terryllowery

Hello all: I know this is an old thread but I wanted to thank everyone for the posts on here. I have been in the IT field for 11 years now and I have had flying in my blood since I was a kid. I can remember flying in my fathers airplanes when I was real young.
Anyhow I have a good paying job and I support a family, but I hate my job and I would love to fly professionally. The things holding me back are the fear of the F word and the pay, but I also am reminded that the pay may be good where I am at but I hate the job.
I also remind myself that the pay sucked when I first started the IT world too.

Well I am 36 know and two young kids and a wonderful wife that reminds me that we will survive anything that can be dished out (including scraping for sometime).
Thanks all.
Terry

ExperimentalAB

Best of luck, Terry! I too couldn't imagine a "real job," but that isn't to say I Love this business -- guaranteed that if this thread were started today, it would have taken a very different form LoL.

You've got it good though -- perspective, and a very understanding spouse. Again, best of luck...guys like you are always a pleasure to fly with!

BURflyer

I know someone who was in your situation but a few years younger. Same deal, changed careers after 10 years. They're now making 6 figures. You are not too old but your options are going to be limited because you do not have the luxury of being 20-30 years old experimenting with different gigs. You have a family. Set a goal, and find a way to get there as quickly as you can, I would strongly suggest you avoid the regional airline route. Look into corp/fractional flying, they won't be as competitive as the airlines once they start hiring in a couple of years, same pay/benefits without the airline BS.

ExperimentalAB

Or you could always go to GoJet

evh347

I love my job....it's crapshoot as to what kind of captain you get dealt with on a trip, but I would take this career over anything I've ever done.

I've worked sales on commission, managed convenience stores, worked IT in an office, administrative work, and all sorts of customer service. I say....F that.

Nothing is as cool as the dynamics of an ever changing work environment as the airlines. Every day is something new. The aircraft has daily challenges, so do all the people working around you. In the end, I would not trade any of it for the crap I used to deal with in an office. Here, I am empowered and the choices I make have an effect on a successful outcome. There (in the office), I was another peon cog in hive of mediocrity.

powrful1

I am currently at my second regional in 1 1/2 yrs time. While the first one blew big monkey balls, the second is much better. Not perfect, now that I am no longer on first year pay that helps a good deal. With that being said now that I am additionally home based is huge!!!! My QOL meter is now pegged at a 8.0. That being said do what makes you happy, your life is so much more fulfilled that way.

ExperimentalAB

evh, that was colorful haha...very true too!

withthatsaid182

i love flying...i hate my job...

ExperimentalAB

I Love flying, and I LOVE my job...just hate the business. Important distinction there

flynavyj

can't remember if i replied to this thread once before or not. A lot of this business is what you make it. On the other side of that coin however, is a person can only stay optimistic for so long. I've always done my best to have a good attitude...Mine really isn't even that bad now, (just don't look at my avatar or signature)

Only things i could say terry is to weigh the options heavily. The decision probably won't be easy, and, at the same time shouldn't be. There are some very very major enjoyment perks of this job. While the IT guy will be sitting in an office, staring at a computer screen. The Pilot will be sitting in the office and staring at cloud formations. Same time, much of the same truths will be there as well. You'll have people that you work with who are a real pleasure to be around (most are) and you'll have some people that you'll hope you never fly with again (some are). You'll find yourself on a four day trip in which nothing will ever seem to go right, you'll be out of the gate late each leg, have a Maintenance delay every other leg, find yourself stuck in the wrong city after breaking down, then have scheduling mess up the hotel arrangements, and all this will be on a 16 hr work day, in which time, talking to your wife has been almost non-existent because you've been playing catch up all day (every break became a quick turn) and now, that you've finally got some time off, it's 2 in the morning, and you're two timezones behind your home. That's not the typical "day", but the more it happens, the more it'll strain on the marriage, and the "love" of flying.

As far as me, i love flying....but i can think of MANY things, that i don't love about my job. I do wish you the best of luck, the grass might not be greener over here, but i'll guarantee you that it's a different shade...for better or worse.