The document outlines two career paths - airline pilot (Plan A) and flight attendant (Plan B). For Plan A, it details the responsibilities, requirements, benefits and entry-level position of an airline pilot. It notes pilots can earn $25,000 initially and work their way up over time. For Plan B, it outlines the roles, work schedule, important qualities and related careers for a flight attendant, noting there are no direct entry-level positions. In conclusion, the author expresses their continued interest in becoming an airline pilot.

1. PLAN A VS PLAN B
The progress of my aviation career

3. PLAN A
AIRLINE PILOT
 My first goal is to be an airline pilot for a major airline, preferably
on International flights. United is a good option for me as they fly
to my home, Australia, and my mother’s home of Birmingham,
UK.

4. WHAT DOES AN AIRLINE PILOT DO?
 An airline pilot has the benefit of travelling the country or the
world, taking people to their destinations.

5. WHAT IS INVOLVED
 • Get paid to fly passengers to their destinations
 • Starts at $25,000 per year (depending on experience/company)
 • Can live anywhere in the country, but expect a day to commute to one of the
bases to start your shift.
 • Schedule depends on the routes you fly, weather, and aircraft
breakdowns/maintenance. Can be on duty for 16 hours a day, but only fly 8.
 • Work between 8-20 days a month
 • Perks can include travel benefits for yourself and family, experience can bring a
lot of pay, travel the world, meet new people, and insurance is great, cheap
hotels/rental cars.
 • Can work your way up based on seniority. The longer you have been there, the
more you can work your way up.
 • Retirement age is 65. Most airlines have really good retirement packages.

6. REQUIREMENTS  •4 year college degree
 •Minimum of 1250 hours of flight time when combined with
college degree, or 1500 hours without degree
 •Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial rating,
Multi-Engine rating, Airline Transport Pilot License.
 •Current First Class FAA medical certificate

7. BENEFITS
 Travel
 Future financials
 Bonuses
 Paid time off
 Professional development
 Insurance
 Wellness program
 Volunteer opportunities
 Business Resource Groups
 Social clubs

8. ENTRY LEVEL POSITION
 First Officer with Air Wisconsin, based out of
Appleton, Wisconsin, but serving cities on the
East Coast. Flying mainly CRJ’s.

9. FIRST OFFICER REQUIREMENTS
 Legal authorization to work in the United
States
 Must be able to read, write, fluently speak
and understand the English language
 Must have an ATP or be qualified to obtain
an ATP or Restricted ATP (CFR §61.159 and
§61.160) See below
 Commercial certificate and instrument rating
 Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate
 FCC Radio License
 Valid Civilian Passport and the authorization
to travel to and from all cities and countries
served by Air Wisconsin
 Valid United States driver's license
 Graduation from accredited, four-year
college preferred
 Recency of experience will be considered

10. BENEFITS
 Complimentary in-house Certified Training Program (CTP) provided by Air
Wisconsin instructors and in Air Wisconsin simulators. Pilots will receive contractual
pay and benefits during CTP training
 Starting pay for First Officers is $27.23/block hour, and after one year, it increases
by almost 50% to $40.63/block hour
 Duty and Trip Rig; minimum day guarantee of 3 hours; monthly guarantee of 75
hours
 Premium Pay – 150% pay for added flying on scheduled days off
 401K with 5% company match and company contribution of 3% of compensation
 Guaranteed 12 days off (reserve and line holders)
 Up to 35 paid vacation days per year
 Reimbursement allowances for uniform, headset, medical exam and passport
 Single occupancy for hotel accommodations (including training)
 Unlimited pass benefits on American Airlines for immediate family including
parents

12. PLAN B
FLIGHT ATTENDANT

13. ROLES
Attend preflight briefings on details of the
flight
Ensure that adequate supplies of
refreshments and emergency equipment are
on board
Assist in cleaning the cabin between flights
Demonstrate the use of safety and
emergency equipment
Ensure all passengers have seatbelts fastened
and ensure other safety requirements are
met
 Serve, and sometimes sell, beverages, meals, or
snacks
 Take care of passengers’ needs, particularly
those with special needs
 Reassure passengers during flight, such as when
the aircraft hits turbulence
 Administer first aid to passengers or coordinate
first aid efforts, when needed
 Direct passengers in case of emergency

14. WORK SCHEDULE
 Work full time, but variable schedules
 Attendants usually fly 75 to 90 hours a month
and generally spend another 50 hours a
month on the ground, preparing flights,
writing reports, and waiting for aircraft to
arrive.
 An attendant’s assignments of home base
and route are based on seniority. New flight
attendants must be flexible with their
schedule and location. Almost all flight
attendants start out working on call, also
known as reserve status.

15. IMPORTANT QUALITIES
 Attentiveness
Flight attendants must be aware of passengers’ needs to ensure
a pleasant travel experience. They must also be aware of any
security or safety risks.
 Communication skills
Flight attendants should speak clearly, listen attentively, and
interact comfortably with passengers and other crew members.
 Customer-service skills
Flight attendants should have poise, tact, and resourcefulness to
handle stressful situations and meet passengers' needs.
 Decision-making skills
Flight attendants must be able to act decisively in emergency
situations.
 Physical stamina
Flight attendants may need to lift baggage and stand and walk
for long periods. They often need to conform to height and
weight requirements and have vision that is correctable to at
least 20/40. Flight attendants may have to pass a medical
evaluation.

16. ENTRY LEVEL POSITION
Unfortunately there is no entry level positions for flight attendants, but there
are related careers that can be beneficial

17. RELATED
CAREERS
 Bartenders
Bartenders mix drinks and serve them directly to
customers or through wait staff.
 Customer Service Representatives
Customer service representatives handle
customer complaints, process orders, and
provide information about an organization’s
products and services.
 EMTs and Paramedics
Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and
paramedics care for the sick or injured in
emergency medical settings. People’s lives
often depend on their quick reaction and
competent care. EMTs and paramedics
respond to emergency calls, performing
medical services and transporting patients to
medical facilities.
 Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers
Food and beverage serving and related workers
perform a variety of customer service, food
preparation, and cleaning duties in restaurants,
cafeterias, and other eating and drinking
establishments.
 Retail Sales Workers
Retail sales workers include both those who sell retail
merchandise, such as clothing, furniture, and
automobiles, (called retail salespersons) and those
who sell spare and replacement parts and equipment,
especially car parts (called parts salespersons). Both
types of workers help customers find the products they
want and process customers’ payments.
 Waiters and Waitresses
Waiters and waitresses take orders and serve food and
beverages to customers in dining establishments.

18. CONCLUSION
 After reviewing the different jobs I have researched, I still want to
be an airline pilot. I have wanted to do that since I was a kid.
That being said, all I want to do is work around aircraft. I love
being able to look out or up, and see the different types of
airlines and aircraft, and dream about a life in the sky.