Are you interested in becoming a pilot, and are wondering what impact enrolling in a flight school will have? Before taking this big step, you’ll definitely want to understand the program you’ll be taking, as well as the career path this program can set you on. So, we got a chance to talk to Greg Sigler of SkyWarrior to get his insights!
What to expect from your aviation program
For both prospective and current students, SkyWarrior provides several online resources, from preflight resources to study materials to information on the campus location. And based on your program, your training can span as much as a few years to as little as a few months. You could enroll in smaller, individual courses like a private pilot certificate, a commercial certificate, instrument rating, multi-engine rating, flight instruction, instrument flight instruction, and multi-engine flight instruction — or you could opt for a larger package that includes some or all of these courses in one!
Your career trajectory post-program
Depending on how you take to the flight training, you could land a job within six to eight months — and beyond this, job placement rates could be 100%! Many flight schools, including SkyWarrior, are partnered with regional airlines to get their graduates placed in careers. According to Greg, “if you have the airline requirements, can pass an interview, and do not have anything in your history that would keep you from being hired, you will be hired.”
Once you finish your flight training, there’s no one set path that all pilots follow. You might go to work for a regional or major airline, or you could become a private or commercial pilot. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers was $160,970 in May 2020, and $93,300 for commercial pilots during that same period. Additionally, from 2020–2030, job openings are expected to grow 14% for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers and 13% for commercial pilots!
With such great outlooks for pilots in the future, Greg’s piece of advice for prospective students is: “Don’t focus on the immediate cost. Yes it is expensive, but this is a 40-year decision, not a four-year decision. Airline jobs are abundant and the outlook for pilots is incredible. You could be earning a six-figure income as a pilot seven years from your first flight as a student.”
