Flt School vs Recreational Flying vs Camaro
 

This can be viewed from a money perspective first...

Flight school as a career change (Leave behind my 31-32k net per yr job w/ benefits in IT)-- 35 - 50 grand said and done, then 1 to 2 years as an instructor making next to nothing now with more debt. If lucky, land a job as a regional FO, and maybe by then they will start people at 25 grand a year. About 30 yrs old by the time I make it to a 1st year regional FO.

Recreational Flying -- 110 dollars a week to stay somewhat current and safe... 220 per week to be safer and proficient as a Private Pilot... This gets you about 3 or 4 hours of enjoyment per week... (1 - 2 is actual flying, the other 2 is the fun of planning places to go, checking weather, flight plan, etc.)

2011 Camaro SS -- 426 Horsepower, 6 Speed Manual, Rear Wheel Drive with 4 wheel independent suspension - and a sunroof. 24 mpg highway. About 33 - 35 grand total, low interest loan... 3 yr loan can be like 590 a month about - only have to finance about 20K - my current car is worth about 18g private party and it's almost paid off... No limit to the amount of time I can enjoy it per week - (well 1 week minus 55 hours per week of work / commute) I take the train, so I'm not forced to drive the car daily. Downside is I'd be stuck in my boring and unfulfilling job for at least those next few years. Kinda am anyway with rent and college loan. But raises are in the near future, especially if i change jobs... I could possibly see 15 or even 20 grand a year higher (gross) over those next 3 yrs...


I hope ppl can see the humor in this - but what's your take? Sky?

My senior year in HS I bought a '76 Vette with work money saved(early 90's), cost me about 6K. Wish I would have bought 6K of Microsoft instead. Save your money and invest in the bargains of today's market!

Appreciate the input...

My feedback - Hindsight is always 20/20... Fast cars, fast women, flying - is living Life NOW!

Already got burned in the stock market once...

do it
 

If you really like flying and can see yourself as a pro pilot, especialy an airline pilot, then you need to get going on the career now while you are still young. The competition is very stiff at the top and the jobs are few compared to the number of entrants to the game. You have a long, hard road ahead of you with plenty of turns. You may not reach a desirable career goal for over 15 years of trying. But that does not mean that the quest is not worth the payoff. You need to get going now while you are still young. I am for people becoming professional airline pilots as long as they have the bug in their system as well as a clear idea about what they are getting into. You have been on these boards long enough to know, so I say go for it. It's a great life and a unique job. It's one that I will never attain because of starting too late.

Haha, alright kid. But when you're around 30 years old and making around 30K, you'll have substitute the first two with fast food! Fast cars and fast women require you to spend $$$. Good luck.;)

good point.. thats the toughest thing... the idea in my head of Netting like 20 grand a year at 30 yrs old. It simply does not work. I always thought the appropriate amount of money to be making for a somewhat happy life - by age - was 2000x your age in dollars gross income per yr...

I'd say 2000x NET as a min at 30 and above. You may or may not ever get married or have kids, but you'll want a home of some kind someday. A mortgage, plus insurance, utilities, etc can easily cost you 25-35K a year in many of the more populated areas(as in airline bases) for even a modest home. Add in kids and wife and it gets worse unless you find a sugar momma.

From as far down as I am looking up from now, that seems impossible. I'd guess my chances of landing a sugar momma would be even less if I was away from home and/or broke as much as a pilot is... 1 bedroom apartment looks like my future... sad. lol

I can't vote for any, as in the end it's truly your decision. The first two have long term viability, as you can stick in your current career, or you can try a new one. Maybe you should keep the current one, keep training when and while you can, and progress with very minimal debt.

The car, well that's just an awesome car, but should you be putting all your savings into a vehicle? Not unless it's going to literally "get" you somewhere as employment.

I see your point about the first two... But it wouldn't be nearly 'all' of my savings. I actually wouldn't touch my savings account to buy the car... I just wouldn't be putting that 500 a month into that account =) I still have 401k that I contribute to which is way better than nothing. My concern about going for the airline career - I'd have to sacrifyce things such as nice cars for the next 10 to 15 years just because I wouldn't be making enough money? This is where the roadblock comes up for me. I don't think that job is worth doing for a dime less than 45k per year. It's just highway robbery. If the second year as a FO was 45 grand a year, this wouldn't even be a decision for me... I'd already be back in flight school.