airplane401

Just a guy who got furloughed in training. Now I’m thinking of second careers. Do you think it’s a good idea to leave this career? What you all feeling?

Cyio

Really sorry to hear that. Tough question to answer because of so many variables.

How Old, which airline, your past, family situation, commuter etc. I mean if I was 50 and just furloughed I would be thinking really hard about spending the next 15 years at a regional, especially if I dont live in base. That said, if I was 25, single and living in my parents house still, I would ride this out and do something else for a year or so. Everyone in between, (that's me), well we have some tough choices ahead of us that's for sure. The airlines will hire again, its just a matter of time.

standardrate

if you don't absolutely love it, leave..
if you absolutely love it and don't see yourself doing anything else then why leave. stuff happens.
talk to the guys who have had other careers, desk job etc. this is barely a job. waking up and going to fly a few legs a few times a week is a whole lot better than other careers. trust me.
now look at being with a legacy in 20 years. you're making over 1/4 million dollars a year and barely working. guys who make that much work their tail off.

one more thing. we don't bring our work home. you finish flying a trip, you go home and relax. before your trip you literally get ready and show up to the gate. that is what you cannot beat.

this is just my opinion though. Ive had another career before this and my dream was always to fly. I was miserable at my last career. one day i said screw it and started flying . haven't looked back since and wouldn't change a thing... I also do not have a family. that is a big difference and if you are worried about not providing for them, do what you have to do.

Bozo the pilot

No major decision needs to be made. Always prepare for the industry to get leveled but I'd give it till early 2021.
Im not optimistic by any stretch, but there are retirements continuing and some flying will bounce back. It will be a smaller industry for the next 18 months at least and that may be enough to eliminate hiring.
If you live it, keep trying, if not, flourish in another field. Good luck- youll be competing with thousands of furloughed legacy guys in the next year, but at least you have a number somewhere right?
I hope it works out for you.

123494

What other interests do you have? Did you study something other than aviation in school?

SierraAlpha

Yes.

Filler...

airplane401

I did finance and computer science in school. So I’m thinking of going toward the financial analyst route or something.

herewego

If this set back is enough for you to come on to an internet message board to get anonymous advice about dropping it as a career weeks into your first 121 gig, you might not have the intestinal fortitude to handle the ups and downs of the aviation business.
This business is incredibly cyclical, as many have mentioned multiple times. The last few years have been boom, but the next unknown time will be bust. Can you handle the uncertainty of what the unknown time is? can you handle that within a few years there will be a boom cycle that gets the next generation all excited about where is the fastest place to get into the left seat so I can go get my golden job, while you've been slogging it out in the trenches, stuck commuting cross country to sit reserve in the right seat clapped out 145 or 200?
This job isn't jetting off to Monte Carlo with supermodel stewardesses rubbing suntan lotion on your back, while you're living the high life. A few might make it to that high platform, but those lucky few have lived through downturns like this multiple times in their career. fewer still of those select few are on their first wife after the stress of not knowing how long the pay concessions they had to give up to keep their airline in business would be, or how long they were going to be furloughed this time.
If you can handle those uncertainties and you enjoy flying then stick around. If you think this setback is too stressful, maybe it's not the right career for you.

JulesWinfield

If you're really young, you're likely to get hit financially by automation at some point in your career. I am in my mid 30s and looking to bail, but I don't know how to do anything else.

LoneStar32

I wouldn't expect those furloughed in training to be back for at least a year, maybe more. After the furloughs happen (of actual line pilots), all those people will be brought back and trained back up before anybody in training comes back. I would at the very least find something to do for the next year. You were "lucky" to get furloughed while in training, you are at least in the que to be the first to come back once they are ready to bring in new hires. Those with just a class date and without a seniority number will probably get those job offers rescinded and are looking at late 2021 or 2022 before the Regional industry starts hiring in mass again.