Ed is so right. Flying for the airlines is incredible but not always perfect. It has it's ups and downs. If you make it through a career without being furloughed it will be a miracle.... I've worked my way up through 3 bankrupt airlines, flown DC3s, Martin 404s, Beech 99s, F27s, EMB-110s, EMB120s, BAe 146s and the CRJ. 18 days off a month with a six figure income ain't bad.

For the young folks, listen carefully. You'll all get an airline job. There is a crictical shortage of pilots on the horizon so everyone reading this will get an airline job. What you want to do is get it as fast as you can and get that seniority number. You'll have to live through the 1st year pay. What does a doctor make his first year? Think about that. Advice to aspiring airline pilots.....There is zero tolerance for drugs. You can't drink and drive. You have to keep traffic violations at a minimum. If you're in school, you've got to study hard and keep your GPA up. Most important you'll have to maintain a good work ethic....If you don't believe me read HR 5900. It says a lot other than making sure you have 1500 hours, 500 PIC and being 23 years old.......Maybe you want listen to your parents or professors in college but hopefully you'll listen to an airline pilot with over 20,000 hours of flight time. You can play later......You'll have incredible opportunities for travel later on.....Work hard now.....Study and be prepared for those flight lessons, be super prepared for check rides. Too many check ride failures is a kiss of death for getting on with an airline.

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