I too have a very strong passion for aviation like many if not most of the members here on the forums. I started flying at 23 years old right after I got my bachelor's degree. After 3 years I am now a CFI and loving every minute of it. I love the flying, there is absolutely no doubt of it. I am also glad and happy to be able to get paid for what I love the most. Having said that, I feel dreadfully uncertain about my future. I started a thread a week or so ago about ways to stay motivated. I found the answer. Just not think about the future too much and just concentrate on the present. My best advice to you is the following. You are still very young and use it as an advantage to get a 4 year degree. It might not mean much to you at this time, but believe me, it will open a lot more doors down the road whether you decide to pursue aviation or not. Especially if things didn't work out in aviation. Secondly, do not borrow any money for flying. And lastly, when you do start flying, take one hour at a time and truly try to enjoy every minute of it. Don't get stuck up in the future too much like I did, I don't recommend it. It is a risky investment, but for me, I am glad I made the choice. Good luck to you and hope you take to the skies in the near future.

Is it worth it? For me, absolutely. However, I or anyone else on these forums can't answer that question for you. Only you can decide that...

 

I'm a firm believer in the phrase "If you love what you do you never have to work a day in your life" Granted it is not quite that easy, but you get the idea, I'm not here to advise if its worth it, the others have done well enough on that subject.

As far as cost, if you have a year in Iraq under your belt, you should qualify for the post 9/11 GI bill benefits. I'm using it and so far I have attained my commercial, CFI and CFII along with about 300 hours (45 of it Multi) in just the last year, and now have 4 private students using the same benefit.

If you earned it, use it! It is by far the BEST college program the military has ever come up with, which leads me to believe it won't last long! PM me if you want more details, it's hard to turn down a degree, your ratings and E-5 BAH while your in school!! Check out a few threads down "Any recent veterans attending flight school", there looks to be alot of Ch33 benefit info in that thread also...

 

Wannabe:

As in most of life's greater pleasures and endeavors, follow your heart.

Rick is right in that you won't know if you made a good career decision ($) until the day you retire.

Hvydrvr is right that only you will know if it made you happy.

One thing that hasn't been addressed here: what is your end-game goal? If you are trying to get hired at a Major, I think your color-blindness may be a show-stopper, regardless of the Class 1. That is, an airline can have a higher standard than what is required by the FAA.

I'm not sure if that would be an impediment at a Regional or not...someone else will chime-in here who knows. I know it's a stopper for the military.

Smaller 135, Flight Schools, or Helo Operations would probably be OK with it.

With a realistic expectation, ask yourself what kind of flying job you would want to do, that could still provide for you and a family. Most guys make these decisions when they are single and childless; it's funny how it is never mentioned in the glossy ads for aviation schools......

And, I'd like to reinforce the advice to get a degree. Not an aviation degree, but something marketable during downturns. Same thing there: major in something you are interested in (heart), that could still be a viable living ($) for you and a family. You write exceptionally well for a guy with no degree. It suggests to me that college would be time easily and well-spent.

Good luck.

 

So your advise is to "just not think about your future"? I wonder if drug addicts and bank robbers use the same approach? Your subconscious is trying to tell you something. I think you had better listen.

Lots of things are fun in life. It does not mean that it is good for you though.

Skyhigh

 

Yikes! If the steps to becoming a profressional pilot seem daunting, I might say it's like eating a really big steak...one bite at a time. The don't think about tomorrow thing shouldn't be taken to mean you should go to the expensive shiny jet university, because they told you that you will be making LOTS of money in the future, right? And the pilot shortage thing, too, I bet? Wrong. And the money thing will likely take AWHILE.

I know folks (yes, plural!) with six figure (or near six figs) debt from pursuing flying.. I would most definitely think about the future, I realize Pearl Pilot touched on that with the four year degree thing, but dang. Flying is great, but it literally can ruin you financially if you are not careful. Far too many people live for today, and forget what they have to pay tomorrow. Shoot, if all else fails, get a job in anything else, and fly for FUN! What a concept!

 

When I was much younger I use to smoke. It bothered me some though. I tried not to think about all the anti-smoking advertisements but eventually I came to the conclusion that I had to quit. I loved it and though it has been over 20 years since my last smoke I still think about it often. Of course my life, health and finance's are much better now that I don't smoke but I still miss it very much.

Many of the things that we are drawn to in life are not the best for us. The adult thing to do sometimes is to resist the urge on things that are not in our overall best interest. Aviation is attractive, fun and quite a life distraction for many. One should take stock of all the things in their life that they value to take measure of the sacrifices it takes to make a flying career happen. Usually the price is the dismissal of everything else in your life.

Some however are happy with living alone in a one bedroom apartment on mac and cheese while their peers are getting married, buying homes, saving for retirement and starting families. To each their own as some here like to say, however if the voice in the back of your head is trying to warn you then perhaps you had better listen?

