Career Changing... Away from the airlines...

jtrain609 said:
I'm willing to bet most of the folks saying, "DO IT! DO IT! DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLY!" have never worked IT a day in their life.

Kind of like the people that scream about how they should have gone to law or medical school. They don't have any idea.
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I should have studied computing.

Ah crap, I did.
 
It's still somewhat rewarding just really frustrating feeling like I'm spinning my wheels and not having any control over it.
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This is a feeling I've wondered if I'd have if I'd made it to an airline. You work hard networking and finding opportunities to get you to your goal, then once you've made it you can't influence your future as directly as you were once able to. I always have to be working towards something and find it difficult to just sit around and/or wait for things. I think I would probably try to start a business or further my education to make me feel like I was moving forward, or maybe learn a skill like programming.


I'm not pushing for one way or the other - I'm considering making the jump to an airline career myself.
 
bronco21016

How long have you been at the regional? The regionals are no fun for most people, particularly in the last few years. The days of guys holding lines straight out of initial then upgrading in 18-24 months are well passed, but that's not to say that it will continue like that forever. If your goal is to fly airplanes, please don't use the past 6-7 years as a barometer for what this industry is really like long-term. Things will improve, and contrary to what you read on this forum, yes, there is life after the regionals.

But, if you really prefer to do IT over flying (as a previous sys admin, I shudder at such a thing!), your mind is probably already made up. Just don't let the current regional environment convince you that what you're seeing is what you'll expect for a career.
 
Eric Bohn said:
This is a feeling I've wondered if I'd have if I'd made it to an airline. You work hard networking and finding opportunities to get you to your goal, then once you've made it you can't influence your future as directly as you were once able to. I always have to be working towards something and find it difficult to just sit around and/or wait for things. I think I would probably try to start a business or further my education to make me feel like I was moving forward, or maybe learn a skill like programming.


I'm not pushing for one way or the other - I'm considering making the jump to an airline career myself.
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If you want to see what you can control, get up from the computer and go stand in front of a mirror. That's just about all you can control, regardless of where you work.
 
Thanks for the words of wisdom guys.

I still think I prefer flying but my ability to put up with being a slave is slowly diminishing. I realize just about any job is like this but some leave more control over destiny in your own hands. 121 flying is about seniority when it comes to QOL and that's what frustrates me. I want some say in if I can chase the promotion... As opposed to sitting on my thumb swinging gear waiting for 1000 guys ahead of me to find other work. Maybe the answer lies in finding a different flying job rather than a different career field.
 
bronco21016 said:
Thanks for the words of wisdom guys.

I still think I prefer flying but my ability to put up with being a slave is slowly diminishing. I realize just about any job is like this but some leave more control over destiny in your own hands. 121 flying is about seniority when it comes to QOL and that's what frustrates me. I want some say in if I can chase the promotion... As opposed to sitting on my thumb swinging gear waiting for 1000 guys ahead of me to find other work. Maybe the answer lies in finding a different flying job rather than a different career field.
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That sounds like a fantastic idea in other fields until you make your boss angry and you NEVER get promoted.

EDIT: You can also chase things in this industry within your company. Pursue positions in the training department, the CPO, etc. If you want to just be a line pilot, then you can just be a line pilot. But if you want more, there's more responsibility out there.
 
Gosh, I know a few people in computers/IT, and they seem happy and make good money. One was my private pilot student who is now building a kit Cub. I will admit one person left IT after a few years and just ran. Like Forest Gump....no joke. I think he felt like a number lost in a big organization. The crazy thing is, after just a few years of IT he could afford to not work for years, *and* fly all over the country running races. I believe he's back in IT now. I admit, I don't work in IT, but certainly have had non pilot jobs that I enjoyed.

And so I ask what the OP's priorities are. What milestones in life do you want to achieve? What will most likely lead there? Can you get your flying fix through GA? How confident are you this feeling to leave flying isn't just a case of the 'grass being greener on the other side'? If you have to commute (for a 121 gig) in the future, will you be OK with that?
 
jtrain609 said:
I'm willing to bet most of the folks saying, "DO IT! DO IT! DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN FLY!" have never worked IT a day in their life.

Kind of like the people that scream about how they should have gone to law or medical school. They don't have any idea.
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Former LMS Specialist and Programmer here. Take the IT job. Don't walk, RUN away from aviation.
 
I'm interested to hear more Shiek Yiboudi...

block30 I think the motivation to leave is the 'spinning my wheels' aspect. Ultimately I would be pretty happy being a fat, dumb, and happy mainline pilot (I kid! I kid!) making 6 figures and getting more than 11 days off. The regional thing just doesn't seem worth it at all though when I take how much I make vs. how much I'm living off Wendy's in a Motel 6. Then there's always the blood pressure spike when 'XXXXXXX Airlines SOC' appears on the phone... on a day off. I love that part.

I just want more time at home for equivalent or better money so I can spend time with the important people and spend time doing things I wanna do rather than watching hotel HBO and running on a crappy treadmill. I think if there was enough money in a non-flying gig then GA would more than satisfy the flying itch as I find GA FARRRRR more enjoyable than going from A-B because someone said so.

jtrain609 It's important to not upset the boss. Whether that's the work boss or the home boss.

