Advice For a 27 Year Old Career Changer

Subpilot

Thanks for bringing that up. Thats what I was thinking about and I know that is the part I cannot know until I do it. See for me the lifestyle is the majority of what draws me to the job. I guess I need to find out if I like the flying too..haha Not really looking forward to the low paying years but traveling and seeing new places when earning decent money later on. I'm not really interested in kids and my girlfriend and I are pretty independant and do ok with time apart. I have always hated seeing the same scenery every day and my biggest fear in life is the little middle class house picket fence and dog humdrum routine life..haha I guess my biggest concern is getting stuck as a regional FO for years and years. I wont be hartbroken if I never get to the mega salarys but would be pretty upset if I was doing this for 5-10 years and still not seeing $60,000 - $70,000 or so and still struggleing to pay back the loans.
 
I can't really comment from experience on this, I am 32 and just considering getting my PPL with no intention of ever being a commercial airline pilot. So this is just a general observation. atp_chris, it seems your major dilemma is that you have a current career opportunity and you are perceiving this to be an absolute point to make a decision about the career for the rest of your life.

So, lemme point a few things out
- It may seem like you have to drop your career now and go into debt for ATP, but be honest with yourself here, you would be paying for your impatience! All accelerated schools are for the impatient willing to cart the opportunity cost around for the next 20 years, unless they truly have the $70k cash to spend.
- Your 27, not 47! Aviation will always be there. I have read countless forum posts of career changers in their 30s-40s, and they do get hired. There is no rush.
- Watch your BP, I am no doctor, but an airline pilot's livelihood depends on their ability to hold a 1st class med, live a healthy lifestyle and see your doctor, stay on top of this!

You have the dream, you have the means, and you have the time. The question is.... do you have the patience to gradually get into this field without killing your financial future?

You just got offered a promotion, work the job, take the extra money and earn your PPL and ratings at an FBO. Flying 2-3 times a week and you'll have your MEI in less than 2 years for 1/2 the cost and probably pay cash. You'll be working as an FO at a regional by the time you are 30, virtually an infant for the working life of a pilot. You will be living the dream in no time with no debt (or a fraction of debt compared to ATP). Plus if you decide after 6 months its not for you, or life has thrown you a curveball, you can adjust without a $70k bill weighing you down.

Good luck!
 
Don't do it. Reading Your posts carefully, your expectations and "vision" of the lifestyle will let you down. For many, this career requires more of a sacrifice than any job should. You seem like a reasonable person to me - do something that will not take everything you have, and then ask for more.
 
3green said:
Go to an FBO and train on the side. Make sure this is what you want to do for a living and have a backup plan/job.
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Exactly. With any career change, better be sure. You found a good place here on jetcareers, heed the advice. It's definately good that you are doing your research. Although it may seem like flying is a 'good fit' for you, make sure it's what you want to do. Make sure you love it.
 
atp_chris said:
Subpilot

but traveling and seeing new places when earning decent money later on. I'm not really interested in kids and my girlfriend and I are pretty independant and do ok with time apart. I have always hated seeing the same scenery every day and my biggest fear in life is the little middle class house picket fence and dog humdrum routine life..
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Let me do a reality check here:bandit:

I think your seeing the same thing that most folks who don't fly see in the pilot mystique.

Let me correct a few misconceptions of "Living the Dream" from the point of view of someone on the sidelines. By sidelines I mean I've been in and around aviation all my life. I'm an Instrument rated commercial pilot but have never been an airline pilot, but, I just retired from the Federal Air Marshal program and a 28 year Federal Law Enforcement Career. Since 9/11 I've been flying in the back watching the crews do their thing, I've met pilots who still absolutely love their job and others that are absolutely miserable and are there because they can't find a job that pays more with the same days off.

First of all, the office up front has the best view of any office, no doubt about it:D

Most of the time, you'll fly around in that office for 10-14 hours a day (Duty Day) granted some of that time is sitting in a terminal waiting for your next flight or running to your next flight. For the first few years you'll spend a lot of time sitting at home or in a crash pad on reserve waiting for a phone call.

When you have layovers they will be in hotels picked by your company (probably not the Hilton). Layovers are usually short (10 hours or so) There are times when you'll have long layovers, but they are far and few between and most of the time they don't fall into tourist hours.

Crews with the best schedules get them because they've got the seniority numbers to get them.

