Sighhh. You guys got any suggestions?

titansox

titansox

Well-Known Member
I've come to the conclusion that I really want to get a job doing something in aviation. Right now I'm a freshman at George Mason University studying IT(computer stuff). Over the last 4 months I've really set my sites are ATC. I've done days worth of research on the topic. I even set a date to go visit The Community College of Beaver County and meet with the admissions office. After months of selling it to my parents, I think I've finally gotten them to come around to the idea. However, in the one thing in the back of my head that I knew could derail this plan was my dyslexia. I down played it until today when I finally realized that I could put people's lives at risk and ATC probably wasn't for me. So I guess you can cross ACT of my list of possible jobs.

I was told by Doc that I could be a pilot with my dyslexia as long as I could read/wright. I graduated HS with a 3.6 GPA and my senior year I had a 3.91 GPA so I don't doubt I can read or write. As for being a pilot, I am skeptical. I love planes, I love travel, I love hotels, ect ect. but the initial pay is terrible. How would starting a family work? Seems like a hard thing to start when you are away for 2 weeks a month. Could I be a good father being a parent? I suspect I could since thousands of pilots do it. If anyone is willing to share some personal experinces on this topic, I'd greatly appreciate it. I'd love to make this work but I'm skeptical.

What other jobs are out there that deal with aviation? I don't have a set of particular skills. I have about 50,000 dollars of school savings to work with. I'm more than willing to transfer from GMU. I'm willing to go to training. I'm willing to do just about anything.
 
Ugh you guys are probably reading this and thinking, "What the hell is this guy talking about?" Truth be told, I don't even know what I'm looking for with this thread.

I guess I just am looking for some good paying jobs in the airline industry.
or
The life of a pilot and hard is getting your commercial pilots licenses/ getting a job in the at an airlines.

Oh and I have 50K to work with.
 
If you can get a first class medical then you're all set as far as your dyslexia goes.

I would recommend reading Sully's book he talks a lot about how working for the airlines effects his family. To sum it up it's not an ideal situation for a family man.

As far as income goes there are pilots here who make 6 figures but they're not in the majority and they have been flying for many years before they got to that point. They also had some stiff competition to get those jobs.

My experience has been that the glamor and fun of flying wears off quickly when it becomes your fulltime job. Your asking about this when most people have a pretty negative view of the industry.

If I were you I would go see about a first class medical then take a discovery flight (you can do either one first) all that will set you back about 150 bucks. If everything looks good you should consider getting your private pilot license at a local FBO which should be about 6-7 grand and then decide if you want to make a career out of it.
 
Talk to admissions at CCBC, talk to them about it. ATC could still be a possibility.

I work at an FBO that is a contracted provider for CCBC, PM me if you want some more information or to schedule a visit to stop up.

The program here is a fantastic one. When's the visit?
 
FWIW, my gps was never better than a 3.2 and now I am a physician. And, I can afford to fly for fun. Of course, there's the wife who is not so sure about the flying thing; my advice there is to get a ppl before you meet your life- partner.... That way, flying is grandfathered in :)
 
GMU w00t w00t. I live in woodbridge. I'm seriously considering ditching the airline gig to go back to GMU to get my degree. This industry isn't all it's cracked up to be.
 
Erik1010 said:
Get your IT degree, land a good job and then buy a plane.
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Isn't the IT field downsizing though because of all the outsourcing? I would try to go computer engineering and make sure you work in some sort of defense security arena, that way you are assured your job won't be sent overseas. Ensure you have a level of stability, and then get your own plane.
 
ILSstud said:
Isn't the IT field downsizing though because of all the outsourcing? I would try to go computer engineering and make sure you work in some sort of defense security arena, that way you are assured your job won't be sent overseas. Ensure you have a level of stability, and then get your own plane.
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That could be true. I know the engineering field is getting significantly smaller due to all the larger companies outsourcing their labor.
 
ILSstud said:
Isn't the IT field downsizing though because of all the outsourcing? I would try to go computer engineering and make sure you work in some sort of defense security arena, that way you are assured your job won't be sent overseas. Ensure you have a level of stability, and then get your own plane.
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Just spend 3-4 months in Florida or walk into any hotel or gas station east of the Missespeepee and you will pick up enough of an Indian accent to make it big in the computer and IT world.
 
do not drop the ATC option. I work at the busiest facility in the US and have been dealing with dyslexia my whole life. You can train your mind and body to do amazing things with some hard work and time.
 
How old are you? Are you considering starting a family anytime soon? While it's prudent to think ahead, unless you are actually making plans for a wife and children, perhaps you should look into things that interest you instead of looking into what might work once you have a family. That being said, there are a lot of other professions within aviation to look at. The industry is in a hurtin' way right now, and I myself will most likely be out of a job in the next couple months. But have you considered aircraft sales? Fuel sales? Charter sales and marketing? (what I do). What about being a scheduler or dispatcher? A & P jobs seem plentiful by any quick job search right now. Even IT jobs for an aircraft company. My biggest suggestion would be to get a degree that transcends an industry, so that you can work in aviation if you like, or work in another industry (business, marketing, IT, engineering, etc.) While it is frustrating for me to not be flying for a living (which is what a lot of us would like to be doing), I'm grateful that my office shares a wall with a hangar, and I can go outside and at least see the runway. Find something that interests you, and is broad enough that you can bring it into aviation if you like.
 
personally I'd stick with IT. All my rich geeky friends were in IT at some point and branched off from there. Most of them are well off now and could buy many many planes.

My $02 is to stick it out in computers as your options and jobs are so much more expansive in that route.
 
titansox said:
However, in the one thing in the back of my head that I knew could derail this plan was my dyslexia. I down played it until today when I finally realized that I could put people's lives at risk and ATC probably wasn't for me. So I guess you can cross ACT of my list of possible jobs.
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Don't go checking out because some guy on a forum said you couldn't do it. You realize that most of the people hanging around the ATC section here are applicants, right? Not people in a position to make a qualified medical assessment of whether your dyslexia is going to cause problems?

Make sure you're basing your decision on a qualified opinion. The internet is full of people who have no idea what they're talking about. Go see a good AME about it, get in touch with the FAA... get your information from the source before making a decision.
 
Rosstafari said:
Don't go checking out because some guy on a forum said you couldn't do it. You realize that most of the people hanging around the ATC section here are applicants, right? Not people in a position to make a qualified medical assessment of whether your dyslexia is going to cause problems?

Make sure you're basing your decision on a qualified opinion. The internet is full of people who have no idea what they're talking about. Go see a good AME about it, get in touch with the FAA... get your information from the source before making a decision.
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Yes yes, I acted a bit on emotions last night. I'm still going to go ahead and meet with the people at CCBC. I'll talk to the head of the program over there about it and get his take on the situation. The way I figure, if I can pass the course at CCBC and survive the training at OKC, then I can be a ATCer.
 
So I talked it over with my parents and evidently I've never been diagnosed with dyslexia. False alarm. I do believe I have some form of it even if its in its slightest form. Some of the best news I've heard in a while.
 
Do what you want to do...there is always going to be challenges in your future at ANYTHING you do!! If you have never been diagnosed then don't think you have a problem (althoug I am not in the medical profession)!!

If you want to fly, FLY
If you want to help pilots, ATC...

I on the other hand think a degree in aviation is a good one to get (don't want to spark another debate on what degree to get). It shows that you are true to your profession, and may not make financially what you could make at IT or any other degree but at least you have proven you have a huge desire to stay in Aviation.

Just my opinion, others may agree or disagree, but do what you want to do and things will work out.....but don't hurry to decide, you have time to figure these things out!

:dunno:
 
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