Pilot, Los Angeles, CA
Describe your career. What do you do for a living?
I work as a pilot for a US airline. My main job as an airline pilot is to fly the airplane and get our passengers and crew to our destinations safely.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I never really knew what exactly I wanted my job to be but I always said I wanted to travel for work. I didn’t think my dream was going to manifest itself quite literally as it did.
What did you study? How much schooling do you think is required to get into your role? What could you have skipped?
I got my bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in communication. Both of these degrees are in the field of social sciences and entirely unrelated to aviation. In the past, the airlines required a bachelor’s degree in order to be hired at a major US airline. The past few years however, rules have changed and now they only require a high school diploma, but a bachelor’s degree is still preferred.
In terms of flight training, there are quite a few steps to become an airline pilot. In the United States you are required to get multiple ratings and build hundreds of hours in an airplane before you are qualified and eligible to fly a jet as an airline transport pilot. It can take as little as 2.5 years for the entire process from the very first flight lesson to being hired to fly for an airline. Most pilots take a little bit longer to complete all the steps though. Those individual timelines depend largely on the student’s diligence, time and financial availability.
Was your path hard or smooth getting to where you are in your career?
(Can you briefly describe what it was like on your journey so far?)
My path to becoming a pilot was pretty straightforward. I decided to take flight lessons after I worked for a major US airline as a flight attendant for a few years. I took a discovery flight at a local flying club and never looked back. I told my flight instructor I would like to start training full time the next day and three months later I became a private pilot. The following year I continued with instrument, commercial, and certified flight instructor ratings. At this point I was able to start making money as a pilot - instructing other students how to fly. This is when the process of building the hours began. For the next two years I was building time in an airplane as a flight instructor while adding two more ratings to my resume (multi-engine and certified flight instructor - instrument). By the third year mark I had all the hours and the ratings required and I was hired to fly for the largest regional airline in the United States.
Walk us through your typical work day—when do you start, end, and do all day? (Where do you work from?)
At the airlines we get our schedules a month in advance and no two months are ever the same. Most of the time I am scheduled to fly 15-18 days a month. Sometimes I will be away from home for 4 days straight, flying all over the United States, Canada and Mexico and sometimes I will only do local flying; coming home the same day I left.
We have to report for duty 45 minutes prior to our scheduled flight. When we get to the airplane we make sure the airplane is airworthy, brief with the rest of the crew and start setting up for the flight. During flight we continuously monitor the instruments, flight path, fuel and weather and communicate with air traffic control to conduct a safe flight. After landing we inspect the exterior of the airplane and start setting up for the next flight. When we fly a multiple-day trip, the entire crew will head out to a layover hotel at the end of each day. The accommodation and transportation during our trips is always arranged and provided by the company.
What are some questions someone should really ask themselves if they want to get into your industry / career path?
Being in the airline industry is fun and exciting but it can also be hard and exhausting. The nature of our job is to travel and you must be ok with being away from home, friends and family for extended periods of time. Initially pilots have little control over their schedules, meaning we might miss birthdays, holidays or other important events. On the other hand, you will get to see places you’ve never seen before. And as your seniority gets better, so does the flexibility in your schedule, the trips you get to fly and the quality of life. It sure is the best job in the world!
What do you enjoy most about your career? (What do you enjoy least?)
No two days are ever the same in our industry. I love the fact that this job keeps me on my toes and challenges me on a daily basis. I also get to explore our country and see places I never thought I would go to. And the best benefit of working for the airlines: free (or largely discounted) flights for myself and my family. It isn’t unusual to hear a crew member say they flew to Tokyo and back just because they felt like eating some sushi for dinner or that they flew to Paris just to pick up some French butter. This job makes traveling on our days off extremely fun and affordable.
What is something you do when things get difficult? How do you handle stress/ challenges?
I have a big support system at home and among my friends. Also, yoga is my happy place that grounds me. And if things get challenging at work I reach out to my fellow aviators and we talk things through and discuss solutions. Our aviation community is truly special. Everyone is there to help each other and give support and advice when needed.
What advice would you give to someone who is trying to figure out what they want to do (for work) in general?
Go out there and network. Have conversations with people from various walks of life. There are so many interesting stories and job opportunities out there.
For me, growing up I just never heard about women in leading aviation roles, so becoming a pilot never crossed my mind until I was in my mid-twenties when I met some female pilots and realized that I can do it too!
What excites you about the future OR what's up next for you in the near future? (Could be career-related, life-related, or even a future career pivot / path)
There is always room to grow and advance in the field of aviation. I am looking forward to upgrading from First Officer to a Captain position in the upcoming months. Who knows what the future holds after that; maybe a different jet, maybe a different company, but the love of flying and exploring will always be there! The sky is the limit…no pun intended.
Where can readers find/connect with you if they have questions? OR How can we support you?
You can reach out to me on social media, I’ll be happy to answer any questions :)
IG: lucija8o8