Ask The Pilot

[jb747]

You miss the point. It's not a backup in case you lose your job. It's the backup in case the entire flying idea doesn't work out. And contrary to your experience, I know of many people who remained current in their qualification, in some many cases owning their own business. For instance, the on board medical kits that QF uses, are supplied by a pharmac_ that was run by a 380 pilot.

 

[Rabs97]

You miss the point. It's not a backup in case you lose your job. It's the backup in case the entire flying idea doesn't work out.

So leave school, get a degree in another field, get established in that field and then at some point after many years when you’ve saved up money maybe have a go at a professional pilot career? I did know some who took that path, some who started initial pilot training at the same time as me but then decided to delay it and seek other jobs with an intention to come back to flying one day. Eventually they got too settled into their other career and family life that pursuing a pilot career, which does demand a lot of flexibility and moving around at the early stages, was too much of a bother.

I mean that’s like saying to a wannabe doctor, or lawyer, or any professional career to start another degree elsewhere lest the whole “medicine or law idea” “doesn’t work out”. Really doesn’t make sense TBH. If your heart is set on doing something, then straight up do it.

It’s also why the advice I give to every youngster I come across who desires to be a professional pilot is to get themselves into a major airline ASAP to take advantage of the seniority system, and to also ensure when the initial decade of their career when they have to move location more often they are usually unattached and in their 20s. This best way for this currently in Australia IMO is the QGPA.

And contrary to your experience, I know of many people who remained current in their qualification, in some many cases owning their own business. For instance, the on board medical kits that QF uses, are supplied by a pharmac_ that was run by a 380 pilot.

Great - but as I saw during Covid the vast majority of pilots I knew who were stood down (and trust me I know plenty who were stood down for a long, long time) were mostly unable to put any alternative qualifications into use. They were mostly resigned to doing unskilled jobs during that time.