There seem to be some openings popping up here and there with the coming HQ move so perhaps I can find something else at the airline that will still keep me flying from time to time just to scratch that itch.
 
bronco21016 said:
jtrain609 It's important to not upset the boss. Whether that's the work boss or the home boss.
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Why don't you get certified and start your own IT solutions business? This way you don't have to worry about upsetting yourself. It takes work and dedication, just like anything else. Once you get it started and running, you could be paid to fly (read - keep medical/travel benefits) and also have a backup plan.

I am currently out on disability awaiting FAA's verdict on if I will get my medical back. In the meantime, I have two business (IT solutions and Club/Mobile Dj) that keep me busy and bring in some money. Good luck with your decision.
 
ross9238 said:
Why don't you get certified and start your own IT solutions business? This way you don't have to worry about upsetting yourself. It takes work and dedication, just like anything else. Once you get it started and running, you could be paid to fly (read - keep medical/travel benefits) and also have a backup plan.

I am currently out on disability awaiting FAA's verdict on if I will get my medical back. In the meantime, I have two business (IT solutions and Club/Mobile Dj) that keep me busy and bring in some money. Good luck with your decision.
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I've given this a lot of thought but I don't think I can stomach the thought of doing more work on my already very few days off. It would be work I would enjoy for sure but I'm pretty sure that's my mental barrier to jumping into that world.
 
While you mentioned IT work, my understanding is much more electronics oriented than IT. I recently looked into that field when I was between flying gigs and I basically learned that if you aren't capable with a soldering iron then forget it. That said, if you have the skills and the contacts the field seems pretty secure, maybe even more so than IT if you're in the right shop.

I don't have the URL, but check out the forums at Sim Tech Online for more info.
 
Yea the position at this particular place is a good mix of Sim work vs IT work. One day you help someone open Internet Explorer the next you repair one of the interface boards on the sim.
 
dasleben said:
bronco21016

How long have you been at the regional? The regionals are no fun for most people, particularly in the last few years. The days of guys holding lines straight out of initial then upgrading in 18-24 months are well passed, but that's not to say that it will continue like that forever. If your goal is to fly airplanes, please don't use the past 6-7 years as a barometer for what this industry is really like long-term. Things will improve, and contrary to what you read on this forum, yes, there is life after the regionals.

But, if you really prefer to do IT over flying (as a previous sys admin, I shudder at such a thing!), your mind is probably already made up. Just don't let the current regional environment convince you that what you're seeing is what you'll expect for a career.
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I understand many of the comments people are posting because this isn't the same airline industry I grew with from the 1970's. I have done well in the industry, however I would not enter this field if I had it to do over again. The reasons are many!!
 
Eric Bohn said:
Care to elaborate?
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Sure. The airlines suck. I mean, maybe I've had a bad run, but one bankruptcy, one shutdown and 2 furloughs (before I was 25 years old too)... perhaps has me slightly jaded. I've been laid off once from an IT job too... so I'm not saying that's all sunshine and crab farts, but at least when that happens you can scrape yourself off the pavement and get another job where your compensation package actually is commensurate with your experience. In the airlines, you just start over at the bottom for basically joke pay. Who in their right mind decided that $18-20k/yr was just compensation for the responsibility and education that AIRLINE PILOTS are required to have to perform their job?... but I digress. Excuse me while I go kick my cat to make myself feel better.
 
I think it'd be worth a couple crab farts to the person who compiles a timeline of how the industry has changed for pilots up to today. It'd be great insight...
 
I am currently in IT and thinking of making the move to the world of aviation/121 or 135. Lets just say that my total package is on the par (with 15 years in IT) with an International senior captain, who is about to retire! I have the luxury of my wife working in IT and making a great salary as well. I am timing my departure so, we have a great deal of savings to pay mortgage and sustain a life style in a great neighborhood, in a great location. I am another year or so away from achieving my goal and till then I am also learning from others, who have already made a plunge into the airline world.

Here is what I know:
1. Very few jobs in IT (either admin/support or development side) that do not come with stress, pressure, and support around the clock.
2. Pay - Money varies but if you are in large metro areas (such as NY/NJ/DC), you could make much more money and close to a senior major pilot within 5 years of your start!
3. QOL - It depends on your job and point 1 mentioned above. Wrong boss, unstable environment, too much expectation from clients could ruin your QOL very easily and much more than being an airline pilot. Projects come and go. Support happens around the clock. Even with well built systems, there are times you will get calls (yes, thanksgiving dinner, new years, vacation - you may get a call!)
4. Away from home/travel. In many cases, unless you work on product demo or IT sales, you have the luxury of working from home at least 1-2 days a week. If like me, you dont have to go to work unless until there is a hands-on meeting. However, point 1 an point 3 above could make this a moot point. With production support/ongoing work, there may be periods where anti-acid may be needed.
5. Hours - Period of little work and then other times you may be working OT consistently.
6. Flexibility - You may have flexibility to take a longer lunch break or work remotely from an Island. OR
So we have discussed: pay, hours, travel, stress, work life balance.
Bottom line: There should only be one question that you should be in your equation: Passion! Unless you have other needs or issues, such as, medical, and family responsibilities that make it very difficult.
Hope I was able to shed some light.
 
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