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Captain
Ken Bradley's commute is no big deal: he just flies the 170 miles
to Washington, D.C. in his own small jet. That's just the warmup
for the long day's flight ahead. Bradley, spokesman for the Air
Line Pilots Association (ALPA, the pilots' union for United Airlines),
has over 35 years of experience as a commercial airline pilot with
United Airlines. It's a dream job, despite some occasional turbulence
in the air.
At
age 16, Bradley began flying small airplanes, and subsequently joined
the U.S. Air Force. In 1965 he passed two new-hire class dates with
United and started his long career, one year shy of his bachelor's
degree. These days, pilots will have to work at many airlines making
small salaries before they have a chance to be hired by an airline
like United.
While
working, Bradley finished his college education, then went to law
school, working "on reserve" for four years, taking whatever flights
came his way. In addition to being a United pilot, he worked on
the side for an "old, stodgy law firm in California" doing aviation
law. But he declined the senior partnership that was later offered,
and became a full-time pilot. "Pilots are generally achievement-
and success-oriented," Bradley said.
It
takes serious talent and dedication to make it all the way to retirement
as a pilot, not to mention outstanding physical health. Physicals
are required at least once a year, depending on position, plane
type, and the type of flight (international or domestic). International
first officers have to have an ATP (Air Transport Certificate),
which requires a first-class physical from the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). This happens every six months.
There
are also annual company physicals. If a pilot should fail any of
these for any reason, he is let go. Pilots' schedules require them
to be on duty for hours, and sometimes days at a time. They are
assigned to a specific flight plan that changes constantly.
If
he were assigned to a simple domestic routine such as a D.C.-Denver
flight, Bradley might complete the round trip five times in a week.
But if he were on the international track, it would require perhaps
a seven- or eight-day trip sequence between Washington, D.C., London,
and Chicago. He would repeat this pattern twice a month, and would
do an additional domestic flight.
Pilots
fly for the love of it, not for money, Bradley said. Salaries are
based on longevity, position (1st officer, 2nd officer, captain),
type of plane, and personal flight pay credits (FPC), a measure
of hours worked.
Bradley
explained that pilots spend considerable time commuting and waiting
between flights, so that a pilot can be gone for three days and
only get 10 hours of FPC. According to the Air Line Pilots Association,
pilots can expect to spend approximately $30,000 on pilot certification
alone (pilots must receive 11 certifications/ratings). That's on
top of receiving the now required college degree. Federal
law requires pilots to retire at age 60.
So
if you are are physically fit, unafraid of heights or long hours,
and think you're born to fly, consider a career as an airline pilot...and
dream on!
-
Leslie Tebbe, Salary.com Contributor
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