Making it to top airline pilot

The days of having a good chance to make it to the top and make a real good living flying big aircraft at a major airline are going away for a while. The airline industry has really changed a lot in the last few years. The income has come down a lot and it will not return to previous levels for quite some time.

So if you are thinking of being an airline pilot you had better be getting into it for the love of the airline business and flying. You also had better be willing to go through some very tough times. You had better be willing to not make much money for some time.

I am sure things will get better someday, but then again the question will be how long will it last and an airline pilot had better be prepared for the next downturn.

The smart airline pilot develops other skills or starts small businesses to help with the low income or for when there is no income.

Don't get your degree in aviation!!!!! I can't say this enough. Get a degree in something that you can enjoy but that will pay the bills for the times of unemployment.

Be happy to settle flying a 737 at retirement, today that wouldn't be too bad.

Making it to a major or good airline is very tough and often comes down to who you know. It is possible and I know pilots going to majors right now but most had an inside connection. There is a lot of luck involved in this business.

It is a lot of fun, but I have to admit I have really lowered my expectations from what they were when I started as an airline pilot.