Originally Posted by
geosync
Since you've been on the defense side and may have connections, have you consider ISR flying? You can make good money and have an adventure to boot. Then after 10 years you'll be ready to start running the farm. Secondly, since you're family business is farming, what about ag flying? You are in MX, not sure if you have your A&P, but you certainly have a leg up over an outsider coming in. Not much IFR flying in Ag, so the busted checkrides are a non-issue as long as you can fly a tailwheel and have good stick and rudder skills. Here in CA I know many applicator/farmer families(they do both, apply for other farmers and also own land and grow). That may be the path of least resistance but a very viable aviation career at that since you're in it, at least partially, and you can eventually build an aerial applicator business along with the farm.
I actually have considered ISR flying, I guess the income would come in a bit quicker. I’ll talk to a few contacts that I have, that might be the way to go. I enjoyed the “mission” before.
I’ll look more into the Ag flying, too. I have quite a few contacts there, as well. I don’t know why, but I guess I get a bit fixated on the 121 side of things a bit too much. Like others said, I should probably concentrate more on the parts of the industry where I can overcome my past with personal contacts and having the A and P and Avionics background.