Originally Posted by
kfahmi
Flying Part 121 has been my dream since I was 4 years old. I was all slated for a USAF Academy slot, but then they told me I couldn't fly since I didn't have 20/20 uncorrected. (This was before laser surgery.) After college I looked at doing the freight dog route, but this was in '94 when absolutely nobody was hiring for anything.
So I gave up hopes of an airline job. Went into the corporate (non-aviation) world, where I've been for the past 20 years. Earned all my ratings on the side, did some Part 91 corp flying, helped found a Pt 61/141 flight school and grow it from 4 to 26 aircraft. Bought my own aircraft, which I fly all the time. Logged north of 5,000 hours, including about 3,500 hours instructing.
Finally decided it was time to go follow my dreams. Having a very understanding wife (who is a private pilot) made the decision much easier.
leaving google to go to the airlines will be awesome for 1-2 years after you finally "achieve your dream", and once the novelty wears off, you will be kicking yourself for leaving google. the regionals are not worth it! The best thing you can do for yourself is to not burn your bridge at google, and basically tell them you want to come back in a few years. Go to the airlines, run some jet A through your veins, get treated like an immigrant for 2+ years, then throw in the towel after the novelty wears off and go back to a way sweeter life at google and fly your plane for fun. Or try to use that connection to get hired flying the google corporate jet. This applies to every regional