rickair7777

I had the opportunity at about 400 hours too, but had lots of SIC. Not sure if that's the norm though.

Zerosilver84

My company is poaching CA with 250 pic to apply for LCA

Jdub2

If at all possible you should really make the jump now. 7 years is likely 8-9000 people ahead of you on the list, many younger. How much of a financial hit would leaving now be?

Remember it’s 7 more years at year 12 captain pay, plus 16% automatically put in your 401k your whole career

ToTheTabs

At a minimum, even if you don't change careers now, you should start your flight training now. Or better yet - yesterday.
Even working at it part time, you should have your CFI and close to 1000hrs under your belt by the time you retire from your current gig. Your goal should be to roll out of your current job and into the flying job you want. Not spend another 3 years in flight training and instructing after working these last 7.

TrevorWiles

It would be a devastating financial hit. I can “retire” now. But my pension would come out to about $800 a month, and I would not be eligible to start collecting until I am 52 years old. I’m 34 now. My wife and I have made the decision for her to be a stay at home due to all the crazy ideas that are being forced into kid’s heads at public schools these days. We own a house. I have responsibilities to my family and cannot just do whatever I want because I feel like it.

I would love to stop being a cop and move into this passion. But I just can’t. 7 more years, 41 years old, and I collect about $4,000 a month for the rest of my life just for waking up every day. Plus, if I die before my wife, she continues to collect the pension until she dies.


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TrevorWiles

I like the idea of this. I wonder about how the financials of it would work. A cop salary with a wife and 3 kids is already stretched pretty thin…..any ideas/tips on how to go this route to work in Oklahoma?


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Mx241

You need to plan to have all of your ratings and 1500 hours in 7 years when you retire. You need an 84 month plan.
step1) written test $400+-
* Read the Airplane Flying Handbook and read it cover to cover twice. (FAA 8083? Google it)
* Read parts 61 and 91 Google part 61 private pilot requirements and go from there.
* Get a private pilot study course. gleim, sportys, ASA, King doesn’t matter (others chime in)
dedicate yourself to finishing your private pilot written exam in 1 month. 2 months max. Do this before you begin flight training and shoot for 90% or higher on all written exams. This is a good test to determine if being a pilot is something you really want to do.
step2) private pilot training 10-15k
* have time scheduled before you begin
* have access to 15k
* find a flight instructor that will meet 3-5 days a week at 6am. Primary training is easier just after sunrise and the airplanes are available and you avoid Oklahoma afternoon t-storms.
* fly 3-5 times a week until you complete your private.
Once you get your private start studying for your instrument and repeat the process. After the instrument you’ll need a strategy to build 250 hours for the commercial. During this time take your commercial and both CFI written exams. When you hit 200 hours get back with your instructor and spend 20 hours learning commercial maneuvers (10 dual 10 solo.) Do commercial maneuvers from the right seat for 10 hours. Finish your last 20 hours from the left seat and take the commercial checkride. You should be ready to take your CFI ride within a month at this point (writtens are done)
This can all be done in 24-36 months.
Plane $140x275hrs=$38,500
Instructor $50x80hrs= $4,000
Examiner fees ppl, inst, comm-1800 cfi-1200= $3,000 total
$45,500 total. I recommend planning 50-60k to be safe. You’ll have to get a ME rating at some point.
If you do all that in 36 months you’ll have 48 months to CFI as a second job and build your 1250 remaining hours about 27/month. This is a huge commitment that requires a complete lifestyle change. Share this with your wife and make sure the family is on board before you spend 50k. My Son started this at while working a professional/salary job but he was single. Completed his PPL in 6 weeks flying before work every day. He managed to time build with friends and got a 135 job flying Barons and 402’s so he avoided instructing and quit his real job. He’s flying for a regional now at 27. That’s not an option with your retirement plan but you get the idea. You have to be determined. You probably have a lot of PTO and personal days off too. It’s doable.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

ImSoSuss

Do what is best for you. Some of these people have no clue what "real life" is. They'll tell you to give up securing financial stability for the rest of your life to "beat the wave" and the next thing you know your on furlough for years. There will still be plenty of flying to be had when you are 41 and you will still have a long career.

rickair7777

This is not correct, unless you have no interest in top tier employers.

Is it possible to get hired without TPIC? Yes.

Will you be significantly more competitive with TPIC? Yes.

Jdub2

I just don’t know about that anymore Rick. 20% of my class at the Top Tier employer had 0 TPIC. The assessment removes half of the applicants so they are adjusting the formula. I know quite a few FOs from my previous shop with interviews lined up as well.

I hear what you’re saying, that TPIC still is worth gold and adds a lot of points. But conversely I know a few CA that have not gotten the call.

We live in interesting times