A Bad Time for a Career Change?

3green said:
Jet-dreamer,

Of course there are crappy jobs out there. But, the responsibilities we carry and for what training/experience we've been through to get here its kinda ridiculous how management treats us(money, schedule) wise. I know it sounds like whining, but people need to hear these thing so change can come. Out of sight, out of mind doesn't help anyone especially us on the line...

Like I said, after you've done 6 legs(with quick turns thrown in) and a short overnight come back and tell me that the hours don't suck at the regional level too(unless your senior line-holder of course, unfortunately I'm not going to make it that far to find out).

And yes, there are plenty of other aviation jobs that are better(135, etc,). So I would just encourage others to look at those and not just regionals as good examples of nice aviation jobs out there...
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I agree.....so many other avenues to a flying career besides the regionals.
 
I will throw my .02 in. I am in my late 30s and am happily doing the change. I have taken into account the reduction in income and have accepted the instability of the industry(when has it ever been stable). Do not let the nay sayers turn you away. I have and am making good money. That is not everything. Also, keep in mind the airlines are not the only way to make a living flying.

Brian
 
SteelMike:

I'm a little late to this thread, so I hope you're still reading. Here's my take:

Much like you, I caught the aviation bug at a bad time for aviation: ONE MONTH AFTER 9/11.

I began flying shortly thereafter at an FBO. Worked full time. Flew three to four times a week after work and/or on weekends.

It took me 2 years to get my ratings. I instructed for another 1.5 years thereafter (full time after quitting the day job) and the industry was just on the cusp of it's latest 3.5 year "boom" in hiring.

I'm now a first officer at American Eagle. Been here 2.5 years and enjoy it emensely!

Now is a bad time to be looking an aviation job IMHO....but, it's a fine time to start training.

Keep in mind, however, that training costs are going to be very expensive due to higher fuel costs and such.

In short: don't rush. Take your time. Keep the desk job for as long as possible. Then, by the time you get your ratings, instruct, or do traffic watch .....whatever it takes to build time and experience.....hopefully the industry will be in another upswing and you'll be right there.

Best of luck. Keep us posted.

Stan
 
I am in my late 30s and am happily doing the change. I have taken into account the reduction in income and have accepted the instability of the industry(when has it ever been stable). Do not let the nay sayers turn you away. I have and am making good money. That is not everything.
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Wow, thats almost exactly word for word what I thought before I got here... But, I'd still do it again. Good luck to all.
 
TexasFlyer said:
Gosh, now I sound like an infomercial! Send me $39.95 and I'll supply you the book and business plan on how to be successful, how to be rich, how to make your own hours, how to run your own life and business from home!
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NOT cool dude.
 
Holy friggin' crap! this thread just took off. I didn't check it for a couple of days (been busy) and now it's got five pages!

Thanks again for the perspective, everyone. I can see that there are a few sour apples in the group (and understandably so), and a few really happy folks out there too. Very interesting to get to peer into your guys's lives and see some of the ins-and-outs of this prospective career change.

You know, maybe things aren't that bad here in my cubicle. I'm starting to think that I'd just like more aviation in my life and that maybe the best way to do that is to get my CFI and do some teaching on the weekends and after work. That way, I'm staying engaged, staying current, building hours in case I want to make the change some day, and not having to take out a mortgage to keep flying.

Best of luck to all of you - hope things improve in the indusrty and flying gets its mojo back.
 
On the subject, if you wait for the "perfect" time to leave a career you really despise, chances are, the day will never come.

Make yourself happy. Do what you gotta do. Life goes fast and you only get one shot. Unless, of course, you're Hindu.
 
Doug Taylor said:
On the subject, if you wait for the "perfect" time to leave a career you really despise, chances are, the day will never come.

Make yourself happy. Do what you gotta do. Life goes fast and you only get one shot. Unless, of course, you're Hindu.
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:laff:
Im sorry, that was just funny!
 
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