Popular Post MickinMD ★ Posted May 13, 2022 Popular Post Share #1 Posted May 13, 2022 My flight attendant nephew was promoted to the home city for Mesa Airlines in Phoenix and is still in the process of moving into his new apartment. Yesterday, he was notified that he's been conditionally accepted into the pilot training program by United Airlines. The conditions are easy - COVID vaccination, no drug use, etc. except for one: he has to pass a physical. He has a slight spine-curvature back problem but it hasn't interfered with him working full-time for Mesa, where he's sometimes subcontracted to work United and American flight - he has uniforms for all three airlines. United wants him to start ASAP. The school costs $82,000 total and he is NOT paid during the training (six months?), but my sister and BiL can easily cover that with no problem from a very small part of their savings as well as pay his personal expenses. After training, he will be employed by United Airlines in areas where his lack of flight hours can be utilized and bring him toward the number of flight hours he needs for various levels of service. So he won't be getting well-paid after the training but he'll be making a lot more than as a flight attendant, making the $82K worth it. My sister said I should contribute some of my State Farm windfall toward Ryan's costs and I said "Yeah, right. It's not even 1/3 of your avg. annual capital gains and dividends from your stock holdings. I think he'll be getting a care package of money from me occasionally so he can buy a six-pack or go to sports event." His mother, my sister, is in Phoenix right now helping with the move for Mesa Airlines - mostly waiting for furniture to show up - and said she wondered if she was going to have to go through another move soon. Then she learned the United pilot school he's being assigned to is coincidentally in Phoenix! 5 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingstar Posted May 13, 2022 Share #2 Posted May 13, 2022 I didn't know flight attendant training was so expensive. ..6 months. Wonder if that's the norm for all major passenger airlines. It will be interesting what cities he ends up landing frequently..and his first overseas foreign flight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoseySusan Posted May 13, 2022 Share #3 Posted May 13, 2022 Congratulations to Nephew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airehead Posted May 13, 2022 Share #4 Posted May 13, 2022 How is his eyesight? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted May 13, 2022 Share #5 Posted May 13, 2022 2 hours ago, shootingstar said: I didn't know flight attendant training was so expensive. ..6 months. Wonder if that's the norm for all major passenger airlines. It will be interesting what cities he ends up landing frequently..and his first overseas foreign flight. I believe he's already a flight attendant, this is for pilot training. Congratulations to your nephew. Sounds like exciting times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrapr ★ Posted May 14, 2022 Share #6 Posted May 14, 2022 2 hours ago, Kirby said: I believe he's already a flight attendant, this is for pilot training. Congratulations to your nephew. Sounds like exciting times. Waayy up front of the airplane! Congratulations A bit presumptious of your sister to ask/tell you to pay for stuff. I thought the new pilots start out on the JV airlines??? The commuter airlines at low pay & wait for the call to the "Bigs". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted May 14, 2022 Author Share #7 Posted May 14, 2022 4 hours ago, shootingstar said: I didn't know flight attendant training was so expensive. ..6 months. Wonder if that's the norm for all major passenger airlines. It will be interesting what cities he ends up landing frequently..and his first overseas foreign flight. PILOT training, not flight attendant training! He's already gone to flight attendant school for Mesa Airlines and it didn't cost anything. There's a shortage of pilots, exacerbated by the government tremendously increasing the number of flight hours a pilot has to fly a large passenger jet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilbur ★ Posted May 14, 2022 Share #8 Posted May 14, 2022 3 hours ago, MickinMD said: There's a shortage of pilots, exacerbated by the government tremendously increasing the number of flight hours a pilot has to fly a large passenger jet. They had to. Normal progression was a few years as an instructor, a few years in a commuter airline then second officer for a major for 5-8 years followed by 5-8 years as a first officer before finally getting a Captains seat. If the industry was flooded with zero experience and promotions based solely on seniority, the skies would be a very unfriendly place. Ryan is doing a cadet program where the airline trains for a specific function. Good for him and good for United as it fills an empty seat. Most senior pilots disagree with cadet programs but demand is high and applicants are low. Is it United or a United feeder? Is there a job guarantee? Cadet programs typically have a high wash out rate as well so check the details of the agreement. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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