Cameron Benson

Business 1010

Professor Bird

10 April 2017

Signature Assignment: Aviation Career

Job Description: A typical day for an airline pilot can fluctuate considerably day-by-day. One

day you may start work at 4am and only work for 5 hours. Other days you may start work at

12pm and work for 13 hours. Regardless of what time work starts for an individual pilot, each

day is usually conducted in the same manner. The crew (pilots and flight attendants) will arrive

in the crew room approximately one hour prior to departure. During this time in the crew room,

pilots will meet other crewmembers and download the flight plans, weather and notices to

airman for the routes they will be flying that day. As a crew, they will evaluate if the weather was

suitable at the departure and destination airports, while also gendering at airports around the

destination incase there is a need to divert the flight. As far as weather goes, the conditions that

would raise awareness are strong winds, low clouds, fog or thunderstorms (A. ). When the

decisions have been made regarding these weather conditions, the decision on a fuel figure is

made. In other words, it is how much fuel will be needed to ensure landing at the destination. All

of this information is then passed onto the dispatch team. This team puts a second set of eyes on

the particular flight and will be a communicator (from the airport tower) if anything were to

change in flight. Around 30 minutes prior to letting passengers on the aircraft, the Caption and

his First Officer (sometimes referred to as a Second Officer depending on experience) are

inspecting the aircraft. One pilot will do the walk around to check the outside of the aircraft,

while the other crewmember starts to ready the flight deck for departure. This includes running
system checks, setting up the routing to the destination and making sure to check the takeoff

performance. The take off performance is calculating what speed the aircraft will need to lift off,

which depends on the runway length, weight of the aircraft, temperature and pressure (F.). The

Caption will also check the aircrafts technical log to make sure the aircraft is fully serviceable,

or identify any defeatsif any. When it comes time for the passengers to board, the crew will go

through the cabin making sure all luggage is stored safely and all passengers have their seatbelts

on. Then takeoff happens. At the beginning of the runway, the Caption will communicate with

the flight tower to ensure not to take off at the wrong time and run into another aircraft. When

given the okay to take off, the Caption proceeds and lifts the aircraft into the sky. Once

established in the climb and throughout the cruise, the pilots are monitoring the aircrafts systems,

navigating the aircraft, communicating with air traffic control, and getting the weather for

airports along the flight path and destination incase an en-route diversion is required.

General Career Path: In order to become a commercial airline pilot, there are several

certificates and ratings that one will need. The first thing you will need is a private pilot license,

which will allow you to fly smaller aircrafts on your own, but does not allow you to receive

payment for flying. Next, you will need a commercial pilot certificate, which allows you to

receive payment for flight services. You earn this certificate by passing commercial pilot ground

school and logging at least 250 flight hours, with fixed time dedicated to certain conditions and

maneuvers while in flight. After you have passed the written ground school test and logged all

the hours you need, you will need to pass a check-ride. This is a lot like the driving test required

in order to receive a drivers license; in the check-ride, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

examiner will ask you to plan a flight, quiz you on aviation matters, and then accompany you on
a flight. Like with a driving test, you will be asked to execute certain maneuvers and your

examiner will direct your flying throughout the flight (U.). After the test, if everything goes well,

you will be issued a commercial pilots certificate.

Additionally, in order to become a commercial airline pilot, one will need an up-to-date

first- or second-class medical certificate. To receive this, an Aviation Medical Examiner will

need to verify that you meet the health and fitness requirements to be a pilot. As a commercial

airline pilot, you will be subject to these examinations throughout your career; captains need to

pass a physical exam once every six months, and other commercial airline pilots need to pass an

exam every year. If a health problem is discovered, you could be out of a job (U.). One will also

need to get an instrument rating in order to fly with low visibility (in adverse weather and in

clouds). You receive this rating by passing instrument ground school, logging a specified number

of instrument flight hours (flying without visibility and trusting your instruments), and passing

an instrument rating check-ride. Next, one will need a multi-engine rating. This will allow one to

fly planes with multiple engines, which is most likely what one will fly as a commercial airline

pilot. To receive this rating, it will be necessary to take some lessons and mass a multi-engine

check-ride. Someone can only do this step in the process after fully completing the certifications

that come before it. The last step in the process of becoming a pilot is getting your CFI (School,

