RV5M

In regard to the loans: With an engineering degree from a decent school you should be able to pay off your college debt quite quickly. There's no reason to let it become a ball and chain. Live below your means and pay off the debt.

Also, you're right about "don't go to an aviation college". Learning to fly isn't degree worthy. It's skilled labor. Engineering, on the other hand, is one of the "professions". You can get your ratings on the side and be in a much better place than the Part 141 grad if you do decide to fly.

andycfi

I quit as a CFII/MEI, and it was really hard at first. Same as you, it was my goal for a really long time. I transitioned into part time flying and working an IT job, then finally just stopped flying when I realized I didn't have what it took from a sacrifice perspective.

This isn't the case with every pilot, but there is A LOT of sacrifice involved. You will probably have to move (more than once), you will be gone a lot, you will loose a lot of autonomy over your career and how quickly you move up, you will have HORRIBLE starting pay for quite some time, I could go on and on.

I spent years mad at the industry that I was a CFI racking up hours and I couldn't find a good opportunity flying corporate or something like that. I finally gave up being bitter when I realized it was ME. I wasn't willing to make the sacrifices - and it sounds like maybe you're not either. It's a hard realization, but it is a weight off your chest. It's not that you're not good enough, or that you have bad flying skills ... it's just that your preferences don't align with the industry.

As far as the girlfriend goes, it's fine if that's what sent you down this path. But, make sure it's because YOU don't want to make the sacrifices. Don't pass on the career because you think it will upset her. As long as your reasoning is sound and it's for you, there is nothing wrong with moving on.

Sr. Barco

Listen to the wise retired Airline Captain.

If you're having doubts now I'm afraid you could become disappointed and bitter if your aviation career progression weren't satisfactory. I'm happy to share more with you via PM but suffice to say that being an airline pilot is a completely different lifestyle than most other professions. There's good and there's bad. It's simply not a M-F, 9-5 desk job.

CaptYoda

While this may be the best time to enter the field as the entry level pay is the best it's ever been at the regional level there are many unforeseen hurdles and sacrifices along the way.

At my first regional, we had a professional engineer give it a try, and he only lasted about 3 months. While he loved to fly he quickly realized that it was not anything like he had expected and was smart enough to make the exit.

LRSRanger

Whatever you do don't do it because of a girlfriend. I've known a few folks who gave up a dream over a girl, and then found a few years later that women don't always last, and then regretted changing the course of their life for someone else.

Not a wife, no kids involved, you be you and see if she wants to join in. If she doesn't, I see a divorce in your future, because that will never change.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JohnBurke

There are many that start down the path, few that stick with it.

Presently, you're with the majority.

Papa Charlie

All right now, calm down people. I'm not quitting because of my girlfriend. I swear I see people rave about that so much. In many different forums and topics.

It could have been a close friend or even an acquaintance who simply said to me "have you ever considered the lifestyle and time away from home as a pilot?" that would have sparked my curiosity. I simply never did much research, I was blinded by "my passion."

I guess I feel like i'm "quitting while i'm ahead." I still love aviation, but I want to make this decision before I've spent all this money lest it turn out I don't like the lifestyle.

So i'm going to finish my engineering degree, with much stress i'm sure, but it's a solid degree I think. I like the math and physics. I'm looking at an engineering internship this summer.

Here's my tentative plan. I'll get a real degree and a real job. Work for awhile, get out of my parents house hopefully. Maybe finish my ratings on the side - I'm currently a PPL with about 90 hours total ASEL and about 10 hours towards instrument. I expect I could complete all my ratings through commercial/CFII/multi for about $30,000 at my local FBO, as compared to $60,000 at the part 141 school. On top I still gotta pay off my student loans too, of course.

Then I could be a part-time CFI for some years earning hours. Maybe when my future kids are in their 20's and moving out I'll try out for the airlines. I'll be one of those 40 year old regional guys. Maybe pay will be better by then. Or maybe the airlines will be flown by a computer with only 1 guy in the cockpit who is a "systems manager." Or maybe cabotage will change and domestic flights will be flown by some European company and not Americans. Who knows.

It seems like it's a pretty wide spread field as far as quality of life. Some pilots work 10 days a month, make big money, and only have 4 of those days as overnights. Some pilots work 18-20 days a month, make nothing, and 16 of those days are overnights.

I can't plan my whole life out, and I don't want to. Thinking about "20 years from now" makes life feel real short. Maybe I'll never actually become a professional pilot, but I think I can "forgive" myself eventually. 10 year old me only said I wanted to be a pilot, not a professional one. And I am a pilot now, so there.

But honestly just taking a plane up for fun sounds so amazing. In my 90 hours of flying I have yet to once take a plane up with no reason other than for fun. The solo cross countries were the closest thing to a "for fun" flight, and they were absolutely amazing. I love learning to fly, for sure. But I've never gone up with no real purpose in mind other than to fly. I might do that soon.

Xdashdriver

It sounds like you're making a rational choice. Deciding not to pursue flying right now doesn't mean it has to be that way forever. It has always been a good idea to have a "Plan B" as a pilot so getting your engineering degree and some experience in the field will set you up with a good Plan B should you decide at some later date to do the flying thing as a job.

NYC Pilot

Flying jobs will always be there. I would focus on getting a very solid education and career going. Fly for fun on the side and see what it leads to. There are many options in life while you are young but the most important thing to do as a young person is to get a solid education. Can't emphasize that enough. Good luck!

Flyhayes

A couple of points I'd like to add to the mix.

I feel that I get to spend more quality time with my family as an airline pilot than I would with a regular 9-5. Instead of only being able to give my family a few hours of attention after a long day at work, I can give my family my undivided attention for several days in a row. Sure, holidays and birthdays will be missed. But for me, I feel that the tradeoff is worth it. I consistently have 15 or more days off a month. That sure beats 4 weekends and a few hours after work in my opinion.

You mention that the pilot wives forums startled you the most.
It's true, it takes a certain kind of a wife to be able to handle the lifestyle. When I met my wife, the airlines really wasn't on my radar. I had a small aviation business that kept me home at night. With her support we decided to give the 121 world a try. If it didn't suit us as a family unit, I could always leave it and find other flying jobs that better suited the family. As it turns out, we are very happy with the 121 lifestyle (I honestly thought being away from home for stretches at a time would be tougher on me that it really is, and I'm a dreaded commuter!). The reason you find these support groups is that this industry is unique in many ways. My wife likens it somewhat to being a military spouse. We don't live the normal lifestyle where we get to see friends and family on certain holidays or weekends. and that can be hard to constantly explain to "civilians". These "support" groups exist because like minded wives can get together and vent frustrations that normal people just can't relate to. Or just go to Disney World together on a Wednesday like my wife recently did.

With that said. If you have serious enough doubts, maybe it's not for you. But if you keep finding that you look to the sky every time an airplane goes by, then you might do better taking a slow career progression towards the airlines by ways of an engineering job.

Just a couple of thoughts...