one more recommendation Dan,

DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT to get to the airline job...Work, pay for lessons, work, pay for lessons. Try the Pt. 61 schools before the pilot factories. They'll talk a good game, but when you're staring down 80k dollars in loans, you'll have WILL have a difficult time at work, justifying the expense for the pay you're getting. A good friend of mine is on 3rd year regional FO pay, wife, kid, and could BARELY make the interest payments on his loans...life will be better (no matter what you do) if you don't have to pay back the man for the education needed to get where you want to be.

 

I appreciate that man... Thanks. And you are right. I'm possibly at the last stage of my life where I don't have anything to lose. A few years down the road that could change... May as well try it out now than succumb to the wrath of white collar corporate America...

I've looked at alot of schools... How do you feel about ATP? I want to get back to making income as soon as possible...

 

I'd find it extremely difficult to learn and concentrate while working this job... that's the main issue... But I am thinking about just keeping at my FBO as well... Keep the suggestions coming...

 

ATP's real appeal is speed. They can get you all the ratings required to be a regional FO, and do it fast. You'd have lots of multi-time by the time your out of there, not a lot of total time, and probably some time in an CRJ simulator. You'd be used to flows, memory items, and running checklists, what you would probably lake though, is serious real world flying experience. And what you'd gain is lots of bills to pay.

For 20k at a small FBO, you could probably accomplish what would take 60k at a large ATP styled school. Youve already mentioned that you're a computer nut, so, i'd stay away from anything that has one. You'll be perfectly at home in the RJ with it's glass cockpit and FMS computer. It's not bad to have some practical experience with a aviation GPS at some point, but, the cheaper airplanes will be the smaller and less complex ones. Get your ratings in 150s and 172's, find a duchess, or better yet, one of those flying potatos (someone will know what i'm talking about) to get some multi time in. Instruct, (which while you won't make lots of $$) you'll be home every night, and fly every day, it's not a bad deal. Then head off to the airline world, you'll have much more practical knowledge, probably more flight time, and better experiences. Also, if you nearly kill yourself some in an Apache (the flying potato) then you'll have better stories for that airline interview.

 

Believe it or not, even the guys in the ISS orbiting around the earth on day #144 are tired of it and want to be at home with their families. I'd give my left ball (probably both) to go up in space, but everything gets old after a while. If you have 100 hours in your logbook, you cannot understand.

My point here is not to say the oldness is a problem. I'd happily fly 40,000 hours and not look back. Its just that after the novelty wears off, you are only left with the lifestyle. If you ever plan on having a family, your viewpoint will likely shift from what it is right now.

de727ups is right, by and large. Its always been tough to do this career.

However, I must disagree with his argument on this one point:

Getting to 2,000 hours to land your first low paying job, to then endure 2 to 3 years before making more, enduring more years at the greater pay to make it to a major, then working at that major for 30 years, "seems" to be a thing of the past. Perhaps I can be accused of not seeing the forest from the trees.

With today's situation, companies are in an out of bankruptcy, teetering on the edge of liquidation, asking for concessions from the labor, etc. The regional bubble has basically burst now (at least part of it), flooding the market with qualified applicants. Sure, some will leave the profession all out, but it will be a good while before all these RJ pilots are hired up into the majors...a long while.

Its sort of a balanced equation. You give up something in hopes for something else. I'd give up the nights at home with wife and family, if I could bring home all the bread, plus some. I'd even give up the money if I could have many days off and good QOL. I'd give up all of that if I could at least bank on a steady career advancement. But with the current situation, the ONLY thing that keeps me interested is the flying aspect. And my point is, that that only goes so far.

 

ATP is an expensive and a min standard pilot mill. The main attraction during low time hiring frenzy's was the higher amount of multi time you get and promise of an in-house CFI job. In this day and age, you'd be better off to save your cash and stick with a small time local school. Good chance you'd find a CFI who wasn't a PPL six months ago...

Anyhow, the main thing is to get up through your CFI and get a job. If you can build your time up to 135 mins (1200 hours), it's not too hard to get a night freight job with very little multi time.

Is there any way you could go part time with your current job and work on your flying part time?

 

This would be ideal... But I strongly doubt they'd let me go part time. Maybe I could find a different FBO that's cheaper... that would be great. But the planes at my place are awesome... All 1999 and up, and maintained very well... But it costs 125 + 13.99 fuel surcharge to rent one of the 172SP's per hour (with GPS, only option). 45 for the instructor... I love the idea of ATP's structure... It's a shame that it costs so much.

 

20 years ago transition from a regional to major was the obvious choice. Today people stay at a regional carrier because they don't want to take the pay cut. 10 years ago Delta FO made more money than two regional CA put together.
Is it that hard for you to understand that not everyone is as lucky as you? You made it the UPS in 7 years. 1 out 5000 will make to the top at this industry, the problem is that hard work has nothing to with it. You got lucky! Congratulations. Just because you won the lottery it doesn't mean that everyone else will. Pilots are wasting half their lives chasing the dream that has very little chance of success and you encourge them to do it. Let not forget that some may have their four stripes at a major but no family to come home to.

 

Just curious, but why is it so bad to be stuck with the ERJ versus the CRJ?

 

Thank you for proving my point. You failed to show me one job that STARTS you at $50-85K. Yeah, $40K after residency working 24-40+ hour shifts while sleeping in a hospital sounds grand. Have fun wading in human excrement as a plumber. Not to mention the beating on the body. And enjoy the 50+ hour work weeks. That sounds great. And when you switch employers you still have to find an employer AND NEGOTIATE the starting salary with no guarantee you'll get what you want. In addition to all of this, you have no idea if you'll be any happier in your new profession. I've seen heart surgeons who pull in $750,000K a year who are flat out MISERABLE. Money may ease stress from time to time, but it DOES NOT BUY HAPPINESS. Maybe you sir, are the one who's out of touch.