THE DREAM JOB: COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOT

Flying an airplane is fun. Getting paid for it is even better. For some, it is the perfect office job. The office travels, the view changes constantly, the challenges are exciting, and the professional recognition is rewarding.

Most people are impressed by a person who takes a multimillion-dollar machine off the ground and sets it back safely. When they look in the cockpit, they stare and ask, “Do you really know what they all do?”

Pilots are the movie stars of the air transportation show, because they are the most visible; other members of the cast remain behind the scenes. Pilots in the air transportation business are men and women from all types of environments; about half are ex-military and will retire within this decade. The demand for pilots is critical and growing. If you are in good health with correctable vision, you can become a professional pilot in less than a year.