Am I nuts??

[Justino]

I am in the same boat. I now have offers from the FBI and some other agencies to become an intel analyst and even a job for a flight intelligence analyst. I am getting married on Dec 18th and just can't imagine working at Dillions or something if I get furloughed or the airline files chapter 11. I am torn though. I LOVE TO FLY but will flying all the time tarnish the true love of it? Should I go and make money now and then come back to it after the "bills are paid" ?

I am at a tough crossroads now since I have the best of both worlds. Job offers to work at challenging intell offices doing hands-on work or flying for a living. Both options have presented real opportunities to me. What are your thoughts and be nice!

Justino

Ps. sorry about the spelling I just woke up!

 

[sluminginpit]

"Do what you love and the money will follow" This statement does not apply to this career. As many on this board know, some will have a good career, always in the right place at the right time, and most will have a tough go.

You decide the path you take, flying or the FBI, that is your only move you can control, the rest is luck. Guys who got hired at United 5 years ago had hit the big time, now everyone of them is furghloughed.

Flying is rewarding, but in my opinion I would stay away from the industry at this time. If you have youth on your side, come back when it settles down.

Getting married and adjusting to that live is tough enough! Also don't kid yourself that your wife is the most understanding women in the world and it should be no problem! After you miss every holiday, birthday and your annivery a couple times she'll think differently, and so will you.

Your family comes first, and in this career they don't, be prepared to loose them. If your not, that should make you decision fairly easy.

By the way I speak from experience, GOOD LUCK!

 

[FN FAL]

Its interesting the majority of the posts stating pilots here are just negative and misrable, come from what it seems very short careers, usually with no airline time.

I spent most of my friday evening bouncing around in blizzard conditions and milking out the moca of an airway at +1C in an underpowered "barn door"...and you don't see me biatching.

 

[TA/RA]

Nuts?

At 35 years old, I made the same career change you are considering. I took a 45k/yr pay cut and jumped ship for a regional. I started just before 9/11, got furloughed, the works.

Before going into aviation full-time, I had a great job, at the top of my industry. I worked with some of the latest technologies. I had lots of freedom, respect from my coworkers, and no financial difficulties to speak of. I also hated it. As I drove to work every day, and watched the aircraft shooting approaches into the local airport I was miserable. After 15 years I was definitely ready for a change. Being miserable at work made me miserable at home and I tended to ruin everybody's day every chance I got.

I got a job at a regional and when I started class I realized that most of my classmates were in pretty much the same boat. Nearly all of the guys in class were "older" and starting a second career.

The bad news is now I'm practically broke. Living on a FO's salary is tough. By the time you upgrade, you're so far "in the hole" that it take a while to climb out. But that's all of the bad news. The good news is that I'm having a great time at work. My wife and kids look forward to seeing me come home instead of dreading it. I work with a great bunch of pilots and have very few "bad" days. I am happy with life. Is life perfect at a regional? Not by a long shot. But, compared with my last job, it is more than acceptable.

The decision you're making is a tough one. If money is a big priority, I would have to advise against it. For me, I think I made the right decision. Time will tell. But for now, my home life is great, and I'm having a great time flying.

Good luck.

 

[MED]

With no sarcasm, "Welcome to the world of Aviation"

 

[MED]

TA/RA

The bad news is now I'm practically broke. Living on a FO's salary is tough


I tought your a CRJ CA?

 

[TA/RA]

MED,

"Living on a FO's salary is tough." That statement doesn't claim I am an FO.

You should find something to do rather that critique other post's. I am a Captain now. Obviously I was not born one. I was on FO pay for three years. I am not complaining as I realize that is not long compared to other's situations. If you take a significant pay cut for a few years, you get behind. It takes awhile to overcome that kind of paycut. I will be paying off the debt for quite some time.

My point was that money was not and is not the motivating factor for my career choice. If money was that important to me, I wouldn't be flying.

 

[Justino]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I know whatever choice I make I MUST be content with it and know that I should not have any regrets. I am young, 27, and at these major crossroads in my life and have to make a choice that is right, not just for money but for personal satisfaction and future family security. I also now that without risk a person cannot attain relative gains in his or her life. Growing up sucks!

I know whatever I will do I will be happy knowing I made the right choice and if not I can always change!

