Sky_Bound

Well,
I've decided to become a pilot but not through DCA.
Not that I found out anything wrong or bad with them.
When making the final decision and looking at the reality of everything for my specific situation other options became more attractive.

I had been holding off telling the whole family until all hurdles were overcome.
After my Class 1 med I still couldn't bear to tell my sister and her kids.

But she's my older sister and often a sounding board for me.
I called her and let out the news of the possibility of DCA and then everything happened the way I knew it would.

She started crying and then she got me teared up as well.
Her response was much like everyone elses.
They love me, they want me to go after my dreams. They want what's good for me even at their loss, they want me to be happy.

So after that I got back here read some more replies I then sucked it up and made my decision.

Be a pilot but do it here ( LAS)
I called First Flight ( which was recommended by the FAA Doc) knowing they do PPL.
They are also part of Pilot Career Foundation so I can use my funding source to pay for the training through commercial.

Part of my decision was also that I want specific domiciles after completion of training even for a lower pay rate.
DCA is a direct regional program and honestly I may or should say might have had to pass the buck on those to get my preferred domicile.
So if I'm going to take a more entry level job then why put out all that time and cash for something I might not need right away.

DCA has you flying 8 - 12 months as an instructor to build time ( like many others) so I could do the same here or look up one of the Airlines others have suggested.
(Which I had checked out on the internet for req's and hirings) thanks all

So when I called the missus to let her know she said she was relieved and that it made her happy.

She said she didn't realize just how much she was feeling that this wasn't something we shouldn't do until she felt the relief of me telling her we were staying put. ( move, DCA and all)

The rest of the family is very happy too.
The losses we've endured over the last year are just a bit too much for seperating ways even for 2 years.

I'm relieved too and still happy and excited about flying.
Heck $15/ hr canyon running or banner towing still beats a lot of other jobs out there !

Thanks for all the replies mates !!
This is why I came here for some of my research.
To get a finger on the pulse of pilots and not sales pitches.

Thank you for you're brutal honesty.
I'm glad that you all cared enough to give it even with the anonymity of the internet.

Oh yeah I'll also be able to start flying in a couple weeks instead of having to wait for October's class to start !

dhc8fo

Congrats on your decision! Don't be disappointed. It sounds like you are doing the right thing for everyone involved. It is also good that you involved everyone that would be affected before you made a move. Your life will be richer for it, and you will still fly for pay...you just won't starve like the rest of us and you will likely enjoy flying longer than we did!

SAABDriver

I agree with the guys telling you to stay where you are. go to ATP or look at other 141 schools. they can sometimes qualify for loans. 10k at a hungry 141 school can get you long way.

One of my FO's recently came from the Vegas Tour Circuit. He loved it and he learned a lot flying for that 135. His upgrade at my company will be like 8 months......

there is no direct track unless you make your own direct track!

LAfrequentflyer

for the novice - please explain the vegas tour circuit...

thanks.

otter

The tours are of the grand cayon. The three Airlines that do most of the tours are: King Airlines, Vision, Scenic Airlines. They all offer different types of A/C and different tours. King uses 206 and 402. Scenic uses Twin Otters, 402 and Beach 1900's. Vision fly's a Doriner(Spelling?) Scenic is the only part 121 airline that does tours. They all love low time pilots. The pay sucks, however, get your time and get out. Check out their wedsite's. Drop me a E-mail if you want to know more.

ToiletDuck

AMEN! I tell people that ask me why I do what I do and I tell them one thing.... That several years ago when I was leaving high school it was the one opportunity that I would actually be able to pick ANY job in the world I wanted and follow it. Like there was a big book with every job listed. I picked a pilot. Now I know I'm a very young buck by standards and it's hard to see my other graduating friends getting nice jobs right out of college, but there are no regrets... Even my sister was working for IBM by my age making a very nice salary which has now bloomed into a very nice career. White collar job. It's hard to live with those kinds of pressures around you because people just don't understand. But you still gotta do it. It's like being a doctor I tell em. You have to spend a few years tightening the belt before you get the ball really rolling.



