Pilot shortage (desperate?)

drunkenbeagle said:
Go to college and get an engineering degree. It will not keep you from flying at all. I promise, you won't miss anything.

The only difference? As a CFI with an engineering job:
  • You will make about twice per hour teaching, as you will mostly end up with aircraft owners as students.
  • You are qualified for far more flying jobs. Most test pilot gigs require an engineering degree, for instance.
  • You won't get burned out as quickly.
  • You willl have a huge pool students to teach. Doctors/Laywers/Engineers tend to prefer CFI's with the same background.
  • You can afford to fly for fun. Most air line pilots under 45 can not.
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Thanks for the info, I agree with you even though it will be harder and longer it will be worth it incase I lose my medical or something. Regarding the shortage I see these ads for people to go fly in Asia for lots of money, do they have a shortage there? I also agree with cloud surfer that it is impossible to tell what the future will hold and we are best not to put all our eggs in one basket.
 
Hopeful Pilot said:
Stuff like this makes me think about my future every day. Should I go to college to get a engineering degree and build up hours while I have a job or go to a college aviation school and become a pilot. I hope for a shortage but I think it would only mean more jobs but not more pay.
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Everyone here is likely to tell you to go get an engineering degree because they think they've made huge mistakes in becoming a pilot. They think somehow that every other career comes attached to an easy life, lots of money, and tons of time off.

Go to a forum about being a lawyer, and they'll tell you to do ANYTHING other than going to law school, because it's a horrible experience, and a horrible job.

Most of these people (besides The Beagle) have no experience outside of aviation (or in the above example, law), and are making these statements without any experience to back it up.

If you want to go fly airplanes in life, go fly airplanes. I did the backup degree thing, and then had to punch the grad school ticket also when I got furloughed from a regional, and I HAPPILY came back to flying airplanes.
 
jtrain609 said:
If you want to go fly airplanes in life, go fly airplanes. I did the backup degree thing, and then had to punch the grad school ticket also when I got furloughed from a regional, and I HAPPILY came back to flying airplanes.
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If it would pay my mortgage, I would probably be flying airplanes for a living too. I do hang out on an aviation forum, after all.

If you don't have the interest or aptitude, well, a highly technical degree is probably not a great idea. If it is something you like and are already strongly considering, it is a worthwhile endeavor.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
If it would pay my mortgage, I would probably be flying airplanes for a living too. I do hang out on an aviation forum, after all.

If you don't have the interest or aptitude, well, a highly technical degree is probably not a great idea. If it is something you like and are already strongly considering, it is a worthwhile endeavor.
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I am strongly considering both options, I like both but I would say i wasted my time getting an engineering degree if I go to the airlines and never lose my medical or never get furloughed. I like the aerospace engineering because you have a backup plan and it opens up more career possibilities.
 
Get a real degree in engineering, then use it to pay for your certificates and ratings. If you're still young enough afterwards, apply to the U.S.A.F. for a pilot slot.
 
jtrain609 said:
Everyone here is likely to tell you to go get an engineering degree because they think they've made huge mistakes in becoming a pilot. They think somehow that every other career comes attached to an easy life, lots of money, and tons of time off.

Go to a forum about being a lawyer, and they'll tell you to do ANYTHING other than going to law school, because it's a horrible experience, and a horrible job.

Most of these people (besides The Beagle) have no experience outside of aviation (or in the above example, law), and are making these statements without any experience to back it up.

If you want to go fly airplanes in life, go fly airplanes. I did the backup degree thing, and then had to punch the grad school ticket also when I got furloughed from a regional, and I HAPPILY came back to flying airplanes.
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I don't regret anything... I've got a fair paying job, an amazing schedule (come March I will have only worked 3 weeks in the past 3 months... All paid), and plenty of time to pursue my other interests. And I've had another career before this one. I left it for aviation and haven't looked back. I just think an engineering degree is worth it's weight in gold especially considering how volatile aviation is. Could I get a job with a business degree if I were furloughed? Maybe. Could he get one with an engineering degree? You betcha.
 
