Originally Posted by
bryris
For what's it worth, I've been flying at a hobby level for 20 years now. From 2006 through 2008, I instructed and eventually flew for a regional. Went fine until the economy crashed and I was furloughed. However, prior to 2006, I had earned by degree in accounting and had worked in the field for a couple of years. After 2008, I went back to school, earned my CPA license, and got back to it. For the last 10 years, I've done well at it. I make good coin. Even bought a Piper Cherokee to fly around on the weekends. I can afford a nice hangar, a mini fridge full of drinks, and to keep the airplane up. I get a lot of pleasure in that airplane, keeping it nice, working on it, flying it. Then I get all the other stuff too: home every night, etc. This works for me.
If I stick with this, I'll never fly a jet again, or frankly anything high tech. But, I can fly, when I want, how I want (within the limitations of my time and budget).
I still long to be a professional pilot on some level. Its truly still a part of who I am and will always be a part of my life journey and I am thankful for that chapter. But, the majority of me knows that I am on the right path where I am right now. That works for me. Perhaps it will for you too within your own construct.
Everyone wants different things. I also don’t like time away from home and the feeling of hopelessness of being stuck far away when people need you.
I started my CFI training in 2011. I never followed through because I was 22 years old and felt like I didn’t want to waste my twenties living in a hotel room for poverty wages. I wanted to be self sufficient, move out, enjoy life a bit and then marry the girl I was dating. I ended up doing all of that.
I got current and finished my CFI rating this past year and have been at it part time. I’ll likely make the career switch to a regional about 15 months from now (as long as the economy doesn’t crash).
Had I stuck with my current plan I’d be competitive for most major/legacy airlines right now. Right before a huge hiring boom. Even still, I don’t regret my decision.
My other jobs have all involved shift work which still is tough on family life. After experiencing the “normal” life I’ll be less salty about the negatives associated with a “pilot life” when my opportunity comes. My wife has also got to see this. As I type this at 8:00 PM on a Saturday night I’m at work... so at least I won’t have to deal with my wife saying “how come you can’t quit being a pilot so you can be home on weekends” because she has seen firsthand it doesn’t work that way with me