The chance to see the earth from top, to fly solo, to travel places – everything makes pilot a rewarding career. Many people aspire to become a pilot to enjoy unique and thrilling flying experiences. You can join pilot schools in Nashville to fulfil your goal of becoming a pilot. Besides being a demanding career, pilots need to shoulder various responsibilities as well. Let’s check out the various advantages and disadvantages of becoming a pilot.
Advantages of Becoming a Pilot
Being a pilot has its advantages. Let’s discuss what perks you can expect after becoming a professional pilot.
Better Salary
One of the major advantages for which students aspire to become pilots is the lucrative salary that airlines offer. In addition to better salaries, pilots enjoy various employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement plans, etc.
Travel for Work
Being a pilot allows you to travel to various countries. It allows you to experience new cultures and explore the world. You will meet new people, witness destinations of historical significance, and even taste different local cuisines.
Plenty of Job Opportunities
Post-pandemic, there has been a demand for pilots. The number of pilots, whether private, commercial, or airline, is expected to grow significantly in the near future.
Free Flights
Airline pilots can accumulate flight miles as a part of their job. It allows them to fly with the airlines they work for free when not working. Some airlines offer discounts for pilots, including the ones who work with other airlines. As a result, as a pilot, if you choose to fly outside work, chances are high that you will get flights at discounted prices. In some instances, airlines might offer flight benefits to family members of pilots.
In addition, many airlines allow spouses of pilots to fly for free, provided it's a recreational trip and not work-related. Pilots sometimes get a specific number of passes annually, which they can distribute to their family and friends.
Additional Perks
Besides these advantages, pilots enjoy free stays and food at airports and places they visit.
If all these perks excite you, then you should consider becoming a pilot. Visit pilot schools and join courses to get flight training in Nashville.
Disadvantages of Becoming a Pilot
As you can see, being a pilot can help you get various advantages. However, it comes with lots of responsibilities and unpredictable schedules as well. Let's discuss them further.
Long duty hours
On average, airline pilots fly around 75 hours per month flying. In addition, they spend approximately 150 hours per month in various pre and post-flight activities, such as flight planning, checking weather conditions, etc.
Besides, airline pilots can fly up to 8 hours per 24 hours, or 10 hours if there is a second pilot aboard. Besides, as private pilots need to fly based on their client's travel needs, they work at different schedules.
Moreover, many pilots may not follow a strict work schedule concerning their work days or hours. It makes for more flexibility. However, pilots may find it challenging to schedule time outside their work.
Training
Pilot training is pretty intense. Though we would not p
refer calling it a disadvantage, some pilot aspirants may find the training difficult. Based on the type of pilot you want to become, your qualifications, flying hours, skills, experience, etc., will vary. You can contact pilot schools in Nashville to enquire about the requirements to become different types of pilots.
As a part of training, you need both in-flight and ground training. Besides, students must study, practice, and pass their exams to earn certifications. Some necessary pilot skills are a proper understanding of maths and physics, technical aspects of flying, spatial awareness, proper coordination, communication, etc.
Moreover, pilot training can be expensive. Hence, students often need to take out loans to pursue their education. However, considering the salary a pilot withdraws, you may be able to pay off your debts faster than many other professions.
Work Stress
Being a pilot can be stressful. A critical reason for this stress is that the lives of the passengers you are flying rest on your shoulder. Hence, you must follow the checklist before flying to ensure safe travel for your passengers. Otherwise, a mistake can cost the lives of your passengers and you. Besides, unpredictable weather conditions or technical faults beyond a pilot's control can also make flying stressful. However, pilot schools prepare you for all sorts of emergencies to ensure you stay calm no matter the situation and deal with the accompanied stress.
To sum it up, no job on this earth is easy. But that doesn't mean you will stay locked up in your house forever. Considering the excitement, thrill, and all the unique experience, and additional perks that pilots enjoy, you should join pilot schools in Nashville if you aspire to become a pilot.