Hello,

About 15 years ago I left a job with a regional as an FO flying the EMB-145. The quality of life at the time wasn’t conducive to starting a family and was very unpredictable. I loved aviation but needed something stable and lucrative at that point in my life.

I started a successful finance career which currently yields a comfortable six-figure salary. My family is in a position now where I can entertain the idea of potentially returning to that flying career. I’m 41 years old and currently weighing the pros and cons.

I put together a plan to start flight instructing again and build time and get current to obtain a regional FO position. I haven’t flown in 15 years so there would be a good amount of work ahead. I’ve done it before but was more current and right out of college.

My TT is 1700, 1200 Piston PIC, 285 Jet SIC, 1100 Flight Instructor, 390 MEL.

My question is, aside from the money and the regional pilot life, what other things should I consider with this decision? Is this a sound plan? How would being out of the game for 15 years factor in?

I appreciate any and all opinions. Thank you!

 

Why trade in your peak earning years for being a CFI, then a regional FO on the chance you’ll get on with a major in 5 years? Unless you have retirement funded now, it looks like a gamble with an unsure payoff.


GF

 

I don’t get it. You would appear to meet criteria for being hired as an FO at almost any regional if you went out and got current and maybe an instrument refresher. With 285 hours of prior 121 time you could upgrade in a year at some places. With signing bonus the first year and upgrade the second year you could likely make $120K or so in your first two years - not what you are making now but more than you’d get as a CFI - and be competitive for an ULCC in a couple of years.

Things have changed RADICALLY since you last flew 121.

 

What he said. Since you flew an RJ it will probably come back pretty quickly.

I would get some currency and practice and review instrument procedures but then any regional would have you. If you get into a junior plane and base you should be able to upgrade relatively quickly since you already have 121 time.

But GF is correct, it's possible to get stuck at a regional making $90K up to eventually a max of about $150K (more is possible for instructors if you can get into it). Can your finances handle that?

Also depends on what you mean by comfortable six-figure salary... if it's currently under $200K you wouldn't be risking too much. Many majors will get you to $200K+ very quickly, and then upgrade means $300-400k+

 

I don’t disagree with the current optimism; it’s just st that aviation is very fragile and fortunes can change on a dime. True, retirements add a previously unheard of future, but that’s been said before when the hiring curve was a vertical line.

GF

 

I wouldn't get back in for a full time job.

Scale back your finance job and find a Part 135 freight operator that you can fly 1-3 days per week for.

You will get the best of both worlds in this situation. You get the stability, 8-5 schedule, 4-5 weeks vacation and with the 135 freight operator you get that needed break from the monotony of crunching numbers/ dealing with people.

In the Regionals you are probably going to spend most days flying next to a 25 year old. Some people can handle this just fine, but a lot of people will have problems.