Hopeful Pilot said:
I am strongly considering both options, I like both but I would say i wasted my time getting an engineering degree if I go to the airlines and never lose my medical or never get furloughed. I like the aerospace engineering because you have a backup plan and it opens up more career possibilities.
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Call me crazy, but that's kinda like saying any fuel you have left over when you land somewhere is fuel you shouldn't have put on the aircraft in the first place.
 
jtrain609 said:
Go to a forum about being a lawyer, and they'll tell you to do ANYTHING other than going to law school, because it's a horrible experience, and a horrible job.

Most of these people (besides The Beagle) have no experience outside of aviation (or in the above example, law), and are making these statements without any experience to back it up.

If you want to go fly airplanes in life, go fly airplanes. I did the backup degree thing, and then had to punch the grad school ticket also when I got furloughed from a regional, and I HAPPILY came back to flying airplanes.
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This needs to be stickied somehow. I think the pay and lifestyle of "good" careers is exaggerated significantly here. Want to get an engineering degree? Even with a master's from a good school, I don't think you're starting pay is going to be much more than a regional captain. You may be home every night, but you'll likely be working long hours or even on the road a lot. Want to be a doctor? I can't believe how crappily they get treated for a while out of med school. Lawyer? It's a *very* tough job market. These are all assuming that you can finish a postgraduate degree (it's not easy at all).

Getting a good non-flying job is pretty similar to getting a good flying position. Sure it helps if you in academia if you're an academic all-star doing high-profile research--but outside of that it's basically the same formula as the aviation industry: don't screw up, make a lot of friends in your field, and hope for some a lot of luck.

chrisreedrules said:
I don't regret anything... I've got a fair paying job, an amazing schedule (come March I will have only worked 3 weeks in the past 3 months... All paid), and plenty of time to pursue my other interests. And I've had another career before this one. I left it for aviation and haven't looked back. I just think an engineering degree is worth it's weight in gold especially considering how volatile aviation is. Could I get a job with a business degree if I were furloughed? Maybe. Could he get one with an engineering degree? You betcha.
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If you have an engineering degree and you haven't used it in years, finding a decent job is not as easy as you might think. The same is true for any technical degree.
 
zmiller4 said:
If you have an engineering degree and you haven't used it in years, finding a decent job is not as easy as you might think. The same is true for any technical degree.
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This is not generally true, in my experience. Things do change, but not that much in most technical fields. I work with an ex-mainline pilot, was not hard at all for him in the tech biz. The tools change, but the work is mostly the same.

Knowing people in the field obviously helps a lot. (Networking is how you end up in most jobs, not just aviation)
 
zmiller4 said:
This needs to be stickied somehow. I think the pay and lifestyle of "good" careers is exaggerated significantly here. Want to get an engineering degree? Even with a master's from a good school, I don't think you're starting pay is going to be much more than a regional captain. You may be home every night, but you'll likely be working long hours or even on the road a lot. Want to be a doctor? I can't believe how crappily they get treated for a while out of med school. Lawyer? It's a *very* tough job market. These are all assuming that you can finish a postgraduate degree (it's not easy at all).

Getting a good non-flying job is pretty similar to getting a good flying position. Sure it helps if you in academia if you're an academic all-star doing high-profile research--but outside of that it's basically the same formula as the aviation industry: don't screw up, make a lot of friends in your field, and hope for some a lot of luck.



If you have an engineering degree and you haven't used it in years, finding a decent job is not as easy as you might think. The same is true for any technical degree.
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It's still a lot easier than finding a job with a business degree or some other generic degree. I would never get a degree as a lawyer or a business degree too generic and boring.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
This is not generally true, in my experience. Things do change, but not that much in most technical fields. I work with an ex-mainline pilot, was not hard at all for him in the tech biz. The tools change, but the work is mostly the same
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I guess I should clarify--if you get an STEM degree and go right into flying without any experience in the field, five years down the line it's not going to be nearly as easy to get an entry-level job if you decide to leave aviation.

