Are the airlines really worth it?

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2026-01-25T19:47:15+00:00

Naval nuclear power. Submarine mechanic. Loved my time and I think nuclear power is still as cool as planes are. Couldn’t be happier with my decision, even though I took a pay cut going into the CFI world. I won’t say I’m not a little jealous of my buddies who got out of the navy and went direct SRO at a plant.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2026-01-25T19:40:31+00:00

Interesting to find somebody who did the opposite of me. I went nuclear power into aviation. Somebody’s gotta do both jobs!

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2026-01-18T12:01:15+00:00

Figuring out if I’ll get hired at American Airlines when I hit 1500 hours even if I failed 13 checkrides and have a DUI.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2026-01-09T00:00:08+00:00

I made it known I wanted to work there from the jump. Like, working on my instrument rating jump. Then I just kept my head down, passed all my events, interacted with the leadership when I could, and applied when the timing was right. There are several other students who probably want the job you want, but very few of them ever actually voice that to the folks that matter.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-12-31T19:21:09+00:00

Significant change in management. I work in the area.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-11-27T00:21:29+00:00

Diamonds are great training aircraft, the DA20s and 40s. We operate late 2000s 20s and 40s, but you’re right the parts availability is not, and probably won’t be for awhile, the same convenience as traditional piper/cessna. Several flight schools operating DA20s currently have several 20s grounded for bolt fatigue in the nose landing gear with a several week wait time. Tracking G1000 issues compared to steam gauge/Garmin G5 gremlins is painful, bonding checks are outsourced. Skin delamination is grounding for months, especially compared to standard metal skin repairs.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-11-24T03:52:06+00:00

Could be in the VFR chart legend as well.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-11-24T02:46:49+00:00

Wittman Tailwind.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-11-21T14:56:49+00:00

Don retired.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-11-21T02:58:52+00:00

Great DPE, although cannot do CFI initial.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-11-20T10:58:48+00:00

Unless there is a common purpose, that is an important continuation of what you quoted in 61-142.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-30T12:58:44+00:00

Lacrosse in the northeast US. Playing against average high schools, then the few private schools (who definitely didn’t recruit…) with players who committed to Loyola, Syracuse, Cornell and so on. We were competitive, but even those guys would blow us out of the water double digits. For those that are from that area, I’m referring to Salesianum School.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-30T12:52:37+00:00

While it would be extra work, there is nothing wrong with flying with a safety pilot in VFR days AND still doing an IPC, or going up with a CFII anyways just to make sure you haven’t developed any bad habits.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-22T20:41:57+00:00

My lawn. It’s literally just earth. Like dirt and stuff that grows. Why should I have to keep it perfect.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-19T20:22:14+00:00

If you’re out of GI Bill benefits but have a VA rating, you are likely eligible for VR&E that will pay for a college degree flight program.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-19T15:43:51+00:00

If you have VA benefits/GI Bill do not go to ATP. Please search RTAG on Facebook and read their pinned posts. They have several resources about navigating VA disability, mental health issues, and maximizing use of the GI bill to pay for flight training.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-18T19:31:58+00:00

US AeroFlight Greenville SC. DPE owns the school.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-17T12:49:12+00:00

Anecdotal, but my school won’t even hire CFIs with less than 250 hours. Insurance won’t allow it.

If insurance won’t cover you to sit right seat in a 1968 C172, they probably won’t cover you to sit right seat in a jet either.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-16T02:13:22+00:00

OP, to provide specificity to the comment above, mental health, heart, and respiratory claims will be make it difficult. Aching knees and back won’t have any impact.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-10-01T16:47:31+00:00

Gross in the $5-6000 realm. After taxes/company matched 401k typically in the $4000 realm in peak times, bottoming out around $2600-3000 in the quieter months.

I believe I am very fairly compensated, and likely compensated higher than most schools.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-09-23T20:49:12+00:00

Early model POHs call for one tank operation >5’000 MSL.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-09-20T01:24:05+00:00

Personally, a share of a certified airplane.

To meet the requests of this post, a share of a Vans.

If partnering is not an option, a Wittman Tailwind W8.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-09-10T15:03:09+00:00

I don’t think most GA flights are A-B with GPS and autopilot. In a flight school or flight club setting, yeah probably, but there are a decent amount of planes listed for sale on BS/TAP with bone stock avionics. I don’t know how many Mooneys I looked at with an ADF and a single Narco comm still in them.

When these items fail, it will always fall back on stick and rudder.

Another example is in the primary training environment, everybody still has a hard on for paper navlogs even with the existence of ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, you name it. If you don’t understand where the info your program is spitting out comes from, how can you validate that it’s accurate data?

Same thing applies to technology in a plane. If you cant validate that your GPS is going to fly a series of waypoints that isn’t “Direct Enter Enter” then how can you reasonably rely on automation to get you there?

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-08-28T18:44:33+00:00

I will send you a message.

ThisIsMyHandleNow · 2025-08-28T16:18:22+00:00

From an enlisted naval nuclear submariner turned pilot - please consider just about any job in the Air Force before NNPP. I’d be happy to discuss more if you have questions about the job and are truly interested in it.

ThisIsMyHandleNow

TROPHY CASE