Becoming a professional pilot takes a lot of work, but the rewards, both personal and financial are worth the investment. Our astronauts talked about having the right stuff. I ve spent 17 years heavily involved in the hiring process for a major airline. To me, what makes a professional pilot can be summed up in one word - attitude. Before you launch your career as a professional pilot, I suggest that you assess your attitude toward work and life in general.
People often measure excellence in terms of flight hours.
I ve hired pilots with 350 hours and pilots with 20,000 hours. I believe these pilots can perform equally well if they first have the proper attitude. After 35 years of professional flying, I still personally critique every flight I make, whether I m flying a Boeing 747 or a single-engine aircraft. I m still waiting to see a perfect flight. Always strive to be the best as a pilot and good luck.