Notices
Leaving the Career Alternative careers for pilots

How to get back in?

Old 02-19-2012, 08:28 PM
  #1  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 246
Default How to get back in?

So after being out for 10 months and not even current, whats the first move?? I dont want to go back to the airlines but, have a possible opportunity to go PT with the last carrier that I flew with prior or possibly instructing? However my CFI has lapsed...


any suggestions??? I know I have to get back into it..
alpar80 is offline  
Old 02-20-2012, 04:24 AM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Admiral
Posts: 726
Default

Originally Posted by alpar80 View Post
So after being out for 10 months and not even current, whats the first move?? I dont want to go back to the airlines but, have a possible opportunity to go PT with the last carrier that I flew with prior or possibly instructing? However my CFI has lapsed...


any suggestions??? I know I have to get back into it..
First off let me start out with some unhelpful nonconstructive criticism (feel free to ignore this part). Why would you ever let your CFI ticket expire after having invested all that time and money into getting it? Especially since keeping CFI credentials active is so easily accomplished. That's something I would never fathom allowing to happen to me.

This may be the helpful part:
If I'm not mistaken, completing a checkride towards a CFII or MEI would reactivate your lapsed CFI. If you don't have all of your CFI ratings, that might be something to look into.
Flyhayes is offline  
Old 02-20-2012, 07:11 AM
  #3  
Self Employed.
 
SkyHigh's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Default Not easy

Step one, Get your CFI back, but don't expect to instruct much. Students are dropping like flies across America. I would get it to knock the rust off and to regain currency.

Step two. Call, friend request or otherwise track down everyone you ever knew who is a working pilot and prospect for jobs.

Step three. Lower your expectations. Part time gigs are hard to find and usually demand the same kind of flexibility that only a full time pilot has. You have to make a living after all. It is difficult to be available when they need you.

Kicking aviation is not fun or easy. You will have frequent relapses. Remind yourself why you left in the first place and ride it out.

Lastly sometimes buying into a plane is the only way to stay somewhat active.

Skyhigh
SkyHigh is offline  
Old 02-20-2012, 06:34 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Fluglehrer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2010
Position: Pipers & RV-12
Posts: 236
Default

Originally Posted by Flyhayes View Post
First off let me start out with some unhelpful nonconstructive criticism (feel free to ignore this part). Why would you ever let your CFI ticket expire after having invested all that time and money into getting it? Especially since keeping CFI credentials active is so easily accomplished. That's something I would never fathom allowing to happen to me.

This may be the helpful part:
If I'm not mistaken, completing a checkride towards a CFII or MEI would reactivate your lapsed CFI. If you don't have all of your CFI ratings, that might be something to look into.
You are correct. I let my CFI/CFII lapse while I was in the USAF. When I retired, I was able to renew the CFI/CFII by taking my MEI checkride (early 2008).
Fluglehrer is offline  
Old 02-20-2012, 10:49 PM
  #5  
On Reserve
 
ski fish fly's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2012
Posts: 22
Default

Originally Posted by alpar80 View Post
So after being out for 10 months and not even current, whats the first move?? I dont want to go back to the airlines but, have a possible opportunity to go PT with the last carrier that I flew with prior or possibly instructing? However my CFI has lapsed...


any suggestions??? I know I have to get back into it..
Too many unknowns ...

What kind of carrier were you with 10 months ago? What type of equipment were you flying? PIC or FO? Do you have a commercial certificate or an ATP? Married, kids, single? What are you doing now? etc etc etc

You mention that you don't want to go back to the airlines ... did you resign, terminated, furloughed?

If you were furloughed, you're probably eligible for WIA money (I believe, Workers Investment Act). In my state, you apply for WIA money through the Dept of Labor. You could secure money to pay for that MEI to make your CFI/II current again.

Are you willing / able to move? Have you started sending out resumes?

I am/was kind of in a similar boat. I left an overseas flying job in July thinking I was going to start with a new company in September. 3 days before I was to start, issues arose with the new carrier. Although I do start with a new employer in about a week, since July ... I've been unemployed. I sent out (electronically) 1-4 resumes a day. While being unemployed, I interviewed 4 times and received 4 job offers (I was very fortunate, I admit) .... Although it worked out, I turned down 3 of the 4 offers ... probably not the smartest thing to do but, the trout were biting and the skiing has been above average!

