Dan64456

I'm tellin ya guys.. even tho the pay sucks for pilots and upgrades are stagnant these days - working the corporate grind sucks. I've been doing it for almost 6 yrs now and you want to talk about thankless? At least sometimes the people in the seat next to you are on YOUR side. It's not like that in corporate. Most are looking to stab you in the back for their own gain. And those greedy fools in management? Well you have to be their direct servants and see them every day in an office job. It probably goes something like this - people that worked a 9 - 5 for 5 - 10 years love the pilot job when they change careers... people that always worked as a pilot love the 9 - 5 when they change careers. It's always wanting what you don't have... kinda like when you are in a serious relationship and see a hot girl at the bar staring at you.

SkyHigh

Dan,

We had a guy who left my regional to buy his own septic truck. His job was crummy but he was his own boss and made three times what he did as a pilot. There are more options besides being an airline slave or cubicle inmate.

Start your own business, join the military, become a firefighter, but don't trade one pair of golden handcuffs for another.

Skyhigh

SkyHigh

It costs $30 per hour for a flight instructor to teach one how to fly.

$60 an hour at the same FBO will get your plane worked on.

$80 an hour to get your computer fixed.

and $90 and hour to get my lawn mower worked on.

Skyhigh

USMCFLYR

I had a Lear 35 pilot up on the ladder talking to me recently when I was sitting in my cockpit getting ready to start up and he mentioned how tight the fit was in there
Speaking about new back pains!

USMCFLYR

Dan64456

I see your point.. and I agree with you on a lot of things. But the whole reason I went / am going to school is because I wanted to get out of the manual labor business... I worked in a hot kitchen for 8 years and also as an auto mechanic for 2 before finally getting a job in computers. I'm totally not the military type either. To be honest, I have no idea what I am! However, I would definitely want to be a pilot above all if the pay and scheduling was fair. I am not the suburban wife and kids type so it probably would work out pretty well for me aside from the issues mentioned above. I do love dogs tho.

SkyHigh

I read an article once that claimed that people will trade income, lifestyle, status and security for an interesting sounding job. The funner or more interesting the job the higher the sacrifices.

After people waste four years in college they had better get a fancy job to show for the effort. I worked construction jobs before going to college. I do the same work functions now for myself and have a better life and make more than I did as a pilot. I traded my fun sounding job for one that pays the bills and provides a quality of life that we enjoy.

Become a park ranger and make 16K per year or a plumber and make 60K. It all boils down to what you want. If you want to own your life and make a good living then be prepared to get your hands dirty.

Skyhigh

SkyHigh

Regional First Officer
Four years of college, 80K of flight training plus 1500 hours of experience as a pilot. Worth $16 an hour to employer.

Flight instructor
Usually takes four years of college and 80K in flight training. Worth $30 an hour to customer.

A&P
Takes two years of trade school. Worth $60 an hour to customer.

Computer repair
A year or less at trade school Worth $80 an hour to customer.

Lawn mower Mechanic
A few weeks at John Deere maintenance school or OJT. Worth $90 an hour to customer.

Skyhigh

bryris

So, I had two interviews today for CPA jobs. One of them is moving to a nearby airport and leasing an office there. The job has nothing to do with aviation, but the owner is a pilot. If I get an offer (and accept it, of course), I'll get a pretty cool location to work while crunching numbers.

The second interview is about 5 minutes from the airport I presently teach from. Although my teaching would reduce if I accept this position, I'd at least be close enough to the airport to escape when I needed to go airborne quickly. I've got a couple people that let me fly their airplanes. After a tough day at the job, I can be airborne in 30 minutes (preflight and all).

But both jobs will pay me easily twice what I made as a regional FO. Yeah, I'll be a desk jockey I guess - but the quality of life will certainly be better...I think.

Time will tell how exactly I feel after I've gotten in several months back in the CPA saddle. However, with my new found income potential, I am ramping up plans to buy my first airplane. I hope to own one before I am 30. I've got 17 months to make it happen.

Learflyer

Which airport? I think you said you're in the Central florida area. PM me if you want. I might need a good CPA to help me with my LLC or S-corp. I'm starting a contract pilot business.

bryris

Lakeland Linder Airport. In fact, I just received a formal written offer for the job. There is some bittersweetness as I left the CPA world for a reason. However, I left the flying world for a reason too. I'll be making over twice first yr regional pay. Having real dreams of purchasing my own airplane soon...my own hangar, etc.

I am still pending receipt of another offer in Winter Haven. I am hopeful to be able to choose between the two soon.