This document outlines two career plans - airline pilot and airport manager. For plan A, it details becoming a Delta Airlines pilot, starting as a first officer and advancing to captain, with requirements including a degree and flight experience. It outlines the salary, locations, schedule and benefits. For plan B, it discusses becoming an airport manager or department manager, with the education and experience needed. It provides salary ranges and discusses responsibilities, locations, schedules, benefits and retirement options for both careers. The personal input expresses a dream of becoming a Delta pilot but having airport management as a backup plan in case of losing medical qualifications as a pilot.

1. CAREER - PLAN A &
PLAN B
DELTA AIRLINE PILOT & AIRPORT MANAGER

2. DELTA AIRLINE PILOT
FIRST OFFICER -> CAPTAIN PLAN A MAIN
GOAL

3. Job Title and Description
Delta Airlines Pilot position of First Officer leading
to Captain
Flies passengers to their destination. Ensures that
the flight is conducted safely and that all rules and
regulations are maintained. Obtains flight
information and studies in route weather and
situation. Ensures the safety of the aircraft and
upholds customer satisfaction and works to uphold
Delta Airline standards.

4. Required Education and
Experience
Must be 23 years of age, graduate a four year accredited
degree program from a University, have a passport, meet
all ATP requirements, and have a First Class Medical.
Have fixed-wing commercial pilots license with instrument
rating, 1500 hours total flight time, and 1000 hours fixed
wing turboprop or turbofan time.
More experience is usually required to get hired by Delta
and usually nobody under 3500 hours of flight time are
hired.

5. Starting Salary and
Potential Pay Increases
First Officer starting salary at $54,000
Captain starting salary at $99,840-$210,600
Increase in salary every year with the First Officers
topping out at $74,100-$144,800
Increase in salary every year with Captain topping
out at $108,420-$210,600

6. Domiciles
LAX, MSP, NYC, SEA, SLC, ATL, DTW, and CVG

7. Work Schedule vs. Time
Off
Regulated max yearly flight hours is 1000 hours, but
Delta guarantees a minimum of 65 hours monthly.
Flight time will make up about half of the time at the
job, but will come to about a full time job.
Time away from home and family are almost
guaranteed while staying in another city between
flights, but should get significant stretches of days off
between work times.

8. Benefits and Perks
Travel privileges, health and wellness insurance,
financial benefits including retirement, paid
vacation, holiday, and personal time, adoption
assistance, and matching gifts to education
programs.

9. Quality of Life
Great quality of life with a respected company in a
prestigious position. Hard separation from family
and home during a significant travel time. Ability to
travel and see the world. Great income and
benefits. Sense of accomplishment for a unique,
challenging, and adventurous job.

10. Progression/Upward
Mobility
Seniority based positions with potential to move
from First Officer to Captain on a variety of aircraft
with the possibility of even becoming number one
as Chief Pilot

11. Retirement
401k with matching up to 5%, and profit sharing
options

12. SKYWEST AIRLINE
PILOT
FIRST OFFICER -> CAPTAIN PLAN A
ENTRY POSITION

13. Job Title and Description
Skywest Airlines Pilot position of First Officer
leading to Captain
Flies passengers to their destination. Ensures that
the flight is conducted safely and that all rules and
regulations are maintained. Obtains flight
information and studies in route weather and
situation. Ensures the safety of the aircraft and
upholds customer satisfaction and works to uphold
Skywest Airline standards.

14. Required Education and
Experience
Must be 21 years of age, be English proficient, be a
US citizen, meet minimum hour requirements
below, and have a First Class Medical.
Have fixed-wing commercial pilots license with
instrument rating, and be within three months of the
minimum flight hour requirement to get either an
ATP at 1500 flight hours or a Restricted ATP at
1000 flight hours.

15. Starting Salary and
Potential Pay Increases
First Officer starting salary at $27,360
Captain starting salary at $55,362-$60,192
Increase in salary every year with the First Officers
topping out at $41,952-$45,600
Increase in salary every year with Captain topping
out at $98,496-$106,704

16. Domiciles
COS, DEN, FAT, IAH, LAX, MSP, ORD, PDX,
PHX, PSP, SEA, SFO, SLC, and TUS.

17. Work Schedule vs. Time
Off
Regulated max yearly flight hours is 1000 hours, but
Delta guarantees a minimum of 76 hours monthly.
Flight time will make up about half of the time at the job,
but will come to about a full time job with a minimum daily
guarantee at 4:12 hours.
Time away from home and family are almost guaranteed
while staying in another city between flights, but should
get significant stretches of days off between work times to
come to about a quarter of the time away.

18. Benefits and Perks
Travel privileges, health and wellness insurance,
financial benefits including retirement, variety of
resources available that allows paid time away from
work, and assistance programs.

19. Quality of Life
Great quality of life with a respected company in a
good position. Hard separation from family and
home during a significant travel time. Ability to
travel and see the world. Good income and
benefits. Sense of accomplishment for a unique,
challenging, and adventurous job.