A. F.). Although this step is not necessarily needed, at one point or another, most commercial

airline pilots also get an airline transport pilot certificate. This is the highest pilot certificate and

allows you to be the pilot in commend (captain) of a large commercial aircraft. For this

certificate, you will need to pass a written test, have a first-class medical certificate, be a high

school graduate, and have logged 1,500 flight hours, including 250 hours as the pilot in

command. When all said and done, you will be interviewed by a national airline company who is
hiring for the Second Officer position. They will ask you questions regarding situations, controls,

maneuvers, etc.. If you pass this interview and have all the other certifications, you will be

offered a commercial aviation job.

General Education Experience: In some cases, a high school diploma or a GED is all one

needs for employment at a small airline, but it's becoming increasingly common for airlines to

require someone to possess a bachelor's degree. There are two and four-year institutions that

offer associate's or bachelor's degrees teaching skills for piloting. If you don't pursue a degree in

a piloting program, some recommended areas of undergraduate study include aeronautical

engineering, mathematics, physics and communications (L.). If one is hoping to fly for a national

airline like Delta, he/she will need to obtain a 4-year degree in any major.

Average Salary: According to a 2009 salary survey conducted by airline industry website

FltOps, average entry-level salaries for first officers (those sitting in the right seat) ranged from a

low of $21,600 at U.S. Airways to a high of $49,572 at Southwest. Continental and United also

paid relatively low entry-level salaries of between $26,000 and $28,000, while among large

carriers; Delta distinguished itself with an average starting salary of $40,630. With five years of

experience, average first officer salaries ranged from a low of $60,488 at AirTran to a high of

$108,847 at Southwest. Captions (those sitting in the left seat) earn considerably more than first

officers. According to the 2009 FltOps salary survey, the average maximum pay for a captain

across the airline industry was $165,278. JetBlue has the lowest maximum captain's salary,

$123,400. Southwest once again tops the list, with a maximum captain salary of $181,270.

Among major carriers, U.S. Airways reported a maximum captain salary of $138,240, Delta
$156,538, and United $159,508. Captain salaries at Continental Airlines were reported as

$166,882, while those at American earned $167,125 (Writer, L. G.).

Career Outlook: The employment of airline pilots is projected to grow at a rate of about 6

percent between 2010 and 2020, significantly slower than the projected average employment

growth rate of 14 percent across all U.S. occupations. This rate of growth is expected to generate

about 4,500 new jobs for airline pilots by 2020 (Virginia Harrison). Industry insiders have been

warning of a pilot shortage for decades, but one never materialized. That has led some to the

conclusion that a looming pilot shortage is a myth. But the reality is the shortage has merely been

pushed to the right, first by economic blows from 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis and then by

changes in the mandatory airline pilot retirement age. Now, the economy is improving, 65-year-

old pilots are retiring in large numbers, and airlines can no longer hire less qualified pilots after

the FAA overhauled airline pilot training requirements. Add it all up and not only is a pilot

shortage a near certainty, we're seeing some of the telltale signs that it's already here. This is

opening the door for many job opportunities and better pay. In an interview I had with Rick

Hesselbackera Caption for Delta Airlinestold me that there is much talk going on around the

Delta headquarters about how to deal with this pilot shortage and make sure they dont lose

customers/money. He said he overhead that Delta will be increase its yearly pay by 20% in a few

years in hopes of more individuals seeing this and joining their pilot staff (Hesselbacker, R.).

Bio of someone in the profession: The individual I chose to write a bio about my family friend

Rick Hesselbacker. Rick is currently in his 28th year of being a pilot and has a great job as a

caption for Delta Airlines flying internationally to his choosing. Rick grew up in Virginia on a
small farm and was raised by his mother (Jane) and father (Chuck). When Rick was three years

old he told his parents that he wanted to grow up and be a pilot or a firefighter (many of his

families members were in the firefighting occupation). By the age of 18, Rick had decided he

was going to fly commercially for his career and enlisted in the army and begun learning how to

fly. By the age of 22 he left the army and got offered a job at an ATP school down in Naples,

Florida where he spend four years training younger future pilots on how to fly. Because Rick was

trying to get a job with an airline during a very back time for pilot hiring, he did not have many

students to train (everyone was aware it was a bad time to apply). This basically made Rick

spend five years or more (he couldnt remember exactly) trying to obtain his 1,500 hours of

flying he needed to get hired for an airline because he had no one to teach. Fast-forward five

years; Rick was sitting in the right seat of Air Americaa charter airline. He stuck with it.

