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Do I Want To Do This?

Old 02-13-2009, 10:36 AM
  #21  
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moving from Florida to UND would be a huge change in your lifestyle all together.. take it from me, i moved from hawaii to here (UND) and MAN it was a big change.. honestly, if you're motivated enough i dont think going to UND is necessary.. i am not really sure how your ratings will transfer but i'd recommend calling in and speaking with one of the lead instructors. by the way, you'll love the weather.
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Old 02-13-2009, 11:02 AM
  #22  
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just as everyone has said here...

you really have to love it to make a living at it...

if you go through with it you will find your self many a times throughout your career path saying "I wish I never did this..." or "How did I end up here...?"...

you just need to be able to ask yourself this and still wake up in the morning with a little dignity; if you think you can do that...then have at it...
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Old 02-13-2009, 10:20 PM
  #23  
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Get a bachelors in something you like. Whatever you want. I got my BoS-CRJ so I would have a fallback. I decided to go the flight route so I have to finish up my Commercial ATC. If you decide to go the ATC route you do not need a specific degree for it although it may be more help. Airlines don't care if you have a Aerospace Science BoS or a Pouring Coffee Bachelors as long as it is a Bachelors Degree from a accredited college.
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Old 02-15-2009, 06:23 PM
  #24  
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Here is a circumstance to consider.

I made 23k last year. I paid 12k in student loans.

I do not for see an upgrade to captain any time soon (like more than a few years even). My credit card debt is getting more and more for things i NEED.

The cost of flight training will go up, while the pay will not (maybe even go down).
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Old 02-16-2009, 09:33 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by SkyHigh View Post
If you don't believe me then what about Captain Sullenberger?

"I don't know a single professional pilot who would recommend that their children follow in their footsteps,"

Everyone has dreams. At some point you will have to make grown up decisions that will greatly effect the rest of your life. Everyone here feels the same as you do about aviation. Sadly however the reality just does not match up with our dreams and expectations.

If you are a loner who has few expectations of life beyond the flight deck then knock yourself out. However if you have a girlfriend and enjoy a normal lifestyle with friends and family then perhaps you need to make some hard choices.

You can survive letting go of a few dreams. In life we all have to cull the ones that are unrealistic or come at too high a price. Know yourself and be prepared to sacrifice. I would remain at Miami U. Finish whatever it is that you are currently studying and then pursue aviation if you are still inclined.

Skyhigh

I agree with this post, top to bottom. I personally was in the same postion (19, private pilots license, debated on an aviation degree) and went against it. Im now attending school for a business degree. Am I gonna fly when I graduate? If the industry stays like this, no.

As much as I hate to say it, right now its not worth it. Maybe if things start to go uphill, yea, ill consider it. but for now I am fine with finishing school and flying 172's.

As said above, do what you love. If flying privately wont cut it for you, then thats understandable. but having something to fall back on is a great thing. The last degree I would go for right now is one in aviation. I made my decision because of this forum. kinda funny, ha.
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Old 02-16-2009, 01:21 PM
  #26  
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I went to a major university program and althought the training was top notch, the cost was also almost 2 times more than doing it outside at an FBO or ATP style academy. If you love it, don't let everyone scare you away. Give it a shot, but don't back your self up with an aviation related degree...that'd be about the equivalent of a doctor backing his career up with a degree in dump truck driving=worthless. Stay at UM, finish your degree in something you wouldn't mind doing if things don't work out. Take advantage of the prime flying weather that Florida has to offer and explore your training options both part 61 and 141 to find what will work best with your schedule. Last but not least, don't be one of these guys who expects to get his CMEL and 25 hrs multi and go straight to a regional. Those days are long gone, plan on becoming a CFI and spending atleast 2 years building time while probably working a 2nd job to pay the bills. The industry is flooded with young, qualified individuals right now, some with 1000's of part 121 time. Best of luck, if it's all you can think about it give it a shot. You'll learn quickly whether or not being a professional pilot is all you dreame it would be or not. Stay modest, train hard, and do whatever you can to make your self that much more marketable than the guy next to you come interview time. Feel free to PM with questions, I'd be happy to offer my perspective.

