Taking the plunge
 

Hello,


I'm in a bit of a pickle. I'm 19 and considering training for being a pilot for a major or preferably corporate position.

From what I have read on this forum, it would probably take many years of hard work and luck to accomplish. But, I have been playing flying sims ever since I was 10 and I love the idea of being a pilot. Plus, my parents really want me to have a stable future.

Problem for me is I'm torn between two worlds, art and aviation. I have talent for painting and drawing and I really love to paint. I'm trying to decide which one would be a more rewarding career both lifestyle and financial wise. Thats why I'm asking for your guys wisdom. Should I start my training as a pilot now or pursue a career in art? And do you think corporate flying is the way to go?

P.S.

I Live in Vero Beach (FL) and being so close to FlightSaftey, I have scheduled a tour of the facilities and a flight.

All the best,

Justin.

No advanced career will pay you as little as being professional pilot. If you can't live without being a pilot, then you should pursue it. If you can see yourself doing something else, do it. Success in aviation is 95% luck and timing. Follow your heart and you never have to regret.

Perhaps you go for the art career. Open your own business. Be really successful. Take flying lessons, use your ticket in your business (tax write off). Buy your own plane. (tax write off) Enjoy life! Priceless!

Oh, and you can do that by the time you are 30!

PaintCan

PS Savannah College of Art and Design in ATL is one of the best art schools I have ever seen. Check it out. Flying lessons are nearby as well.

Justin,

You really know how to set yourself up for disappointment. You've picked 2 incredibly difficult fields to succeed in. My advice is pursue the art and flying both. Your odds are better of having some success with 2 endeavors. If you want to have a satisfying flying career you should look into the Air National Guard. Otherwise be prepared to be happy on 50-70 thousand a year. And hope it doesn't get any worse.

I've flown civil and with the ANG and currently fly for a major. I will be lucky to make captain before I retire assuming I am still employed in a year. (My second furlough is looking like a real possibility.) For job security and a pretty good income, the ANG is the way to go. If you are lucky you can get a full-time position with your unit or stay a traditional guardsmen and continue to pursue your art.

You will hear a lot of positions on your dilemma and some will encourage you but if you do choose to pursue only flying, trust a pragmatist and be prepared for a long and frustrating road with the real possibility of no significant payoff for all your hard work.

One way or the other, get a 4 year degree!

"Stable future" and a civilian flying career don't belong in the same discussion. You want stability and a flying career? Military is your only option.
Don't base your career choice on your success with and enjoyment of a computer game. The "idea of being a pilot" and the reality are very, very different.

There are too many reasons to list here against getting into aviation. In a nutshell:

The pay stinks and managements are usually one or two steps ahead of labor to keep it that way.

Unless you move into base (which you shouldn't really do), quality of life takes a nosedive because commuting stinks (a separate discussion altogether). Quadruple the stink factor if you are on reserve. And quadruple THAT when/if you have a family.

Good or great corporate jobs are few and far between.

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer, just trying to be factual. Dedicate yourself to real estate and ultimately buy your own airplane to fly while you take a break from the masterpieces you create for yourself.

Why not paint planes? With all the mergers, new airlines, airlines closing, and regionals getting more mainline flying, planes are getting more face lifts than an 80 year old starlet.

Both of the "worlds" you dream of make better hobbies than careers. But at least you don't dream of acting.

go to school!!!! For Art. a degree is a degree. and while your doing that, take a few lessons and see how you like it. Take your time really learning how to fly! get your private pilots license and that’s when you'll come to that fork in the road whether to pursue aviation or something else. It took me about a yr to get mine(2 days a week while working w/ night school).
not saying FlightSaftey is bad or anything, but the time you spend during you private pilot "stage" of your training is the most important part of your training and going to a school that tells you that getting you license can take a few short months are neglecting your BASE knowledge of flying and aviation as a whole.

so my advise would be to go out to some small Po-dunk airport, find some old career flight instructor, take a few rides and see whether or not he can really pass the knowledge onto you. because having a firm basic knowledge of something as simple as how a wing creates lift is very important.

My 2 cents

Become a lawyer. They make all the money.