Pilatus801

OK folks, i could use some solid advice. I am in my mid 40s and itching for a career change. I got my PPL years ago, prior to 9/11. i was planning on making a career in aviation but with all the furlows and layoffs after 9/11 i walked away. Now i am considering getting back into it. Just finishing up my Instrument rating currently and going to finish up the CPL. Not so sure about being a CFI. Hoping i can get on with a charter/cargo/tour company to build time to 1,500.

In reading all the different posts on this site, i get the impression that things aren't super rosy for new hires even as pay and bonuses are going up. I kind of wonder if its worth it at my age. I certainly would be taking a pay cut and i presume i would have to "pay my dues for the next 5 years"

I don't know...is it worth it? Is the airline pilot job really awesome or is that just a false perception that a lot of people have? I think most of us tend to romanticize certain things when we are on the outside looking in. Shower me with your advice......Thanks!!

rickair7777

Opportunities going forward should be at an all time high, unprecedented in the history of the airlines.

Regional FO's are interns for the most part, not according to the regs, but that's the reality. But regional FO pay is now quite remarkable by historical standards.

If you're a senior major airline CA, it should be pretty remarkable compared to other careers, but you're too old to get quite to that point.

The best way to describe it is that airline pilots do hard days when at work (long days, cirdadian disruptions, etc) but in exchange get plenty of days off, unencumbered by job responsibilities.

So a nine-to-fiver will have five days a week mostly wasted by job, stress, commute, but will get to tuck his kids in bed when he gets home. Then he gets two days where he can work from home as needed (with the advent of technology few high-end professional people actually get weekends off like we did in say 1990).

The airline guy sucks it up for four days, doesn't see the family or get to take care of anything at home but then he gets four days off (maybe even five). Actually off, no emails, texts, etc.

Pick your poison.

Pilatus801

Thanks Rickair. All careers have their pros and cons. I work a 9 to 5er, but truly don't take work home with me on weekends. With being a pilot I certainly would enjoy the additional days off and the amazing travel perks. Those are two major pros that I'm considering. But the cons are still there, the low starting pay and the time away from home for multiple days. I appreciate your comments, they're helpful.

ZippyNH

Remember...
Airlines are not the only job you can have as a pilot.
Many late starter's pick alternative paths...
Flying corporate or fractional where seniority is not as steep or even used.
Likewise, cargo is similar.
Much of it comes down to lifestyle vs $$$ vs quality of life.

USMCFLYR

Those travel perks can be hard to use for family travel I've heard many an airline pilot muse. Also - with travel being your lifestyle - I know a lot of pilot I work with - travel is the last thing they want to do with their time off.

As with many things - each case and circumstance is different. Just have those conversations with yourself and the others whom are involved to make sure you KNOW what you are getting yourself into - then take it from there!

Bucknut

The 9-5 argument doesn't really fit because your not sleeping in your own bed every night and you will be giving up certain freedoms such as planning on going to a party your invited to and you can't get home from your commute. I accomplished a lot of things in the evening when working 9-5 and like everything else there is pros and cons to both. If your married, is your spouse on board with this decision?There is always recovery time after a four day trip and prep time getting ready to go on a four day trip. There are some gigs that make it worthwhile and others not so much. Ask your self how much crap are your going / willing to put up with like any other job and then make that decision. At the age of 50 I tend to be less tolerant of putting up with crap. Otherwise my expectation is, pay me well and give me a good quality of life and you will get a fantastic employee in return. It's hard to find a Regional that will give that.

rickair7777

The travel bennies are most used when you're young and single/childless. Then life happens and it gets hard to nonrev with two working adults plus kids.

Once you're a senior CA with the kids out of the house and the spouse retired so she can follow you around, then back to non-revving again. At that point you can afford a full walk-up fare if you get stuck.

Between those two points, not so much although I'll usually jumpseat even when the family's traveling on a revenue fare.