-Spank
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Old 02-16-2009, 07:17 PM
  #27  
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teddymon check your PMs.
AeroTS - You can't accept PMs right now, but drop me an email if you see this: Corny357 (at) gmail.com

As for everyone else: I really do appreciate the responses and advice. Let me throw something else out there. I really feel it would be too difficult to carve ratings out of time I do not have in college. I simply do not have the hours in a day to do it, and believe it or not (flight costs included), UND would be CHEAPER than UM is right now. Don't even go there. I know.

So what say you all about that? Same responses and advice? I also understand that the people that are happy doing this job are those that love it (I do) and those that don't have a wife/kids (I don't). Those that are unhappy have a family to take of. Is that a correct assessment?
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Old 02-16-2009, 09:52 PM
  #28  
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There's a line in the first Matrix movie about how the "first matrix" was a happy place but the human brains couldn't stand it, thus whole crops were lost.

People that have time to spend on internet forums are generally not out there with a family spending time with that family.

They may be pilots stuck in shoddy hotels with somewhat working internet connections, 12 y/o's pretending to be somebody, or folks that hate the world and want to bring everyone down. They might even be folks that try to share their experiences, in the hopes that someone else will avoid the pitfalls along the path of life.

Some might not want a family with the 2.5 kids, the dog, and a white picket fence. Some might not want that until their own career is established. For some, it's the most important thing there is.

If you spend a bunch of time online, you'll generally see lots of complaining. It's easier to complain than to get up and do something about it. It's far easier to destroy than to build. Negative Nancy's probably outnumber Pollyannas 10 to 1 online. Flights are long, hopefully boring, and many times, it's the same person next to you, so you've already told all your stories, so you have to go online to let that stuff out, and what usually comes out is complaints.

It took 3 years of working in a cubicle before I decided to leave that very lucrative career and step into the aviation world full-time. Only one year did I match the income I had from that previous life, the rest of the time, money has been tight, but I still get my newfangled computer or gadget generally when I want, if not within a few months. We've got more opportunities and wealth now than my grandparents had during the Great Depression, money isn't that tight. With that, I'm one of the happiest people I know, with hundreds of pilot friends around the world who are also the happiest people I know. I have dozens of business-owner clients, also happy people, doing what they love to do, and, enjoying flying as a hobby. There are a few that see flying merely as a tool to allow them more time with their families, however, I see them flying on the weekends showing their kids and grandkids how to fly, much as other parents would be showing their kids how to sail, change the oil in a car, hunt, fish, or make a quilt. Of those clients that have a business, they enjoy the challenge of owning and running that business. The most successful ones are doing what they love.

Flying is not all puppies and warm fuzzies, and not good stuff does happen. That not good stuff, the roughage of life, will happen in aviation, owning a business, working for someone else, or even not working and being on welfare. I think the roughage is part of life to make us appreciate the good stuff more. I nearly quit one flying job over the frustration of trying to get a parking permit, this after six weeks of training and who knows how many thousands of dollars of opportunity cost. I stuck with it and got rewarded by being able to look DOWN on another of the company's aircraft from the front seat while in flight during a gorgeous sunset. Ya can't get that in flight sim.

If you're lucky, you find out what you love and do that when you're young. If you really love it, the roughage will be overcome by the love. If you don't, it's perfectly okay to move on to something else. You can do something else for awhile, decide you don't like it, and then decide to do something else. You're not married to a company, and no worries, no company is married to you. You'll have to decide if you want to put up with the cold and snow that is UND. Or find something more local as there are plenty of colleges with aviation programs including several in Florida. There's even online colleges that allow student loan funds to be spent on flight training.

