Am I Crazy

[dvmthwsvan]

[Peter, Michael, and Samir are chatting as they hang around the printer]
Peter Gibbons: Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you'd do if you had a million dollars and you didn't have to work. And invariably what you'd say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars then you're supposed to be an auto mechanic.
Samir: So what did you say?
Peter Gibbons: I never had an answer. I guess that's why I'm working at Comair.
Michael Bolton: No, you're working at Comair because that question is bull*hit to begin with. If everyone listened to her, there'd be no Mesa pilots, because no one would sleep on plywood if they had a million dollars.
Samir: You know what I would do if I had a million dollars? I would invest half of it in low risk mutual funds and then take the other half over to my friend Asadulah who works in securities...
Michael Bolton: Samir, you're missing the point. The point of the exercise is that you're supposed to figure out what you would want to do if...
[Master Caution starts beeping]
Michael Bolton: "EFIS COMP MON"? What the **** does that mean?

 

[capt. megadeth]

Your right that $50K is not great but it is also a starting point right now. Next year I will make about a $12K bump and be in the 62-75K range for a few years. The upside to my line of work is good but the hours do suck. Very long days and sometimes weekends as well. As for making descent money at a regional in a few years is attainable the problem is still how do we survive for those few years with the house payments and the car payments, and who knows what else. Feels to me more like wishful thinking to get back into aviaition. I don't think I will be able to do it even though things currently suck for me right now.

Hey, I am glad you didn't take my post the wrong way. I didn't mean to sound harsh (even though I am good at that). If you are concerned about making it work money wise for the first few years, look at your situation....can you refinance your house for a lower rate? if one or both of your cars are almost paid off, try to pay them off asap. Basically, see where you can cut costs. Can your wife work 2 jobs for a while? My fiancee and I both worked 2 jobs for the first 4 years we were together, we didn't take vacations, go out to fancy dinners, etc. My point is, is where there is a will there is a way. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

 

[capt. megadeth]

If it were me and I were in your shoes, I would look at this strictly from a finance perspective. I understand that some jobs realy suck, but when push comes to shove a job decision HAS to be a business decision. A good paycheck pays the bills and builds wealth, and that should be your goal.

When push comes to shove, chances are you will be working for 30+ years. You have to decide....do I want to work at a job that sucks and I hate for 30+ years or do I want to remotely enjoy going to work for 30+ years? I agree that a job decision is a business decision but not to the extent that I would pick a better paying job that I hate over a lower paying job that I like. If you do that you are just setting yourself up to be miserable your entire life.

 

[AZFLYER]

So my wife and I had a discussion about this last night. It started out well enough. I told her my dreams and goals and that I am really unhappy right now. I think she missed the point. Turned into a huge argument which lasted a few hours and got us no where. So I am still at square one. Tempted to apply but scared that I will actually get a call and be hired. Then what. She does not want me being gone for a few days at a time and so forth. Thanks everyone for the encouraging words and opinions.

AZFLYER

 

[flyer172r]

The upside to my line of work is good but the hours do suck. Very long days and sometimes weekends as well.

The hour at a regional suck a lot too. After a very long day at the office you get to go home to your wife and sleep in your own bed. After a long day flying at a regional you get to go to some hotel that may or may not have a decent restaurant nearby, and since you probably won't get a commutable line quickly you'll be spending around 6 calendar days on the road at a time. And you will be working every weekend for a while. Can you and your wife handle that?

Can you teach at all? If so then maybe you should consider part time flight instructing. It'd be a good way to get paid to fly, you wouldn't be away from home all the time, and it'd be a good way to start meeting people in your area that could maybe get you something better.

 

[gunfyter]

Dont do it!

Get rich and get an airplane and fly it for fun.

Or join the Military and fly there.

 

[pilotyip]

You will have more quality time with your family as a pilot than you will as management. Yes you will be gone more nights, but when you are home you are home for days at a time. I have been on both sides. The glamour that pilots talk about of getting up at 0600 every day coming home at 1830, to have dinner, watch a sporting event on TV and go to bed a 2300 to repeat th cycle five days a week, makes those 24 hours of being home 12-15 days per month look pretty good.

 

[THE GRX]

Aviation is not a job....It is a lifestyle.......Find an alternative to the sweatshops that Regional Airlines are becoming.

