WATCH this video before BECOMING A PILOT! Tips by CAPTAIN JOE

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16 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Pilot

Welcome back to the channel! Today, I'm sharing the 16 most important things to know before becoming a pilot. From constant training and strict seniority rules to surprising career challenges, this video covers it all!

Key topics:

Piloting is not always an official "job" in some countries.
Constant learning: regular medical exams, SIM checks, and more.
Seniority matters! Switching airlines often means starting over.
You can’t choose the plane you fly or your home base.
Pay differences and union protections vary by airline.
Plan B is crucial—unexpected events can change your career.
The physical toll of flying: fatigue, jet lag, and more.
Don’t let these points scare you off—being a pilot is incredibly rewarding! Watch the full video for insights, advice, and a peek behind the scenes of a pilot’s life.

Thank you very much for your time! I hope you enjoy this video!
Wishing you all the best!

Your "Captain" Joe

Intro Song:
Outro Song:

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0:00 Intro,
0:25 Pilot is not an official job
1:45 Constant checking/training
3:26 Senority list
5:55 You can't choose the plane
7:26 Can't decided where you'll fly
8:26 Vacation planning
8:58 Every airline is different
10:02 Pay differences
11:49 Pilot Unions
13:40 Have a plan B
15:42 Loss of License
16:24 Harsh on your body
17:32 Not a ONE-MAN-SHOW
18:24 Preparation is key
20:10 Home base
21:50 Hard work pays off
22:35 Final words/Outro

[charles]

i love when captain joe remembers his youtube password

[djwarren]

Down to earth, sensible advice as usual from Captain Joe.

[crazydave]

It always makes my day when Captain Joe uploads

[kymw]

Thanks Joe at 67 now i was always wanting to be a pilot as a kid but was diagnosed color blind at 12yrs old so no flying for me, but seriously when pilots like yourself show whats really involved, i feel as if i wasnt really pilot material, i would rather have been a Aircraft Mechanic but that didnt happen but i got an apprenticeship as Diesel Mechanic and was happy i think we all find our lot in life really enjoy your channel mate
Kym
Adelaide

[frank_avtor]

The airline I work for doesn't have a union but they make up for that by providing exceptional contracts including full medical, dental, ljfe and even loss of license insurance. They keep us happy and unionless. This is the exception not the norm in the airline world. Oh and even after 23+ years at my airline and really, really good seniority, I'm still not guaranteed to get the trips I bid. Great video, excellent tips!

[normg]

Talk about plan B - I once ran into a gas station attendant here in Canada. He told me he came from Poland and used to be an airline captain. When he came to Canada, he was expecting to hire on with a Canadian airline, but no airline accepted his Polish credentials. So he had to work at a gas station to earn his money for flying lessons all over again. Man, I really felt for the guy...

[Vishnu-B]

Thanks Joe. Great and needed disillusionment for me.

Getting a PPL should cater and fulfill my hunger and desire for aircrafts and speed, rather than regretting not becoming a commercial pilot.

[ksteak]

I imagine being a pilot must be hard on spouses and children too; there's a whole family dynamic to it as well.

[anesig]

so basically it’s a big scheme to incentivize loyalty while not reciprocating if the market is bad

[StpBks]

Captain Joe nailed career advice on this video. I'm retired today, however I remember all this to be true.

[normg]

This was quite an eye-opener, thanks Joe! Seems to be exactly what I keep saying - being a pilot is not a job, it is a lifestyle that takes a lot of sacrifices and can't just be done "on the side" like being a salesman or something. Keep up the good work!

[jimmytjeng]

8:25 the laughter of someone who has lost seniority. IYKYK

[Phoenix]

Thank you Joe, as someone who studies business management at college I have always wanted to become an airline pilot and wasn’t really interested in getting bachelors degree in business management but with this video it really convinced me to make a plan B if things go wrong

[xplaneflightacademy]

Every (young) pilot aspirant should watch this.

I am 35 years old, I have a PPL and 250 hrs ttl. Becoming a pilot was a dream of mine for almost 20 years. I applied for ab initio programs when I was young but got rejected.

Meanwhile, I have a wonderful job, like living in my city, love my spare time and so on. I recently thought of maybe flying commercially but spending almost another 40K on licences (without MCC or T/R), still being a rookie with over 200 hrs, having to move maybe, possibly losing the job when the economy shrinks and so on made my decide to stick to my PPL and fly whenever I want and I am happy with that 🙂

[annarn]

I am not a nervous flyer. I watch you, Mentour Pilot, 74 Gear and Captain Joe and all of you are top notch.
Biggest thing for our safety is to stay mentally and physically fit.
Having a rigorous physical can’t hurt but a number of medical conditions which could suddenly incapacitate can’t always be predicted.

[anonymous]

Hi Captain Joe, thank you for this video!!!! 🙋‍♀There's a lot to be aware of when considering becoming a pilot in an airliner . I'm working on my PPL in western Austria at the moment. A teacher at my school, when I told him that I want to become a commercial pilot, gave me the example of you, saying that you went to the same school and was his student and now you are flying the 747..(That was what really motivated me😊) During my pilot training I often fly to southern Germany, for example to Leutkirch. As an aspiring pilot I've learnt a lot from your videos. Keep up the good Thank you Captain Joe🙏🙏

[simonbrr]

Great vid, but actually germany recognizes it as a job now since September, VC said. "Equivalent to the Bachelor degree"

[sparkycjb]

You say the seniority start over is fair, but there has to be a middle ground. Where a senior Captain could come in and maybe start 3/4 of the way up the first officer list. Otherwise, while it looks fair; it incentivizes non-compete in the labor pool. So everyone actually makes less than they could if they knew they could leave without a FULL reset of seniority. It works in the company's favor more than the pilots. Though that might be from an American standpoint where there are a lot less social safety nets and a lot fewer worker's rights.

[hotel_alpha_neo]

Thank you for this fantastic video, you really explain like a personal mentor. Very professional.

[HerrFerkelmann]

Always great listening to Captain Joe. Thanks a lot.