Loon

From the immoral words of the Lorax: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Good day.

DAL 88 Driver

Good for you! This career can be full of very high highs and excruciatingly painful lows. Sometimes it's a real rollercoaster ride. Mainly because of this (I think), I've run across quite a few pilots who no longer enjoy the job and have lost their passion for flying.

For me personally, I learned to fly 37 years ago (I was 17)... started flying for the airlines 25 years ago... and STILL enjoy flying just as much as I always have! Money is important... and I've done my share of complaining and criticizing for the extreme, unnecessary pay cuts we've taken over the years. But there's more to life than just money. And I can honestly say that I still LOVE this job and cannot imagine anything else I could have done and enjoyed even a fraction as much.

I've tried to emphasize with my kids how important it is to find something to do for your life's work that you truly enjoy. For me, flying has been the perfect fit. The career... maybe not so much. But the job... I can't imagine anything better!

I hope that perspective is helpful to you. Good luck!

Flyboyxc91

Thanks DAL 88 Driver! I just have a really positive outlook on life and although I'm not ignoring the many hard things that come in life I try to stay as happy as I can and look at the positive side. I'm hoping I'll be able to transfer that attitude into aviation!

DAL 88 Driver

An aviation career will test you on that. But if you truly love flying and stay determined to keep that positive attitude, I think it will serve you well. Best of luck to you!

f16weav

ANG and Reserve pilot selection boards are very completive these days. Get smart with the online blogs at baseops.net and flyingsquadron.com. Bottom line..it may take a few years to get a slot. Longer road, but also thinking about joining the unit in a flying position like boom operator. Better option if you were still in college..but still an option.

Flyboyxc91

THREAD REVIVAL and update.... I have been working after graduation a few months and seeing that ATP flight school is increasing their rates by $5,000 after August 31st... I can't wait any longer to try and make money as I can't beat that bullet just for a few months of waiting, besides its time to build time and go for it at this point.

I was trying to set up a visit to the Raleigh Durham location but I found out they actually don't do tours there... not really sure how I'm supposed to know if thats the facility I want when I can't go see it but I'm working on that one. Need to get my class date locked in before Friday and it has to be for a start date before the end of October!

krudawg

I understand what you are saying but giving up 20 years of seniority is huge, especially when things are slow or moving backwards. Flying for the military is definitely an interesting way to build time, not to mention the respect you have for defending out country - nobody flying on the civilian side ever gets respect from their managers/owners.

Flyhayes

Sounds like a red flag to me... just sayin

Flyboyxc91

What kind of red flag would that be?..

OnCenterline

What Hayes is saying is that if ATP doesn't do tours of the RDU location, they may afraid that you won't like what you see, or what you don't see (the CRJ simulator they want you plunk down money to use). ATP tends to like to do tours of locations that have all the bells and whistles so that you can be further and more easily convinced that they are the place for you. I didn't train or work with ATP, but others have and have good things to say about it.

You mentioned earlier that you could come out owing less than $18,000. Understand that this number only holds if you do everything perfectly and don't need any extra time. Realistically, they might get you for $20-25,000, and that's only the face value. With the interest on your loan--if you're financing--it may be double that. Also, does this include living expenses?

I won't say whether or not you should choose this option. I will say that seniority is indeed everything. If you do choose to use ATP to get up to your CFI (get all the CFI ratings), then you need to find a way to live like a hermit while you work as a CFI from hour number 251 to hour 1500 while you build your time. That means roommate(s), cheap apartments, driving a beater, etc. In the interim, you should have three goals: keep your nose clean with the police and the FAA; get your time ASAP; and pay down as much of that debt as you can. Double or triple the monthly payments if you can. Going from 250-1500 as a full time CFII/MEI will realistically take you 14-18 months at a place like ATP. You should have a goal to have paid off X amount of your debt in that time, and you will meet your goal of getting hired by 25.

Your enthusiasm seems to be genuine and refreshing, but the easiest way to keep it as you begin slogging your way through the life of an RJ FO is maintain that hermit lifestyle so that you don't carry any debt. That's one of the common threads to the people that are unhappy (or miserable). Remember, getting this career going means you have to want this more than your next breath....or a girl....or a new car....or the shiny new model of your favorite smartphone....or your next breath. No offense, but you really can't imagine until you live it just what's it like to get by on min reserve pay after taxes at a regional. I think in that respect, many your age tend to be more naïve than they realize. Once you get off reserve, your still naïve, but your naïveté, like your schedule, is predictable.

And study your a$$ off.