Mechanical Engineer to Pilot
 

Hey guys,

This thread will likely be a bit long, but I'd like to provide as much background info as possible. Bear with me. I really appreciate those of you who take the time to read and respond to this thread.

I've lurked around this forum for a few years. Read a ton of career change (or potential career change) threads. There seems to be a lot of folks here who really discourage any sort of flying career. I tend to walk away from here fairly discouraged.

I am 24 years old, graduated with my mechanical engineering degree and currently work for a large Aerospace company as a Materials Engineer. My original intent was to do Air Force ROTC while attending engineering school. Unfortunately, I discovered quite early on that this was not going to be an option because of my asthma. So the military option was off the table, but I continued to pursue and obtain my mechanical engineering degree. Please note, that obtaining a first class medical is of no issue for me (I have already consulted several AMEs). Since graduating I have obtained my PPL and Instrument rating. I am currently working on my Commercial rating. The goal is to have the CSEL/CMEL done this year and CFI sometime next year. I have NO DEBT - this is all being cash flowed from my engineering job and from some of my wife's job. I have no intention of taking any loans out. I do have the benefit of co-owning a Cherokee 140 with my dad, which has saved a good bit of money.

Long story short, I've started to second guess the engineering career. I'm really struggling to come to terms with sitting in a cubicle for the next 40 years. Large corporations are becoming less and less employee centric (e.g. the days of pensions are long gone). I've been through one furlough, countless layoffs, etc. I have good job security considering I am at the bottom of the payscale ha! I'm "required" to work overtime - I typically work 45-46 hours a week, which isn't horrible, but it does add up when I am trying to get through my ratings. I am paid well for a 24 year old and I do get to be home every night. I know some of you might be thinking, "hmm this sounds like the airlines". The sad thing about this job is that I see so many guys in their 40s/50s who are just totally miserable, but are working a job to support their families. I'm doing my best to NOT be in this position.

Engineering has the benefit of having a great starting salary, but it becomes rather stagnant after a while. Like most traditional jobs, as you gain experience and move up the ladder you are required to work more. Long hours, working 6-7 days a week, minimal time off. This is one of my primary concerns with respect to the engineering career. I do value time with my wife and someday my future family.

For several years now I have been seriously considering a flying career. I've put a lot of thought/research into it and have worked hard to chip away at my ratings and do it debt free. I've made an effort to talk to as many pilots about their experiences, family life, etc. I have several very good friends (all quite a bit older than me) who fly for the airlines. Quite frankly, it has always been very positive. Interestingly enough, I've ran into quite a few engineers who left the engineering field to go fly. I've yet to find one who regretted the switch, which has been very encouraging for someone like me. I really value the opinion of those who have experienced both a desk job and a flying job. I've found a lot of pilots have only ever worked a flying job, so it can be hard for them to relate to a desk job. That isn't to say I don't value those opinions.

I am married - my wife is very supportive of whatever career path I may choose. She grew up in Alaska and her dad worked a 2 week on, 2 week off schedule (oil field). Her mom was in the Coast Guard and traveled as a psychologist as well. So she is used to people being gone. This doesn't seem to be a worry for her. We have no intention of having any kids for probably another 6-8 years.

The one thing I really find value in with a flying career is the time off and quality time with family. This sentiment has been shared by virtually every airline pilot I have talked with. When your home your home. If I continue with an engineering career (especially if I pursued management or other roles), quality time with family can become very sparse despite being home every night. Working 50+ hour weeks, 6+ days a week, etc takes a toll on a family as well.

So I'm slowly closing in on the point where I will have to decide if I want to make the jump or not. It is not an easy decision and it is filled with a lot of unknowns and potential risk (like most life decisions I guess). I'm looking for as much constructive feedback as I can get. I am always willing to have a phone conversation as well to get more perspective (I just had a phone conversation with my old CFI who is working at Compass - this was a very helpful and constructive conversation). I'm not opposed to sticking with an engineering career, but it will require some drastic changes if I am going to continue on with it (maybe a different company, position, etc). Flight Test Engineering may be an option down the road as well (I assume I would need some turbine experience). I'd like to give flying a shot, but if it is really the nightmare that so many make it out to be on here, then maybe I am better off in the ole dusty cube.

