Pilots - Education
Becoming a pilot is not an easy feat, but it pays out in the end, with pilots for major airlines earning up to $250,000 annually. While a few airlines may hire individuals with just a high school education, most require at the minimum two years of college. It is common practice, however, that new pilots possess a full college degree. Additionally, before a person can fly an airplane, he must obtain a pilot’s license. Such a license requires many hours of flight experience. While degree may be substituted with class work, nothing can replace the benefits of flying experience as the ultimate way of obtaining the knowledge that is needed to become a pilot. At a minimum, there must be 250 hours of flight experience. Additional education is based upon the requirements of the position. It is worth mentioning that a great source of piloting experience is being an air force pilot. Being an air force pilot provides not only the basic flying requirement but also additional experience that is most beneficial.
Pilots - Duties
The duties of a pilot extend well beyond piloting the aircraft. Even before the airplane leaves the ground, the pilot is required to perform a rigorous check of the aircraft. The pilot also checks current conditions and makes modifications to the flight plan accordingly. The pilot is responsible for the creation of the flight plan, which will conserve fuel. This involves a great deal of calculation of altitudes, winds, fuel usage, and so on. These calculations are also performed mid flight and alterations are made along the transit path as required. There are many other sets of duties that a pilot is responsible for.
Pilots - Salary and Advancement
Advancement for the pilot is really limited to other piloting careers. Many times, a pilot may act as an instructor while building up his flight hours. Within an airline, advancement is based upon seniority built into the contract. As a result, a pilot must work for an airline for many years before being promoted and getting more pay and better routes. Flying for an airline is where the pilot has the best potential for earnings, with a potential for up to a quarter million annually.
Aeronautical Mechanics - Education
In very few cases will an aeronautical mechanic get trained on the job. Rather, there are a number of FAA qualified schools where the technician can obtain a two or four-year degree. A minimum of 1900 hours of course works in physics, chemistry, mathematics, electronics, and more is required. There are many certifications that are required, because of the inherent danger associated with mistakes made by the mechanic.
Aeronautical Mechanics - Duties
The basic task that an aeronautical mechanic is responsible for is the repair and maintenance of the equipment of the aeronautical industry. This includes the inspection, repair and/or replacement of the parts of an aircraft or aircraft related machinery. The job of an aeronautical mechanic requires the utmost precision. A part possessing a flaw the size of a human hair can potentially bring down an airplane. The tasks of inspection and repair usually fall upon two different people. One specializing in observation and the other in engineering.
Then there are avionic engineers, who work with the electronic control circuitry and other such devices. These technicians not only have to repair and service these devices they also have to ensure that the instrumentation do not interfere with each other or with radio communications. This sort of precision is exacting on the design, component choice, aircraft, and many other things. These technicians also require additional licensing. The advent of GPS, sophisticated auto pilot systems, and the kind means an increasing need for avionic technicians for the maintenance and repair of these systems.
Aeronautical Mechanics - Advancement and Salary
The advancement opportunities for the aeronautical mechanic industry are quite varied. As the mechanic works, he or she gains the benefit of experience and as a result either gets promoted to higher positions, including superintendents and inspectors, or moves on to better positions in other related fields. These machinists can learn a set of skills that will enable them to move on to numerous other industries where their talent can be properly utilized and compensated. The median wage for aircraft technicians and mechanics is $22.85 per hour, while the top of the spectrum is as high as $34.15 per hour. The best-case scenario is if you are working to fix the primary jet airplane for a major airline. It is one of the highest paying jobs in aeronautics. Aeronautical mechanic and avionic technician can earn up to $250,000 and $259,000 a year respectively.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career in aeronautics can be stressful, but worthwhile in the end if you are hardworking and dedicated. If you have a penchant for this type of technology and if you have what it takes to break into the industry, the aeronautics field can prove to be lucrative for you.
