Mid-life Career Change
#151
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
#152
Time for another update.
Flying in Alaska was a MASSIVE game changer for me. The challenge of flying VFR in poor visibility, low ceilings, high gusty winds and freezing precip while landing on gravel landing strips less than 2000' long and 30' wide and full of potholes, really forced me to up my game. To give you an idea, my companies limits are 2 miles vis, 600' ceilings and 35 knots of crosswind component in a single engine aircraft. It's glorious! The pay has been great and I've been able to cover my family's bills and expenses. Probably make 2x what I was earning as a CFI and done LOTS more flying. Also, getting a lot of time in a glass cockpit (G500 with a paired 750/650 combo) has been great.
Just popping in to celebrate crossing the 1000 hour threshold.
If you know anyone that has an open right seat in a PC-12, let me know. I'm in love with that aircraft and think my next step will be into that airframe as a FO.
Blue skies and fair winds my fellows.
Flying in Alaska was a MASSIVE game changer for me. The challenge of flying VFR in poor visibility, low ceilings, high gusty winds and freezing precip while landing on gravel landing strips less than 2000' long and 30' wide and full of potholes, really forced me to up my game. To give you an idea, my companies limits are 2 miles vis, 600' ceilings and 35 knots of crosswind component in a single engine aircraft. It's glorious! The pay has been great and I've been able to cover my family's bills and expenses. Probably make 2x what I was earning as a CFI and done LOTS more flying. Also, getting a lot of time in a glass cockpit (G500 with a paired 750/650 combo) has been great.
Just popping in to celebrate crossing the 1000 hour threshold.
If you know anyone that has an open right seat in a PC-12, let me know. I'm in love with that aircraft and think my next step will be into that airframe as a FO.
Blue skies and fair winds my fellows.
Thanks for sharing
#153
New Hire
Joined APC: Dec 2022
Posts: 8
BStill- I am with you and on a similar path. 20 years of corporate life (although it has been good to me) is enough for me, can't imagine another 20 years in the grind. I completed all ratings through CFII/MEI 18 years ago but life happened and had to go a different path. Now I am in the position to as you said "try for the encore" career change. Currently rolling through and entire instrument ground just as refresher, hope to take CFII check ride in soon. 44 so trying to make a run at it due to pace of hiring that should continue for years. Have a good gig lined up for some instructing and have made some good contacts that have airplanes and want to go pound out hours. Trying to keep the day job as long as possible before cutting the chord.
#154
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2023
Posts: 1
Hopping in on this - been heavily involved on the corporate side of aviation, but not a pilot (about 20 hours over the years). That being said, I have looked into both P.61 & P.141 extensively for the last few years and after having been involved in many high level compensation reviews recently (p.91 & p.135), now seems to be the time to pull the trigger and make a career change... In my eyes, P.61 clearly is cheaper, however given the current climate of the industry, both private and commercial, along with the fact that having the same CFI throughout the majority of your training is extremely improbable due to hiring campaigns, the P.141 route is the clear winner (cost vs. time/uncertainty). While more expensive and not nearly as personalized; timing, availability and resources will be much better than what a mom & pop shop can provide due to CFI shortages and shear fleet size in today's world. It seems to me that if you are a self starter and able to dedicate all of your time to ATP or other similar programs, the ATP/CAE/L3 route makes the most sense given the pace and focus of their programs. Again, I am not a pilot and I have no personal experience with the P.141 schools, so PLEASE correct me if my logical reasoning is flawed - all I care about is what makes the most sense (time, money, and placement) in obtaining a lucrative position today's commercial airline world.
#155
The flaw in your reasoning is that the quality and schedule reliability of the school is determined by it's managers, not it's certification category. Both 61 and 141 schools can be good, bad, or indifferent depending on how they're run. You need to do the research on the particular schools in question.
Be aware that in the case of the national chains, different locations can have vastly different operations, so you need to research those on the local level. Maybe hang out in the parking lot and talk to current students.
And by "research" I don't mean asking the people who run the school, they will generally lie to you compulsively.
Caveat on that: A good small 61 school could go sideways if they have few CFI's and they lose one or two of their top people. They might not be able to replace them. If it were me, I might look for a school with older instructors who are not airline bound.
Be aware that in the case of the national chains, different locations can have vastly different operations, so you need to research those on the local level. Maybe hang out in the parking lot and talk to current students.
And by "research" I don't mean asking the people who run the school, they will generally lie to you compulsively.
Caveat on that: A good small 61 school could go sideways if they have few CFI's and they lose one or two of their top people. They might not be able to replace them. If it were me, I might look for a school with older instructors who are not airline bound.
#156
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2023
Posts: 46
Be aware that in the case of the national chains, different locations can have vastly different operations, so you need to research those on the local level. Maybe hang out in the parking lot and talk to current students.
And by "research" I don't mean asking the people who run the school, they will generally lie to you compulsively.
And by "research" I don't mean asking the people who run the school, they will generally lie to you compulsively.
#157
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2021
Posts: 51
Time for another update.
Flying in Alaska was a MASSIVE game changer for me. The challenge of flying VFR in poor visibility, low ceilings, high gusty winds and freezing precip while landing on gravel landing strips less than 2000' long and 30' wide and full of potholes, really forced me to up my game. To give you an idea, my companies limits are 2 miles vis, 600' ceilings and 35 knots of crosswind component in a single engine aircraft. It's glorious! The pay has been great and I've been able to cover my family's bills and expenses. Probably make 2x what I was earning as a CFI and done LOTS more flying. Also, getting a lot of time in a glass cockpit (G500 with a paired 750/650 combo) has been great.