20. Progression/Upward
Mobility
Seniority based positions with potential to move
from First Officer to Captain on a variety of aircraft
with the possibility of even becoming number one
as Chief Pilot

21. Retirement
401k with matching depending on years of service,
and stock purchase plan.

22. AIRPORT MANAGER
PLAN B MAIN GOAL

23. Job Title and Description
Airport Managers are ultimately responsible for all
aspects of an airport that deals with many aspects of
aviation
They are in charge of cooperating and enforcing all
federal regulations and rules at their airport, they
coordinate and sign with different airlines, prepare
and plan for emergency situations, are over all airport
employees, ensure safety for all employees and
personnel, and are responsible for all fiscal and
physical growth of the airport.

24. Required Education and
Experience
Requires a Bachelor degree from a university or college such
as a Bachelor in Aviation Science - Emphasis in Aviation
Administration or equivalent. Requires certification of an
Accredited Airport Executive credential earned through the
AAAE by means of a multiple choice and written exam.
Requires 5-10 years of previous experience in airport
department management such as an assistant airport
management position.
Requires a continued earning of 55 credits acquired over a
course of three years such as credited college classes or
AAAE events and seminars.

25. Starting Salary and
Potential Pay Increases
Salary of airport managers varies based on size
and earnings of the airport being managed.
Salaries vary from about $30,000-$100,000 with a
mean salary of airport managers being $55,000.
Potential pay increase will vary based on airport,
but will not increase too much other than bonuses
earned and profit sharing of airport.

26. Location
Locations vary across the country depending on
what airport is being managed.

27. Work Schedule vs. Time
Off
Full time job, but will be salary based because of
the high management position, so hours could be
less or go over 40hrs depending on responsibilities
and coordination with assistants. Should allow time
off with family.

28. Benefits and Perks
Benefits and perks will vary depending on the
airport being managed, but should include health
and wellness benefits, bonus pay opportunities,
retirement options, and time off while technically
being payed.

29. Quality of Life
Varies depending on airport being managed, but a
steady job with time home and with family, along
with a sense of accomplishment in a job that is
challenging.

30. Progression/Upward
Mobility
Airport managers are at the top end of their airport,
but could always transfer to larger and higher
earning airports across the country if desired.

31. Retirement
Should have retirement options such as 401k and
profit sharing of the airport.

32. AIRPORT DEPARTMENT
MANAGER
PLAN B ENTRY POSITION

33. Job Title and Description
Being a airport department manager would vary
depending on which department of the airport you
are managing, but would involve complete
responsibility over the department with added
responsibilities of employee relations and safety.

34. Required Education and
Experience
Experience in department management would vary
depending on the position, but a Bachelor in
Aviation Science - Emphasis on Aviation
Administration or other equivalent would go far
towards improving potential employment.

35. Starting Salary and
Potential Pay Increases
Pay would vary depending on department position
and the size of the airport, but would be lower at a
starting salary of around $20,000 with the potential
to be upward to $40,000 and potentially have pay
increase.

36. Location
Locations vary across the country depending on
what airport the position is in.

37. Work Schedule vs. Time
Off
A full time job, but because it would be a
management position it is almost guaranteed to be
salary based instead of hourly pay, but should have
significant time off that is technically paid.

38. Benefits and Perks
Varies depending on department, but almost
guaranteed health and wellness benefits with
potential paid time away from work

39. Quality of Life
Varies depending on department position, but a
steady job with time home and with family, along
with a sense of accomplishment with various
responsibilities.

40. Progression/Upward
Mobility
The entry position as department managers allows
the possibility to gain experience in order to move
upward towards the ultimate goal to airport
manager.

41. Retirement
Varies depending on position, but almost
guaranteed 401k.

42. PERSONAL INPUT
MY ULTIMATE DREAM IS TO BE AN AIRLINE
CAPTAIN AT DELTA, BUT HAVING A BACK UP
PLAN OF BECOMING AN AIRPORT MANAGER
INCASE OF A LOSS OF MEDICAL ALSO
EXCITES ME. I LOVE EVERYTHING THERE IS
ABOUT BECOMING A PILOT, AND YET AIRPORT
MANAGEMENT INTERESTS ME AND I FEEL LIKE
I WOULD ENJOY IT. MY ONLY WORRY OF
HAVING TO FALL BACK ON MY PLAN B IS
HAVING MY STUDENT DEBT FROM FLIGHT
TRAINING PAID OFF BEFORE STARTING UP
ANOTHER YEAR OF SCHOOL. I HOPE THIS
WAS INFORMATIVE TO ANYONE INTERESTED
IN THESE CAREERS AND HOPE YOU MAKE

43. Resources
http://www.deltajobs.net/travel_and_benefits.htm
http://www.deltajobs.net/pilot_qualifications.htm
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/legacy/delta_air_lines
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/regional/skywest
http://www.skywest.com/skywest-airline-jobs/career-
benefits/#/travel/
http://www.skywest.com/skywest-airline-jobs/career-guides/flight-
jobs/#/career-guide

44. Resources
https://www1.cfnc.org/Plan/For_A_Career/Career_Pr
ofile/Career_Profile.aspx?id=jGWPH3sXAP2BPAXtq
xTk4RKskDJGwXAP3DPAXXAP3DPAX&screen=1
http://study.com/articles/Become_an_Airport_Manag
er_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.html
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Airport_
Manager/Salary