Unhappy engineers are as common as unhappy pilots, so there’s that. Flying a plane is exactly like being in a cubicle, it just moves.

GF

Thanks for the feedback!

I disagree with Galaxy Flyer. I was also a mechanical engineer, and had many of the same concerns as you. I made the switch to professional aviation about 11 years ago, and absolutely love it. For me, it was the best decision I’ve ever made in my life.

Send me a PM, I’d be glad to discuss this further with you.

I've been a mechanical engineer for 5 years now and am switching to airlines in a month. If I hate it within a year or two, will simply go back or try CAE instructing/Part 91 flying etc.

I also learned how to program (mainly Python along with financial packages for it such as NumPy and Pandas and Django for web design) and If I ever feel like going back due to lifestyle or any other reasons I will definitely look into IT or financial industry as salaries for most mechanical engineers (and even here in NYC area) suck as compared to people working in IT or finances... The headaches I have to go through on day to day basis are just not worth it. I would rather stare out the window and come up with cool ideas than deal with office BS which gets my heart rate up at 27...

PS. I was contacted recently by Virgin Galactic to work as propulsion engineering in CA just because I have aviation and ME background. There will be always options out there. Just keep learning whatever you do.

Oh and so far at the two companies I worked, most engineers over 40/50 not in management are MISERABLE with anger issues....sad

I've often said I really need to learn some programming. I know some basic MATLAB and VBA. IT, especially anything relating to programming is such a valuable skill. Thanks for commenting. Very encouraging to hear from other engineers. Maybe I need to pick up some books on programming and start reading.


Yes, I figure if flying doesn't work out I can probably go back to engineering. Although it does concern me that I won't have any recent experience if I am out of the engineering career for a few years.

A friend is an aeronautical engineer. He used his training and skills regularly. He flies for a living, but also bought his house from doing A&P/IA work on the side, and using his engineering skills, to boot.

Flying requires almost no math, or very little. I'm the poster child for that, a shining monument to math inability. Your training won't have so much benefit in the cockpit as it will your golden parachute should aviation crumble around you (and it will, from those of use who have been merged, sold, furloughed, laid off, and every other routine and common term in the business with which you will become ever so familiar).

Happiness in aviation doesn't come from arriving. It comes from the journey. Quite a few forget that, and arrive to find that they've missed the best part.

Sounds like fun. I suppose my ultimate goal would be to fly and then maybe have some sort of a business on the side (real estate, something engineering related, etc).

I've used courses on udemy.com...cheap and effective!

Agree on recency of experience but if you absolutely hate it I'd assume you will hopefully know it in 1-2 years in which case you will probably have no issues finding another engineering job.

I too have a very supportive wife however I am sure I’ll know fairly quickly if the lifestyle will suite me well.

Also, have you looked into ATC options? FAA just had a window opened few days ago.

Oh yea udemy is great. Used udemy to learn Adobe Premiere Pro.

You sound like your in a very similar situation to me. Experiencing the lifestyle will certainly be a determining factor.

I guess I haven't thought about ATC...

Wow, your situation sounds VERY similar to mine, it's almost eerie.

I am just a few years older than you (28), also working for Corporate America as a Reliability Engineer for a major Aviation/Power/Oil&Gas company... I have had my current job for almost 3 years and before that worked for a Jet Engine OEM and spent a few years as a Field Service Engineer supporting an ATL-based airline down at Hartsfield Jackson.

Well, all of that was exciting at first, money is a non-issue and my current lifestyle is quite comfortable. My wife and I are able to travel, go out and have fun whenever we want to, but the routine and lack of long term exciting perspectives with this career are taking their toll on me. Just like you, work-life balance is very important to me and from what I have seen so far, this doesn't seem quite compatible with the cubicle world and the natural progression of an engineering career going into higher roles.

My longtime desire of a flying career is finally catching up to me, and with the current hiring environment, I am very much in a 'now or never' mindset. Like others have mentioned, if for any reason things don't work out flying-wise, the degree and engineering career will be a guaranteed back-up.

I passed my Instrument checkride a month ago and am going for the Commercial in a week or so. CFI will be next in October and hoping to pull the trigger on the career switch by the end of the year / early 2019.

