Essay --

Throughout my career I’ve been involved in various groups and mentoring circles. The question that comes up most is â€Å"what’s my next career move† or â€Å"how do I know I’m successful?† There isn’t a right answer to this question; it depends on what’s most important to you and your family. Do you need to be around for every soccer game or own three homes? Are you looking to retire with as much money in the bank as possible or want to be home every night while working your way up the ladder? A career in aviation requires trade-offs. We don’t know how to measure the success Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. Designed to remove government entry barriers, reduce price manipulation, and open up routes to incentivize competition between airlines; was it triumphant? It’s true the cost of an airline ticket is much cheaper now, but with an increase in mergers and acquisitions over the past ten years, we once again have a handful of majors and regionals dominating the industry. How do I know what influences the industry and my steps as a career aviator? It’s scary to think that many of today’s airlines did not exist before deregulation. Why should a pilot care about deregulation and the financial amplitude of the airline â€Å"industry?† Like it or not, tactical career moves could make the difference between declaring bankruptcy five years into your flying career or upgrading to captain to meet application minimums at the company of your dreams. Many people abandon a career in aviation; the airline industry is cyclical and unpredictable. I’m not an expert; I’m merely a professional pilot trying to make the â€Å"right† choice about which basket to place all my eggs. I’m now preparing to make my next (and hopefully final) move. Will I decide to make a ... ...s aircraft exhaust emissions†. Where will I set my sights long-term, once my â€Å"dues paying† at the regional is behind me? The average annual flight operations wages based on 2012 DOT Form 41 ranges from about $88,000 (Allegiant) to $159,000 (Delta). Each airline has its own culture you’ve got to consider. Some are more captain-is-god There are dozens of airlines in the US. From legacy to cargo, locals and regionals. Let’s say you’re a newly minted ATP. about 6 main regional airlines operating in the US. If you intend to fly for a major someday, you really need to get a Bachelors degree. Without it most of the carriers are tossing your application in the trash. There really is no fair comparison of airlines. It’s all dependent upon your personal needs and wants.. FOOTNOTES: 1. http://web.mit.edu/airlines/analysis/analysis_airline_industry.html