aviatorman2008

Alright, here's the background. I'm 28, married, a baby due any day now. I have about 750tt and 65 multi. I haven't flown in about a year and a half. I have been thinking about quitting my well paying job which I'm not happy with and can't see doing long term to get back in the aviation world. I love to fly and I miss it a great deal. I know I meet a lot of hiring minimums for the regionals in today's market but I lack currency.(most likely thinking Pinnacle or Mesaba because I live in MSP) What is the best way to get current and what kind of currency time will the regionals require to even interview me?? Should I just go get some single engine time? Or Multi? and what about instrument? Lastly, and I know this is a tough question. Is it all worth it?

tlorimer

the new age is 65, go for it. if your heart is there they money will come. im in my 30's. do it...

SmoothOnTop

Are you a CFI?
Could you full time Dad, full time well paying job and part time flight instruct, just a night or two a week until your family is ready for you to make the leap?
Don't touch your 401k.

Freightpuppy

Well, I'm at UPS and life is good so of course I would tell you to go for it. Congrats on the baby....mine is due in a month! Also, if you do decide to get back into it, make sure the wife is on board (which she should be....."for better or worse" right?)

Good Luck!

Is Skyhigh around still to give this guy some doom and gloom????? LOL!

Wheels up

You only think you're going to like flying for a living. Airline flying is a crappy profession with bad pay, with only a few exceptions. I think you'll be very very sorry if you leave a good paying job for a bad paying job that you'll come to hate.

You have responsibilities to a family now. You have to think about that first.

aviatorman2008

Yes I am a CFII. The schedule of my current job doesn't really allow for it. That's avenue I was trying to avoid but may be one of my only options.

aviatorman2008

Wheels up....what exactly don't you like. I have a number of friends who fly for the regionals but what you stated is one thing that concerns me. My whole justification is that at least if I'm not making that great of money I'll like me job. Or once Shiny Jet Syndrome wears off will I be kicking myself for not taking my career in a different direct. If I make this move, it would be with a lot of sacrafice on both my wife and myself, and I highly doubt there is any turning back(if I want to stay married of course)

Freightpuppy

You can think about your family AND have a job you like. Just because you have family responsibilities doesn't mean you have to be miserable and not do something else you want to do. It's thinking like this that makes for a lot of miserable people. Also, the significant other has to be supportive. If they are not, they are not worth being with. I dunno, maybe I am spoiled with my honey. My SO and I are having a baby in a month and if he wanted to up and quit flying and go back to school to restore cars (which is an interest of his), I would do WHATEVER I COULD to support that and make it happen. You only have one life to live so you should make it good. Don't limit yourself......unfortunately too many people do.

jelloy683

I'm should be ready to apply to airilnes by the end of this year...hopefully if innstructing gets me up to 1000tt. However, i've seen alot of slowing down in this industry as of late, such as classes being cancelled, and airlines that have stopped hiring. It actually kind of worries me that this whole pilot shortage thing is bs. I'm hoping that once summer hits, the hiring will pick back up....

evh347

I think you're young enough to start over if you want to. If it's your dream, why not give it a shot?

If you're worried about your single engine proficiency, spend a few bucks (2 hours) on going up and doing some maneuvers or maybe going somewhere fun. Taking an instructor with you is not a bad idea. When I applied, I was more than current flying single engine 182's all summer long; however, I was woefully behind on my instrument and multi currency. What I did to prepare was brush up on all of my systems knowledge of the twin I used to fly. Then I started practicing on MS Flight Simulator to brush up my instrument skills. Once I was comfortable, I spent $200 on an instrument PC at a local airport. There are no specific rules as to how many approaches you have to shoot for an IFR PC...I think I did 4. My CFI/CFII status was still current and I didn't have to do 1-hour of IFR ground along with that, but you should prep yourself on IFR knowledge anyways since your airline interview consists of testing that revolves around your knowledge of Part 91 IFR regulations anyways. Check the gouges.

In short, get IFR current and do whatever flying/studying you think is necessary until you feel comfortable/relaxed. If you put the right amount of preparation in you will find yourself on the right track to success.

Is it worth it? Depends on your point of view, I guess. There is quite a bit of sacrifice involved....for me, all related to not being home as often as I'd like. But, I can't think of another time that I've ever looked forward to going to work in my life. I wouldn't trade any of it to go back to my "office gig"...sitting in meetings being force-fed buzzwords like "innovation" and "value"...and never create anything (just like those IBM commercials). Now, they can never take away my window seat.