Advice on giving up flying.

vheissu said:
Here is a little backround. I am 22, turning 23 this July. I work for a 135 outfit sitting right seat in Las Vegas. No upgrade in sight, and there is nowhere else to go. I haven't done anything academic besides flying since High School. I am going through my first tough break up with my ex girlfriend. It has gotten me thinking about every aspect of my life.

I feel like I skipped a few steps in life. I went straight to step 5, instead of starting at step 1. Sure, I can keep working here, living alone in Vegas, and take online classes and do that. But I just don't know if that is the right choice. I have been thinking about quitting my flying job, moving up to Northern Idaho, and going to school full time. In my head, flying will always be there, and I am really limited without the degree.

It is kind of scary making that big of a move, taking a step back in pay to just get a normal job to make ends meet, and just throw caution to the wind. I am basically just looking for any input from people that have done any similar things. Obviously most people at this site have a strong passion for aviation. I absolutely love flying, I can't see myself working a desk job forever. I just need some outside input that I am not crazy for quitting a flying job, moving 1800 miles away and putting the flying on hold...


-Jason
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I wouldn't change anything. So what if you're going through some tough times? We all have. Life will go on. I'd look into the online schooling but that's a serious commitment, almost as serious as actually going to traditional classes because if you thought there was freedom in college, try online classes. Plus working and especially flying and doing classes on the side can be really tough, after days of flying you just don't feel like sitting down for academics. You really need some discipline, I would go to your local library/bookstore and read up on how to do well online.
 
College was one of the best times I've had in my life, I would recommend it strongly. Plus you get a neat piece of paper when its all said/done.

Like others already mentioned, would be great to instruct part time. Find a neat city/town you would like to check out for a few years and go major in anything, doesn't have to be aeronautical.
 
Pilots fly. If you want to be a pilot, don't stop flying. Do whatever you can to get a degree, but don't stop flying while you do it. If it takes you 8 years to get a 4 year degree because you're doing it while you're still flying, so be it.
 
seriously, don't give up the job. Just take your time getting the degree. mshunter can call dibbs on your job all he wants but my avatar is better which means I am cooler so you should give it to me. :D
 
Even a two year degree looks good on your resume. You could do that, just something simple like general studies, and then take your time on the four year. You have a job you're satisfied with, stick with it. Jobs that one is satisfied with seem to be in short supply lately...
 
Take it from one who left the airlines because of feeling burned out. Don't leave! Do what you can on your degree online, or whatever. Dude, your 22 and flying your non-aviation friends probably are still working the school jobs. Your flying! I may be making more money than most pilots, but my heart is in aviation. I still teach, fly contract. But really I myself is trying to get back in since I have a real good position with my other job. Just keep moving up the aviation ladder, your young, you don't want to leave just yet.
 
GlenA said:
seriously, don't give up the job. Just take your time getting the degree. mshunter can call dibbs on your job all he wants but my avatar is better which means I am cooler so you should give it to me. :D
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OH NO HE DI-INT! I'm cool enough that I don't need an avatar. I win!:p
 
My .02 will only be that DO NOT go non current if you are planning at all staying in aviation, regardless of career or not.

I flew ONCE in 5 years wtih the military. While the rust is wearing away pretty quickly I'm about 35 hrs back in the game now and still not where I was when I left. Mostly knowledge wise but also some flying stuff. Plus even if I had flown once a month for a couple hours, over 5 years that is still like 125 hrs. While not a ton, it's a lot better than 0.
 
go enjoy college and the lifestyle that goes with it, when you're 40 it isn't acceptable to live like that so do it now. I've heard from too many people that they wish they had a degree, just don't get it on aviation :)
 
vheissu said:
Here is a little backround. I am 22, turning 23 this July. I work for a 135 outfit sitting right seat in Las Vegas. No upgrade in sight, and there is nowhere else to go. I haven't done anything academic besides flying since High School. I am going through my first tough break up with my ex girlfriend. It has gotten me thinking about every aspect of my life.

I feel like I skipped a few steps in life. I went straight to step 5, instead of starting at step 1. Sure, I can keep working here, living alone in Vegas, and take online classes and do that. But I just don't know if that is the right choice. I have been thinking about quitting my flying job, moving up to Northern Idaho, and going to school full time. In my head, flying will always be there, and I am really limited without the degree.

It is kind of scary making that big of a move, taking a step back in pay to just get a normal job to make ends meet, and just throw caution to the wind. I am basically just looking for any input from people that have done any similar things. Obviously most people at this site have a strong passion for aviation. I absolutely love flying, I can't see myself working a desk job forever. I just need some outside input that I am not crazy for quitting a flying job, moving 1800 miles away and putting the flying on hold...


-Jason
Click to expand...

Hey man look what i surprise i found a person just with the same trouble in life as me, well as you did i went from step 1 up to 5, well now i'm getting my degree online i'm 21 i will turn 22 in a few months, i flew the 737 for a year, now four months ago becuase of the insdustry and economical problems i have no job got furloughed on aviacsa and then the other airline i flew for nova air broke down, right now i'm thinking if i missed some thing in my life i love flying, i love aviation, but it's very hard to mantain stability from it, luckly got an interview for a big regional AMX Connect pass the whole proces got in the pool, but they just received pilots from the major, so i'm still out of the game, i'm really thinking seriously about doing something else and go to a campus college i don't know, maybe to have fun or just to forget about aviation in these hard times. any suggestions are welcome.
 
Joe Gremlin said:
Pilots fly. If you want to be a pilot, don't stop flying. Do whatever you can to get a degree, but don't stop flying while you do it. If it takes you 8 years to get a 4 year degree because you're doing it while you're still flying, so be it.
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. . .that is the dumbest suggestion I've read on here in awhile. Besides a thread on CAP, GoJet's, JetU or Gulfstream.

Do that, only if you have money to waste, seriously. Better yet if you do, give it to me!!!
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
. . .that is the dumbest suggestion I've read on here in awhile. Besides a thread on CAP, GoJet's, JetU or Gulfstream.

Do that, only if you have money to waste, seriously. Better yet if you do, give it to me!!!
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Ok fine, its the dumbest thing you've heard. Care to explain why or will we be left to guess at why you are so wise?

FWIW, here is the thinking behind my statement. The OP is currently working a job where he is getting paid and building multi turbine PIC at a time in the industry when many people couldn't buy a job. For a person who intends to stay in the industry, that experience can be as valuable as a degree. But even more important is that he is now working a King Air job and building multi turbine time. That experience will open the door to other jobs for him. Often those jobs will have recent experience requirements. If he stops flying now and goes to school full time, those doors will close for him and this is an industry where a person needs all the open doors they can get.

And finally online degree options are more plentiful than they've ever been and are becoming more accepted than they've ever been. Its entirely conceivable that he could do an online degree program while keeping his current job. But it might require him to carry a lighter course load which means it would take longer for him to earn the degree.

If he wants to stay in the industry, I think that's a better option than walking away, spending four years getting a brick and mortar degree and then trying to get another job back in the industry when he'll likely have less than a hundred hours total in the previous four years and zero multi engine turbine in the previous four years.

And not to pick nits or anything but there's a guy a few posts up who proudly expresses his excitement about going to college while clearly showing that he has the grammar and punctuation skills of a second grader and yet my post is the dumbest thing you've heard? I guess I get the prize then. :sarcasm:
 
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