All the best with your decisions. I would absolutely recommend you go for it and don't look back. You have the support of your family, are debt free and have a solid back-up. You wouldn't want to wonder "What if?" in a few years.

That's great! Your description of the engineering career are spot on. It's amazing how many engineers I have met who share the same sentiment. I met a guy who was a Boeing Flight Test Engineer - actually had a pretty cool job. He hated it - long hours, working weekends, etc. Made the switch to flying and he seems to love it.

I wish I could get it all done this year, but I'm cash flowing it about as quick as I can right now.

You just don't know what to expect until you've done it I guess. Who knows, I might make the switch and find that I don't want to live in a crash pad anymore lol.

It seems to be a re-occurring theme indeed. There have been a lot of lay-offs at my company over the past year or so, and people are starting to leave voluntarily to pursue other things. Friends from college are leaving the corporate world to pursue their passions. Perhaps it sounds cliche, but I think that's great. Just like you said, you won't know for sure until you try for yourself. The worse that can happen is you realize that the lifestyle is not for you and then decide to revert back to your original career plans. It's not that terrible and you will at least have learned something valuable along the way. Financial loss? Sure, but that's not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

And yeah, I'm also financing flight training through my job... I hear you, it takes time and dedication. I've been saving a bunch for the last couple of years and I'm about done now. Keep it up, you're almost there.

Ah, but therein lies the magic of flight. When I exited my “cubicle”, I was .... elsewhere. Saw a good chunk of the world on the company’s dime, and the view enroute was better than IMAX. :D

Ha...no kidding. I'll tell ya...10 hours a day in a cube will make you go mental.

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated. Best of luck to you!

Very true, Tom, but happiness doesn’t come from a job, it comes from your personality.

GF

Well I've got a great personality man. I'm happy as a lark. :)

To the OP:

Yours is a common theme, and you'd probably be a good fit.

Your timing is quite fortunate, as the airline pilot demographics dictate massive turnover and hiring over the next 10-15 years. Many folks have made the jump when conditions were nowhere near as favorable (and some regretted it).

That said, the industry is cyclical with the economy(and vulnerable to random events like 9/11) and few people complete a career without any speedbumps or detours. If you go down this road, be prepared for that. Although the pilot shortage will likely get so bad that furloughs may well be mitigated or rare even in a modest economic downturn. Once you get above 80% seniority at most major airlines you should be relatively "furlough proof", and bankruptcy liquidations will likely be rare or unheard of among the top carriers for the forseeable future (they're too big to fail now).

Excuse my cynicism after 40+ years of flying—I loved every minute, but I doubt my wife did nearly as much. Too many missed holidays, missed planned evenings, etc. I visited 70+ countries, have innumerable stories, friends and memories. Great, but I also lost my airline career to bankruptcy, 14 friends in flying accidents, 5 jobs changes with a couple of retching career changes. Just about nothing worked out as I planned and I’m still proud of my career.

Right now there’s never been a better future for pilots in the past 60 years, but that thought that in 1965 when the last shortage happened.

Good luck, enjoy the journey, if not all the possible outcomes.

GF

Thanks for the feedback!

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback. It is all useful info.

I registered to the forum just to reply to this post.
I am a retired Mechanical Engineer with a 27 year career at Cessna. Although I had ratings through Commercial/IR/AMEL I never made the jump to military (4 years in USAF) or professional flying due to real bad uncorrected vision and strict standards at the time.
Cessna was a good career choice for me. Depending on your position (I worked turboprop and and jet engine installations and fuel systems) there is a lot of opportunity to interact with Flight Test and ride along and observe flight tests. Other positions such as structures might have less opportunity. Flying opportunities include service tests, a good flying club and a limited time flying company transportation in a 414A. The higher up the food chain you go, the less opportunity. I never even flew right seat in a Citation.
You mentioned Flight Test Engineering. Some Flight Test engineers fly right seat on their project, with opportunity to to become type rated or progress to Flight Test Pilot. Others have more analytical jobs. I once unsuccessfully tried to transfer to a Flight Test Engineering position. I think having direct flight test experience and possibly an Aeronautical instead of Mechanical degree might help, however, there is a lot of competition for a limited number of positions. Long hours sometimes, a lot of paperwork, and keeping track of such things as maintenance, schedules, instrumentation, etc.

