The Hayden Teteak Show

What is life as an airline pilot actually like? From flight school to senior airline captain, we’re exploring pilot pay, airline schedules, commuting, and the lifestyle trade-offs at every stage of a pilot career. I’m Hayden Teteak, a regional airline first officer and former flight instructor. Getting paid to fly a jet is pretty incredible—but a bigger paycheck doesn’t always mean a better schedu...

Can you become an airline pilot after failing a checkride? I failed my commercial single-engine and CFI checkrides—and still became an airline pilot. Here’s what happened when those failures came up in my airline interview. I busted eights on pylons on my commercial checkride and lazy eights on my certified flight instructor checkride. Both failures happened during the flying portion, and I passed...

Becoming an airline pilot was harder than I expected. From my first discovery flight to flying the CRJ, this is my honest story of flight training, uncertainty, and why the journey was worth it. Before I was an airline pilot, I was working overnight shifts at FedEx in Indianapolis, watching other pilots climb into the airplanes I dreamed of flying. That moment pushed me to finish my private pilot...

Airline pilot habits can seem strange to outsiders. I am pulling back the curtain on the oddities of our profession. From our specific way of packing luggage to the realities of long commutes, the aviation career path creates some peculiar behaviors. I have spent enough time in the cockpit to admit that I participate in many of these habits myself, often without even realizing it. This look at the...

How much does an airline pilot actually make? In July, I flew 79 hours, spent 159 hours on duty, stayed in 16 hotels and earned $11,463 in total compensation before taxes and deductions. But that number doesn’t show the complete month: missing fireworks with friends after weather stranded us in Milwaukee, an 18-hour day caused by delays in Fargo, 35 hours commuting to Chicago—and eight consecutive...

Can a passenger force a go-around? I am answering real pilot questions from the internet to separate aviation fact from fiction. From the mechanics of whether airplanes have keys to what happens if a pilot needs the restroom during landing, this video addresses 10 popular queries. If you have ever been curious about how flight decks really operate, these answers provide clarity on the procedures t...

If you feel like you’re falling behind in life, flight training, or your pilot career, this video is for you. Whether you’re studying for your first FAA written exam, preparing for a checkride, building 1,500 flight hours, waiting for an airline opportunity, or simply trying to make it through a difficult week, I want you to hear this: I’m proud of you. Keep going. Becoming an airline pilot—and pu...

Is pilot life actually worth the stress? Discover the raw reality behind aviation career challenges and why the view makes it worth it. Many people romanticize being a pilot, but the job involves significant hurdles. This discussion covers the harsh realities of the profession, including the exhaustion of early mornings, the pressure of constant pilot training stress, and the repetitive struggle o...

My journey as a regional airline pilot has changed significantly since my last update. Get a transparent look at the reality of professional flight training. After many requests for an update, I am sharing how my life looks now that I have completed my flight training and started working for an airline. This video breaks down the transition from being a flight instructor to wearing the uniform and...

Chicago O'Hare is the site of a brutal airline turf war. Learn why American Airlines and United Airlines are fighting over gate space. This video explains the intense competition between American Airlines and United Airlines at one of the busiest airports in the world. While passengers focus on ticket prices and credit cards, the real battle happening behind the scenes is about controlling phy...

Is ATP Flight School the best path to your airline career, or just a fast way to accumulate massive pilot training debt by 2026? Find out if this program actually fits your goals. Many aspiring pilots view ATP Flight School as the quickest route from flight simulator enthusiast to regional airline pilot. However, the high cost of training can lead to significant financial burdens before you even k...

Ever wonder what really happens behind the cockpit door? In this video, airline pilot Hayden Teteak breaks down what passengers don’t know about flying, airline pilots, turbulence, autopilot, cockpit procedures, takeoff, landing, and what’s actually happening during your flight. From an airline pilot’s perspective, flying is not just pushing buttons and letting the airplane fly itself. There’s a l...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS, STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4TEdited By: https://www.youtube.com/@UClllZDfpqTV6ydcFT5KyjBAHow long does it really take to become an airline pilot in 2026? In this video, I break down the real pilot training timeline from zer...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4TIf you’re thinking about becoming a pilot, starting flight training, or pursuing an airline career, watch this before you spend your first dollar on aviation. In this video, I break down th...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4TSpirit Airlines’ collapse could have a major impact on pilot hiring, especially for student pilots, CFIs, regional airline pilots, and anyone trying to move to a major airline. In this vide...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4T In this video, we focus on facts and real expectations so you can decide if becoming a pilot is worth it for you. You’ll learn how the FAA system works, including Part 121 airline hiring,...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4TIf you feel like you’re failing in flight training, you are not alone—and you’re not falling behind. In this video, I break down the reality of what it feels like to be a student pilot when...

Thank You All, so so so much.✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4T🎓 If you’re a career changer considering becoming an airline pilot, I’ve built a structured roadmap course to help you evaluate the transition strategically ht...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4TThe Truth About Checkride Failures | What Student Pilots Need to KnowFailing a checkride is one of the biggest fears in flight training. But the reality is very different from what most stu...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/jT9B3D6w4TChoosing the right flight school path is one of the biggest financial and career decisions you’ll ever make as a future pilot. In this video, I break down ATP Flight School vs College Aviat...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/MufVAPMnBEIs the pilot shortage really over in 2026 — or is hiring still strong? In this video, I break down the 2026 major airline hiring projections and what they actually mean for student pilots,...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/MufVAPMnBEFrom zero flight hours to the cockpit of a commercial jet — this is the story of my 7-year journey to becoming an airline pilot. If you’re a student pilot, aviation enthusiast, or just some...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/MufVAPMnBEIf you’re a pilot trying to get hired in today’s competitive job market, this video is for you. The pilot hiring market has changed — and a lot of the advice floating around online is eithe...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/MufVAPMnBEYou just got the email — your airline interview is scheduled. Now the clock is ticking. In this video, I break down how to prepare for your airline interview FAST, even if you only have a f...

✨ JOIN THE NEW DISCORD COMMUNITY — FREE FOR ALL PILOTS & STUDENTS, & ENTHUSIASTSGet mentorship, study help, checkride advice, and connect with pilots on the same journey:👉 https://discord.gg/MufVAPMnBEBefore I ever stepped into a cockpit, there were critical things nobody told me about flight training — things that would’ve saved me thousands of dollars, months of frustration, and a lot...