Before I got into college I was talking ERAU with my dad... he told me to at least get an associate's in engineering at the state school, and then transfer. He is not a pilot but was smart enough to know I should have a backup plan should flying not work out.

Well, I went on and got a bachelor's at the state school, and then the allure of the nice salary drew me into the computer work. I never really did get off on it very much, and my mistake was sticking around so long (if I had my ducks in a row 6+ yrs ago, I could have probably got on in the last hiring boom)... but really its best to live life without regrets. I got to be able to have an airplane for a few years and really enjoy GA!

 

I regret not becoming an airline pilot years ago.

OR

I regret becoming an airline pilot long ago.

Regret cuts both ways. I am guessing that you are not married?

Skyhigh

 

Sounds familiar. My $0.02 into this discussion is to make sure what you're really feeling is the need and desire for an aviation career and not simply a getwaway from your boredom. If you don't see the distinction then I'd say you should take the extra time.

An aviation career entails tremendous financial and personal sacrifice and, unfortunately, that's difficult to quantify or appreciate when you're immersed in the excitement of saying "take this job and shove it" and flying off to a "St. Exupery adventure".
Remember, every job eventually settles into a routine. This routine is obviously different for each career track but, a routine nonetheless.

Are you planning on having a family some day? Is your wife willing and able to work (and be the predominant breadwinner during that period)? Will your family be able to handle constant absences (always more difficult than it sounds)? Will you?

Now, I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't do it. If the cautionary angles were the only ones to consider, nobody would ever try anything new. Frankly, it sounds like your mind is made up and you're looking for some encouragement.

Save up as much as you can right now. Sell the Mooney and bank it. Stay away from any flying debt AND maintain your engineering contacts while staying up-to-date on the industry.
It's cheap insurance.

Good luck.

 

Story of my life! I'm a 30 year old application developer. I had the same chat with my Dad. I majored in something else, the salary was a lot better, and I have been enjoying an easy life with nice toys.

Life happened while I was making other plans. I can't say it was all bad - things happen for a reason. I met my wife, was able to be home while my Dad was terminally ill, and learned a lot about life in general.

It's been a good trip but I'm considering a lot of the same things you are. I don't have shiny jet syndrome; I'd just like to fill the desire to fly professionally because it was my original goal. Consider outside the box options.

As much as we're both behind the curve, It wasn't wasted time. I might not like the cubical, but the education and experience is always there if I need it! Back when I was instructing in college, I knew a guy who was a CFI and also a CPA. He came in to pick up a few students. A few weeks later he started helping out in the accounting department. Several months after that he started flying King Air charters too. He built some quality time while collecting a decent paycheck. Network and use all of your skills. They might just set you apart from everyone else with a CFI/CFII/MEI.

 

Hi M20EPilot,

CubDriver is correct, you and I do have quite a few similarities. I used to be a mechanical engineer, and made the switch to professional aviation just over five years ago when I was 30. It still amazes me its been that long already, time sure has flown by. The nice thing about my previous engineering career is that I was able to prepare myself financially for aviation. When I made the switch, I had no debt (including flight training, which I had paid cash for). I also had a comfortable savings cushion, which I strongly recommend.

When I made that jump, it was 2007 and almost everybody was hiring. I was building time as a CFI, and knew that in a few months I'd have my pick of airlines. In spring 2008 I was hired by ASA, and then days later I was put in a hiring pool as the economy started crashing. A few weeks after that, they started furloughing guys and I knew it was going to be awhile before airlines started hiring again.

Fortunately I had an ok charter job at that time, and went from a king air SIC to PIC on a Chieftain. That was an excellent experience, for many reasons (both good and bad). In late 2008, I got on with a corporate flight department flying a Citation. It was a great job in some ways, and terrible in others. The pay wasn't what I was promised, and with the bad economy I was threatened with my job if made any demands about what I was promised in my interview. I stuck it out for a couple of years, and eventually the guy that threatened us all the time was fired. I got typed, and started getting some TPIC. But the pay was still WAY too low for what I was doing, and I was only flying about 250 hrs/yr.

Eventually I made the very tough decision to leave corporate for the airlines, as I knew that if I got much older it was going to become very difficult to make the switch to first year regional pay and QOL. That was over a year ago, and I'm pretty happy with the decision. I finally live where I want to live, I'm a lineholder, and being off first year pay really takes the stress of financially. I have two type ratings, my ATP, and will have 3500 hours in a few more months. With the right connections, that really makes one marketable for some decent corporate gigs. Then again, I might just stay put for another year and see if this mass hiring thing really does come true, and ride the wave on the airline side of things.

I have ZERO regrets about leaving engineering for this career. Even though I clearly had to jump through some hoops over the past few years, it has been an enjoyable adventure, and financially everything has worked out well. I still have money in savings, I have a lot of time off, I like my job, I feel challenged, I have fun, and I've been steadily progressing through my career. If you have the right personality and goals in life, this is a pretty sweet job. But it's not stable like engineering, and if your short term goals include settling down and having a family, you will probably hate it. Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

 

I too have zero regret about making the jump. I also have no desire to ever go back to a cubicle!
As you can see the best advice is to plan financially cause it will hurt your bank account!
Good luck!

