and am researching a career in Aviation.
I am looking for info about how long it would take before i would be making $ in the training process.
also, I know it’s quite diverse but, in general, as an airline pilot, how much time does a person get to spend at home with their family, and how much time is spent working?
Can you choose your hrs or are they assigned?
Isaac,
Let’s get right to your questions. If you pursue the Airline Career Pilot Program at ATP, you will complete the program in 7 months or 5 months if coming in credit private. At that point, you could be offered a CFI position where you can start getting paid to instruct and participate in various tuition reimbursement programs with airlines.
Your schedule is completely controlled by bidding seniority. You get your seniority number the first day of class at the airline. When it comes to schedule preferences you submit them in your monthly bids. The most senior pilots get first dibs and the rest are assigned as seniority follows. When you’re junior, expect to fly weekends, holidays and have the minimum days off (typically 12 days). Once you gain some seniority, you may start to get a weekend off or 14 days off in a month. The longer you stay and build seniority, the better your schedule will get. When you transition to the left seat as a captain or go to another airline, your seniority resets.
Hannah
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Isaac,
First off if you’re in the “training process” you won’t be making money. It’s only after you’ve completed your training and are fly as a Commercial Pilot that you’re legally able to get paid to fly.
As Hannah said EVERYTHING at the airlines is controlled by seniority. When you’re new and junior you’ll have no and you’ll fly where, when and how often the airline needs you to. As you build seniority you’ll gain more and more control over your schedule.
Adam
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