Leave the industry for software?
 

Currently on furlough with a regional airline (was in airline training as a new hire) and I have a computer science degree. I received an attractive offer as a software engineer and am wondering if it's worth it to even stay in this industry. The offer is $115k base, 40k yearly stock options, 23k bonus. Just a 1500 hour dude.

Ahh the good old crystal ball question...

I also have a Comp SCI degree and I’m currently working part time at a firm doing really easy script baby stuff. Do I like it? No. Is it necessary to pay bills? Yes.

I got into flying knowing this industry is cyclical, I have kept current with my contacts in Comp SCI and have always had a back end and knew I could jump in at any time Incase the industry went to crap. What I would say is if you think you’ll be furloughed for a year or so then take the job but don’t leave this industry completely any flying job is better then being script kiddie at a major corporation in my opinion.

Good luck with everything


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Why choose now? You're on furlough, so take the offer.

When the airline calls you back, then you can decide. At that point, you'll have a feel for whether the software gig is your thing.

this is a no brainer

you will "return to the industry" when you get recalled.

in the meantime, try out your temporary new gig. Thankfully you can bring in six figures, some pilots will be working as Door Dash drivers during their furlough.

Since you have recall rights absolutely take the job, then wait and see what happens with the industry. If for some reason your regional stagnates and others start hiring you may have to consider your priority of career progression vs. money.

I'm guessing you won't be highly competitive for the cargo jobs which are available right now, but that's something to look at as well.

The industry does tend to reward those who stick it out in the bad times... that's typically been the most direct path to enough seniority at a major to be relatively furlough-proof.

I always did other things on the side, especially when things were slow, but I always stayed employed in aviation too. Software can be flexible that way, if you get some professional full-time experience now that will open up flexible/part-time/contractor opportunities later. I'm getting ready to dust off the (very dusty) coding skills myself, just in case.

bottom line is look out for Numero Uno.

nobody from senior management at the airlines will be feeding you apple sauce in your nursing home bed. your wife and kids might tho.

seniority, shiny big airplanes, etc is all cool but do what is best for you.

Take the damn job, duh.

Sorry, seems too obvious to me. What you described is way better finacially than you re gonna see in aviation with 1500 hours until you re called back from furlough... And even beyond that.

That said, if you re really asking if you should consider leaving an aviation career altogether, as someone else said, you dont have to make that call now. But the fact you re asking it at all is telling I always tell people, dont pick pilot as a career unless its the only way you can be happy. Job itself is great. But headaches... LOTS of headaches.

You’re in a position that many wish they were in right now. Take the job. For some perspective, I’m at a regional and currently safe from furlough, but if I was offered that position, I’d strongly consider leaving the industry for good.

This 100%. I would have killed for our company to offer VLOA or even better, a PLOA program for the aircraft I am on because I have opportunities I could explore while still having the pilot job as a backup if I really wanted it down the road. If I could get paid $100K+ a year and home almost every night, I would take it in a heartbeat.

This job isnt worth it until you are making north of $150K and even then, its a stretch. Sure, mainline captain pay and qol are about as good as you get, but that takes lots of time, risk and faith. Who knows how much you might miss between now and then, assuming of course it is even there when you get to it or worse, you cant maintain your health long enough.

I know there are some on here that will dispute this, but there are companies in the market doing everything in their conceivable power to remove pilots from the equation, or at least minimize us. We will see it in our careers to some extent, it's just a matter of how much. Add in that the companies we work for are also highly incentivized to remove us and you have a situation.

Wish we had that option...
 

Ditto a million times