It may also be different in the tech industry; I'm more familiar with environmental fields. I wouldn't have gotten a second look from most companies with a ten-year old geology degree and no experience. In that situation, an STEM degree is only a backup if you either have some work experience or are willing to spend a few years in grad school (the route I took).
 
Hopeful Pilot said:
It's still a lot easier than finding a job with a business degree or some other generic degree. I would never get a degree as a lawyer or a business degree too generic and boring.
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"Easier" is relative. If your goal is to get a job based solely on your education (not worrying about networking, putting effort into getting yourself qualified for jobs) then engineering will certainly help more than "some other generic degree".

If you're willing to really work hard to network and make yourself marketable, then the difference between business and engineering isn't as great as you may think.
 
Hopeful Pilot said:
It's still a lot easier than finding a job with a business degree or some other generic degree. I would never get a degree as a lawyer or a business degree too generic and boring.
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My undergraduate degree is in philosophy.

It was a fantastic area of study for me.

My wife has a degree in anthropology, and now she's a research coordinator for a hospital. She has zero medical training, but she IS pretty smart and very good looking. So she's got that going for her, which is nice (@Screaming_Emu).
 
chrisreedrules said:
I don't regret anything... I've got a fair paying job, an amazing schedule (come March I will have only worked 3 weeks in the past 3 months... All paid), and plenty of time to pursue my other interests. And I've had another career before this one. I left it for aviation and haven't looked back. I just think an engineering degree is worth it's weight in gold especially considering how volatile aviation is. Could I get a job with a business degree if I were furloughed? Maybe. Could he get one with an engineering degree? You betcha.
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Orly?

Hey @Derg, how easy has it been for your wife to get a job?
 
Let's see if I can construct a coherent addition to this discussion.

I have worked in several non-flying capacities in the aviation sector. Airport management and aircraft maintenance so far have paid the best. The airport management positions were on remote islands, they paid well but you're out in the middle of nowhere. I was a WG10 for Uncle working on C-130s, I left that position to pursue an aircrew position and have been caught in the quagmire of administrative processes to get to where I want to go.

Flying airplanes. Hindsight is always 20/20, no more sense in bemoaning the past. I acquired some hours hauling jumpers, then I tried my hand at flying cameras and didn't cut the mustard, not IFR proficient to their standard. Life happens the way it did, I took a different path ended up a C-130 maintainer, completing my degree and ending up on a island for year. Fast forward and here I am working on chutes until the C-5 school kicks off trying to elevate my standard of living looking for civilian employment. I would LOVE a flying job, but the reality is I am not instrument current, let a lone proficient. That will take some serious dollars I really don't have especially after paying for rent food etc. I am not sure of an operator that will spring for that kind of expense. If there is, I'm all ears.

The only advice I can feel good giving is echoing what people above have said. Get an education that is functional and pays well, join the service to be a pilot, or win the lottery. Having a good attitude helps, to.
 
Hawks said:
Let's see if I can construct a coherent addition to this discussion.

I have worked in several non-flying capacities in the aviation sector. Airport management and aircraft maintenance so far have paid the best. The airport management positions were on remote islands, they paid well but you're out in the middle of nowhere. I was a WG10 for Uncle working on C-130s, I left that position to pursue an aircrew position and have been caught in the quagmire of administrative processes to get to where I want to go.

Flying airplanes. Hindsight is always 20/20, no more sense in bemoaning the past. I acquired some hours hauling jumpers, then I tried my hand at flying cameras and didn't cut the mustard, not IFR proficient to their standard. Life happens the way it did, I took a different path ended up a C-130 maintainer, completing my degree and ending up on a island for year. Fast forward and here I am working on chutes until the C-5 school kicks off trying to elevate my standard of living looking for civilian employment. I would LOVE a flying job, but the reality is I am not instrument current, let a lone proficient. That will take some serious dollars I really don't have especially after paying for rent food etc. I am not sure of an operator that will spring for that kind of expense. If there is, I'm all ears.

The only advice I can feel good giving is echoing what people above have said. Get an education that is functional and pays well, join the service to be a pilot, or win the lottery. Having a good attitude helps, to.
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Life would be so much easier if I won pch million a year for life
 
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