News ReporterPilot crisis looms as airlines scramble to fill cockpits
The advice I read when starting flight training was to keep a backup career choice open in case a medical issue prevents you from flying. Well, by the time I’d reached the point of choosing whether to do flight instructor training I was making enough in tech that taking a pay cut for years as a flight instructor, then years more of a pay cut at a regional airline, made it an easier choice to have flying remain only a fun hobby.
Captains can make over $300,000. I guess you decided that the pay cut wasn’t worth it even long term?
A big part was work-life balance; a decade of lowered seniority and less ideal schedules is about how long pilots can expect it’ll take to be captain of a wide-body jet for a major airline. I currently work from home and learned out I do actually prefer learning about technology every day. Most of commercial flying is more similar to being a business driver in the sky, while also being vigilant for the rare occasions when the plane tries to kill you.
That makes sense.
Unfortunate that it takes so long to build a career in flying when you need another career to get into the pilot career. Huge obstacle.