Sky_Bound

Well it's about time to sh*t or get off the pot to send in my application


So I start discussing all the things I've learned from researching a career as a pilot with my wife.

(Training) DCA = 66k
Move from Las Vegas to Sanford, FL for two years.
Rent out our house here.
Her leaving some friends/job and getting a new job in FL
Two years of living, breathing, eating ,drinking, sleeping pilot training.
Pray to get on with a regional
Not knowing where my domicile will be or hold out for LA or something within distance of a LA or Vegas commute.
Pray to make about $24/fl hr as a first year FO.

Get crappy schedules for 2-3 years, spend little time with my family for that duration.

After 3 years out maybe get a better schedule, more time with the misses, maybe making 40k a year.

Keep flying, get upgrades over the next 5 years and maybe for the last 9 years after that earn a cushy pay.

It seemed to have soured her opinion of it all and honestly I must have some doubts myself or else the Application form would have been sent without that discussion.

So did I miss anything ?
I just wanted to let her know what I've learned and the reality of what were might be getting into.
Now she says she's "not too thrilled about the whole thing."
I'm not certain either.

If you had to do it all over again, would you ?

thanks for letting me vent

LAfrequentflyer

You hit all the bases on that one...my research is leading me the same way except Iwouldn't turn back...You only live once brother --- do the things you want and have no regrets about it...

SkyHigh

Don't forget that the future is very uncertian. You could easily complete all your training and experience and get nothing in the end. Just because regionals are hiring now in no way insures that there will be a job of any kind availible when you are ready for it. You are almost 40 now you have the next 20 years to either set yourself up for a nice retirement or be commited to poverty.
You live in a city full of aviation opportunities. Why leave? Keep your wife working and living at home while you get your licenses at North Las Vegas. After you are done the city has many canyon driver options. At the same time you could build another business or be working on a backup career plan.
I wouldn't pull the plug on all you have. The risk is not worth it.

SkyHigh

You guys should look up how many commercial pilots are made every year. I think the number is around 20 thousand then add all the new military pilots that are created every year, Somewhere around 11 thousand. Then search Airinc for the number of truely "New" jobs out there. They like to twist the numbers claiming that thousands of pilots were hired in a given year, but those numbers are false. They don't take into consideration jobs lost or the fact that there is a chain of pilots that move up with every hire at a major. The real numbers are quite low. I'll bet fewer than 2000 on average. Therefore, for every new commercial pilot who gets hired at a regional about 9 others give up somewhere along the way after getting all the ratings.
The regionals are growing right now, by the time you are ready they probably will be full and becoming stagnant. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best.
You could easily end up alone, in a strange city and totally broke at 55. I have seen it happen many times. Some dreams are best kept as dreams.

SkyHigh

otter

I had no idea that you were just starting out. Stay in Vegas, and go to ATP in North Vegas. Do the 90 day fast pace thing they have, and come next door and try to get a job on the ramp at Scenic, Vision, or King Airlines. then you have an in for a future job. I have a friend doing that right now. DCA is over priced, you dont need to spend that much. ATP is like half of DCA. Good luck, hope you find answers.

Sky_Bound

DCA- ATP
Apples for apples training they both cost about the same.

ATP North Las Vegas doesn't offer the 90 day course.
It's only offered at their Jacksonville and Dallas locations.

Two big reasons I chose DCA -
Comair - Delta's backing
Direct Regional track

@ 39 I figure I don't have too many years to build time and wait for interviews.

mike734

Way too much money for training. Listen to Otter. Are you really 40? If so I'd forget it. You will not spend the last 9 years making cushy money. Even if you get on with a major you will probably be a junior capt with OK pay but a bad schedule. Would I do it again? No, under todays conditions. I would get a masters and go in to law or some sort of medicine where your patience pay cash. Oh to be a Lasik surgeon these days. WOW.

BTW I seriously doubt your marriage can survive the turmoil of a fledgling pilot these days.

dhc8fo

You are getting some GOOD advice from some apparent wise men.

Take it from a five year FO.... If I didn't have a suga momma, there ain't no way in hell I could live off of this pay and feed my family too....

SkyHigh

Stay in Vegas. Make your own 90 course in LAS. Stay home.

SkyHigh

LAfrequentflyer

Brother...i checked ATPs prices - they are not as high as DCA, not even close...reconsider going to DCA...Delta is not doing that well, and i'm not sure how many more pilots will be hired by the regionals. i'll be honest - i don't know what people mean by direct regional track...i may be too much of a cynic, but nothing in this world is direct - you always have to pay, with money / years out of your life committed to goal.....ATP has a solid reputation and they are closer to where you live - take the longer course , you may not like the flying once you are doing it for pay...from what others have said you have lots of option in vegas for flying jobs after training and that home life is priceless- i wouldn't disrupt it...

Remember - it stops being the dream job once you are getting a showtime and paid...then its a job...and starting out it does not pay that well...

my two cents worth...sincerely hope i didn't ruffle any feathers...
sky bound, fell free to message me....

v/r,
Cajun Fan...