SkyHigh

Just because the spouse is on board does not make it a good idea. We all are facing a massive task of saving a few million dollars for retirement. One of the best things about sacrificing for an aviation career was for the benefits. Now all of that is gone.

If someone is going to switch careers in middle age into flying then they had better be worth a few million first or have a solid back up business or career.

Upgrade, the best wages and working conditions can often take 20 years to reach. What good it is to be stuck in FO wages into your late 50's? I always figured that if a pilot had not made it to the majors by 35 then it was time to pull the plug.

Skyhigh

clipperskipper

In our case my wife takes care of the books which includes three businesses and all of the real estate, she definitely needed to be on board for this one. It was a simple question of "can I do this", how little I can earn each month, and if I am truly happy. If flying the C-150 makes her happy, so be it. If nothing else we'll be ahead some $14K on health insurance.

SkyHigh

One definition of adulthood is doing things that put others happiness first. In a family that often means setting aside personal dreams and doing what is best for everyone else.

I do not know what your personal situation is but switching careers in middle age to aviation is very hard to justify for any family man. Not only does it place your family at a financial disadvantage but the pilot is largely removed from being an effective family team member because they are gone all the time. The results are that the spouse left at home has to pay all the bills and do all the work.

In addition you might be able to make the numbers work today but that does not account for the unknowns of the future. Sometimes you have to buck up and turn your back on personal desires as an opportunity cost of being in a family.

Skyigh

USMCFLYR

One of your definitions.
I have met plenty of selfish adults.

No. I also know many people are are gone on frequent occassion who are effective parents. You can not just lump spouses and parents who happen to travel for any work and call them ineffective family members.

Matter of fact - in another post you champion a career in the military, but in this post you practically say that a military person who deploys often is not an effective family member. In my poinion - you have just insulted many fine spouses and parents in the military.

USMCFLYR

clipperskipper

Quite simply there's just the two of us now, business is on auto pilot, and I have an extensive 121 background with four offers in hand, three of which are live in base. From those choices I will pick which offers the highest qol moving forward as my family, fiends, and work are my priorities.

Quality of life includes not working 70 hours a week in the Summer as I have in the past, for the benefit of others. Time has been my biggest enemy, not money, and more time I shall have.

SkyHigh

It is one thing to make the sacrifice in service to your country and yet another to do the same in service to yourself.

As I mentioned previously some define adulthood as putting the needs of others first. I think that a career in the military would meet that definition. Also a military career comes with better income and some support needed to help the family left at home (or at least I hope so).

I would like to hold out the example of the movie "The Hurt Locker" as an example of how some choose the military when they perhaps should put their family first. At some point the family needs trump the government.

To abandon the family for purely personal reasons is very different. Suppose that the father of three were to decide at 44 to leave his stable post office job, and all the the benefits that come with it, to pursue his dream of being a guitar hero? In that example he would not be home to help with the daily functions nor would he be providing financial support for his family. Under those conditions the departing spouse would be closer to a parasite to the family rather than a supporting member.

The bottom line is that in life we make choices that preclude others. When someone enters into a family situation the door closes on other opportunities.

Skyhigh

clipperskipper

I see the effects here as one of my customers is Army Aviation, and the 3/126th is currently deployed. These people do well financially when deployments come around, Majors become Colonels, E5's become E6's, etc. which btw turns into a near six-figure proposition with all of the different pays attached, which is why most of them do it. The
effects at home are divorce, bankruptcy, relationships that "just happened", sent home for sexual harassment. Many of the soldiers who return are never the same as when they left, although they send them to Ft. Hood for a couple of weeks in order to be deprogrammed.

SkyHigh

If you have already flown in part 121 operations then you know most of this anyway. I too hold hope of being able to return to professional aviation one day as well. However after we are in a very secure financial position and when my children are older.

This topic is a pet peeve of mine. As a middle aged flight instructor I am frequently approached by guys of similar age who want to blow their lives up through aviation for various reasons. Sometimes it is a passive aggressive path to divorce other times a panicked response to a mid-life crisis. In me I suppose that they expect to find an ally. It is painful to watch unfold.

Skyhigh

USMCFLYR

That is a fine post Skyhigh - and good back track to try and not lump all people who might be away from family as unworthy family members.

Maybe in the future you might try to be more discerning at those you throw rocks at in the first place.

USMCFLYR