naw, I guess I didn’t. Maybe because I was still surprised there are people out these who think plumbing is something you can just pick up as a “side gig”.

 

Yeah, that was the crux of my post. I don't know about plumbing, but 5 years should be plenty of time to put together a solid Plan B (or side hustle) in a variety of trades/professions, made even easier when a good sized chunk of income is coming in from the airline. I'm surprised the 2 and 5 year leaves went as junior as they did over there.

 

It took me 17(!) years to get from where the OP is now to where I am now.
He has my understanding just not my sympathy.
Put your big girl panties on son, welcome to the suck.

 

Then explain to me how my fire dept buddies are working as electricians, plumbers, and HVAC guys on the side. Some are fully licensed and have their own business, and some work part time for a company. Some started before getting on the job, others picked up the trade after becoming firefighters. It is 100% doable.

The requirements depend on where you live.

In Virginia, if you have a bachelors degree in engineering (which many pilots do), you need one year experience as an unlicensed apprentice to test out as a journeyman plumber. Another year of experience as a journeyman and you can take the test for master plumber—fully certified. If you decided to get your degree in runway maintenance, it’ll take longer.

 

everybody has a friend......

 

Except you, I’d wager 😉

Just trying to help out. Best of luck to everyone—this is rough for all involved.

 

I don't think you're going to get tons of sympathy from a of us. Left a time building job in 2008 to go to a regional, and class canceled. Then couldn't go back to previous time building gig, went almost 2 years without flying anything. Then finally landed a CFI job. That school went bankrupt, then another school went bankrupt, then tried to free lance CFI while doing odd jobs at an FBO... finally got picked up at a university. Then somewhere in there Congress passed the 1500 hour rule, and airlines started hiring again. Interviewed at a regional and corporate gig, got offers at both, so took the regional.... then the classes got postponed and finally the December before the 1500 hour rule deadline went into effect they told me to go pound sand until I had 1500 hours. And i had done my commercial part 61 instead of 141 (because it didn't matter before the law) so I had to get the full 1500. Of course I wished I had gone with the corporate job, instead of taking the regional offer. SO I continued to flight instruct, and applied for more corporate jobs because the regionals were paying $22k/ year and now I had more financial responsibilities. Got a corporate gig that seemed like a good deal until the owner started getting investigated by the FBI for some shady business practices and lost my job overnight when the owners sold the jet. Then finally had to take the first aviation job that came my way because I needed work. Went to a regional and missed the newhire bonus phenomenon by only a couple weeks, when they started offering newhires $12k that started two classes after mine.

Finally upgraded and got the magic 1000 TPIC and after not getting any calls from majors I jumped to cargo to get some heavy time. After all of that, I managed to get classes at my dream major and another one as backup and thought FINALLY I have made it. And then Covid hit.

Though I really consider myself lucky that covid hit a week before a was going to put in my notice. Another friend wasn't that lucky had left for the united class that got canceled with only 48 hour notice. The regional i was at went out of business back in March. I'm lucky I had jumped ship to cargo before the closure was ever announced, I've got a lot of former colleagues that can't get picked up at my company or anywhere else.

TLDR:
There's a lot of us that had a circuitous route to get where we are and have been through the ringer at least a few times. Go back to CFIing(if you have to), do what you can to stay current. Try to be ready for the next best thing that comes your way. Hopefully you have some luck and make some lucky decisions and try to enjoy the ride while you can.

 

**** like this is what gives me hope right now honestly. I know I'm probably the LAST person who should be talking right now but I'm a 20y/o instrument rated PPL. I did Auburn for a year and now I switched to ATP (big money drain at AU) and I should have everything (including ATP-CTP) by new years. I figure once I'm done I start instructing and work the usual 2-3 years as a CFI before meeting at least some sort of Commercial minimum or ATP... And stuff like what Celeste wrote keeps me powering through the "what if it doesn't recover" or other kinda crap. Preciate it Just gotta put your head down and grind sometimes

 

Just keep in mind that not including this one, you are going to go through about 4 of these throughout your career. The more you are prepared the better you are able to weather it.

 

"It took me 17(!) years to get from where the OP is now to where I am now."

17 years? how much of that was spent not flying?