Luckily Air America got bought out by Delta and within three years Rick found himself flying

right seat of a Delta flight. He was living his dream and still is to this day. He currently resides in

Sun Valley, Idaho with his lovely wife Sandra and his two sons; Evan and Conner. Rick is

planning on retiring in the next five years and traveling the world with his wife. For his two kids,

they are both in college working their way through aviation programs in hopes of being like their

father. When I asked Rick if he has any regrets or wishes he could change something about his

decision to be an airline pilot he told me, and I quote, Besides my kids and my wife, this is the

best thing that has ever happened to me. I live in a beautiful home with a view that allows me to

wake up every morning filled with satisfaction. I am living the life I have always dreamed about

while working a part time job (he flies 12 days of every month). I wouldnt change this life for

anything.
Pros and Cons-

Advantages:

Being able to fly an airliner is pretty extravagant.

The view from the flight deck can be breath-taking.
You get to travel the world for free.
Many opportunities to sample global cuisine if you love food.
You never have to bring your work home with you, other than studying/preparing for
your check-rides/simulators.
You have sufficient time to yourself to pursue your hobbies/interests. There are quite a
number of people who are full-time businessmen/hobbyists, part-time pilots.
The salary and benefits are pretty good. You won't be considered rich, but you're very
well off
The uniform's pretty spiffy.
When you're back in base, you can get stuff done/hang out during off-peak hours and beat
the crowds.
You meet people from all over the world

Disadvantages:

Erratic sleep/rest patterns and jet-lag.

Sometimes, you have no choice but to be away during special occasions. (There are ways
to mitigate this)
The myth that all pilots are Lotharios.
Public perception that the autopilot can completely replace pilots, hence we are redundant
and overpaid.
The airline business is very volatile and almost everything affects it for e.g. fuel price,
wars, diseases, terror threats, and volcanic eruptions.
Job on the line every flight/check-ride/line-check/etc.
As safe as aviation is, there's always the chance of an accident

Your fit with this career: After the endless research and times on the phone and in person
with Rick Hesselbacker, I have come to a conclusion regarding my fit with becoming an airline
pilot. Although it is a career that demands commitment and intelligence, I feel greatly about my
ability to succeed in the career. I have told myself since I was a young kid that I want to travel
the world and that I refuse to sit in a cubical for a career. I also find thrill and passion in being
able to be in control of an aircraft that transports people from destination to destination. I am
aware of the effort and attitude I must have when working my way through all the certificates in
order to be hired by an airline, but to me, thats a challenge that helps me grow as a person.
Something I heard once was, Everything in life that is worth living for is on the other side of
fear. Call entering this career a fear, call it a challenge, it does not matter. I have no doubt in my
abilities to find me success in this field of work. Plus, have spent years dreaming about the day I
can look out of my bedroom window and feel a satisfaction that Rick feels every morning.

Sources
A. (n.d.). A Typical Day for a New Airline Pilot. Retrieved April 16, 2017

F. (2012, June). Becoming a Pilot . Retrieved April 16, 2017.

Hesselbacker, R. (2017, March 11). The Life of a Pilot [Personal interview].

L. (n.d.). What Education Do I Need to Be an Airline Pilot? Retrieved April 16, 2017.

School, A. F. (n.d.). Airline Pilot Eligibility Frequently asked questions about who can
become a commercial airline pilot. Retrieved April 16, 2017.

U. (2016, November 28). Become a Pilot. Retrieved April 16, 2017.

Virginia Harrison, V., & C. (n.d.). The world needs more pilots: 28,000 new jobs a year.
Retrieved April 16, 2017.

Writer, L. G. (2012, October 25). Average Commercial Airline Pilots Salary. Retrieved
April 16, 2017.