Nightsky

I walked away from flying about 4 years ago also. I took up a job in airport ops and management, which is what my degree is in. Did that for 3 years, and let me just say what a $hitty job that was. It made me realize that my flying job at a regional wasn't as bad as I thought it was. It didn't take me long to miss flying, I was working tons of OT so I wasn't home much anyway, and I capped out on pay after 3 years. The only plus to the job was it was more secure than flying, being employed by the gov't and all. So, I finally got some money together, got current, and started applying again. It was difficult, no doubt, to realize I'd be starting all over. But in the long run I'd be better off than if I stayed in the airport business. Did I mention what a $hitty job that was? Why anyone would aspire to work in airport management now baffles me. Ugh.

Anyway, I had a hard time as a lot of regionals wouldn't interview if you didn't have 100 in the past 6 months. So even though I was experienced, with several thousand hours multi turbine, they would interview some fresh cfi over me. So, in desperation I renewed my cfi certs, and started instructing part time while I worked ft at the other job. It was hard, but it worked. Finally got a call, and in the interview they didn't make an issue of having walked away from it (the capt who interviewed me had done the same thing himself!). The daily rat race just wasn't for me. I'm glad I came back to flying.

It is doable, but it will be difficult. I didn't have kids, but I am married. She actually helped kick my a$$ back into gear as she saw how unhappy I was once I left flying. I took a paycut, but in the long run I'll make more money, even at the regional level, than if I would have stayed in airport managment. Good luck!