My flying situation

C

csuvikes16

Well-Known Member
Right now im at a crossroads. I've done 2 years of college I then stopped that because my flying dream became a reality. I have just over 40 hours of flying at a local FBO. However with the economy the way it is I am wondering if there is any point to continueing to fly right now or would I be better off just waiting and getting another job in the meantime.

Money is right now on the tighter side but there is enough for me to continue flying but there would certainly have to be a realistic shot at some type of job when im done because this money is either going to be spent on flying or school.

I guess my bottom line question is what are the realistic chances of me actually being able to find a job when I have completed all my licenses? I am going to go with its probably very slim lol.
 
Finish school.. your options will be more open if when you do get a flying job, you then lose it due to economy or loss of medical

Plus a lot of places like their people with a 4 year degree
 
You stopped going to college to get your PPL? Seriously, get the 4-year degree. Your wallet and your flying career will thank you down the road.
 
If possible do both at the same time. If that is not possible focus on school. You've already invested 2 years and only need another 2 years (hopefully) to go and you're done with school. It'll take you the same amount of time to get all your ratings and get a respectable amount of hours, assume 800hrs, and that's only if you have all available time and money is no issue. As you said in your post money is an issue so if you continue pursuing just flying you'll just be delaying yourself while you wait to get more money when at the same time you could be completing school without skipping a beat (assuming your money is there).


Unfortunately the world revolves around money... if you have enough of it do flying and school. If you have enough for one or the other, just finish up school.
 
Unless you know someone or the school you're training at says that you can have a job there as a CFI when you're done with your certs/ratings, I'm guessing there will not be any flying jobs available when you get done training.

Finish the degree!
 
csuvikes16 said:
Right now im at a crossroads. I've done 2 years of college I then stopped that because my flying dream became a reality. I have just over 40 hours of flying at a local FBO. However with the economy the way it is I am wondering if there is any point to continueing to fly right now or would I be better off just waiting and getting another job in the meantime.

Money is right now on the tighter side but there is enough for me to continue flying but there would certainly have to be a realistic shot at some type of job when im done because this money is either going to be spent on flying or school.

I guess my bottom line question is what are the realistic chances of me actually being able to find a job when I have completed all my licenses? I am going to go with its probably very slim lol.
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I'm in your shoes I started pro flying without finishing my degree. You can put it on hold but you will just be delaying the inevitable.... There is just no way of getting around that degree. You options as a high school graduate are very very limited especially now in 2009.

Now at days pretty much everyone has a degree when it comes to looking for a career type job. You might as well finish it when you still have time, I'm finishing mine online because it's a dead end without one.
 
I would get a loan with Sallie Mae for your flight training and do that at the same time while finishing school. Don't give up on the flying or put it on hold, you might regret it. At the same time, finish your degree, don't put it on hold as well. Oh yeah one other thing... do your flight training in the cheapest airplanes you can find... the flight instructor... if you find a good one, don't go cheap on that... in the end a license is a license when it comes to what airplane you trained in, but in the experience you gain with a good instructor is WORTH IT!
 
jaded said:
I would get a loan with Sallie Mae for your flight training and do that at the same time while finishing school. Don't give up on the flying or put it on hold, you might regret it. At the same time, finish your degree, don't put it on hold as well. Oh yeah one other thing... do your flight training in the cheapest airplanes you can find... the flight instructor... if you find a good one, don't go cheap on that... in the end a license is a license when it comes to what airplane you trained in, but in the experience you gain with a good instructor is WORTH IT!
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I cannot disagree more. I would stay out of debt as much as possible! Even if it means chosing between one thing and the other... debt=bad.
 
c172captain said:
I cannot disagree more. I would stay out of debt as much as possible! Even if it means chosing between one thing and the other... debt=bad.
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Agreed... Some of you have apparently not awoken to the current economic situation. I am extremely glad I had the patience to pay as I went for flight training. It has made all the difference as far as enjoying my life, saving money every paycheck versus being pissed off, bitter, and living off credit cards.

If you've already logged 40 hrs, I'm assuming you are relatively close to being finished with your PPL? If so, finish that off then head to college. By the time you graduate, maybe the economy won't be such a cluster.
 
I know wouldnt be able to stop flying... Despite the bad economy. I have to agree with everyone else that getting your degree should be priority #1. Maybe look into some online programs like UVU (UVSC). There you can get a good chunk of money at a decent interest rate (i got 7.2%) and use that for flight school. you can then fly at your local fbo (saving money), and take classes online at your convience to finish up your degree. I took this route only to get money to fly at my local fbo. I had previously gotten a BS at FSU.:rawk: and getting the degree first was the way to go. Going into dept is never a good idea, but it was a neccesary evil for me. In the end, do what you think is best. good luck.
 
I really appreciate the feedback so it would appear finishing school at this economic time would be the right move.
 
I know a captain that is finishing his degree online while he flies... He quickly got his ratings, CFI-ed for a bit and got hired on, then finished school. Just another option to consider... but definitely get the degree.
 
First, listen to everyone and get your degree. It will not only help you in aviation down the road. But it will help you in any job in the end. You will be at an advantage against those who don't have a 4 year degree.

Second, Don't get a loan. Why on earth would you get a loan when you can take your time to do it is beyond me.

Third, they'll always be flying jobs. The question you should be asking yourself is whether or not your willing to put up with low pay, relocating, furloughs, etc. As mentioned in other threads there are less people entering training so that low paying regional job will be there for those that are in the pipe now.
 
The absolute WORST thing you could do is not finish your degree.

Think about the guys you'll be competing with for jobs and remember, we all have several things in common.

1st, we're rarely the dumbest guys in the room. Sure we play hard, but we study just as hard when we have to.

2nd, we're all really driven. We don't accept failure and we don't do "just enough to get by".

If you're in an interview with another pilot who has the same certificates, times, and skills that you do but he has the degree...He gets the job and thats the long and short of it.

He with the most checkmarks gets the job, don't handicap yourself straight out of the gate.


Oh, and one more thing, it's quite possible to be a professional pilot, make good money, be home most nights, and NEVER step foot in an airline cockpit. Don't just limit yourself to being an airline pilot, there are other options.
 
...DOOOOM....

Absolutely finish the degree. I managed to get half my instrument rating, commercial multi/single, and start part of my CFI training while studying aerospace engineering. It is completely doable to train AND build hours while in school. Assuming we don't all go away in 2012 as Boris predicts, finishing your degree will be the best career move you can make.
 
You already got a associates degree. dude, just focus on your flight training and finish your degree online.
 
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