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After you get to cruise altitude there is really not much to do until you are ready to descend and start the approach. So there is a lot of time for talking and solving the world and aviation’s woes. There is no doubt that the last couple years have been challenging for professionally and financially. I’ve seen what were once 100 hour months dwindle down to 75 hour months and I’ve seen ample amount of open flying time be reduced to practically none at all. It’s been crazy and at time frustrating. But I think there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Let me explain.

Though we are going through rough times, they are not the worst of times. We are not even close to the worst of time no matter what people say. Our water supply is not going to dry up. The sun isn’t going to explode. Aviation and flying are not suddenly going to disappear. There are always going to be a need for pilots. And believe it or not, there is going to be a time when there is going to be a shortage of pilots…again. It has happened many times.

Right now we are seeing a backlash of a hiring frenzy from a few years back and the extension of the Part 121 retirement age from 60 to 65. There are more people involved in aviation and flying than ever before. Yeah, there are furloughs and companies that are going out of business but that only helps you if you want to be a professional pilot. You see, many of these pilots aren’t coming back. Hopefully they will move on, instead of living the pipe dream. Their companies have let them down and well they have a bad taste in their mouth and though they love flying, will probably not return. This leaves the door open for newer, younger pilots to fill that gap.

As you might not know, it takes a few years to become a pilot. First you have to work through all your certificates and ratings: Private, Commercial, Instrument, and Multi-engine, as a minimum, then you have to find a way to build your hours, which for the most part comes with flight instructing. So now you need to get your Certificated Flight Instructor Certificate (CFI), your CFI-Instrument, and your Multi-Engine Instructor certificate. All this takes a few years.

If you need help with ideas for study material for each of these areas, visit my Resource page.

But let me tell you something…if you really want to be a pilot and fly professionally, you need to start NOW…otherwise you are going to miss the next phase of hiring and you will be on the back end of the hiring cycle and subject to all the issues that come with being too late to the game.

My recommendation is to pick up the Professional Pilot’s Career Guide and start implementing the steps outlined to help you achieve your goal of becoming a pilot. I used it extensively when I began and it really helped me get my foot into the cockpit. It is a must read full of training tips, financing your flying, aviation employment opportunities, interview questions, and a lot more. This book is probably one of the best investments you can make towards you career in aviation.

Anyway, here is the link to order the book: http://tinyurl.com/professional-pilot-guide

As always, I’d like to hear how you are doing, so don’t forget to leave a comment.

To Your Flying Success…

Jeffrey

P.S. Here are two things worth buying:

• Checklist for Success-Successful Airline Interview – A pilot’s guide to the successful airline interview, improve your competitiveness and chances of being hired!
• Checklist for Success – Book and CD Set – Checklist for Success book and companion interactive training CD-ROM.

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