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Mid Life Career Question

Old 05-30-2018, 05:21 AM
  #21  
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Right my flight time is not so current per say. And yes I agree those 6 years is all if everything goes right, picking the right regional and even getting a call from the major(s).

I have buddies that are still at regionals and only few that made it to the majors, granted the guys at the regionals are really content with their current life style and seniority.
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Old 05-30-2018, 05:31 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Antney View Post
Right my flight time is not so current per say. And yes I agree those 6 years is all if everything goes right, picking the right regional and even getting a call from the major(s).

I have buddies that are still at regionals and only few that made it to the majors, granted the guys at the regionals are really content with their current life style and seniority.
Does your flight time put you in a position for a street captain at a regional? Not sure how a they would handle a candidate with no flight time over the last few years, but that would be ideal.
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Old 05-30-2018, 05:57 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by Antney View Post
If I was making sub 100k I think it would be a no brainer with the current future potential earnings to come back. I’m stuck at point with my compensation that it would take 10+ years to break even right at the time my kids will be through college or just starting and that’s if everything goes perfect ( 3 years at regional and 3 years at major to finally see 200k again per year).

It’s tough choice and I wrestle with this daily which sucks. At my old regional, Chicago Express, i remember how stagnant the attrition got and how bad it was. It was probably my young poor attitude that wants everything now when I was 22 to get out of aviation. Funny how when you get older you can put things in perspective. Wish I had that when I was 22!


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Let me extend a message of caution. I don't know why this happens, but so often we tend to romanticize and glamorize the unknown. That new job or new career path in our brains seems like an awesome and beautiful thing. For some reason, we only see amazingness and awesomeness at the new job. We tend to not see the real world crap that will come with that job. I do it and most people i know do it. Why that is, i do not know.

Then we finally arrive at that career or new job we have been salivating about and realize that it isn't quite what we thought it would be. It's work. There are pros AND cons to the job. There are tough times, ridiculous policies and knee jerk management decisions. You realize you are just a pawn. One of many. You realize that this shiny thing you wanted to be a part of is just another job with its many facets of good, bad and ugly.

You have painted a pretty rosy picture of your current life. It sounds pretty amazing and i can imagine it is difficult to walk away from. I would advise you to tread lightly, because you will have to pay your dues for a lot of years and deal with a lot of crap to get back to your current income status. You must weigh the lost opportunity costs.

Its a big decision and i am currently grappling with it as well. Nobody can make it for you and I hope you can make peace with the decision you ultimately make. Best of luck.
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Old 05-30-2018, 06:15 AM
  #24  
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^^^THIS^^^^

Best post of the thread, hands down! A ton of wisdom
here, very well stated! A+
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Old 05-30-2018, 07:18 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Pilatus801 View Post
Let me extend a message of caution. I don't know why this happens, but so often we tend to romanticize and glamorize the unknown. That new job or new career path in our brains seems like an awesome and beautiful thing. For some reason, we only see amazingness and awesomeness at the new job. We tend to not see the real world crap that will come with that job. I do it and most people i know do it. Why that is, i do not know.

Then we finally arrive at that career or new job we have been salivating about and realize that it isn't quite what we thought it would be. It's work. There are pros AND cons to the job. There are tough times, ridiculous policies and knee jerk management decisions. You realize you are just a pawn. One of many. You realize that this shiny thing you wanted to be a part of is just another job with its many facets of good, bad and ugly.

You have painted a pretty rosy picture of your current life. It sounds pretty amazing and i can imagine it is difficult to walk away from. I would advise you to tread lightly, because you will have to pay your dues for a lot of years and deal with a lot of crap to get back to your current income status. You must weigh the lost opportunity costs.

Its a big decision and i am currently grappling with it as well. Nobody can make it for you and I hope you can make peace with the decision you ultimately make. Best of luck.
Originally Posted by PerfInit View Post
^^^THIS^^^^

Best post of the thread, hands down! A ton of wisdom
here, very well stated! A+
Appreciate the response. Its been a long time since I was at my regional and I do remember it turned into a job, dreading the start of a 4 or 5 day trip, was single with no kids at the time.

Again appreciate everyones feedback on both sides of the fence. hope this helps others on the fence too.

Also my 1,000 plus 121 time was in a Saab340, not sure I would be at all comfortable with a DEC, especially with my time off from the industry and going right into a jet.
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Old 05-30-2018, 07:32 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Pilatus801 View Post
Let me extend a message of caution. I don't know why this happens, but so often we tend to romanticize and glamorize the unknown. That new job or new career path in our brains seems like an awesome and beautiful thing. For some reason, we only see amazingness and awesomeness at the new job. We tend to not see the real world crap that will come with that job. I do it and most people i know do it. Why that is, i do not know.

