Getting out...

[Flyforyou]

Just wondering if any of you know anyone that's gotten out of the airlines completely? What are they doing and how do they like it? I'm thinking about going back to school and finishing my Engineering degree(what I started before I got this crazy idea of flying for a living). Granted, I wouldn't trade the job for anything once the door is closed. It's the other 70% of the job that's getting really old. It's interesting, all my old classmates I went to school with; not one of them makes less than I do(my old roommate makes 3X my salary), and many of them make enough to own their own airplane on the side. Just looking for any comments from all of you. Thanks.


Fly

 

[FmrFreightDog]

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!'

 

[Scapegoat]

You have to make that call for yourself. You will likely have ups and downs if you stay in commmercial aviation for the remainer. However you will battle with yourself on if you should have gone back to school when you had the chance.

Question: If you are just entering the engineering job market in 3 years and things are booming at your old airline, would you regret leaving? (I would say likely since you are in aviation and love to fly).

My point: Make sure you are ready to walk away completely when you leave. I left an 80k/year job to pursue aviation in 2000. Now I am a new captain at a regional making 48k. I am so glad I left my old job because I knew it was time to go. I knew I would sacrifice $$$ but I am much happier now. Best of luck!

 

[USCtrojan]

Career

I'm with a few of the other people on this board, saying you have to make that decision for yourself. I have a lot of friends that make more $$ than I do, but they don't get 4 days off a week either. In fact they get about 1. Granted, they make a ton of jack, but don't have anytime to spend it!! (Or their wives spend it for them) You have to make the job work for you. Spend your time at work, doing exactly what is asked of you.....But when you're away, under no obligation by your current employer, make your own $$$. I find myself happier as a result because my focus isn't centered around aviation. You gotta have balance, right? Just my opinion, but hope that helps!! Good luck to you!

Trojan

 

[Cosmo1999]

I think this is a case of the grass is always greener on the other side. Each career has its benefits and downfalls. Aviation is no different in that regard. Just remember that people at those high paying jobs are likely complaining about how much they hate their jobs. Almost all of my neighbors complained about how their jobs are mind numbing and wish they could do something else yet nearly all of them are at are near the 6 figure income range. Im sure they still complain about it. I think its important to remember no matter what you make as long as your working for someone else you will never have all of the personal freedom you want. People will always find something wrong no matter what job they have. If you hang in there long enough you can get some senority and get a pretty decent schedule. I work with tons of guys who do nothing but local trips and they are home much more than a 9-5 person could ever dream of being home. Not commuting is also huge. That alone sends QOL thru the roof. As far as money goes how much is enough? Even RJ captains still make in the $60,000-$80,000/yr range. Combine that with a wife who has a decent job and you can easily have a household income figure over 6 figures. You can most certainly live comfortably on that. Things could certainly be better in this industry but that can be said for most industries.

 

[Snakum]

I'm thinking about going back to school and finishing my Engineering degree

As someone who's Engineering Degree is worth about as much as the paper it's written on, and having heard similar tales from IEs, MEs, and even EEs with far more ejukashon than I, please indulge me ...

What the h@ll for?

Unless, of course, you are majoring in Chemical Engineering or Civil Engineering, in which case you just might not have to move to the other side of nowhere to actually get a decent paying job. Well ... at least not until the Pharmaceutical industries have perfected their chemical processes to the point pharmaceutical mfg. can be outsourced to India, Thailand, Singapore, Phillippines, etc. just like everything else.

Moral? Go Civ E! There'll always be a need for traffic engineers to design bizarre clover-leaf cross-overs and exits as interstate roads expand.

Let's see ... you want out of aviation to do engineering work .... I want into aviation ... I have a management/engineering job (pronounced "yobb") ... wanna trade?

Minh

 

[Bluto]

Moral? Go Civ E! There'll always be a need for traffic engineers to design bizarre clover-leaf cross-overs and exits as interstate roads expand.
Minh

Oh Minh, you're so NAIVE! Don't you know that everyone will be zooming to work in one of these: http://www.moller.com/skycar/ in just a few years! Ha! Roads!! You're killing me!

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

When you are really fed up....

....take a few days off in the month and non-rev for a 3-4 day trip to MEX or the Caribbean. Chill out then decide.

After that, a cubicle five days a week doesn't seem like an option at all.

 

[Snakum]

Oh Minh, you're so NAIVE! Don't you know that everyone will be zooming to work in one of these: http://www.moller.com/skycar/ in just a few years! Ha! Roads!! You're killing me!

Man! Half the uncoordinated fools I know couldn't get me into their cars. That little George Jetson-mobile ought to really thin out the herd.

Maybe it'd thin 'em out enough that I could get an interview at Great Lakes or Big Sky er sump'n before I get as old as Bobby.

Minhberg

 

[rvsm410]

Just a quick point to someones comment here, over 50% of all US pharmaceuticals come from San Juan PR...Fact!, did not believe this until I was checking out the COL there...

By the way, I am with all of you here , this is a personal choice, investigate and go with your heart.

 

[Rook]

Oh Minh, you're so NAIVE! Don't you know that everyone will be zooming to work in one of these: http://www.moller.com/skycar/ in just a few years! Ha! Roads!! You're killing me!

Roads? Where were going we don't need roads.
Dr. Emmett Brown

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

 

[FN FAL]

Roads? Where were going we don't need roads.
Dr. Emmett Brown

Rook
Looks like a high overcast.
Better ask for Type IV.

Besides, they'll be needing a lot of engineers on the big Mag-Lev train project coming up soon.