 

[GeneralAv]

So my wife and I had a discussion about this last night. It started out well enough. I told her my dreams and goals and that I am really unhappy right now. I think she missed the point. Turned into a huge argument which lasted a few hours and got us no where. So I am still at square one. Tempted to apply but scared that I will actually get a call and be hired. Then what. She does not want me being gone for a few days at a time and so forth. Thanks everyone for the encouraging words and opinions.

She's scared. Change is scary. Try to keep the dialog going and calm. Give her some time to adjust to the idea. Maybe she'll come around and be supportive.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

AZ-

You began as a pilot and decided you did not like it. Then you changed to accounting and hate it. Is it possible that you will be unhappy in whatever you do? (sounds like pilot material to me) Anyhow, I advise you to go and get in a couple of counseling sessions to get your head right before you go making career decisions - again - that will affect you and your wife.

Good luck

 

[hopalong]

So my wife and I had a discussion about this last night. It started out well enough. I told her my dreams and goals and that I am really unhappy right now. I think she missed the point. Turned into a huge argument which lasted a few hours and got us no where. So I am still at square one. Tempted to apply but scared that I will actually get a call and be hired. Then what. She does not want me being gone for a few days at a time and so forth. Thanks everyone for the encouraging words and opinions.

AZFLYER

Don't apply unless you get your wife's total support. It's easier to be miserable at work than miserable at home. Explain to your wife that you will
be a better husband if you are doing what you love, but that your marriage comes first. If you tell her that the final decision is up to her, she may surprise you. Her guard will come down and she won't be so scared because
she knows she has the final say. Then, she'll be able to think more rationally.
Present her with facts. Show her the pay for pilots on airlinepilotcentral.com.
Explain that you may have to struggle for a few years to get ahead in the future but you have the potential to make a lot of money. Tell her you will find other pilots to talk to and ask questions.
I worked corporate for years and was home quite a bit, averaging around 8
nights away from home/mo. I'm at NJA now and my wife loves it because I have a schedule and when I am home, I am home for 7 days at a time. I will
have almost the entire summer off. You sound like a good guy who wants to do the right thing. Now is best time to make the decision because once the kids come, your whole world changes. Feel free to pm me.

 

[Murdoughnut]

good money is 80 to 100k , 50k just pays the bills. can't take vacations on 50k if you have kids.

AZ,

you can always be an accountant. everybody needs one . just like a doctor giving you an enema. can she move around with you. as an entry level admin person, I would think she could.

yep, you should go for it, see what works out for you. there are no gaurantees, so do your best and see where it leads.

Depends on where you live - I know plenty of places where $50k is a good salary.

 

[COOPERVANE]

"EFIS COMP MON"? What the **** does that mean?

Now THATS funny

 

[freighthumper]

Don't apply unless you get your wife's total support. It's easier to be miserable at work than miserable at home. .

Im sure that if you sit down with her and tell her the facts about becoming a pilot she will be even less happy with the idea. Immediate pay cut, but if all goes well youll be making about what you are making now(or maybe less than now) in 5 years. You will be home ALOT less, and while you are gone you will be finding a new family(crew)to spend your time and share your life experiences with. This new job could end at any given time no matter how stable it seemed 5 seconds ago. The part about flying for a living sounds great, but it ends there as far as she will be concerned.

Keep the day job and buy a plane to fly for fun. You wil probably make more $. You will be home more often, and married much longer.

 

[AZFLYER]

AZ-

You began as a pilot and decided you did not like it. Then you changed to accounting and hate it. Is it possible that you will be unhappy in whatever you do? (sounds like pilot material to me) Anyhow, I advise you to go and get in a couple of counseling sessions to get your head right before you go making career decisions - again - that will affect you and your wife.

Good luck

With all do respect I don't think that I need counseling sessions. You are right though, I started as one and became something else. After 9/11 I needed to do something and I did. Went back to school and got a Masters degree and got into the finance world. My undergrad is from Riddle and not worth much. Unfortunatly I hate it but at the time I was doing what I thought was right. Now in between school I also served in the Marine reserves and did a couple of tours in the middle east. So this is my first corporate job where I actually have a title with responsibilities.

AZFLYER