emergency med doc trying to become a pilot... help!

Derg said:
Do it.

If it doesn't work out, there's always medicine.
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This. I can't tell you how many times I heard "Just buy an airplane and fly it on weekends!" Uh, no? It always seemed to be those pilots who never worked a day outside the industry that said that the most too!

When I left my career (mechanical engineering) it was nothing like medicine. But it was still a lot to leave and was a tough decision. But for me, it was the right one and I don't regret it a bit. As Doug said, I can always go back if I need to.
 
GypsyPilot said:
This. I can't tell you how many times I heard "Just buy an airplane and fly it on weekends!" Uh, no? It always seemed to be those pilots who never worked a day outside the industry that said that the most too!

When I left my career (mechanical engineering) it was nothing like medicine. But it was still a lot to leave and was a tough decision. But for me, it was the right one and I don't regret it a bit. As Doug said, I can always go back if I need to.
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Yup. I have 21 days off next month. Hard to do that in most other careers.
 
Does your medical time go stale? Like if you haven't practiced medicine in X of years you lose it? You need to get further along in this process before you go all in. After you get your instrument rating you can re evaluate. Have you paid of all your medical school debts??
 
get ratings while paying down med school debt. Keep flying (either paying or instructing) while paying down debt. live frugally (I mean that)

When you have 0 debt from med school, then try the regionals.

I wouldn't go to the regionals with 100+k in debt (in OPs case more likely 250+)

But end game, definitely try it, if it doesn't work, quit and go back.
 
protonate said:
I'll spare you guys from the details, but in short I became a doctor because my parents wanted me to but I realized that my true passion is in aviation. I'm 31 years, just finished residency, and want to become an airline pilot! (don't want to live with this big of a regret, realized that I can't do that). Any advice on to how I should go about? how up can I really go if I start from no flight experience (i.e captain at a major? FO at a major?) at my age?

Thanks!
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So, let me just try to wrap my head around this one.

You first came on here in March of 2011, and in November of 2011 you were "just accepted to medical school." I'll assume that meant you started in the fall of 2012. Your first thread:

Hey guys!
I basically love aviation ever since I was a child but due to many factors, I did not enroll into a pilot school and instead pursued a degree in biology and just got accepted into medical school. Through all of these years, I still like aviation and want it to be part of my life when I am older. I was wondering if regional airlines would be willing to hire part time pilots because if that were possible, I would choose a medical specialty like ER physician that works 36 hours a week and then maybe work 2 days as a pilot for a regional. What if I even offered to do it for free? Just as long as they cover the cost of hotel and per diem? I know this is a unique situation but how feasible do you think this is?

Thanks in advance!
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http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/is-this-feasible.130008/

It's currently the spring of 2014, which means you managed to get through medical school AND residency in 2 years. That would be a process that normally takes between 7 and 8 years, depending on the requirements of your residency.

I think we've got our latest TomCatter, @MikeD.
 
GypsyPilot said:
Good work Jtrain. I wonder if he's hiring some Learjet pilots too?
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He'd probably fly a Learjet like a boss.

0996335.jpg
 
jtrain609 said:
So, let me just try to wrap my head around this one.

You first came on here in March of 2011, and in November of 2011 you were "just accepted to medical school." I'll assume that meant you started in the fall of 2012. Your first thread:



http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/is-this-feasible.130008/

It's currently the spring of 2014, which means you managed to get through medical school AND residency in 2 years. That would be a process that normally takes between 7 and 8 years, depending on the requirements of your residency.

I think we've got our latest TomCatter, @MikeD.
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Good work.

sherlock_holmes.jpg
 
Get your ratings and be debt free, from there decide if that's what you really want. Go get your CFI and instruct on your free time, network because you might get a good gig down the road while still being employed in the emergency room. Getting to the airlines is tough and not everybody gets there, there are other things to fly in aviation than regional jets............
 
Step by step:

-start your own clinic
-make a few million
-buy a cirrus
-fly where you want, when you want, no passengers or boxes, no schedule.
 
GypsyPilot said:
Don't be that guy. Seriously, it's really annoying.
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What guy? The guy that gives decent advice? What should we all tell him? Tell him to drop everything and start a career that will take a year for ratings, plus 2+ years of instructing just to land at a regional making less than a full time Walmart employee, or lawn care guy, or the guy that fuels the airplane you're flying....

I love flying. If someone loves it as much as me then they should pursue it. But if the guy already has the opportunity to have one of the highest paying careers, why give that up? And if he were to give that up, then it shouldn't be for the regionals. If anything, he can start a clinic and make tons of money. Then get his ratings on the side. Then start his own charter company or whatever else.

There's really no need to call me out. Most people who inquire about this profession simply have no idea what the salaries are. A lot of people still think that every pilot is a 747 captain for united making $250k.

So with all due respect, I will be "that guy".
 
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There's always that guy that says "Just buy your own airplane!" I heard it ALL the time when I was switching careers from engineering. It was not a practical solution, nor was it addressing what I wanted to do - a career change, doing something I loved.

So unless you've opened up your own clinic, made millions, and bought your own airplane, I'd say your advice isn't good as you haven't actually done any of it.
 
GypsyPilot said:
There's always that guy that says "Just buy your own airplane!" I heard it ALL the time when I was switching careers from engineering. It was not a practical solution, nor was it addressing what I wanted to do - a career change, doing something I loved.

So unless you've opened up your own clinic, made millions, and bought your own airplane, I'd say your advice isn't good as you haven't actually done any of it.
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Just curious, when did you leave engineering to fly? Was it recently? Was aviation as messed up then as it is now?

A lot of older pilots who made it to the legacy carriers seem to think that the path is still the same. Legacy used to hire guys with little time and no degree. Not only have recruiting minimums changed, but legal minimums have as well.

I think we can all agree that most people (outside of aviation) still believe what they've seen on tv regarding airline pilots. Or what they grew up thinking. Even training costs are exponentially greater now.
 
jgheggie said:
Just curious, when did you leave engineering to fly? Was it recently? Was aviation as messed up then as it is now?

A lot of older pilots who made it to the legacy carriers seem to think that the path is still the same. Legacy used to hire guys with little time and no degree. Not only have recruiting minimums changed, but legal minimums have as well.

I think we can all agree that most people (outside of aviation) still believe what they've seen on tv regarding airline pilots. Or what they grew up thinking. Even training costs are exponentially greater now.
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Aviation has been messed up since around 1903. You're kidding yourself if you think there was ever a golden age.
 
jtrain609 said:
Aviation has been messed up since around 1903. You're kidding yourself if you think there was ever a golden age.
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FO now requires an ATP, legacies all require degrees, pay is the lowest it's ever been (adjusted for inflation), and training cost are higher than ever (adjusted for inflation).

Was there ever really a golden age? Probably not. But the industry/career is certainly worse then ever (my opinion).
 
jgheggie said:
FO now requires an ATP, legacies all require degrees, pay is the lowest it's ever been (adjusted for inflation), and training cost are higher than ever (adjusted for inflation).

Was there ever really a golden age? Probably not. But the industry/career is certainly worse then ever (my opinion).
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Then what are you doing here?

And do you think other industries are all roses? 29% of the class I was supposed to graduate with from law school in the spring of 2012 has found full time employment, and they all have $150,000 in debt.
 
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