Originally Posted by
AtlCSIP
First, I paid for all my flight training as I went. I never owed anything for any rating. Second, I paid for college as I went. Took 11 years, but I never owed anything when I graduated. Third, I have always lived very frugally (no car payments, no credit cards, small 15 yr. mortgage), so I could take a 60% pay cut without changing my standard of living much, just changing my retirement investing. Since I don't really plan to retire in the typical sence (I actually like working), I'm not too concerned about having to slow my retirement investments.
If you really love aviation, DO IT! And do it better than anyone else! It will be worth it in the end!
Just my $.02!
100% spot on advice. I paid off my car and credit cards before getting into aviation, and I also live fairly frugally (but I still have some fun). I actually save MORE money now than I did with my engineering salary, even though I'm still making considerably less as a pilot. I love aviation, and I don't ever see myself going back to full time engineering unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
So are you still doing some engineering work part time? I wish I could figure out a way to keep my hand in it, but so far it's been tough with my schedule (just got back from a 15 day trip). I took my EIT/FE a few years ago, but I would I had my PE, it'd probably make it a lot easier to do something like p/t consulting.