Originally Posted by OldSF3Dude

As a guy who has 2 master's degrees and has been in and out of aviation, these are my thoughts:

Seek advice, but follow your bliss. When I got into aviation in the early 90s every airline pilot told me I was nuts. If I would have listened to them I would have never become an airline pilot. I worked my way through my ratings, flight instructed, flew charter and worked as a ramp agent. In 1998 the airlines had recovered and I got hired on as a pilot for Mesaba. Be prepared and ready if and when things turn around.

In 2004 I left Mesaba to go back to school for a 2nd masters. After 6 years flying at the airlines I had enough. Contract negotiations, furloughs, displacements, etc. Basically no light at the end of the tunnel. I liked flying and the people I worked with, but couldn't justify staying with the airlines financially. Life always seemed like one step forward and two steps back. My wife made more money than me and it made no sense to move. I was sick of commuting.

While getting my 2nd masters I also got law enforcement certification. I worked summers as a deputy sheriff. A year ago aviation was having a bit of a growth spurt again and I decided to give it another go. Eagle said they'd give me a Embraer job in ORD with probably not more than 3 months on reserve. This sounded good to me as I was looking for a easy commute to ORD and a decent schedule. Fuel prices then shot up, Eagle quit hiring and I found myself on permanant reserve and facing displacement.... Back to working in my last degree field.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a back-up career!!! Aviation is way too fickle. Some guys never get hired. Some that do are forced out. Some are like me and like being pilots but are not willing to sell their soul or their family life to do it. Many have no other job skills and are stuck with it no matter what crap the airlines deal them.

In short, get your grad degree. Have a back-up career and have independence. Never rely on the airlines to feed your family. View flying as a second job or a hobby. If you get hired at a regional you're going to make side-job wages for the first few years. View it as a side-job. Maybe it works out and your passion turns into a career, but don't put all your eggs in that basket.

That's my new philosophy, anyway. It's much less frustrating to think in these terms. If things pick up in the airlines again I wouldn't mind going back. Money isn't a huge deal for me anymore. Being a captain isn't a big deal for me anymore. A decent quality of life and I'm happy. Smell the roses, etc. If it doesn't work out, or I get bored with it, I have another career. (I also have a wife who makes money). Having these options will make you a much less bitter man.