From the Minor League to the Majors

Every college student has one goal in mind during his or her years of school and that is to land a job that pays enough money for them to start a living. This is the same for pilots that come out of college with a four year degree. During college, students in flight majors earn their Private and Commercial Pilot Certificate, Instrument and Multiengine rating, and hundreds of hours of flight time that will aid them in finding the job they prefer.

Students usually line up a job before they receive their diploma by submitting their resumes to various commuter airlines, small cargo carriers, or private companies that need pilot services. When it comes to getting hired by an airline, most individuals seeking employment could care less about the company name that is hiring them. Most graduates are anxious to get a job quickly and smoothly so that they can begin to make a living doing the thing that they love. However, making these small mistakes could cost a pilot dearly in the future.

There are many factors that future employees must make before making a final decision on which airline to commit their expertise. Before going with the first offer that comes their way, students need to browse through several airlines and observe how each company operates, the aircraft they use, pay rate, and the future growth within the company. Generally, pilots just coming out of college will only have enough experience to earn a position in the right seat of a regional carrier. Then as their career progresses they can earn a position in the coveted left seat and eventually get hired with a major airline.

There are several distinct differences between minor and major airlines. When pilots begin their career with the minor airlines they fly relatively short distances from a large airport to smaller satellite airports. The commuter airlines are also usually associated with a major airline to allow a smoother flow of senior pilots from commuters going to the major airlines. This allows the pilot to stay within the same company without having to switch to a completely different atmosphere. Those who have made it to the majors are at the peak of their flying career and have reached a plateau that took them years of training to achieve. Pilots in the major airlines have the benefits of high salaries, increased job security, and retirement plans that will allow them to support themselves and their family for the rest of their lives. Although it takes pilots many years to work their way up the corporate ladder to become a senior captain, they are still following their passion of flying while being paid and able to see the world at the same time.