Flying and a family can be compatible, same with those in the military on long deployments with families. It can be done. It requires, *GASP*, some hard work to make the relationship work, but it can be done. If I ever get around to wanting a husband, I'd want that husband to be a pilot as we share the same language. I don't want someone that is going to be complaining about my being gone pursuing what I love. I fully expect him to pursue what he loves and when we are together, we're sharing mutual passions. This means both of us are going to have to compromise, share, find compatibilities, and work together on a relationship. It's not going to be all puppies and warm fuzzies, but the warm fuzzies will greatly outnumber the roughage.

Bottom line: It's up to you to decide you are going to enjoy the present while preparing for a future that you will also enjoy. How you get there is your decision.
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Old 02-17-2009, 05:52 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by jedinein View Post
There's a line in the first Matrix movie about how the "first matrix" was a happy place but the human brains couldn't stand it, thus whole crops were lost.

People that have time to spend on internet forums are generally not out there with a family spending time with that family.

They may be pilots stuck in shoddy hotels with somewhat working internet connections, 12 y/o's pretending to be somebody, or folks that hate the world and want to bring everyone down. They might even be folks that try to share their experiences, in the hopes that someone else will avoid the pitfalls along the path of life.

Some might not want a family with the 2.5 kids, the dog, and a white picket fence. Some might not want that until their own career is established. For some, it's the most important thing there is.

If you spend a bunch of time online, you'll generally see lots of complaining. It's easier to complain than to get up and do something about it. It's far easier to destroy than to build. Negative Nancy's probably outnumber Pollyannas 10 to 1 online. Flights are long, hopefully boring, and many times, it's the same person next to you, so you've already told all your stories, so you have to go online to let that stuff out, and what usually comes out is complaints.

It took 3 years of working in a cubicle before I decided to leave that very lucrative career and step into the aviation world full-time. Only one year did I match the income I had from that previous life, the rest of the time, money has been tight, but I still get my newfangled computer or gadget generally when I want, if not within a few months. We've got more opportunities and wealth now than my grandparents had during the Great Depression, money isn't that tight. With that, I'm one of the happiest people I know, with hundreds of pilot friends around the world who are also the happiest people I know. I have dozens of business-owner clients, also happy people, doing what they love to do, and, enjoying flying as a hobby. There are a few that see flying merely as a tool to allow them more time with their families, however, I see them flying on the weekends showing their kids and grandkids how to fly, much as other parents would be showing their kids how to sail, change the oil in a car, hunt, fish, or make a quilt. Of those clients that have a business, they enjoy the challenge of owning and running that business. The most successful ones are doing what they love.

Flying is not all puppies and warm fuzzies, and not good stuff does happen. That not good stuff, the roughage of life, will happen in aviation, owning a business, working for someone else, or even not working and being on welfare. I think the roughage is part of life to make us appreciate the good stuff more. I nearly quit one flying job over the frustration of trying to get a parking permit, this after six weeks of training and who knows how many thousands of dollars of opportunity cost. I stuck with it and got rewarded by being able to look DOWN on another of the company's aircraft from the front seat while in flight during a gorgeous sunset. Ya can't get that in flight sim.

If you're lucky, you find out what you love and do that when you're young. If you really love it, the roughage will be overcome by the love. If you don't, it's perfectly okay to move on to something else. You can do something else for awhile, decide you don't like it, and then decide to do something else. You're not married to a company, and no worries, no company is married to you. You'll have to decide if you want to put up with the cold and snow that is UND. Or find something more local as there are plenty of colleges with aviation programs including several in Florida. There's even online colleges that allow student loan funds to be spent on flight training.

Flying and a family can be compatible, same with those in the military on long deployments with families. It can be done. It requires, *GASP*, some hard work to make the relationship work, but it can be done. If I ever get around to wanting a husband, I'd want that husband to be a pilot as we share the same language. I don't want someone that is going to be complaining about my being gone pursuing what I love. I fully expect him to pursue what he loves and when we are together, we're sharing mutual passions. This means both of us are going to have to compromise, share, find compatibilities, and work together on a relationship. It's not going to be all puppies and warm fuzzies, but the warm fuzzies will greatly outnumber the roughage.

