7 Wrong Reasons for Wanting to Become a Pilot

7 Wrong Reasons for Wanting to Become a Pilot7 Wrong Reasons for Wanting to Become a PilotThere are a lot of reasons to become a pilotflying is a lot of fun and for most, itsa very satisfying career. But there are a few misconceptions to clear up about the lifestyle of a commercial pilot.Here are seven bad reasons tobecome a pilot 01For the Moneylsannes/Getty ImagesA senior captain at a legacy airline makes a decent salary, but if you get into aviation for the salary, youll probably be very disappointed.One of the downsides to flying is that flight training is really expensive, and the starting salary for most flight instructors or regional airline pilots is hardly enough to make a living. Throw student loans and a family into the mix and that $30,000 starting pilot salary isnt going to cut it.Those that are patient and also happen to enjoy their lower-payingflying jobs will stick around longenough tomove up and make more money - but patience is key.It wont happen overnight.There ar e many pilots out there that make a very good salary, but you can bet that theyve put in their time. So if youre getting into aviation for the money, you may want to consider a different career path.02For the FameBack in the day, it used to be that pilots were really, really cool. Dont get us wrong, pilots are still super cool, but leid in the famous/lavish/extravagant/Hollywood way. The economy has, indeed, taken its toll on the aviation industry and airline pilots are sometimes seen as bedrngnishing more than glorified bus drivers.Todays pilots are cool in a more laid-back I-dont-stress-about-my-job and I-spend-every-weekend-at-the-lake way. For the most part,pilots can leave work at work. When they clock out, they dont usually have to spend long hours behind a desk at home filing reports or answering emails. 03For the Awards and AccoladesOne thing pilots miss out on when they choose their professionis positive feedback. Promotions and rewards that comewith a corporate office job, such as a raise for good performance, dont exist for pilots. (But some corporate office workers would argue that they dont get those perks, either, so this point may be a moot one.)Really, though, if youre the type of person that needs constant atta-boys for a job well done or expect a raise when you fly well, then flying is not the career for you. Pilots show up, do their jobs, go home and get paid. Thats about it. Sometimes promotions happen for those that want to move up the executive chain at an airline, but in general, pilots dont get rewarded for good flying. In fact, the contrary is true Each and every performance must be stellar just to keep people alive, so any flight that isnt 100 percent perfect could mean youre fired.04For the Travel PerksThe travel perks for some airline pilots are nice, but the reality is that after flying around the country, the last thing you want to do on your downtime is fly standby somewhere else. Pilots like to stay home when they arent flying, so all of those vacation days and free flight benefits wont really matter when you havent slept inyour own bed for three weeks.Airline pilots use their travel perks to fly family members around every now and then, but otherwise,theres not much time for vacations to Hawaii.If you want to become a pilot for the travel benefits, you might be disappointed to find out that pilots actuallywork a lot and have little timefor fun.05For the Awesome SchedulePilots dont always have a great work schedule. Today, airlines are operating at the highest possible efficiency. When itcomes to operating lean, airlines would rather fly their pilots a few more hours each month than hire new ones. These days,pilots are flying a lot and have less downtime than in previous years.Most pilots are expected to fly at least 75 hours per month, not includingthe time it takes to commute or sitting at the airport, which averages to be about 150 additional hours, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many pilo ts, especially junior pilots, will work over 50 hours a week. New pilots will work overnights, weekends and holidays.The good news is that senior pilots do have some flexibility in their scheduleand can often fix their schedules to fit their own needs and desires. But like a good salary, it takes time to climb up the ranks and set your own schedule.06For the Luxurious Hotel RoomsPilots dont often get special treatment when it comes to their hotels and overnight stays. They stay at regular old hotels, just like everyone else and rely on public airport transportation, just like a normal passenger. There is nothing luxurious about spending every night in a hotel.07For the Relaxed Work EnvironmentWhen off the clock, a pilot isnt usually bogged down by work matters and can relax without thinking about work.But in the cockpit,its a different story. Pilots needto beon top of their game during everyflightand not all flights go as planned. The cockpit environment is a busy oneand one bad pat ch of weather or hiccup in a communication devicecan significantly increase the stress level in a cockpit.Its not only the flight environment thats stressful.The instability of the airline industry also leads to tension and anxiety for pilots. Furloughs and union strikescan mean flying one day and grounded the next. And then theres the constant training and frequent check rides with the FAA monitoring and evaluating your skills.But If You Really Love Flying...Then go for it This article is not meant to deter people from becoming pilots, just to make it clear that if youre in it for the money or the lavish lifestyle, youre in it for the wrong reason If you truly enjoy flying, theres not a better job in the world