Happy Holidays and FLY SAFE!

Justino

 

[MED]

TA/RA,
I'm not a critique at all, I'm just trying to understand the post that I read. And I'm also trying to figure out what airline your working for because I started as an FO 2 years before you and I'm still an FO making a minimum wage. Again, don't get me wrong I'm just trying to find another airline where I can upgrade quicker.

 

[rightrudder]

After paying your dues as an FO for 5 years, you finally upgrade to Captain and for the first time are making a liveable wage, and then your mainline carrier goes CH11 and decides to put your flying up for bid. Soon you may have no job. Your wings are clipped. But, you can start over if you want at another regional and spend at least 5 more years as an FO. In your late thirties, not such a palatable option, is it?

Those of you who think your regional job is safe or stable, think again. There may be a lot more pilots out of work this next year. Nobody is immune from the consequences.

 

[DetoXJ]

Bro, you have a lot of career ahead of you. Don't enter with entitlements in mind and you will do just fine. Even if it takes you 5-7 years to upgrade, you will have almost 20 years as a captain making good money. You will take a pay hit from you current job but in the long run you will come out ahead. Don't listen to the nah-sayers. I just broke 100K with 5 weeks still to go and I'm just a pee-on RJ Captain. Go for it! Beats most other jobs!

 

[WhiteCloud]

Bro, you have a lot of career ahead of you. Don't enter with entitlements in mind and you will do just fine. Even if it takes you 5-7 years to upgrade, you will have almost 20 years as a captain making good money. You will take a pay hit from you current job but in the long run you will come out ahead. Don't listen to the nah-sayers. I just broke 100K with 5 weeks still to go and I'm just a pee-on RJ Captain. Go for it! Beats most other jobs!

Your right....the upside can be good. 100K is good money and if you can spend 20 years pulling that kind of money in you should be in good shape. The downside is what many of the other posters have said. You can spend 5 10 years in a lowpaid job and then........ no fault of your own..... end up out on the street with a gazillion jet hours and no one that will hire you because there are plenty of young pilots willing to work for next to nothing and will put up with the industry standard crap that you're willing to now, but may not be willing to do again a few years down the road. What you're getting yourself into is basically irregular shift work for next to no money for around 5 years and you wont know what your shift will be from month to month. Now....if you're willing to do all that and think you'll still like to fly after putting up with it, then go for it. I'm not trying to be a "naysayer" here, just a realist. Why not give it a try for a while either way and delvelop a viable back up plan that will provide you with what you need to live if it doesn't work out.

 

[pilotyip]

Unemployment

When I was a young 37, and star struck by being a pilot and on my third job in five years, make it four jobs in five years if you count the Navy. I finally landed a career flying position with a Fortune 300-auto parts supplier. They had never laid off or downsized in their history. One day while waiting for pax, I am sitting in the FBO at CVG, before ComAir. I strike up a conversation with another pilot; he is in his 50’s, I find out he lives in Ann Arbor, the same place I live. But he works out of Pontiac Michigan (PTK) a 1.5 hour drive in traffic. I said that drive would kill me, why don't you move to PTK. He says it is only a temporary job. I asked how long he had been at the job, he answered 5 years. I said that did not sound temporary to me. He put down his paper, looks at me over his glasses and says "Listen sonny, there is no such thing as a permanent job in flying" six months later I became the first pilot laid off in my company's history. That is the nature of this business, be prepared for unemployment, have a plan B, maybe even a plan C. But if you want to give it a try, and sounds like you do, go for it. You will be getting on at what looks like the front of a hiring bulge. As stated above, later in life when it is all over and the options are gone you may look back and say I should have way back when. You will never know. I have couple late life, in their 40’s, career changers flying with me, and they smile every day. Is a Leave of Absence in your gov’t job an option? That would give he best of both worlds.

 

[Shortapp]

If you are married I would do what your wife suggest. I have out the hard way they are uasally right and the have the family's best interest in mind.
Good Luck

 

[CiFIknow]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your views. I decided to make the change when the job was offered to me. Just was wanting some input from those of you currently working to see if there was something that I had missed. I can understand all the different viewpoints expressed on the topic. Wrestled with each one myself. Guess I am in a good position to take the plunge at this point. Nothing is irreversible. Have a good one!