Quote:
Originally Posted by Fixnem2Flyinem
, but they’ve already decided that another career will be better than being stuck at the bottom of what a lot of people are calling the king of all the downturns. That decision is a little easier when you’re not staring at a 100k loan. They will now be entering careers as a cop, electrician and EMT/firefighter. All three careers that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, maybe not as much pay down the road but the stability is what they deem a priority. I agree with them, if I was at the CFI level or lower right now, I’d maybe sit on things until October. If those mass furloughs actually happen, then I’d be out and wouldn’t look back.
I didn’t use the GIB to do my flight training—I was a low-ish time military pilot who got hurt and subsequently booted...and I’m doing the same thing your friends are doing. I was in the application process for the regionals when this blew up, and I can’t afford to sit around and wait for the upturn. It’d be different if I had been firmly planted in the airline pilot career, got furloughed, etc...but on the outside looking in, not knowing whether this will be three months, three years, or a lost decade? Not knowing if I’ll even be competitive once hiring restarts? I’d argue that playing the waiting game while waiting tables or similar would be foolish...in my case, anyway.
I’m going to find another line of work. If the airlines bounce back soon, great. If not, at least I’ll be well on my way in another industry. It sucks, it isn’t what I want, but I have to make a living somehow. Hope don’t pay the bills...