Notices
Flight Schools and Training Ratings, building hours, airmanship, CFI topics

Career Change-Advice Needed!

Old 03-12-2019, 11:18 AM
  #31  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 104
Default

Originally Posted by Excargodog View Post
You will not - FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE - EVER half to buy a small bottle of shampoo again.
Best advice I've ever read............
smc2020 is offline  
Old 03-12-2019, 11:28 AM
  #32  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Posts: 104
Default

Originally Posted by glover130 View Post
Hi all-first post. I'm a 27 year old single guy contemplating trying to become a pilot. Hoping to get some guidance here from those who are experienced and knowledgeable. First I'll outline the reasons I am attracted to aviation and then my concerns about making the move. Thanks to all!

I work in a cubicle. I would love to do something that gets me out and about every day I go to work. The idea of flying an aircraft gets me excited. Open air, see the world, etc. Many members of my family have been mechanics in the Air Force and for private airlines so I grew up learning about aircrafts and I've always had an appreciation for the industry.

Concerns:

1) I hate working in a cubicle now. Is a cockpit really that much different? Small space, not much physical activity? Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm also 6'6" and 250 pounds. I'm worried about comfort-level and regulations on that.

2) I have a steady, progressing $75,000 salary position currently in a Fortune 500 company. I will be earning $100,000 in the next 5 years. My retirement will be set if I stay for 20+ more years. Am I crazy to give that up? It bores me and I'm not passionate about it and I have trouble not taking work home, but it's not awful by any means. It's a good company to work for.

3) Potential income/job market at the end of training. I have heard horror stories about people coming out of training and not being able to find a job or having to take jobs paying $20,000/year. How realistic is this scenario? What could I expect coming out of training pay-wise? What about after 5-10 years? I was thinking about doing a program like ATP since they outline it all so well on their website, but it honestly sounds too good to be true. They are saying $50k-$80k as a First Officer at a regional airline with tuition reimbursement (which is good because it would cost around $80,000), and then the sky's the limit (no pun intended). Is this really true?

4) How would potential health concerns in the future affect my ability to work? I have a few health-metrics that are too high that I am working on, but at least I can still go to work currently even if my efforts are unsuccessful. Are there any health restrictions I should know about? I know the military is strict here, but I'm not really considering that route.

Again, thanks to all!
I was roughly the same age when earning my private, worked 2-3 jobs at a time and managed to earn the CFII. Worked in a cubicle at that time and HATED IT. Definitely don't miss corporate America, staring at a computer screen and reading memos all day.

Granted the job market and prospects are EXCELLENT in this time due to accelerating retirements. I would say 100% consider making the change; human beings were not created to sit under florescent lighting all day long.

Be ready to make fairly low wages instructing, building time and paying your dues. Long term you'd make ALOT more flying 121 airlines or in corporate aviation.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
hwvgd.jpg (33.9 KB, 78 views)
smc2020 is offline  
Old 03-13-2019, 09:44 AM
  #33  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 13
Default

Thanks for the additional input pilots. The looming retirements really add to the appeal. I guess my question regarding part-time compatibility is would it be possible to be an instructor part-time in order to build time? I don't think I have what it takes to live on 25k a year. I would love to be able to keep my day job through all licensing/schooling and also through instructing. I'd like when I quit my day job to have enough time to apply for a regional FO position. Is this possible? Thanks.
glover130 is offline  
Old 03-13-2019, 10:05 AM
  #34  
Gets Weekends Off
 
PRS Guitars's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 2,295
Default

Originally Posted by glover130 View Post
Thanks for the additional input pilots. The looming retirements really add to the appeal. I guess my question regarding part-time compatibility is would it be possible to be an instructor part-time in order to build time? I don't think I have what it takes to live on 25k a year. I would love to be able to keep my day job through all licensing/schooling and also through instructing. I'd like when I quit my day job to have enough time to apply for a regional FO position. Is this possible? Thanks.
Yes, absolutely possible! Be an independent contract instructor for a local part 141/61 flying club or school. Charge what you want, keep it all, set your schedule. That’s how I did it, though I was full time, we had lots of part timers.

It’s going to depend on where you live. I did this in a Denver and it was 20 years ago, for what that’s worth.
PRS Guitars is offline  
Old 03-13-2019, 11:36 AM
  #35  
Line Holder
 
Ecotone's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Mar 2018
Posts: 47
Default

Originally Posted by glover130 View Post
Thanks for the additional input pilots. The looming retirements really add to the appeal. I guess my question regarding part-time compatibility is would it be possible to be an instructor part-time in order to build time? I don't think I have what it takes to live on 25k a year. I would love to be able to keep my day job through all licensing/schooling and also through instructing. I'd like when I quit my day job to have enough time to apply for a regional FO position. Is this possible? Thanks.
That is what I have been doing for the past 4 months. Got my CFI in October and started instructing part-time at a part 61 school late November.

I've been averaging about 30 hours a month. At this pace, it would take me about 3 years to get to ATP mins... :-/

For the most part it's been good. I can make my own schedule and the added money on top of my engineering job is certainly very nice. From an instructing standpoint though, I find it very frustrating. It has been very hard keep a consistent schedule with my students. A lot of them are free during the day, while I can only fly evenings and weekends. I also pick up a lot of students from other instructors which can be sub-optimal (in my view) for the student if that were to happen too often.

Having this double life is also pretty tiring. This shouldn't be too much of a concern if you are single and can dedicate all of your time to this, but just something to keep in mind... Don't get me wrong, getting to go do a couple lessons after an already full day in the cubicle is awesome, but it can also be challenging in its own way.
Ecotone is offline  
Old 03-13-2019, 02:00 PM
  #36  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Position: Student of the game
Posts: 1,010
Default

Short and sweet response; hurry up and do it if you are going to and don't spend too much time on this forum. It's great for learning about the industry but there is WAY too much BS on here.

$25k/year instructing??? Not even close. If you're working full-time, billing ground and flight, you'll make $40-$50k if not more. I did that working in the Midwest this past year and you'll make even more down South or out West. You're going to have to take a pay cut when you start as as FO at a Regional.

I was in your shoes in 2017. I made the jump and haven't looked back and will now be starting my ATP-CTP class with a Regional this Summer. The only way you'll know if it's for you is to jump into it and see what happens.

Cheers
PossibleDeviation is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hang em High
Career Questions
8
02-01-2018 07:31 AM
C4006
Career Questions
3
12-14-2017 10:28 AM
CombineCaptain
Career Questions
28
01-25-2013 06:49 PM
SteveCostello
Career Questions
36
12-04-2011 05:59 PM
blewis73
Career Questions
3
11-08-2011 01:53 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices