Crossroads

[braidkid]

I need some serious advice.
I'm at a real crossroads.

I've been offered two jobs....
1) Engineering job with Boeing. Pay is $60k starting out. Of course full benifits, you name it.....
2) Flight Instructing job which pays $35k.....single and multi-engine. Full health benifits, etc...

Which one would you take? I know if I take the engineering job I would not pursue flying as a career, however, if I take the instructing job I would hopefully fly for a regional or corporate someday.

Should I leave aviation for a responsible career with a big company or stick with flying? I know there are a lot of disgruntled pilots on here. I'm looking for advice from some of you guys that have been flying for a living for a while. Is it worth it in the end or is making a fat paycheck and good job security more important to you?

I know this is an impossible question to answer and it's ultimately my decision but I'd like your thoughts...

 

[rumpletumbler]

Take the job with Boeing and teach on weekends.

 

[mayday1]

Who says you can't have both.. take the job with Boeing, make some $$, save, teach part-time -- you'll build time more slowly, but have a nice safety net and cushion. Then 1 or 2 years down the road, you'll probably meet mins for regionals (or 135 or something).. at the same time, you might be able/willing to take the cut in pay to work at a regional because you've built a nice financial cushion.

BTW, I'll be looking for a CFI gig soon.. where can I land one with $35k salary + benefits..?

 

[Swass]

Which Boeing location? If it's ICT I would be wary....

 

[braidkid]

Which Boeing location? If it's ICT I would be wary....

Actually it's Boeing Seattle.
I used to work for Boeing in Wichita....I assume you are referring to the sale of the commercial plant.

And to answer your question mayday1....there are instructing jobs that pay well out there. Generally you need to have at least 1000tt and 400 dual given to qualify. Check out IFTA in Bakersfield for example...

 

[Swass]

Yep, who know's what will happen with that sale.

 

[typhoonpilot]

Take the job with Boeing and teach on weekends. Save enough money to buy your own airplane someday so that you can fly for fun. With Boeing you may be able to work your way over to the flight test side as an engineer. Get a DER or DAR rating and then you can consult and make really big bucks. That will help to put fuel in the airplane you bought .

TP

 

[Guitar Guy]

Your question rings a bit of bell for me. I worked as an aero engineer for Boeing in Seattle (Renton area, actually) for about 6 years. I left them, did engineering/tech for an airline and made the move to the cockpit in 2000.

I think you really need to do a lot of research and soul-searching. You need to figure out what you value and what you want. Flying isn't necessarily the most stable career. But you know what? Engineering isn't either. Boeing nearly laid me off in 1995 - I left just before the end of a 60-day WARN notice. If pay is a big issue, the regionals currently aren't paying the greatest and it would be a fairly long time before you could qualify for something like SWA, FedEx, UPS, etc. But then again, Boeing could slump and you could lose your job.

Personally, I loved flying too much to pass up a shot. I don't regret it. Would I have made more money staying with my old profession? No doubt about it. Would I have enjoyed it as much as what I do nowadays? Not a chance. But that's just me.

I don't know if this helps or not. But you really need to figure out what matters most to you in terms of career and lifestyle. Flying can be a tough gig and while engineering might seem to be more stable, there are no guarantees there, either.

Best wishes to you as you mull this over.

 

[check six]

DER/DAR rating

What is a DER/DAR rating?

Check Six

 

[SabreFlyR]

What is a DER/DAR rating?


Designated Engineering Rep. (DER)

Designated Airworthiness Rep. (DER)

 

[FN FAL]

I need some serious advice.
I'm at a real crossroads.

I've been offered two jobs....
1) Engineering job with Boeing. Pay is $60k starting out. Of course full benifits, you name it.....
2) Flight Instructing job which pays $35k.....single and multi-engine. Full health benifits, etc...

Which one would you take? I know if I take the engineering job I would not pursue flying as a career, however, if I take the instructing job I would hopefully fly for a regional or corporate someday.

Should I leave aviation for a responsible career with a big company or stick with flying? I know there are a lot of disgruntled pilots on here. I'm looking for advice from some of you guys that have been flying for a living for a while. Is it worth it in the end or is making a fat paycheck and good job security more important to you?

I know this is an impossible question to answer and it's ultimately my decision but I'd like your thoughts...

Dude...take the engineering job, flight instruct on the side! Join a multi flying club or create one, once you got money in the bank!

Expand your horizons and your personal experience by learning at Boeing...meet people...build up a network. Besides, Boeing must have one hell of a corporate flight department. I would imagine you could build your flight time, your bank account and your resume with Boeing.

 

[braidkid]

decision

I have chosen Boeing. I will have regrets about not pursuing flying but I can always do that on the side and instruct. Unfortunately I am in a position where I would regret either decision. My wife and I both are ready for something stable and I feel engineering is the right choice for us. Perhaps by not pursuing aviation and working for 19k/year it will be one less competitor out there and will raise the pay for the rest of you guys and gals out there???

Thank you all for your kind responses. I wish you all a Happy Holiday.