out of aviation ? a thought... input?

[hotwing]

Has anyone thought of getting out of aviation all together? It has been on my mind lately and I have been considering it... Any other thoughts out there?

What would those of you that are "experienced" tell us today that have been in this industry for a short period of time -- less than two years...


I am thinking about going back to school and finishing the ER trauma nursing program and going from there...

Some factors that I am interested in hearing about -- time away from home -- how it screws your family lives up, pay, future... etc...

Please, fire away!

 

[WrightAvia]

I heard through a friend that his highschool buddy, a Comair pilot, r.u.n.n.o.f.t. and married his boyfriend. They went up to canada and opened up a bed and breakfast, after the guy quit his Comair job.

I wonder what they called the place? The 5 bucks and all you can eat tubesteak Inn?

 

[ductleak]

?

Just be happy -- that is all that I can say!

 

[Tug Driver]

how about we trade jobs????

 

[acapilot2003]

I've been furloughed now for almost eight months. I had only been flying for about seven months before then. It's definitely been awesome spending more time with my wife and daughter. But I also miss flying very much. I've been looking into a lot of different options for work (besides flying, because I can't even find a flying job anywhere). The market is so tough that I can't find a job anywhere, unless I want to work at MacDonalds or the like. But then again, moving to a different area of the country hasn't appealed much to me until recently. And, thanks to my previous flying job at a regional, I don't have much money to go back to school or get training extra training.

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

What the...

I'm facing the same question... only I'm stradling the fence right now. I'm working a night-cargo operation and going to school durring the day. It's tough stuff, but I'll get off the fence when I figure out what I want to do. I'd say stay in the game, since you're already in, and get your Gen-Ed stuff out of the way online or through correspondance... then readress the issue in 1.5 years.

 

[f9driver]

Flying Careers

I am old and have been retired for 12 yrs..... after 25 yrs. with Pan Am and 10 yrs. AD flying in the Navy. I have to tell you that after reading the many comments here on FI I really wonder why more prospective airline pilots don't give it up and find a suitable alternate career? In 1961 I decided to stay in the Navy when I met a UAL pilot who had been furloughed for 5 yrs., only to be lured out in 1966 when everybody was hiring. After WWII many thousands of pilots did not like the odds and found other work even tho they loved to fly......the competition was just too stiff.
We are in another one of those eras: A huge hiring binge followed by a bubble in the stock mkt. leading to a fall in business by a mature industry. I don't think 9/11 was only reason and probably why it won't be back soon.
Anyone who is "looking in" should understand it will probably be a hard road. If you want to pay the price "go for it" but know the risk/reward. Up until 1964 the max age for airline pilots was 28. Few women were flying and no military retirees. It is probably more competitive today. A lot of pilots who got out late in WWII and again in the late sixties did not make Capt. or took 22-25 yrs to make it.
Surprising fact.... 90% of PanAm's furloughees came back....some after almost 10 yrs. Hope this background helps someone trying to make that difficult decision.

 

[WhiteCloud]

As I get older the time away from home and the inherent scheduling issues are by far the most important factors for me.

 

[hotwing]

getting out is possible

Thanks for the replies.

I am still on the fence... I am not sure what to do. I am single and do not have a lot of responsibilities right now, other than myself.

I am just looking ahead. I have spoken to many people that have been doing this for many years and one of the things that I asked a 58 y/o CAL Capt. was if he had to do it all over again, would he? He said yes... I will hold a line soon and the reserve sits will come to and end. I am just concerned that all of the time away from home and all will be an issue sometime down the road.

I know of people that bailed out right after 9-11 and completely changed gears in their careers... I love to fly and got hired here, at a strong regional airline. Looking at the future, I am concerned. There are many careers that are demand and will pay what I can make here and allow for me to be at home all the time... I was a paramedic firefighter before this and always wanted to fly and here I am --- ...? I made it... Now, I would have never thought that I would be questioning this success. I mean to get hired in the worst aviation down turn by a strong regional airline and now, to doubt it all. !@#$ What a deal...

Well folks, again, fire away!

 

[ASAFOE120]

I was in your situation a few years back. In college and trying my darndest to build the time to make it to the airlines. I was newly married and considering getting out of aviation completely.

I kept wondering if in 10 years I would regret my decision of leaving aviation (and allways wonder how far I would have gone). I finally decided that I would give it all I had and if I didnt make, then I would fall back on my degree.

Well 5 years and 2 regionals later, I'm still trying to make a living at it. But I'm with a great company, senior enough to hold holidays off, and what other job would I have that gives me 15 (sometimes more, sometimes less) days off a month! I'm still hoping and praying to make it to that major someday, but if I dont, at least I'll know how far I made it.

The decision is yours, but just ask yourself if in 5, 10, 15 years from now if you will regret it.

Hope this helps!!
Former E120 FO, current CRJ FO

 

[Wings Level]

I would hang in there if I were you. I've been out of aviation for three years now working a Wall Street job which is stressful and requires long hours. I only decided to get of aviation after carefully weighing all the options and their consequences. For me, there were many things in life that I had a passion for that was equal to my interest in flying.

