Originally Posted by
Nipopolis
I'll try to keep it short. I studied aviation in college but couldn't afford to fly. I wanted to fly for a living but my first job out of college was in IT. I did that for 14 years with various companies. I started my flight training in 1998 and followded my private with an instrument rating, commercial/twin ratings and then got busy with work and just flew all I could for until 2003 when I was down sized from my company. They call it right sizing so you don't feel bad about being fired... As I stated, I wanted to fly for a living but after a couple of years in IT, I made too much money to walk away from it and start instructing. When I was down sized, I decided that was my chance to follow my dream. I finished my cfi ratings as quickly as I could and was lucky to find an instructing job. It didn't pay my bills so I also took another part time job to make the money I needed to survive. Over the past year and a half I have giving 600 hours of dual and was lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time and was just hired by ASA. It hasn't been easy but I kept chugging along and I never gave up. If it's what you want to do, do it.
Nipopolis
P.S. I did all my training at local airports and I'm right at 1000 hours.
This story really inspired me...thanks for sharing. I just turned 32 yrs old and have my Private. I decided to go back to school to finish what I started a decade ago
. Never was the academic type...what got me motivated this time around was that I heard the degree was essential if I had any aspirations of becoming a pilot for the Majors. I currently work full time and go to school fulltime. Most people say im crazy and im overloading myself, I think its pure motivation to get to the dream job ive always wanted since I was a little boy. Yes, I know the pay will put me in the line for welfare for awhile but so what...what good is money if you don't love what you are doing for a living.
My concern however is getting that phone call after the interview saying that you got the job. Does it only get harder from there becuase you have to go through intensive training and you are held to strict company standards? I would appreciate any feedback from you guys who have already been down that road. God Bless!