Originally Posted by MoonShot

IMHO, you want to be in the training/time building stage during the down cycles in the industry. That's when everyone else gives up and goes home, but you are out there building time and waiting in the wings when things turn back up. An aviation career is a lot like the stock market, buy in low - not high.

Like you, my goal was always an airline pilot.

I was a relatively freshly minted CFI during 9/11 (was actually out the door and on the way to an aircraft with a student when one of the line guys said I need to come watch the TV). A lot of guys gave up and bought into the gloom/doom that was going on and quit. I just kept building time and networking constantly looking for something better. Point being, just because things are bad now, doesn't mean they will be in 4-5 years and you need to be laying the foundation for your career NOW so that you can take advantage when things are more favorable.

Again, good luck.