Flying Ninja
Need More Flight Time!
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2006
- Posts
- 350
Lstorm2003, if you're clearing $100k, I'd ask myself why I'm so miserable in IT. I was once in your position. I hated my IT job. My manager was a dumb ****************************** who thought our network would run faster if we installed two flux capacitors and signed the purchase order for it. Sure the network guys and I laughed ourselves to the point of insubordination but dumb is dumb and working under those conditions were just horrendous. Long story short, I spent a crap load of money because some flight school told me all I need to do is give them the money and they'll give me the interviews. Not the jobs, just interviews. And I was fine with it but only found out after the money has been exchanged that they had no guaranteed interviews and it was just one big lie. Anyway, your situation is different. You already have the certificates and ratings, and I'm assuming you don't carry any debt from an expensive flight school like I do.
Well, at the time, everyone told me there was this huge demand for pilots. The flight school even boasted about how if I passed their program, there is no reason why any regional airline wouldn't hire me. Okay, whatever. The take away is this. There are going to be people telling you that if you just follow your dreams and keep at it, you'll get it. And I agree. How much you sacrifice and what kind of shape you are when you get there and living that dream is something else. Do the research on just how much money you'll make year over year at a regional airline for the next 5 to 10 years as a first officer.
This isn't a job that you're going to rely on with any level of stability. There are a lot of resources in this thread alone that you should inspect carefully with an objective eye. If you have no idea how seniority works, you have no business considering this career path. Guys like you and me, we can walk out on our jobs in IT and find another one that pays equal or more. Not with the airlines. If you decide to bolt after 2 years because the airline of your choice sucks or you hate the work rules or the life style or they go bankrupt or furlough you, and you pick yourself up and dust yourself off with another regional airline, guess what? You are at YEAR ONE pay again. Enjoy that!
The only advice I can offer you is to do a lot of research and talk to as many people as you can. Skip those who predicts the future. No one knows when the next hiring boom is going to be, if there will be one. Do it because you decided that its a game you want to try to get into and be okay with it if you walk away with a few broken bones. I'd consider the pilot career like walking into your first octagon fight with Royce Gracie. You might win, or you might die. Do it because you've assessed the risks and that it is acceptable to you. The rest will be your story to tell the kids whether or not you make it. Just don't be stupid and buy any of these "hiring boom" crap. At the end of the day, you'll submit your resume and application, and they'll either hire you, or not. And you'll either try again, or not. It's as simple as that.
Anyway, to wrap it up, my IT job is now paying my flight school debt, hopefully I'll be able to keep it for another 13 years to pay this off. Then I can save and maybe buy a house after that! And I fell into an awesome IT job. Perhaps you just need a change of scenery rather than jump off the IT wagon. With your flying experience, you can easily buy yourself an airplane, flight instruct, etc. to keep flying fun.
Research the industry, career, and put together some spreadsheets. Good luck!
Well, at the time, everyone told me there was this huge demand for pilots. The flight school even boasted about how if I passed their program, there is no reason why any regional airline wouldn't hire me. Okay, whatever. The take away is this. There are going to be people telling you that if you just follow your dreams and keep at it, you'll get it. And I agree. How much you sacrifice and what kind of shape you are when you get there and living that dream is something else. Do the research on just how much money you'll make year over year at a regional airline for the next 5 to 10 years as a first officer.
This isn't a job that you're going to rely on with any level of stability. There are a lot of resources in this thread alone that you should inspect carefully with an objective eye. If you have no idea how seniority works, you have no business considering this career path. Guys like you and me, we can walk out on our jobs in IT and find another one that pays equal or more. Not with the airlines. If you decide to bolt after 2 years because the airline of your choice sucks or you hate the work rules or the life style or they go bankrupt or furlough you, and you pick yourself up and dust yourself off with another regional airline, guess what? You are at YEAR ONE pay again. Enjoy that!
The only advice I can offer you is to do a lot of research and talk to as many people as you can. Skip those who predicts the future. No one knows when the next hiring boom is going to be, if there will be one. Do it because you decided that its a game you want to try to get into and be okay with it if you walk away with a few broken bones. I'd consider the pilot career like walking into your first octagon fight with Royce Gracie. You might win, or you might die. Do it because you've assessed the risks and that it is acceptable to you. The rest will be your story to tell the kids whether or not you make it. Just don't be stupid and buy any of these "hiring boom" crap. At the end of the day, you'll submit your resume and application, and they'll either hire you, or not. And you'll either try again, or not. It's as simple as that.
Anyway, to wrap it up, my IT job is now paying my flight school debt, hopefully I'll be able to keep it for another 13 years to pay this off. Then I can save and maybe buy a house after that! And I fell into an awesome IT job. Perhaps you just need a change of scenery rather than jump off the IT wagon. With your flying experience, you can easily buy yourself an airplane, flight instruct, etc. to keep flying fun.
Research the industry, career, and put together some spreadsheets. Good luck!