Bottom line .... to get back in .... do whatever it takes! Get current in something and start applying / networking.

Good luck in your job search!
ski fish fly is offline  
Old 02-21-2012, 03:39 PM
  #6  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: May 2009
Position: CFI
Posts: 46
Default

Skyhigh,

You mentioned students were dropping like flies across the us. Is there any particular reason as to why?
e5casey is offline  
Old 02-21-2012, 03:46 PM
  #7  
Line Holder
 
Humidityblows's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jun 2011
Posts: 76
Default

Originally Posted by e5casey:1139096
Skyhigh,

You mentioned students were dropping like flies across the us. Is there any particular reason as to why?
Just a wag, the economy/ job outlook and maybe they are getting smart to the potential for a very unstable career choice.
Humidityblows is offline  
Old 02-21-2012, 05:44 PM
  #8  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 246
Default

I was with Cape Air and am local with kids and a wife. While flying, i did the Carib in the winter and the north in the summer. It got to the point at which it was too difficult supporting a family on $18/hr with not too much time at home. I guess overall I am feeling a sort of regret because I invested so much into this and feel an obligation to give back, and I'd hate to waste my investment. Financially, I am a lot better off and my family has me but, I feel that I am missing a part of my life of which at one time, I loved so much. How does one get current again ? Rent a cessna? I am hoping Cape Air will take me back as a PT pilot in the spring... Maybe even doing banners... I dont really have the time or money to obtain a CFI cert again.
alpar80 is offline  
Old 02-22-2012, 08:53 AM
  #9  
Self Employed.
 
SkyHigh's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Default Movement

Originally Posted by e5casey View Post
Skyhigh,

You mentioned students were dropping like flies across the us. Is there any particular reason as to why?
For a long time now aviation as a hobby has been in decline. Add to that the fact that career hopefuls are starting to back away from aviation and you have a full scale collapse on our hands. AOPA, the FAA and the EAA knows it too. Every year the numbers are more bleak.

There are several good articles about it going back several years if you were to look. At my home airport a Cessna 152 now rents for $108/hour plus a coming fuel surcharge. Not sustainable at all.

Skyhigh
SkyHigh is offline  
Old 02-22-2012, 08:58 AM
  #10  
Self Employed.
 
SkyHigh's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Default Not alone

Originally Posted by alpar80 View Post
I was with Cape Air and am local with kids and a wife. While flying, i did the Carib in the winter and the north in the summer. It got to the point at which it was too difficult supporting a family on $18/hr with not too much time at home. I guess overall I am feeling a sort of regret because I invested so much into this and feel an obligation to give back, and I'd hate to waste my investment. Financially, I am a lot better off and my family has me but, I feel that I am missing a part of my life of which at one time, I loved so much. How does one get current again ? Rent a cessna? I am hoping Cape Air will take me back as a PT pilot in the spring... Maybe even doing banners... I dont really have the time or money to obtain a CFI cert again.
You are not alone. Stepping back is not easy. I believe that successful people spend more time examining their failures then their successes because there is much more to learn. It is hard to let go of probably the biggest personal investment in your life. Next you will be working full time at your non-aviation job and asking the wife to be gone on the weekends to instruct or fly banners when you should be spending that time with the family you are sacrificing for. That does not go over all that well either.

In my case I have to drive a good distance to a flight school on my day off to sit on a couch waiting for my student to no show or for us to cancel due to weather. A total waste of a day for a few possible hours of dual given. Not worth it. The income did not even cover the gas to get there. I bought a Cessna 150 instead. It is ready when I am without the drive.

Skyhigh

Last edited by SkyHigh; 02-22-2012 at 09:10 AM.
SkyHigh is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jknightcfi
Pilot Health
16
12-29-2011 03:19 AM
max8222
Cargo
18
07-29-2010 09:28 AM
GimmeAir
Flight Schools and Training
3
05-19-2009 03:31 PM
Badgeman
Aviation Law
10
05-11-2009 06:45 PM
Flea Bite
Hangar Talk
0
08-06-2006 01:17 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices