Originally Posted by
planejoe
It is a lot of information. Programs, incentives, offers are changing so fast a lot of it could very well no longer be in place or accurate by the time you're ready (for better or for worse). Set short term goals or else it can all become overwhelming.
Set your mind to focus on the next rating and work on that for now, when that is done work on the next rating, next 100 hours etc. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you can, keep working your job to provide for your family and fly on the side. It may take a little longer but you have a family that is your #1 priority and needs to be provided for.
Sometimes you have set backs or feel like it's too much, just keep plugging away and remember to take breaks so you don't end up hating flying by trying to condense everything into a short period of time. Good luck and have fun. Feel free to PM me as I was a career changer with a young family and worked evening shifts and flew/took online classes in the mornings.
I don’t disagree but unfortunately bc hiring is so fast and furious right now time is not on his side. Ideally he could quit his job and fly full time. The only good hedge would be continue to work as a LEO and if he’s on a 4on 4off schedule he needs to literally fly 10hrs a day on all his days off.
Taking the leisurely route could have major seniority QOL/money consequences down line when things ultimately slow down perhaps when he’s in his 50s barring other black swan events.
Sell the vette yesterday and start flying now! Get the commercial ASAP and then start time building every single off day. You may be able to find a kid to split time with you. One of you acting as safety pilot and one on instruments so you both log it at half price. Normally I’d say become a CFI and build time by getting paid but since you have a career and trying to fill your off days with students could be incredibly fatiguing as well as inconsistent, I say put up the money with the vette and just fly as much as possible.
As soon as you are close in time where options like regionals or 135 flying are available start doing research on what is possible and what works for you to get you to a legacy carrier as fast as possible. Right now it should be commercial and build time as quickly as you can. Start now!