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Now I know I can't base my life on the on the input from an internet message board and should really follow my dreams, but hear me out.
I grew up in an aviation family, with a father who did some flight training back in the '50s and then went on to be a machinist for UAL at SFO for almost 40 years. I used to walk through the maintenance bases with him at SFO back when security was lax, and have always had a passion for aviation. Somehow back when I was considering college, I guess I was under the impression that the only way into the pilots seat was via the military. Had I known otherwise I may have done some things differently.
Long story short, I have a four year engineering degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and currently work as an engineer for Cisco Systems here in San Jose, CA. I'm 28, make a salary in the low six figures, live pretty comfortably, but I'm really looking for change. And before you jump all over me, six figures doesn't get you much out here...I could never dream of buying a single family home on my income alone unless I could make it elsewhere.
In March 2007 I started working on a PPL at a local flying club mainly as a hobby, and with the hopes that it could eventually turn into a career at some point. I'm starting to really think that I'd like to ramp up my training efforts and take stab at a flying career more than I had originally anticipated.
My main questions are the following:
-For someone who is a quick learner, and already has a four year degree under their belt, how long (best and worst case) could it take to get hired with a regional, move to a major commercial or cargo, and make a decent above average wage? Am I talking 5 years after I earn all my ratings...10? Remember also that I'm more than happy to leave CA, so an above average wage is relative to wherever I'd be moving to.
-How does the living situation work when entering this career? When you start work for a regional, do you pretty much have to pack up and move wherever they dictate, or is it usually doable while staying put? Are there desirable places to live which would give the most options for both regionals, and transitioning to a major? Generally is it a safe bet to locate near one of the major hub airports, like DFW for example?
-Aside from breaking into the majors, what other paths can be taken that are financially lucrative, and not a dead-end? Does flying for a corporate outfit work out pretty well, or is it on par with flying for a regional? What are the ups (no-pun intended) and downs of working for a cargo carrier vs working for a commercial airline?
Basically I've done my reading and understand the ****storm I'll be stepping into for a period of my life, making under 1/5 what I currently do. I'm just trying to figure out whether the light at the end of the tunnel is worth it, and which direction I'd want to head.
Thanks so much in advance for any guidance you can provide!
--James
What you should do is get a job doing engineering work here in ICT at one of the manufacturers (Cessna, Hawker, Spirit). These three have flying clubs that are VERY cheap to earn your ratings in. Once you have enough time you might get a slot in test, demo etc. The beauty of this plan is that you are still getting paid a great wage, you continue benefits (health, 401k etc.) and make contacts while flying your butt off way cheaper than you could elsewhere.
Try Cessnajobs.com and the Hawker site, there are tons of engineering gigs available. Housing is great here as well. Shoot me a PM as I know several people who got their certs this way and most are on to bigger things.
Thank you for all the great input; it's great to hear everyone's different points of view. To answer some of the questions, I'm not married (although most likely will be shortly), have no kids, and do not own a home. My only debt is my car, and I'm hoping to pay for all my ratings on my own as the money shows up from my current job. I know for a fact that I don't want to enter an aviation career in debt...that seems to be the nail in the coffin for most people.
As much as I enjoy being an engineer right now, I can't see myself doing it for the rest of my life. Plus I'm not so keen on having new projects all the time, and a more or less undefined job role. I think I'd be a lot more happy knowing that each time I go to work, I more or less know what I'll be running into. As for $100k being good in CA, I partly agree. Yes it's nice from the standpoint that I can live pretty comfortably, eat out a lot, drive a nice car etc....BUT the housing situation is pretty demoralizing. A typical 1bdrm apartment runs $1800/month anywhere within a 30min commute for me, and any single family home under $600k is borderline on being condemned. Basically I'm stuck being a renter, and paying a ton for it. Plus I really do want a more rural lifestyle with some land and my own place.
I'll have to look into whether Cisco has a flight department, but based on how most of the company is run, I'm doubting it. I would guess they charter flights through another company since they do everything else that way. But yeah....if I could fly for Cisco that would be amazing since it really is a great company.
I am you my friend. I did the engineering thing. Ever see "office space"? I'd bet we have a lot of stories in common. And I was an engineer in ICT too....
If you are going to do it, go to a school that will get you through quickly. Seniority is everything so get your ratings as quick as possible with as much multi time as you can (such as ATP - I didn't go there though) and get on with a good regional (not someplace like mesa).
There is a ton of negativity in this profession. Most of the people have never worked in a cubicle so they won't understand where we are coming from. Every time I mention that I left engineering for flying, I get grief about it. But I don't regret leaving the big salary at all. Money isn't everything and it will come around.
If you're going to consider Wichita, I highly recommend looking into Prairie Air Service. There's at least one Raytheon demo pilot that lives at the airport(1K1)...
I'm sure you know this - but make sure you're soon to be wife knows what you are bringing her into. You will be gone a lot, and instability is the name of the game. Money will be very tight - and you'll either have to move every few years or commute, which means even more time gone. There are exceptions, but this career is a marriage breaker. It takes a very strong couple to endure what gets thrown at you. Hell, it's tough enough in a normal situation to keep it together, being gone so much doesn't help.
FWIW: I'm also an engineer, also 28, also in the Bay Area, also with a "six figures" salary. (But no, I'm not at Cisco. )
I looked at becoming a pilot back in 2002-03, even before all the current sh*t hit the fan, and even back then I decided it wasn't worth it. I finished my private about a year ago, and mainly fly for fun, on the weekends. I still have idle fantasies of becoming a professional pilot and flying the big iron, but after reading this (and other) boards, I know I made the right choice.
The way I see it, I make enough extra money as an engineer that I can fly fairly frequently if I want to, and I get to do it on my terms... over the Golden Gate and out to Half Moon Bay at sunset, rather than the 11pm Saturday night run from Fresno to Bakersfield.
That said, YMMV. If it's truly your dream, follow it. But choose wisely. :-)
I'm sure you know this - but make sure you're soon to be wife knows what you are bringing her into. You will be gone a lot, and instability is the name of the game. Money will be very tight - and you'll either have to move every few years or commute, which means even more time gone. There are exceptions, but this career is a marriage breaker. It takes a very strong couple to endure what gets thrown at you. Hell, it's tough enough in a normal situation to keep it together, being gone so much doesn't help.
Negative,,,,,Oh so Negative. Turn that frown upside down mister. Instead of saying "Money will be very tight" you could say that "pilots enjoy frugal living". And in place of "You will be gone a lot" you could say that "you will get to be home sometimes".
Marriage breaker or single life maker !! Its all in how you phrase it.
Skyhigh
__________________
Pilots are paid for what they will do, not for what they can do.
Funny you post this - I was once a victim of Tasman Drive, stuck between the tax man and the landlord, wondering how the big number on the top of my paycheck ended up being the small number in my savings at the end of the month.
So I cashed in some stock and I bailed.
Smartest thing I ever did. Life's too short to fly a desk.
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