Just popping in to celebrate crossing the 1000 hour threshold.
If you know anyone that has an open right seat in a PC-12, let me know. I'm in love with that aircraft and think my next step will be into that airframe as a FO.
Blue skies and fair winds my fellows.
Flying in Alaska was a MASSIVE game changer for me. The challenge of flying VFR in poor visibility, low ceilings, high gusty winds and freezing precip while landing on gravel landing strips less than 2000' long and 30' wide and full of potholes, really forced me to up my game. To give you an idea, my companies limits are 2 miles vis, 600' ceilings and 35 knots of crosswind component in a single engine aircraft. It's glorious! The pay has been great and I've been able to cover my family's bills and expenses. Probably make 2x what I was earning as a CFI and done LOTS more flying. Also, getting a lot of time in a glass cockpit (G500 with a paired 750/650 combo) has been great.
Just popping in to celebrate crossing the 1000 hour threshold.
If you know anyone that has an open right seat in a PC-12, let me know. I'm in love with that aircraft and think my next step will be into that airframe as a FO.
Blue skies and fair winds my fellows.
Congrats! I just came across this thread. I was in a similar position as you in 2019 when you started. At 35 I had 850 hours flying mostly for fun. I cut my living expenses, quit my corporate job and CFI'd to get the 1500. COVID put a bump in the timeline and I had to find some other work, but when regionals started hiring again in the fall of 2021 I was ready. I am very glad I did it. Best of luck to you going forward!
#158
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 145
Another year, another update. =)
Flying in Alaska was amazing. Got into the C208B and there is something to be said for ripping a turbo-prop across the tundra at low altitudes. Renewed my CFI creds by working as an IP within the company. October of 2023 was my last shift working in Alaska. It was hard to leave. I worked for a good company and enjoyed it immensely. Declining health of some family members forced my hand and I needed to secure employment with more home time.
Got on with a company flying PC-12s. It's been an absolute blast. Pay increase, better home/life balance, good work perks. International flying to the caribbean is a blast. First time experiencing full motion sims and the intensive training that goes with them. Had to adjust to a crew environment, which can be difficult coming from single pilot ops. Got hired in Nov, completed FO training in January, mostly done with Captain upgrade training.
Total time is around 1700 hours. Absolutely love private aviation, no interest in the airlines. Different airports each day, fun downtime in fun locations. Variety is the spice of life and this kind of work suits me.
Living the Dream.
Flying in Alaska was amazing. Got into the C208B and there is something to be said for ripping a turbo-prop across the tundra at low altitudes. Renewed my CFI creds by working as an IP within the company. October of 2023 was my last shift working in Alaska. It was hard to leave. I worked for a good company and enjoyed it immensely. Declining health of some family members forced my hand and I needed to secure employment with more home time.
Got on with a company flying PC-12s. It's been an absolute blast. Pay increase, better home/life balance, good work perks. International flying to the caribbean is a blast. First time experiencing full motion sims and the intensive training that goes with them. Had to adjust to a crew environment, which can be difficult coming from single pilot ops. Got hired in Nov, completed FO training in January, mostly done with Captain upgrade training.
Total time is around 1700 hours. Absolutely love private aviation, no interest in the airlines. Different airports each day, fun downtime in fun locations. Variety is the spice of life and this kind of work suits me.
Living the Dream.
#159
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,918
Another year, another update. =)
Flying in Alaska was amazing. Got into the C208B and there is something to be said for ripping a turbo-prop across the tundra at low altitudes. Renewed my CFI creds by working as an IP within the company. October of 2023 was my last shift working in Alaska. It was hard to leave. I worked for a good company and enjoyed it immensely. Declining health of some family members forced my hand and I needed to secure employment with more home time.
Got on with a company flying PC-12s. It's been an absolute blast. Pay increase, better home/life balance, good work perks. International flying to the caribbean is a blast. First time experiencing full motion sims and the intensive training that goes with them. Had to adjust to a crew environment, which can be difficult coming from single pilot ops. Got hired in Nov, completed FO training in January, mostly done with Captain upgrade training.
Total time is around 1700 hours. Absolutely love private aviation, no interest in the airlines. Different airports each day, fun downtime in fun locations. Variety is the spice of life and this kind of work suits me.
Living the Dream.
Flying in Alaska was amazing. Got into the C208B and there is something to be said for ripping a turbo-prop across the tundra at low altitudes. Renewed my CFI creds by working as an IP within the company. October of 2023 was my last shift working in Alaska. It was hard to leave. I worked for a good company and enjoyed it immensely. Declining health of some family members forced my hand and I needed to secure employment with more home time.
Got on with a company flying PC-12s. It's been an absolute blast. Pay increase, better home/life balance, good work perks. International flying to the caribbean is a blast. First time experiencing full motion sims and the intensive training that goes with them. Had to adjust to a crew environment, which can be difficult coming from single pilot ops. Got hired in Nov, completed FO training in January, mostly done with Captain upgrade training.
Total time is around 1700 hours. Absolutely love private aviation, no interest in the airlines. Different airports each day, fun downtime in fun locations. Variety is the spice of life and this kind of work suits me.
Living the Dream.
#160
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,229
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