Put my dream on hold?
 

Like all of you my dream is to become a pilot. I grew up in Germany and moved here to get my bacelors degree and become a pilot about 3 years ago. So far I haven't been able to start pilot training because of school.
I recently got a job offer being the European manager at a company, which I'd rather not mention, making about 40k yearly + benefits. I never had to work yet because I've been fully supported by my parents so 40k sounds like a lot to me.
One thing I like about it is that I would be living back where all my freinds are. I've already asked all my freinds what they think and they think I'm crazy for not accepting yet. But then again they never really had a dream like me.

Would you put your dream of becoming a pilot on hold for this job?

One thing that I fear is that if I accept that I would never become a pilot.

There is nothing that says you cant do both.. I would take the job and work on your pilot certs on the side. This way you wont have to put yourself in debt right off the bat like a lot of people do. Save your money and get a good solid financial foundation, that way when you do have all your ratings and are ready to jump into the commercial side of aviation, that first year FO pay wont hit you as hard. Not to mention your job has benefits and right now that is worth its weight in gold. If you really want to fly, NEVER give up your dream, just make sure you have your backup ready....

Well, that 40k/yr depending on your living expenses aren't going to help you earn a license unless you can live on the cheap. What kind of pilot are you wanting to be? Private, or commercial? Private is easy, but if you are wanting to go pro, then you have some huge expenses ahead of you towards your ratings, etc. Plan on spending around $50k or better just to get to the commercial standards with a multi-rating. Honestly, if you can get a job in this economy, that's great, and plus, is that $40k american, or Euro's? Not sure if you've accepted the position in the US for that company, or back across the pond.

Good point I have no idea if it would be in Euros or US dollars. I would be living in Germany. Living expenses are definetly cheaper over there. My freinds that live there take home about 500 Euros monthly (then again they also still live with their parents). I think I could live off of 1500 Euros monthly. I porbably couldn't do my ratings on the side because I'd be traveling all across Europe all the time. And I definetly want to be a professional pilot. Also certification is a lot more expensive over there.

40k sounds pretty good when you compare it to being a cfi. Why not just do the training on the weekends or sunny afternoons and just take your time. If the company has a flight department or a bizz jet you might get a chance to get into that.

Sadly no. At least not yet. It's a company that's just started out and the job i'm talking about isn't a shure thing yet because the owner of the company just put out a bid for a contract. Only if he get's that contract then I would have pretty much 100% chance of becoming the european project manager for that company. I might be able to do weekends though even though it is more expensive to get pilots training there

The smart thing to do here is take the job and start saving some money. However, CHANCES are if you do take the job and move back to Germany you will not end up becoming a professional pilot. I'm not saying it can't happen, because I surely don't know you personally. But to me this sounds like the classic "oh I'm just going to take a year off from school and work" line. How often do they go back to school??? You came to the US to get flight training. If you go back and get started in this job, then you will be comfortable again, maybe get promoted, and the flight training option will seem more distant.

So the choice is 40K a year job near friends or the dream? Only you can make that decision.

I would say you're not so much putting it on hold as following it. Get a job, work for a living for a while. Learn if you want to do that for a long time, or want to pursue flying. I look back on my cubicle-days and say "I not going back to that", but I know what I'm talking about from experience.

While working in Germany, join a glider club (there are many; there are probably more glider pilots in Germany than anywhere else) and learn to fly. You can fly relatively cheaply there, and work also.

When you have money and flying skills, it will make your eventual airplane training back here in the USA(should you continue with aviation) run quickly and smoothly, and seem much easier.

That's exacly what I'm affraid of will happen. I would only be promoted if the owner of the company will get several contracts in which case I would probably become the worldwide manager.
I want to do it because I would be able to save money for flight training and be back with my freinds. But I don't want to do it because I would be working for family and might get stuck there.
Do you think that 40k a year is a fair salary amount?

Take the job. If you don't want to, give me the guy's contact info.....