Quote:
Originally Posted by NYC Pilot
You want to give up a solid career with the FAA as a controller for the airlines? Why not retire from the FAA and then do whatever you want? I had the same opportunity years ago and I chose to fly but had I taken the offer with the FAA, I would have been retiring in a few more years. I still regret not doing ATC when I had the chance. I would have retired before the age of 50. If you retire at 50, you can go back to flying till 65 if you wanted. Enough time to get the flying enjoyment out of your system IMO.
Oh and it did work out for me in flying also. I am a captain on the A350 and was an A330/B777 captain previously. Early 40's. In hindsight, I would have taken the FAA opportunity and never looked back.
I would have stuck with airlines (I did), it's cyclical and typically what goes around comes around. I started too late, so my good run will be relatively short but if you start young you have good odds of making out like a bandit over the course of your career. Career-changers will need some luck and timing for that last.
Although I did mil reserves, so I do have that (smaller) retirement. Reserves is a great fit for airline pilots, including non-flying reserves if you can't get a flying slot. Backup employment, supplemental retirement, good medical for life. You can do as much or as little as you like, and the airlines only recourse is to say "aye, aye sir!" (although Uncle may occasionally "request" that you do more than you'd really like). *Most* pilots are suitable military material.
My big career take-away is get in early, be aggressive, and stick with it. I've got several buddies from the early days who fell by the wayside and are looking at coming back... they frankly wish they were me right now, and they could have been me if they stuck with it.
It's helpful if you can defer marriage until you have a major job, or at least defer kids. Trust me there's almost no good reason (for a dude) to get married in your 20's.
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