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Pilot or Engineer?

Old 11-25-2011, 05:14 AM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by GoPats View Post
Why can't you do both?
You can go into the Navy, get some great flight training and experience, see the world, etc. and after 10 years you're out.
At that point, you'll have your military flight experience and benefits, an AE degree and be in your early 30's.
Now you have even better choices for either field.
Job market bad? Fly reserves.
Don't want an airline job? Get the best of both worlds with an aerospace firm.
Yep, there are lots of pilot positions that require being an engineer, in fact that is the ONLY way to get to those extreme top-tier pilot positions, test pilots, etc.
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Old 12-21-2011, 07:59 AM
  #12  
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Go Navy - become a pilot and do the 10 years. If you can't (washout, medical, etc...) get into Intel and get the highest level security clearance you can. Serve your commitment and get any and all education you can on the governments dime...

Then you can go back into federal service (CIA, FBI, DIA, etc...) and do intel or go corporate for a DoD/ Fed gov contracting company like I did with SAIC.
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Old 12-21-2011, 08:02 AM
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I forgot to mention...Your service record, engineering degree, and age (30s) will make you an attractive candidate for corporate and fed gov jobs...
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Old 12-21-2011, 03:14 PM
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I was an engineer for 6.5 years. When I started, I only had a PPL, and also felt that I should work in the field that my degree was in. It was very interesting for the first half, then followed by less interesting boring mods to old programs, fits and finishes, secret clearances, and stress, but great, smart people to work with, and home every night. I still had to add all the other ratings, so that took some time...but finally left. Both careers have been good, but no marraige, no kids, like was said,... but I'll NEVER go back to the cubicle.
Still, I greatly value the engineering experience, and glad I did it.

Last edited by 727gm; 12-22-2011 at 12:47 PM. Reason: add, sp.
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Old 12-22-2011, 05:51 PM
  #15  
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I'm very inspired by your story and very interested in how things go. I find myself in a similar position, I'm 22 and about to graduate with a bachelor's in electrical engineering. I've been working as a CFI for the past 3 going on 4 years and have about 1400 hrs. I've also started doing some contract flying in the Lear 35 to get some turbine time going. I considered going to the air force officer training school, but like you I couldn't pass the vision test without corrective surgery.

Overall I have decided not to go the military route, though if I could without issue, and if there was a guarantee I would be flying, I would. The reason I haven't is because there just aren't that many slots, especially in the air force. From what I understand the best chance to get a slot would be the army, with the navy being second after that. This is due to multiple reasons from what I have seen, mainly the military going to unmanned vehicles. A second reason is that I'm a bit wary of any eye corrective surgeries. Of course there are plenty of success stories from people I know, but there are always some bad ones. I've just decided that I don't want to take a chance with my eyes, at least, not for a slim chance at getting a pilot slot.

Overall I don't want a career in just engineering. EE is an excellent fallback, but if I can help it, I don't want to be working in a cubicle like most of my friends who are interns. But at the same time I don't want to be just a pilot! Although I will admit that the first time you fly a jet, and start up those engines, you won't believe the feeling....it eventually gets old. I'd like to do applied engineering work, such as flight test engineering or test pilot for a company like Bombardier or Cessna. Ideally I would like to be an astronaut (hopefully if the commercial space industry gets going in the next 10-15 years, because we all know that NASA isn't any good anymore!), which is why I would like to fly for the military if I could, but likely will not. Either way I will likely be building my turbine time in corporate on Lears, Citations, and a handful of others.

Let me know how things go for you! I am interested in how things will turn out. Our generation is probably one of the last (if not THE last) that will have a chance to pilot fighter aircraft. Good luck to you.
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Old 12-22-2011, 07:37 PM
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Mozak, you sound like a strong-willed kid with a bright future.

1. Military flight is the best path for a talented aviator even now. If you get a chance at a flight slot, perhaps even flying UAVs- the payoff is worth corrective eye surgery. There is no better way to enter professional aviation than through Armed Services. Democracy is an equally good reason though I digress.

2. If they won't take you in the Armed Forces and you feel a strong calling as a pilot, go into flight test engineering and be happy. This is the route I took. I would have gone Air Force if my parents had allowed it, but I found a happy medium in the form of engineering with limited flying. I am a flight test engineer for a business jet manufacturer and I rub elbows with the best of the best from former military flight roles. They get to fly the most, but it is a compromise that worked out ok for me in the end. Good luck.

Last edited by Cubdriver; 12-22-2011 at 07:49 PM.
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Old 12-26-2011, 09:38 PM
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Thanks cubdriver. I'm curious, what is your background, where do you work, and what do you do? You said you do "limited flying", are you referring to recreationally or at your job? I haven't thrown out the military idea completely yet, but since military pilots are beginning to go the way of the dinosaur, and since corporate aviation is about to boom, I just think it's a better market to go into. Get some types, make a little money, get turbine time, and maybe earn an MBA on the side. Ultimately I would probably want to work for a biz jet manufacturer....I'd be very interested to hear about your work.
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Old 10-28-2012, 01:33 PM
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Pilot career does have a larger risk but bigger reward. Engineer is a safe option, but you'd never have a chance to enjoy the (eventual) great schedules and good pay that most major airline pilots have. Good luck.
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Old 10-28-2012, 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Mitch Rapp05 View Post
Pilot career does have a larger risk but bigger reward. Engineer is a safe option, but you'd never have a chance to enjoy the (eventual) great schedules and good pay that most major airline pilots have. Good luck.
Former engineer here, as I have indicated in past posts. Now going on 5.5 years as a professional pilot, and have zero regrets about leaving the engineering career at the time I did. I have WAY more time off, I've visited parts of the world I never dreamed of doing before, and I genuinely enjoy going to work (yes, even at a regional!).

Would I do it now? Only if I was able to complete my flight training as cost effectively as I did before. I also eliminated all debt before leaving engineering, and saved a few thousand dollars as backup. Flight training today is quite a bit more than when I started in 2004, so I know it's more challenging these days.
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Old 10-28-2012, 07:38 PM
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Just curious, wrxpilot, but how much of the world do you see on RJ trips? Is there Int'l RJ flying?

GF
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