I guess what I'm trying to stress is that Its looks like lots of adventure and fun, and it can be:nana2: But go into it with you eyes open, it ain't all fun in the sun on the Mexican Rivera and flying your shiny jet through the friendly skies. (Unless your Doug)

The best piece of advice I've seen on this thread is don't take out a loan to get your training, save your cash and pay for it. You have a lot of time to get there and when you do you'll be able to eat more than just ramon noodles in that fine hotel room your company picked out for you:D. And Remember there are flying jobs outside of the airlines:panic:.

That being said, I've considered going the regional route, even at age 50. But more than likely I'm going the CFI route, because I love flying and enjoy teaching, and with a retirement I can afford to do it. Maybe I'll go fly my friends Super DC-3 in Alaska, who knows, but I do know I'll be flying something.

Best of luck
Bill
 
I took DE's suggestion and went with the FBO training, and I am thankful that I did. Yes it took a little longer... but I did avoid the debt. Later on go join a flying club or do some timebuilding at some places like the aviator then get your CFI's and let someone else buy your time in the plane.

I'd say (opinion only) with the current economic climate and its direct tie to this industry in addition to record high (and ever increasing in the long run) fuel costs. Avoid cutting checks to big name flight schools unless your financial status allows you to do so without racking up a bunch of debt. I am not saying these institutions are bad in anyway... they arn't.. but what you are really paying for is quick training and in some cases...pretty airplanes (which sometimes is a disadvantage) learn in some crappy planes first that arn't loaded with 430's, weather scopes, and auto pilots :D You'll later find out how great of a pilot you are after you train in some beaters where maintaining centerline taxi requires some odd rudder positions and straight and level flight is actually a 1-2 degree bank according to one of your indicators lol.

So final thought in this post. Don't rush too much right now... the industry is in a standstill or decline at the moment (speaking domestic) Save up your cash; start your training down the street at your local Ma and Pa FBO and study this stuff like its your playboy mag ! It might take you a little longer than a promised 3 or 4 months but you won't have a big loan payment in the end and you'll probably finish up right when there is another upswing in domestic aviation :nana2:

A lot of times at these local places you'll find a rarer breed of instructors that are teaching because they LOVE aviation and might actually teach you the art of flying, and not just the way to pass a checkride. There are 2 ways of learning.. the text book way, or the art of mastering a craft. Aviation is a tradeskill... So personally i'm glad I flew with some old birds who did everything from crop-dusting to flying 747's because they were comfortable enough (and experienced enough) to teach me the craft in a way that no text book or formula standard could do. I'm not saying you can't find that at some big academy.. but I think you might have better luck finding those guys at some local airport.

Good luck on your journey man ! I'm sure you'll come to the best decision for you.
 
thebot said:
I took DE's suggestion and went with the FBO training, and I am thankful that I did. Yes it took a little longer... but I did avoid the debt. Later on go join a flying club or do some timebuilding at some places like the aviator then get your CFI's and let someone else buy your time in the plane.

I'd say (opinion only) with the current economic climate and its direct tie to this industry in addition to record high (and ever increasing in the long run) fuel costs. Avoid cutting checks to big name flight schools unless your financial status allows you to do so without racking up a bunch of debt. I am not saying these institutions are bad in anyway... they arn't.. but what you are really paying for is quick training and in some cases...pretty airplanes (which sometimes is a disadvantage) learn in some crappy planes first that arn't loaded with 430's, weather scopes, and auto pilots :D You'll later find out how great of a pilot you are after you train in some beaters where maintaining centerline taxi requires some odd rudder positions and straight and level flight is actually a 1-2 degree bank according to one of your indicators lol.

So final thought in this post. Don't rush too much right now... the industry is in a standstill or decline at the moment (speaking domestic) Save up your cash; start your training down the street at your local Ma and Pa FBO and study this stuff like its your playboy mag ! It might take you a little longer than a promised 3 or 4 months but you won't have a big loan payment in the end and you'll probably finish up right when there is another upswing in domestic aviation :nana2:

A lot of times at these local places you'll find a rarer breed of instructors that are teaching because they LOVE aviation and might actually teach you the art of flying, and not just the way to pass a checkride. There are 2 ways of learning.. the text book way, or the art of mastering a craft. Aviation is a tradeskill... So personally i'm glad I flew with some old birds who did everything from crop-dusting to flying 747's because they were comfortable enough (and experienced enough) to teach me the craft in a way that no text book or formula standard could do. I'm not saying you can't find that at some big academy.. but I think you might have better luck finding those guys at some local airport.

Good luck on your journey man ! I'm sure you'll come to the best decision for you.
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Great Post!
 
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