Bottom line: It's up to you to decide you are going to enjoy the present while preparing for a future that you will also enjoy. How you get there is your decision.
Great post! For some reason i find this really motivating! Thanks!
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Old 02-17-2009, 06:12 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by jedinein View Post
There's a line in the first Matrix movie about how the "first matrix" was a happy place but the human brains couldn't stand it, thus whole crops were lost.

People that have time to spend on internet forums are generally not out there with a family spending time with that family.

They may be pilots stuck in shoddy hotels with somewhat working internet connections, 12 y/o's pretending to be somebody, or folks that hate the world and want to bring everyone down. They might even be folks that try to share their experiences, in the hopes that someone else will avoid the pitfalls along the path of life.

Some might not want a family with the 2.5 kids, the dog, and a white picket fence. Some might not want that until their own career is established. For some, it's the most important thing there is.

If you spend a bunch of time online, you'll generally see lots of complaining. It's easier to complain than to get up and do something about it. It's far easier to destroy than to build. Negative Nancy's probably outnumber Pollyannas 10 to 1 online. Flights are long, hopefully boring, and many times, it's the same person next to you, so you've already told all your stories, so you have to go online to let that stuff out, and what usually comes out is complaints.

It took 3 years of working in a cubicle before I decided to leave that very lucrative career and step into the aviation world full-time. Only one year did I match the income I had from that previous life, the rest of the time, money has been tight, but I still get my newfangled computer or gadget generally when I want, if not within a few months. We've got more opportunities and wealth now than my grandparents had during the Great Depression, money isn't that tight. With that, I'm one of the happiest people I know, with hundreds of pilot friends around the world who are also the happiest people I know. I have dozens of business-owner clients, also happy people, doing what they love to do, and, enjoying flying as a hobby. There are a few that see flying merely as a tool to allow them more time with their families, however, I see them flying on the weekends showing their kids and grandkids how to fly, much as other parents would be showing their kids how to sail, change the oil in a car, hunt, fish, or make a quilt. Of those clients that have a business, they enjoy the challenge of owning and running that business. The most successful ones are doing what they love.

Flying is not all puppies and warm fuzzies, and not good stuff does happen. That not good stuff, the roughage of life, will happen in aviation, owning a business, working for someone else, or even not working and being on welfare. I think the roughage is part of life to make us appreciate the good stuff more. I nearly quit one flying job over the frustration of trying to get a parking permit, this after six weeks of training and who knows how many thousands of dollars of opportunity cost. I stuck with it and got rewarded by being able to look DOWN on another of the company's aircraft from the front seat while in flight during a gorgeous sunset. Ya can't get that in flight sim.

If you're lucky, you find out what you love and do that when you're young. If you really love it, the roughage will be overcome by the love. If you don't, it's perfectly okay to move on to something else. You can do something else for awhile, decide you don't like it, and then decide to do something else. You're not married to a company, and no worries, no company is married to you. You'll have to decide if you want to put up with the cold and snow that is UND. Or find something more local as there are plenty of colleges with aviation programs including several in Florida. There's even online colleges that allow student loan funds to be spent on flight training.

Flying and a family can be compatible, same with those in the military on long deployments with families. It can be done. It requires, *GASP*, some hard work to make the relationship work, but it can be done. If I ever get around to wanting a husband, I'd want that husband to be a pilot as we share the same language. I don't want someone that is going to be complaining about my being gone pursuing what I love. I fully expect him to pursue what he loves and when we are together, we're sharing mutual passions. This means both of us are going to have to compromise, share, find compatibilities, and work together on a relationship. It's not going to be all puppies and warm fuzzies, but the warm fuzzies will greatly outnumber the roughage.

Bottom line: It's up to you to decide you are going to enjoy the present while preparing for a future that you will also enjoy. How you get there is your decision.
Wow. That's gonna be one of the best posts I've ever read on here. Thank you so much.
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