Why would you quit being a firefighter?

I agree.. definately get the degree. Im not sure if you need it to get in with american with the flow program. However you are severely limiting your options if you dont get it.

So you are a 23 year old firefighter with 5 years under your belt which would leave you with 15 more years to get a pension. You could retire at age 38, collect a pension then join the regionals assuming you fly and cfi throughout these years. Unless you hate being a firefighter, I wouldn't quit until I did my 20 years and retired.

I'm curious, is it typical for a firefighter to make 80k after only 5yrs?

Option #2
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Thanks for the replies, ladies and gents.

MikeF16, I looked into Jet Blue's program but it's insanely expensive ($100k+).

sulkair, that's crazy! How are they managing to do both full-time?

JohnBurke, I absolutely hear you brother. I'm very thankful for the position I'm in as is.

NYC Pilot, we don't have a pension (it's a state retirement system). I see what you're saying about collecting a retirement from the FD then becoming a regional pilot. I've always dreamed of being a Captain on a wide body so I really want to get on with a regional ASAP and then flow.

Jingles, FDs around here start around $45 - 60k. I'm only making my current salary because of a recent promotion.

Here's the game plan I'm currently thinking:

- Start immediately on my bachelors. Texas has a tuition waiver for firefighters so if I continue to work as a FF, I can get my bachelors at nearly zero cost (and relatively fast...I've got about 85hrs)...which is another reason to take flight classes off duty I think.

- Get a 1st Class Medical to make sure I can even get my ATP.

- Start prepping for the FAA Knowledge Exam. I'm not too familiar with this part but I understand there's prep programs and FAA manuals to study to help prepare. Do I just find the one for PPL and start studying?

- Get my ratings ASAP and become a CFI and get into Envoy's Cadet Program and instruct on my off days until I have 1500 hours. I'm looking into different flight schools around DFW if anybody has suggestions.

Thanks again!

Whatever you do, don't be this guy!

Help out this gateway select guy

Have you thought about flying for the military through the guard/reserves? I am a full time firefighter and also a guard pilot. You can take military leave for deployments/tdys and keep your firefighting job. I would recommend doing at least 20 years with the firefighting gig and then you can figure out if you want to pursue full time flying from there. There is a C-130 unit in Fort Worth. PM me if you have any questions.

IMO, he'd be better off as a pilot assuming the industry stays on track. Down the road, a civil service retirement is going to be peanuts compared to airline pay. Plus if he waits 15 years, the large retirement age demographic bubble will be over.


If he's already bored at age 23, it would be a long 15 years.

This is the exact thought that I have been tossing around between working towards an airline job when I finish my licenses and hours or working towards a full-time position as a FF/Paramedic . I'm already licensed as a Paramedic, but financially, provided the aviation industry continues in the current direction, we would be better off year over year financially than with career departments. Top out for most FF/Paramedics is closer to $120-150k for captains (about 10-15 years into the career), and some Battalion Chiefs make closer to $200k but those typically with more than 15-20 years. Also most departments used to provide pension, but now only county departments on the Florida Retirement System offer that, the rest is 401k.