Let Me Get Your True Honest Opinion

[SBPilot33]

I'm a sophomore in college, who is planning to research alternative fuels for the aviation industry with my biotechnology degree, but I would really like to fly one day so I plan to research fuels to bring in some good money for training. My question for you all is, with the economy the way it is right now, and the way layoffs are happening, is being a pilot worth going after right now?
The only positive I can think of now is that Thousands of pilots will be retiring in the next 12-20 years.
Thanx Pilots!

[a[_3_]]

On Sep 13, 10:26*pm, SBPilot33 >
wrote:
> I'm a sophomore in college, who is planning to research alternative
> fuels for the aviation industry with my biotechnology degree, but I
> would really like to fly one day so I plan to research fuels to bring in
> some good money for training. My question for you all is, with the
> economy the way it is right now, and the way layoffs are happening, is
> being a pilot worth going after right now?
> The only positive I can think of now is that Thousands of pilots will be
> retiring in the next 12-20 years.
> Thanx Pilots!
>
> --
> SBPilot33

Energy density is probably more critical for av fuel than nearly any
other mode of transportation :bio fuels do not score well in that
metric. Who would you expect to fund your research?

You may also want to research probable supply/demand issues for
pilots.

It's my opinion you are making career choices against very long
odds.

[RST Engineering[_2_]]

On Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:26:27 +0000, SBPilot33
> wrote:

>
>I'm a sophomore in college, who is planning to research alternative
>fuels for the aviation industry with my biotechnology degree, but I
>would really like to fly one day so I plan to research fuels to bring in
>some good money for training. My question for you all is, with the
>economy the way it is right now, and the way layoffs are happening, is
>being a pilot worth going after right now?
>The only positive I can think of now is that Thousands of pilots will be
>retiring in the next 12-20 years.
>Thanx Pilots!

Well, yeah, but business flying is as strong as it has ever been and
experimental flying is increasing also. The only part of the market
that is showing DEEP downturn is the casual pilot who used to take off
every Saturday morning for a $100 burger at another airport.

So, let's talk biofuel. I haven't yet seen a biofuel that rivals
gasoline for energy per unit weight. That is, how much bang do you
get for the privilege of carrying it around.

Dunno, maybe you will be the one to get a bazillion btu out of an
ounce of masturbatorium. Go for it.

Thanks,

Jim

[Greg Russell]

On Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:26:27 +0000, SBPilot33 wrote in
:

> I'm a sophomore in college, who is planning to research alternative
> fuels for the aviation industry with my biotechnology degree, but I
> would really like to fly one day so I plan to research fuels to bring in
> some good money for training. My question for you all is, with the
> economy the way it is right now, and the way layoffs are happening, is
> being a pilot worth going after right now? The only positive I can think
> of now is that Thousands of pilots will be retiring in the next 12-20
> years.

WRT your alternative fuels project, you'll certainly want to thoroughly
familiarize with the most recent Advisory Circular 20-24C at
http://tinyurl.com/3mc8qe6 and the other industry documents referenced
therein.

Regarding your query about pilot training, if it's for your personal
enrichment then by all means spend all your money going through the usual
student progression.

Always remember that pilots are a dime-a-dozen, so if by "worth it" your
idea is to recover the costs of your training and experience by becoming
a paid commercial pilot, then you'd do far better to just buy some
lottery tickets, and stand a far better chance of getting some monetary
return on your investment.

[SBPilot33]

Hmm, I thank you all for presenting your opinions. On the research side, I was planning to work with, BP Aire, Shell, or another fuel company that already has research divisions. I'm already looking for companies I can intern with while I am in college.
But yes, I am looking to possibly become an airline pilot in the future.