Even now still I wonder if I made the right decision though. Its really amazing the things you get to do and see while working as a pilot. Also, the people I've worked with in aviation are some of the finest I've ever met.

My father is a retired airline captain, so I know what the lifestyle WAS like. He had a great career up to the point where the company stopped paying a large part of his pension.

When I recall all of his complaining througout the years, I wonder if what he would think having to work in the conditions present today in both avaition and the corporate world. The corporate world can be brutal.

If I were you, I would only trade my job for something that you are really sure about. The aviation industry shuts the door hard when you walk out. If your thinking about leaving, make sure you get all the necessary info about your next career and define a game plan. I would be pretty happy to be in your spot, so continue to stay the course.

 

[hotwing]

...

Thanks for all of the replies. I really appreciate your thoughts. I do remember sitting in the fire station going crazy and pacing the floor wanting to get out of there and be in the air! I love flying, I truly do. Hell, there were several shifts that I took off without pay just to flight instruct!

I know that I would be miserable in anything else out there... Sometimes, it gets really frustrating and hard to see the light at the end of the old tunnel. I got hired here in one of the worst times in aviation history and now, I am contemplating bailing out! I must be crazy... THe 121 world is great and this is where I have been trying to "land". I guess that I just need to giv it some more time... Again, thanks for the replies here!

 

[nimtz]

Re: Flying Careers

I am old and have been retired for 12 yrs..... after 25 yrs. with Pan Am and 10 yrs. AD flying in the Navy. I have to tell you that after reading the many comments here on FI I really wonder why more prospective airline pilots don't give it up and find a suitable alternate career? In 1961 I decided to stay in the Navy when I met a UAL pilot who had been furloughed for 5 yrs., only to be lured out in 1966 when everybody was hiring. After WWII many thousands of pilots did not like the odds and found other work even tho they loved to fly......the competition was just too stiff.
We are in another one of those eras: A huge hiring binge followed by a bubble in the stock mkt. leading to a fall in business by a mature industry. I don't think 9/11 was only reason and probably why it won't be back soon.
Anyone who is "looking in" should understand it will probably be a hard road. If you want to pay the price "go for it" but know the risk/reward. Up until 1964 the max age for airline pilots was 28. Few women were flying and no military retirees. It is probably more competitive today. A lot of pilots who got out late in WWII and again in the late sixties did not make Capt. or took 22-25 yrs to make it.
Surprising fact.... 90% of PanAm's furloughees came back....some after almost 10 yrs. Hope this background helps someone trying to make that difficult decision.

Outstanding post. Some of us should listen more often to those who have gone before us and seen every up/down that this industry can give. For most of us this has been our first downturn with this job. I'm sure the first one is probably the hardest one.

 

[Torey15]

Hot Wing-I know you work for Skywest because I remember your posts about poolies and movement during earlier parts of 2003. I have been sitting in the pool at SKW for ten months myself waiting for Camielle to call, so if you quit put in a good word for me! Just kidding.

I would give you about two weeks before you realized you had made the goof of the century if you decide to "move on." Answer this question, how long before you rent a plane and go flying after you leave your job? Not long I bet.

I know the issue is bigger than just the love of flying, so any Mesa bashers calm down. I want to be compensated as a professional and competent pilot, but what is the common bond here? Flying. I personally love to fly and would not trade a future career in this business for anything. I am sure you feel the same if you think about it.


My 2 cents...

 

[hotwing]

torrey15 - -thanks

torey15 (thanks)
Hey -- thanks for the information. I appreciate it. I think that you are correct. I worked my butt of to get here and now, I am thinking about leaving... You nailed me... I am here and love the company -- lots of growth! I think that I will hold a line soon. I know, I know, there are a lot of people that would kill to have my spot! I know that... You should be close to coming here. I have another buddy in the pool that interviewed in Aug and he is #30. Are you in the 120 pool?

 

[hotwing]

light at the end of the old tunnel? hmm

light at the end of the tunnel?
Well, that is a great question. I have always wanted to fly. I am enjoying it and have done a lot to get here. It is very frustrating to put yourself into this scenerio and to figure things out.

I started as a firefighter / paramedic and used this to pay my way through flight school and most of college. I started flying when I was 15 years old and really got serious about it a few years ago...

(RESERVE) Sitting reserve, away from my family just kills me...

Skywest is growing very quickly and I am very lucky to be here. I know that... I am just trying to make the best decision for my future and move on with life. It is getting close to the point that I need to make a decision and get off the fence, if you know what I mean...

I do not want to just give up. I feel that I have not given it a chance yet, but I am at the point that I feel like I need to just get on with life. Financially, I am not getting ahead at all.

I know what you mean about your thought processes and all. It is all very confusing and one minute, I am sure about things and the next, I am not!

Well, good luck with your decisions, as you can tell, this is a hard topic to pick a side and just jump on it...