Do I jump at the career change or am I crazy?
 

OK, looking for some wisdom from pilots who have been around block a few times. Am I crazy for wanting to jump feet first into a pilot career from 0 hours, starting this September?

The situation: I'm 32 years old. I have a government job that is relatively safe. I make in the solid mid $50s a year right now, but hate the job. I have done it for 5 years so far. I have 10 years in the USAF ANG (enlisted) with 2 years of education benefits left. I currently have 2 associate degrees. I don't have many expenses but a mortgage and my wife's school loans ($60K). My very supportive wife makes good money in the healthcare field. Usually about $80k a yr. We are also expecting a new edition to the family this fall. It will be number 2. I'm looking at a 2 year part 141 tech school pilot program. The program cost is about $55k for the CFI and Commercial rating after military benefits. About $13,750 a semester. It would take me 2-3 years to complete. I have a pending transfer to another guard unit to become a C130 Flight Engineer and the school would be a year long. That would interrupt pilot training. I would be quitting my government job to go to school fulltime. Am I crazy for thinking about this? I'm one of those who stop what they are doing to watch an airplane fly bye, every time. I've wanted to be a pilot since I remember wanting to be anything.

Am I crazy? What would you do? Advice?

Hating one's current job is all about perspective. The grass is not always greener somewhere else. Are there any positive things about the current job you like, such as time with the family, promotion potential, benefits etc? Do you like being home most days after work? Try to focus on the positive things. There is no perfect job. Happiness is a Personal Choice. You are contemplating a career change which will require significant sacrifices for you and your family. Think about the time you willl be spending away from them, and the impact that will cause you and others within your family. The C-130 guard F/E gig sounds like a good part time supplement to your current situation. Would you be able to financially tolerate an airline furlough? Great times currently, but the industry is historically cyclical. Having said all that, have lots of conversations with your wife. You are still young and will figure out what is best for you and your family.

The job I currently have is an logistics office job and it doesn't fit me. Lots of worthless time wasting meetings and office politics. I grew up on a farm and I am a hands on type. I always tore things apart and rebuilt them and learned to drive everything at a very early age. I was an auto and industrial mechanic before I got the government job and I liked the industrial mechanic job but no promotion potential and wages are poor for the beating you take. In the military I have been a crew chief and a Bioenvironmental Engineer. I liked the crew chief job until it became more admin than hands on and the bio career has went from responses in level A suits to data entry. Not a fan. Current federal job positives are 4 10 hr days a week and federal benefits and holidays. Time with family is limited. I drive 60 miles each way. So I get about 90 min a night with the family. No promotion potential in my current job. I agree there is no perfect job, but flying for a living sounds much better than sifting through 350 emails a day and pumping out spreedsheets. Sitting around people who's favorite subject is how much they hate there job wears on a guy after a while. Its not just in my area either, its everywhere you turn. When I flew on C130s as a crew chief I loved it. That's why I am perusing the C130 FE position. Get back to flying.

I have had many conversations with my wife and she understands the time I would be away. After 10 years in the military she has been without me several times and is no worse for the wear. She is very supportive and knows being a pilot is a dream of mine.

"The C-130 guard F/E gig sounds like a good part time supplement to your current situation." Yes, I would be flying about 90-100 days a year. Deployments every 18 months. So as a part time gig I don't know how I could do much better than maybe being a pilot.

"Would you be able to financially tolerate an airline furlough?" It depends on the timing and how much I would still owe in school loans at the time.

"Great times currently, but the industry is historically cyclical." This is what makes me apprehensive to pull the trigger. Am I timing this right or am I jumping into the perfect storm of disaster? This is my sticking point.

My question is that you have NO flight experience and contemplating changing career fields. instead of going ALL IN from the get-go; why not take a few lessons on the side first before committing to a P141 school and see if you even like flying before changing careers. Even if you decide that you do like flying - many will tell you to take that good/safe job you have and enjoy flying on your terms - recreationally.

In the end - like PerfInt said above - if you decide to jump into professional aviation, now (and hopefully the next many years) will be a great time to start a career, and you would have many years of hopefully productive flying career.

Good luck in your (and your family's decision).

Btw - have you and the wife ever spent a considerable amount of time away from each other (and believe me that will change with your new addition joining soon!)? What use to be supportive can quickly become untenable.

Oh you're going to LOVE this site and the cockpit then :D

I'll echo USMCFLYR's advice--get some time flying before you commit to this path. Bonus points if you find a CFII who is unpleasant to fly with; you'll be in the cockpit with some unpleasant people throughout a career, and it's good to know early if that's a deal breaker or not.

No formal flight experience. I have done 2 intro flights, 2 aerobatic experiences (where the pilot hook really dug in) and a glider flight. I really like being up in the air.

Did I forget to mention I have been an adrenalin junky all my life? My ultimate goal was to be a fighter pilot. Had the USAF ROTC scholarship in hand all set to go and... bam... Got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Dream gone over night. Walk of shame back to the enlisted **** show.

"Btw - have you and the wife ever spent a considerable amount of time away from each other (and believe me that will change with your new addition joining soon!)? What use to be supportive can quickly become untenable."

- Yes, we have spent just short of 6 months apart and another that was 4 months. Also many weeks apart at many different times. Not with a new baby though. I get the point your making.

If that is what sunk in the "pilot hook" then you'll really be disappointed in 'regular' type airline/corporate flying! :eek:

Once again I'll mention then that maybe you would be better off with flying your own plane or getting involved in aerobatic flying, training, etc... than pursuing *most* (not all) fields of professional flying - because most would not be described as 'adrenalin junky' flying.

I'm glad you see the point I'm trying to make with the family and time away; and I'm especially glad you see the point I'm trying to make that ALL THINGS CHANGE with your new circumstances. Plenty of people make it - plenty of people don't. Like everything else - there are risks and rewards in aviation. Whatever decision you make - just go in with eyes and eyes wide open and not with some preconceived notions you've built up in your mind or off a web board.

You should get a 1st class medical before anythingg else

Appointment with AME is Monday.

As a C-130FE, you should have a pretty solid idea if you would like the job. If you have the bug go for it!! You'll enjoy sitting a few inches closer to the firewall and you've probably already got the air sense, discipline, study habits and work ethic. I know quite a few FEs who decided to go the pilot route and they've all enjoyed it and have rocked training.