****BTW**** This vegas circuit I take it is a 135 operation?
Main thing is this. The other day I was offered a nice job. Not a lot but $45k is great I think for a guy that just graduated 8hrs earlier. Anyway I was seriously thinking of taking it but then my mother stepped in and said, "you've wanted to be a pilot your whole life. If you take this job you'll always wonder and never be happy". And she's right. I refuse to be an 85yr old man in a wheelchair staring out a window thinking "if only I could do it over I would have done this instead of that". No regrets bud. If you love it you'll know it. I take it you love your wife... Did you ever get jitters and cold feet before the wedding like most?

Typhoonpilot

I agree with what the guys on the board here are saying about staying in Vegas and doing your ratings there. You know the town and you know the people there and it might just be one acquiantance who turns you on to a cushy corporate job. Stay in Vegas and network, network, network while you are doing your flight training and you should do okay. I've never believed in the big flight schools that charge a lot of money and promise jobs. I believe individual ability and networking are the best way to get your training finished and then get a job. It costs a lot less and it makes you a better pilot and person.

I tell this story because it proves my point about big flight schools. When I was still in college I went to Panama City, Florida during the winter break to be with my girlfriend who was in the Air Force. I wanted to do my ATP and MEI while I was there so I looked into Sowell ( Sewell ? ) Aviation, which had nationwide ads back then. I went there and talked to the Chief Instructor and asked him about how long it would take and how much it would cost. He quoted about $4000 ( this when a training twin rented for $125 to $150 per hour wet and instructors were about $25/hour ). I thought that was a little pricey and was starting to become a little dejected but saw the sign for Bay Aviation across the field. So I went over there and talked to the Chief Instructor ( John Hope ) and asked the same question. He said, " I don't know, lets go see how you fly ". I thought, "fair enough", and off we went in a C-172 for 0.7 hours of instrument work. Came back and he said, " we should be able to finish you up in less than 6 hours of instruction. " So I agreed and did the training with them. It ended up costing me less than $1500, including both the checkrides. Ever since then I won't set foot in a big name flight school.

Typhoonpilot

P.S. You may need to re-visit the need to stay in Vegas/SoCal when the time comes. What if someone offered you $150,000/year to fly a G-V in Omaha ? Would you really need to stay in Vegas that bad to pass on an opportunity like that ?

bhndthecns

Alittle late in the thread....but ATP has treated me great! And they have the 90 day program at way more places than just Dallas and JAX. True, you can't do the 90 day everywhere, but you can do it a lot of places. Here's something that I don't think that they let on to enough at ATP....let's use FLL as an example. FLL does not have the 90 day program, but every location has the 10 month program. Though it is called "Self-paced", you can easily accellerate it! When I started, I still had to work at my old job some, you have to have a little money coming in. But I was able to finish as a 10-monther in 5 months. As long as there is an instructor available, you can fly, and the more that hq sees people flying at a given location, the more instructors they send to that location.

It's great if you know what you're doing, where you're going. But if you're still looking at where to start or finish you training, ATP has treated me very well, they're willing to work with you.

dckozak

Can't add more than has already been said. Don't hose your personal life to chase this career, make it work for you, and your family. Look at the pay scales of the commuters and honestly access if your willing to do this for the pay provided.
I know flying seems really fun (and believe me it can be, even when its your job) when your learning and moving up from simple to more complex ac's, but it can and will kill your personal life if you let it. I suggest not letting it

daytonaflyer

Delta is bankrupt. Commair will be laying off hundreds next year. Delta Connection Academy will not be able to get you a Commair job for years. I am currently living in Las Vegas and flying for Scenic Airlines. I am 29 and single. If I had to do it all over again, I would not. The airlines are no longer a good job. I like my company, but we work 12 hour days for way too little money.
Also I have a friend who is married and trying to make it to a low paying airline job is just about to destroy his marriage.