Skyhigh

 

The problem is that hindsight is always 20/20. I don't want this poster or anyone else to be one of those "(insert flight school name here) stole my money" people. They are businesses, and they are in the business of making money. It doesn't mean they aren't trying to do a good job or provide you with a good product, but all too often the "student" doesn't understand the industry, how it works, how it doesn't work, and so on. They want to think they have a "shot" at "making it", and no one wants to make it sound completely negative, but the flight school doesn't care about this and is only in it to make their money. No one is "looking out for them". So in the end when you've spent 60-100,000+ bucks and fully understand/figure out how the industry works, you are in a rage against the flight school and/or regional airline. The wonderful thing about today is that this information is available and much more accessible than it was 10 or 20 years ago. You must realize that there are things you can do and things you can't do. You are taking far more of a "chance" in this industry than in most any other. You are rolling the dice and hoping that against the odds, the industry gets better, you get more hours than the guy you're being compared with, you have more turbine time than him, your medical status doesn't change or degrade, and so on. It's not about how good you can be in this industry, it's much more down to chance.

If you're dream is to fly a 777 across the ocean, are you willing to endure 40 years in the industry so you can do this in your last 5? Only you can determine if it's worth it, but once again, consider all the other ways to experiene and enjoy aviation, such as EAA, flying clubs, owning your own airplane, building your own airplane, getting advanced certifiactes and type ratings on the side, and so on. Think about specializing in aviation insurance, aviation law, engineering, safety, business, etc. All of these have infinitely more flexibility and opportunity without having to "hope against hope" that your path ends up with the "big money" at the end.

Nothing is worse IMO than blaming people for "getting in the industry" or saying "well they should have known" when they were young and simply didn't have the information. If we knew everything that we were going to encounter, I'm sure we'd all make better choices. Not necessarily different lifestyles or even industry, but we'd know what to avoid and what to do. So go out there and get the information. Ask people how long they've been at regional airlines. Don't ask about what they "think" might happen, ask about what they've experienced and encountered, then consider if you want to experience the same or if the same factors are in place that would cause you to experience the same.

 

Dear Wannabe ...

First, I hope that 24 isn't too old; if it is, I'm ancient! In fact, I should probably be dead! You're not behind the power curve, but, you'll never be in front of the power curve unless you go for it. If you do "go for it", don't half step and go in with your eyes wide open.

Lots of sage advice here based of lots of different experiences. I agree with some and disagree with others; however, if any of the words here have caused you to contemplate what you really want and/or need, the advice shared here has been good. As many have said previously, the only person who can make the "is it worth it" decision is you!

You're 24. Where do you want to be 30-40 years from now. Seek out those guys and find out how they got there. There are a lot of great professional pilot careers besides spending your last years in the left seat of a 777 going trans Atlantic. There are a ton of different paths to open the doors to aviation possibilities. Have a plan! ... and contingency plans!

Should you choose to pursue aviation, start working on your degree yesterday and do it concurrently with aviation. I presume that you have GI Bill eligibility; use every penny (whether you fly or not)!

Some here have recommended that if you do want to fly, you should get a non aviation related degree. I guess that's good advice if you consider diversifying your options. I've found, however, that having a degree in anything is better than not having a degree at all. A few years after you get a degree, or, your second or third job after getting a degree will care little about what you majored in ... aviation or otherwise. (Not that my experiences are better or worse than anyone else's; just different) Years after getting my BA, I went back to school and got a masters. Although I've never worked in a field related to my course of study, having my masters did make the difference between getting an interview or not getting an interview several times ... for what that's worth.

Bottom line ... pursuing aviation can be expensive. But so is pursuing a career as a lawyer or a doctor. Only you can make the "is it worth it decision". All occupations worth pursuing entail sacrafice of some sort or another. In whatever you decide, I wish you the very best!

 

Figured I'd chime in here, as someone suffering the color vision BS. I have a mild deutran deficiency (almost normal, but enough to make a difference on the tests).. I emailed some Major airlines HR departments about this issue, and they have told me that if I meet the FAA class 1 requirement, then I am medically qualified to work for their airline as a pilot. I believe it would be illegal to turn someone down that is "medically qualified" according to a government agency. There are plenty of major pilots out there right now with color vision deficiencies, so research that issue a bit more and if you get through the FAA's hurdles, I don't think you will have any issues with the airlines after that point.

 

Hey thanks for the replies everyone! This has been very helpful. As far as aviation being worth it, I understand that that depends on me. I have always loved flying. My problem is, I do not want any loans, so I am actively saving up money now. What I am worried about is saving so much money, getting my ratings, then not making a livable income. I do not expect to become rich in aviation, just would like a small return on my investment.