Physician to airline pilot
02-22-2018, 08:44 AM
#71
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,244
Originally Posted by Dontknow
Because I live in the most economically depressed area of the country where even doctors barely make $100k. I have all of the above, that's not the issue. I am responsible for over $45 million in assets at the company I work for now. The median income in my area is $22k a year. Hopefully that helps paint the picture.
If you want/need to keep living there, and commuting is feasible, airline pay would work out great for you... eventually you'd be the King in a town like that.
05-13-2018, 09:59 AM
#72
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2018
Posts: 46
Third Career
Originally Posted by MKUltra
So this career is a second career for me.. my last year in my other career i made about twice what the radiologist is making without stocks and bonus and ownership of the company that we sold on top of that.. the company was a large manufacturing business of 500 employees, valued at 1 billion and I was an executive at 31 years old.
I gave it all up.. I hated my job.. I hated the people.. I hated the 7 days 24 hours 365.. I hated being on the phone with China at midnight.. Germany at 4am.. my plant briefings at 8 am... I slept in my office about 5 nights a week.. had a 5000 square foot house abs I probably only spent 30 nights in my bed between being here, China and Germany... I had an extremely expensive scotch habit...
Ive been in the airlines 3 years now... I love it.. I made 120k last year as a captain.. started a side gig 3 years ago and supplemented my airline salary by 50k and work on my time in the hotels when i get around to it.
Next year ill flow to mainline.. no one calls me... no one makes me work when i don't want too.. airline pilot is the best and easiest job I've ever had. I'd rather eat nails than go back to An office job.
I basically feel like this career is my retirement now and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
I gave it all up.. I hated my job.. I hated the people.. I hated the 7 days 24 hours 365.. I hated being on the phone with China at midnight.. Germany at 4am.. my plant briefings at 8 am... I slept in my office about 5 nights a week.. had a 5000 square foot house abs I probably only spent 30 nights in my bed between being here, China and Germany... I had an extremely expensive scotch habit...
Ive been in the airlines 3 years now... I love it.. I made 120k last year as a captain.. started a side gig 3 years ago and supplemented my airline salary by 50k and work on my time in the hotels when i get around to it.
Next year ill flow to mainline.. no one calls me... no one makes me work when i don't want too.. airline pilot is the best and easiest job I've ever had. I'd rather eat nails than go back to An office job.
I basically feel like this career is my retirement now and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
I just left a job on Wall Street where I made more than a radiologist or dentist to start ground school for my PPL. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy.
Would you mind sending me a PM? I just wanted to hear your opinion on things given our similar background and age.
I appreciate all the feedback from the pilots on this forum but honestly life isn't all about money. While everyone has complaints about their jobs, the QOL as a pilot is probably better than in private industry at mid to senior executive levels. The grass is always greener I know but given my life experience and where I am personally I would rather take a huge pay cut and actually enjoy my life versus spending all my money on expensive one or two week vacations and whiskey / scotch to make up for the rest of the year.
One odd ball question, if a pilot were to volunteer to fly for Doctors without Borders or some other NGO / non-profit on their off time does this count towards their monthly / annual limits? Do airlines allow this? i.e. if there was a natural disaster and I wanted to take a month off work to help fly in supplies into a disaster area could I request that month off and it not be detrimental to me professionally or with promotions?
05-13-2018, 02:51 PM
#74
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,244
Originally Posted by FullFlaps
The grass is always greener I know but given my life experience and where I am personally I would rather take a huge pay cut and actually enjoy my life versus spending all my money on expensive one or two week vacations and whiskey / scotch to make up for the rest of the year.
Originally Posted by FullFlaps
One odd ball question, if a pilot were to volunteer to fly for Doctors without Borders or some other NGO / non-profit on their off time does this count towards their monthly / annual limits? Do airlines allow this?
Originally Posted by FullFlaps
i.e. if there was a natural disaster and I wanted to take a month off work to help fly in supplies into a disaster area could I request that month off and it not be detrimental to me professionally or with promotions?
05-18-2018, 10:22 AM
#76
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2018
Posts: 68
Originally Posted by FullFlaps
MK Ultra
I just left a job on Wall Street where I made more than a radiologist or dentist to start ground school for my PPL. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy.
Would you mind sending me a PM? I just wanted to hear your opinion on things given our similar background and age.
I appreciate all the feedback from the pilots on this forum but honestly life isn't all about money. While everyone has complaints about their jobs, the QOL as a pilot is probably better than in private industry at mid to senior executive levels. The grass is always greener I know but given my life experience and where I am personally I would rather take a huge pay cut and actually enjoy my life versus spending all my money on expensive one or two week vacations and whiskey / scotch to make up for the rest of the year.
One odd ball question, if a pilot were to volunteer to fly for Doctors without Borders or some other NGO / non-profit on their off time does this count towards their monthly / annual limits? Do airlines allow this? i.e. if there was a natural disaster and I wanted to take a month off work to help fly in supplies into a disaster area could I request that month off and it not be detrimental to me professionally or with promotions?
I just left a job on Wall Street where I made more than a radiologist or dentist to start ground school for my PPL. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy.