 

There are lot of good points from all the wise people who have shared their views & I am probably the least experienced & least qualified to give any advice, but I will share my thoughts...

Imagine this.... a person turns 60 or 65 one day.

Looking back at his career & life in general, says, "I've done great".
I have decent amount of cash, decent chunk in retirement accounts, rental properties, a nice paid off house in upscale suburbs, nice toys & cars including a CIRRUS or SARATOGA, all paid off... Kids done with college, all settled... No debt, very comfortable next 25-30 years.......

He looks back & asks himself "Is there anything that I wanted to achieve but couldn't do so....." He has reached here but in the process ignored his dreams & gut feelings, taken the practical approach with a safe route that is comforatble & secure.

Then remembers, Oh, I always wanted to be an airline Captain, for as long as I can remeber but I kept putting it off for a later better time.....

Now, even if he wants to & can now afford to do so, Still can't do it... Max his money can still buy him, is a self sponsered type rating with a Pay 2 Fly First officer position in some 3rd rated company who participates in such schemes..... Still not bad, he stills gets to fly the airliner as an airline pilot, but it is not quite the same feeling....

Unforunately, all the money can't buy the 4th stripe.... That one has to be earned......

 

The prev post was the emotional aspect for those who want to do it….

Now the practical aspect…….

You have said that you don’t care what you fly, props, jets, charter, airlines, something anything. I think that is NOT the correct way to approach a career. I think that you should care…….

As a pilot if you were told to plan a cross country trip to somewhere, anywhere… How can you plan your route & the best, most efficient way to get to your destination, if you don’t even know your destination.

Where you are currently, Right around 950 to 1000 hrs, I think you are at such a point, at which you should take a really hard look at what is your destination? Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15, 20 & 25 yrs from now?? What do you ultimately want from this profession .

What kind of pilot do you want to become??
An Airline pilot either flying wide body jets 777’s etc, or domestic pilot flying the A320/B737 types who is home every evening or a corporate pilot with a good employer or a cargo pilot at FEDEX….. At the right place & with enough time in each line, all these routes can be equally rewarding & each one has it’s own pros & cons.

All are professional pilot careers but the routes are different & the difference begins right around a point of 1000 to 1200 hrs TT.

Your DESTINATION must be very clear in your mind……. Then only you can decide what your route should be.

Another suggestion, if possible, Do not quit your job but take a 6 month or 1 yr Non paid personal leave. Try flying professionally at any entry level entity depending on the route of your choice, like at a regional or Ameriflight for Cargo/ charter/ Corporate route. That way you will know if you like the flying professionally part or not.
If you like it & things are moving smooth & as planned, you can always email or fax your resignation…….

Take a decision, make sure you take the right decision, tripple check your decision & then, stick to decision no mater what…..

 

Great stuff guys, thanks. And thanks for the suggestion of setting direction, bcpilot!

I have to say that if I were to pick an end goal right here and now, it would be Hawaiian. I have two good contacts there, one who made captain recently. Hawaii is where I'm originally from... but subconsciously I realize its foolish to set your sights on any one operator. Who knows if they will go under in 5 years? The guy who taught me to fly is there, secure now, but had to endure a 7-year (give or take) furlough. I was over there in the islands recently and went knockin' on doors handing resumes out, and made one good contact in the process who I'll call on again in a few months.

bcpilot, funny you mention the LOA... guess what I did last summer? I took 6 months off. It was the first time I'd not worked since I was 15 (never even had a summer off, always worked and took summer classes in college, even). It was glorious! Again hindsight 20/20, it would have been IDEAL to use that time to fly full time. There is a shot I could do it again though, one guy in my management chain flies (just your average hobby pilot), and he knows my aspirations and might support such a thing again.. we've talked about it.

Anyway I did use that time to firm up my decision. I had been doing the cubicle thing so long that I wanted to separate from it a while to be sure. It took a solid 2 months to get that life out of my head. I also moved my lifestyle around to mimic a flying job... mostly unintentionally (it just worked out that way). I spent better than half the time traveling on various trips. My wife came with on some trips, stayed home on others (She has a good job and can work from anywhere she can get online). I really do enjoy the lifestyle of going on a trip for 3, 4, 5 days even a week or two at a time and then having several days at home. 5 on 2 off in the desk-jockey world doesn't leave enough 'chunks' of free time to string together to have fun with the things I enjoy doing.

I also knocked things off the bucket list left and right. Anyway, I'm lucky I could pull that off. Now time to work hard and find a job.

 

my suggestion ...keep the m20 e if you were to get furloughed which happens plenty at the regionals its great to be able to keep current and build hours . Losing your job and having a stagnant log book isnt good . My 2 cents . Good luck whatever you choose .