Thanks for the post. Sounds like you had a great career. When I first graduated I really wanted to get on with an aviation company that was involved with general aviation or business aviation (Cessna, Piper, etc). Think I even sent a resume to Lancair at some point ha. The problem is those jobs seem to be very few and far between. They are often incredibly competitive too. I'm at a disadvantage now since I really haven't practiced any mechanical engineering since I started in the workforce (since I am a Materials Engineer right now).

To be honest, I'm not sure another engineering job would change my perspective/feelings about engineering. Even through college, I started to doubt that engineering was really what I wanted to do long term. I have great respect for engineering. I think it is amazing what engineers do, and quite frankly, I think they are grossly underappreciated (maybe even underpaid in some cases). I do not regret getting my degree. If I could do it over again, I would probably still get the engineering degree.

I had a VERY good phone conversation with wrxpilot yesterday. He was an engineer who left the workforce to fly. He shared the same feelings I currently have about engineering. Very inspiring and encouraging to hear from someone like him. He seems to really be enjoying the airline career.

idskier,

The team off Learjet Way had a FTE become a demo and experimental test pilot.

GF

OP,

I like your plan, I like your debt aversion, you are young and in a good place to make this happen. You’re going to crush this. This is a great time, so I say go for it. My only advice is to shorten your posts...pilots stop reading after a few sentences:cool:

Good luck!

LOL. You know, I've found that if you come in here (APC that is) with a few sentences you often get a lot of negativity. If you take the time to explain your background, your plan, etc - you tend to get much better feedback.

Thanks for the kind words.

I'm in a similar situation, an engineer currently finishing up my commercial. I'm curious what your plan would be to build hours? Are there any low-time, part time jobs that you're thinking about working while an engineer, or are you thinking about swapping and jumping right in?

I instructed for the last 4 years while working as engineer. Was able to log lots of time this way.

Plan is to get Commercial, Multi Engine Commercial, then CFI. Then quit engineering and instruct full time at a local school. I'd like to get the hours as soon as possible. I think I might die of cubicle disease if I stay in engineering much longer.

What do you like about engineering, and what do you like about flying? What kind of life do you want?

There are people miserable with their life in the left seat making six figures just as much as there are people miserable in their corner office in middle management.

The key to life is perspective...sometimes you need to experience things yourself to fully appreciate, but for big job transitions it's in your best interest to try to understand it first before the jump, like you are, and take note of any red flags that pop up that you might be trying to suppress because you hate your current situation so much.

There is no perfect job, for most. At the bare minimum you should try working for a different employer before you fully commit and leave your current industry. Don't chase the money, engineering or aviation will pay well enough either way.

I've made a similar switch, feel free to PM me for more info.

So after debating for 3 years if I should make similar switch (close to 6 years as mechanical engineer), I am finally sitting @ CAE. My engineering employer has asked me to work part time (remotely or in the office) as many hours as I want/can. This will give me a chance to get a taste of flying and worst case scenario I will go right back to engineering after a year or so. This is one of those things in life I just had to do in order to not have any regrets. I think I may even want to start instructing at CAE Northeast after a year or so of flying, starting pay is in 6 figures.

Sim doesn't offer nearly the pay, benefits and QOL as the majors. If you're relatively young, I wouldn't take a detour in the sims.

Hi,

I am a recent graduate of mechanical engineering as well and just like you im interested to enter the aviation too.
Could you send me a Pm.? I would like to discuss few things with you.

Thank you

Engineering graduates do well as pilots.

Don’t do it. Stick to engineering and buy a plane if you want to fly. Low wages are really not worth it to have a career in flying

I make WAY more as a pilot than I ever would have dreamed of as a mechanical engineer. More time off too, and a better retirement. And I absolutely love my job.

Of course that’s not guaranteed, but I would’ve been very unhappy had I not at least tried. As long as one has the resources to do so, they should follow their passion if they can do so responsibly.

And if something happens, you can always go back to being an engineer.

That’s true too. At this point it’s been about 15 years since I worked as an engineer, so I would likely have to go back to school and refresh on a few subjects. But still, it would be a relatively quick spool up and engineers are always in demand.

That last sentence is correct, and the key.