For whatever it is worth, less than three years ago I left a stable and financially rewarding career in the corporate world to chase a lifelong dream of flying for a living, and have no regrets after making the jump (or should I say leap?). I can empathize with those of you contemplating a career change, and know just how difficult a decision process it is. Now that I am finally in the "right" seat, I can offer you a few realities.
(1) Expect the unexpected. While it is a great idea to have some short and long-term goals, be prepared for some turbulence along the way. When I initiated my flight training, the regional jet revolution was in full swing. As the ratings were added to my license, I actually believed the path to a job would not be as long as I had initially predicted. Then the tragedies of 9/11 took place and I found myself contacting former colleagues to see if I might be able to get my former job back. Though the events of that September morning may not have halted the RJ deliveries, I had a feeling the ailing majors would displace their mainline pilots into the cockpits of their regional partners' airplanes (USAirways 'Jets for Jobs' is a perfect example of this scenario). Why would a regional airline consider hiring a low-time pilot if there were thousands of highly experienced major airline pilots on the street? September 11th proved just how susceptible the airline industry is to world events, as well as how quickly a "hiring boom" can morph into bankruptcies and furloughs. While I watched some of my flight school friends revert back to other occupations or the safe havens of college or graduate school, I elected to press on. Sure I found myself working on terra firma while waiting for flying opportunities to arise, but analagous to the turbulence I alluded to earlier, there was eventually smoother air (a job) to be found ahead. Your perseverance will one day pay off, trust me!
(2) Be prepared for the tradeoffs. I'm sure I do not need to mention the types of salaries flight instructors and regional airline pilots command in their first few years on the job. These numbers can be downright laughable. If you are motivated by the thought of a six figure salary and a monthly schedule with more days off than on, then I strongly recommend you consider taking up flying as a weekend hobby, and not a career. Seriously though, for those of you (myself included) used to maintaining a certain (comfortable) standard of living, be prepared for a change of pace. Aside from the financial implications, you can also plan on moving a few times, missing important family events, as well as spending some holidays at work. My new career has also made it more difficult for me to maintain a healthy romantic relationship, though I am currently working on that aspect of my life. Despite these sacrifices, I submit that my ultimate decision to pursue a career in aviation has proven to be the most rewarding I have ever made. The personal fulfillment I feel at the end of every flight makes it all worth it.
(3) Educate yourself and those around you. There are plenty of laymen out there who think they know everything about everything, including aviation. When I announced to family, friends and colleagues that I was leaving a promising career in Corporate America to chase a childhood dream, I was not fully prepared for the litany of ignorant questions and statements that came out of these seemingly well-educated individuals. "The airlines only hire pilots with military backgrounds... Don't you need ten thousand hours to get hired?... I thought you had to study physics in college to become a pilot... You are too smart to be a pilot... Why would you want to throw your future away and put your to do that?...So, you pay $50,000 for the training and then start flying for an airline? I hear the airlines' starting pay for pilots is like $100,000... When you first solo, your instructor just sits there and doesn't touch the controls, right?" -- You get the point. I recommend you do your homework and be ready to educate those around you. Chances are, many of you (like me) may be the only pilots in your family and circle of friends. Ultimately, the support and encouragement my family and friends provided, served as one of the greatest motivations for me to continue my pursuit.
(4) Choose the right training program for YOU. Often a source of controversy, be careful when deciding how you are going to get the ratings. Part 61 FBO or Part 141 flight academy? Keep your day job and train at night and on weekends or leave the workplace to immerse yourself in your flight training? What's a fair price to pay for my ratings? Will a school's affiliation with a regional airline get me into the right seat faster? Do I need to become a flight instructor to get a flying job? -- Though there are plenty of aviation professionals out there who have no reservations answering these questions for you, I say there are plenty of paths to a career in flying. What worked best for me may not work for you. Here's a few pieces of advice on selecting the right program from someone who was in your shoes not too long ago. Resist the temptation to select a flight school that claims to have a connection with one or more regional airlines. I've seen some schools advertising that they contine to provide pilots to XYZ Airlines (who by the way has pilots on furlough and has not hired since before 9/11). One the same token, do not discount a program because it seems to be too expensive. You need to consider a school's reputation, training syllabus, equipment, maintenance, and graduation statistics before deciding that it is overpriced. Sometimes you are not comparing apples with apples, especially when it comes to multi-engine time. I had a friend who elected to go to one school over another based solely on cost, and he really regreted it. The school's airplanes were not in great shape leading to many canceled training flights and a delay in his progression, ultimately costing him more time and money. After completing his Private, he decided to go to the place he had originally decided was too expensive. Let's face it, flight training is NOT cheap and never will be, so don't let your shopping for a flight school mirror shopping for a new car. You may ultimately get what you pay for. When touring a flight school, I recommend that you attempt to speak to current students who can provide less biased information than the marketing director can during his/her presentation. There is no easy road to a flying job (well, at least for most of us), so do not expect any guarantees. I've come across student pilots with seemingly unlimited financial resources who expect that the money they paid for their training should entitle them to a rating or a job. This is just not the case. Flying is ultimately a skill, requiring a great deal of diligent preparation along with a solid work ethic.
(5) Go For It! Life is too short to do something you are not happy doing day after day. A career in aviation is still attainable, even in these troubled times for the industry. You must, however, be able to adapt to the ups and downs this industry is famous for, and maintain a positive attitude. I am definitely not one of those "naturals" who found the ascent to the flight levels an easy one. This ride has been the most challenging and wild for me, but I am having a blast and love the view from my current office. Good luck to all of you career changers. I am rooting for you and encourage you to go for it!