Then we finally arrive at that career or new job we have been salivating about and realize that it isn't quite what we thought it would be. It's work. There are pros AND cons to the job. There are tough times, ridiculous policies and knee jerk management decisions. You realize you are just a pawn. One of many. You realize that this shiny thing you wanted to be a part of is just another job with its many facets of good, bad and ugly.

You have painted a pretty rosy picture of your current life. It sounds pretty amazing and i can imagine it is difficult to walk away from. I would advise you to tread lightly, because you will have to pay your dues for a lot of years and deal with a lot of crap to get back to your current income status. You must weigh the lost opportunity costs.

Its a big decision and i am currently grappling with it as well. Nobody can make it for you and I hope you can make peace with the decision you ultimately make. Best of luck.
If we were talking about a married person for 15 years and all of the sudden fantasizing about that new young secretary (pick your poison here), then it would be called LIMERENCE.

Then YOU have to make that fateful decision - and as SkyHigh would say - try to be as selfless as possible and look at the effects of the decision
for all of those who are a part of this journey.
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Old 05-30-2018, 08:01 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by Kstoves View Post
I gave up on the career too. That was 7 years ago. I graduated school with my ratings and then never pursued anything with it because supposedly flying didn't pay well, so many pilots were furloughed that I'd never get a job and family life is terrible.

I went into airport management instead. I was making 60k, max 401k, insanely good health benefits. My friends who were CFI's and eventually regional pilots were making half that and living their life out of a bag while I never stressed about missing bachelor parties, concerts and anything else. My 20s were a blast.

Times have changed. Now my twenties are almost over and my expenses are forecast to increase way quicker than my income. I've moved on to busier airports and sometimes I'm there 60+ hours a week. I'm still making around 60K while my friends, now 7 years later are captains at regionals or FO's at majors and making much more than I am already. Yes, they're paying their dues but still manage to have 10 days off in a row sometimes and fly for free all over the world.

Needless to say, I'm actively working on picking up where I left off! I'm hoping to catch this wave before things get as bad as they used to be

This illustrates the point nicely.

If I were the OP, I’d definately stay at the 200k job at least for the foreseeable future. But, if I were you, I’d be starting my CFI rating tonight at a local school and plan to be instructing on the side side by August, full time by the fall. If you live in the right area, you can make 60k as a CFI, but it takes some work, and networking. Better money as an independent contractor, but less students and more work getting students. It will help that you’re in the aviation business already.
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Old 05-30-2018, 08:20 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by PRS Guitars View Post
This illustrates the point nicely.

If I were the OP, I’d definately stay at the 200k job at least for the foreseeable future. But, if I were you, I’d be starting my CFI rating tonight at a local school and plan to be instructing on the side side by August, full time by the fall. If you live in the right area, you can make 60k as a CFI, but it takes some work, and networking. Better money as an independent contractor, but less students and more work getting students. It will help that you’re in the aviation business already.
It has been seriously considered. Unfortunately, I live in Ohio and flying year round is difficult. I'm an 1 hr and 20 minutes from Ohio State and the same from Kent State so I do have some options for instructing, but thats a horrible commute on a CFI salary that may not be able to fly year round. Very little part 61 flying where I am so I would probably continue working my full time job or possibly drop to part time.

One thing I have going for me; my wife has a great job/career making $140K+ per year, she carries our health insurance, and I have her full support to get back in the plane.
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Old 05-30-2018, 10:15 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by flybub View Post
Good for you and I wish you the best on your journey. I wish I had the drive to pick it up again. The thought of relearning everything from the ground up along with all the FOI material makes me want to walk the other way. Couple that with the $350 check that comes out of my pocket every time I walk on the airport grounds for plane and instructor. That gets expensive.

Do I think it would be worth it in the long run? I do. I'm 37 with a wife and 3 kids, 245 hrs, 55ME, IR Comm. SEL/MEL. I left FlightSafety after I finished my Commercial in 2002. I think somewhere along the line we get comfortable where we are and are less than willing to take on new challenges, especially life changing ones. I believe that's where I am right now.

Again, good luck to you!
Depends.

How are the finances?

Does the wife work, and is her career portable?

Can you relocate, possible more than once?

Will the family support you?


If you can manage the finances and family circumstances for the first few years, then it should pay off big time in the long run. But I wouldn't delay if you're going to do it.
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Old 05-30-2018, 10:19 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by Antney View Post
Also my 1,000 plus 121 time was in a Saab340, not sure I would be at all comfortable with a DEC, especially with my time off from the industry and going right into a jet.

Yeah you'd want a few hundred hours in the jet you're going to upgrade into first. But there are many regionals where you could start in the right seat and then upgrade any time as soon as you feel ready.
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