Would you mind sending me a PM? I just wanted to hear your opinion on things given our similar background and age.
I appreciate all the feedback from the pilots on this forum but honestly life isn't all about money. While everyone has complaints about their jobs, the QOL as a pilot is probably better than in private industry at mid to senior executive levels. The grass is always greener I know but given my life experience and where I am personally I would rather take a huge pay cut and actually enjoy my life versus spending all my money on expensive one or two week vacations and whiskey / scotch to make up for the rest of the year.
One odd ball question, if a pilot were to volunteer to fly for Doctors without Borders or some other NGO / non-profit on their off time does this count towards their monthly / annual limits? Do airlines allow this? i.e. if there was a natural disaster and I wanted to take a month off work to help fly in supplies into a disaster area could I request that month off and it not be detrimental to me professionally or with promotions?
Glad to see you guys going for it. Good luck!
05-22-2018, 09:02 AM
#77
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Position: Retired
Posts: 230
I have 30+ years in this career and currently fly as a B787 CA.
Over the years I have seen dozens of doctor, dentists, lawyers, accountants, vets and successful entrepreneurs become airline pilots.
If that's what 'floats your boat', do it!
Some dive right in and give up the first career, others find a way to do both and others have flown for a few years and then drifted back into their original careers. All of them were happier for having tried it!
Over the years I have seen dozens of doctor, dentists, lawyers, accountants, vets and successful entrepreneurs become airline pilots.
If that's what 'floats your boat', do it!
Some dive right in and give up the first career, others find a way to do both and others have flown for a few years and then drifted back into their original careers. All of them were happier for having tried it!
05-22-2018, 12:39 PM
#78
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2017
Posts: 120
Originally Posted by FullFlaps
MK Ultra
I just left a job on Wall Street where I made more than a radiologist or dentist to start ground school for my PPL. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy.
Would you mind sending me a PM? I just wanted to hear your opinion on things given our similar background and age.
I appreciate all the feedback from the pilots on this forum but honestly life isn't all about money. While everyone has complaints about their jobs, the QOL as a pilot is probably better than in private industry at mid to senior executive levels. The grass is always greener I know but given my life experience and where I am personally I would rather take a huge pay cut and actually enjoy my life versus spending all my money on expensive one or two week vacations and whiskey / scotch to make up for the rest of the year.
One odd ball question, if a pilot were to volunteer to fly for Doctors without Borders or some other NGO / non-profit on their off time does this count towards their monthly / annual limits? Do airlines allow this? i.e. if there was a natural disaster and I wanted to take a month off work to help fly in supplies into a disaster area could I request that month off and it not be detrimental to me professionally or with promotions?
I just left a job on Wall Street where I made more than a radiologist or dentist to start ground school for my PPL. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy.
Would you mind sending me a PM? I just wanted to hear your opinion on things given our similar background and age.
I appreciate all the feedback from the pilots on this forum but honestly life isn't all about money. While everyone has complaints about their jobs, the QOL as a pilot is probably better than in private industry at mid to senior executive levels. The grass is always greener I know but given my life experience and where I am personally I would rather take a huge pay cut and actually enjoy my life versus spending all my money on expensive one or two week vacations and whiskey / scotch to make up for the rest of the year.
One odd ball question, if a pilot were to volunteer to fly for Doctors without Borders or some other NGO / non-profit on their off time does this count towards their monthly / annual limits? Do airlines allow this? i.e. if there was a natural disaster and I wanted to take a month off work to help fly in supplies into a disaster area could I request that month off and it not be detrimental to me professionally or with promotions?
Edit: I see you are unmarried, have no kids and saved a crap ton of money working on the street. As long as you are okay with the multi-million dollar opportunity cost of your decision, and the very real risk that over time your passion for aviation will decrease, then go for it.
Last edited by bamike; 05-22-2018 at 12:48 PM. Reason: More info
05-23-2018, 04:24 AM
#79
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Posts: 270
Originally Posted by bamike
Why would you leave your wall street job without even a PPL?.
05-23-2018, 04:49 AM
#80
Banned
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Posts: 492
Imagine there is a family function, say your sisters wedding or say your kids first communion. It is on the 6th. Your schedule comes out and you are working on the 6th because well, at the very least you will be working half the month which means for half the month you will NOT BE HOME. You are in some ratty hotel by the airport on the 6th while your wife/girlfriend facetimes you at the event. How do you feel now?
Missing Christmas, holidays, special events all have a price. Are you crazy to try and become an airline pilot? Yes! It isnt that much fun. Flying is fun but flying for the airlines is not that much fun. Flying out of a grass strip is fun, flying at uncontrolled airport is fun. Dealing with gate agents, TSA, ramp delays, ground controllers at NYC airports, etc is not fun
Missing Christmas, holidays, special events all have a price. Are you crazy to try and become an airline pilot? Yes! It isnt that much fun. Flying is fun but flying for the airlines is not that much fun. Flying out of a grass strip is fun, flying at uncontrolled airport is fun. Dealing with gate agents, TSA, ramp delays, ground controllers at NYC airports, etc is not fun
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