Should I quit?

[Foobar]

I’ve got 1000TT 200Multi. I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science. I just started flying full time about three moths ago. I instruct in brand new Cessna 172s and fly a baron around for a law firm. I'm 27 years old.

I’m starting to hate it (and no you can’t have my job.) I can’t keep up with the schedule. I don’t like being gone over night. And after this I graduate to a regional where I might make 25K a year and I’m gone 15 nights a month. It’s just not looking attractive. I have the impression the schedules stink. I know the pay stinks. I’m a good pilot and great instructor but I’m thinking for all this trouble I’ll go get a good paying day job and buy an F33 or a diamond star.

What do you think? Is it as bad as I’m starting to think it is? Is the schedule just making me crazy and I should hold out?

 

[Typhoon1244]

I’m starting to hate it...

I think you answered your own question. If you already hate it, then you need to look gor something else...

(...or maybe I'm just being crabby.)

Three or five years after you get to a regional, you'll be holding a pretty comfortable schedule. Are you willing to wait that long?

 

[Foobar]

So whats your schedule like Typhoon1244?

 

[banned username 2]

I agree... If you don't like the overnights and being gone there is no doubt you are in the wrong profession... these things will only get worse once you get married and have a family...

Go get a good paying job and flight instruct part time for fun...

Good luck...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

EH,

you sound like every other pilot out there...

now go have a few beers, watch some chiks dance, and get over it...

freakin' whiner...

 

[Foobar]

I am a whiner today. Egads. Maybe its because I feel fat.

 

[thee12nv]

Computer science..

Not to burst your bubble.. but you might have a little difficulty getting a job in the IT field now.. it is almost as bad as the pilot career

 

[Dep676]

Quit your whinning and move on if you hate it. Let someone that what's to fly have your job. We now that there are plenty of guys out there that would kill just to get back in the air.

 

[Typhoon1244]

So whats your schedule like Typhoon1244?

This month it's fly all day Thursday, do a two-day trip Friday-Saturday, then off for four days. Pretty good.

 

[huncowboy]

I am speechless. Of course all my life I was sitting in a car going to some place every other day... just for fun to hook up with friends and catch chicks etc... all this while in college and shortly after. So to me traveling is normal and still exciting. Sure I can see how flying into ATL the 500th time for a layover is not much fun but I can’t think of it as a huge show stopper either.

Even if you hate it I would be hesitant to give up what you got right now because you may find out 3-4 months or worse 5-10 years later that you miss it badly.

Forums like this are full with guys... "I have been in aviation... but now I have 10 kids, 5 mortgages and I am a little over 45 but I would like to get back..." I am sure you know what I mean and I truly feel for them. I’ll be 31 soon and I am already very envy of those 22 years old CFIs... so before you get out either leave a way back (if that is possible) or think it deeply through. Because it sounds like you have a position for which others would kill you right now. I myself would probably put you on a grill, and make a neat BBQ party with other <200TT pilots and sing a song just to get your job. Then fly the heck out of that new 172 which I have only seen on pictures so far.

Good luck either way you go.

 

[Timebuilder]

I think you have already made up your mind. Now, it's just a matter of integrating your decision into your life. It was tough for me to adjust to not flying, or more accurately, flying infrequently.

The problem is that flying is an attractive job to most of us. This means there are a lot of people who want to do it. This holds down wages and benefits, because the people who own and dispatch airplanes can almost always find another willing pilot who does not see much pay, much family, or much sleep, and is willing to take it all with a smile. If the cons outweight the pros, and there are more cons than ever, then it is time to make a change.

I'd get a good job, and fly when I want to in my own airplane.

Good luck.

 

[Typhoon1244]

...but now I have 10 kinds...

Ten kinds of what?

 

[huncowboy]

I meant >kids<. I remember correcting this word before posting.

Something strange happened when I hit "preview reply" on that post. The word "mortgage" in my post, in the preview panel was underlined and all kind of code was inserted before and after in the edit panel... it actually became a link. I was able to click on it but it did not do anything. This is when I went back a few times until I got rid of it, that is how I lost the corrections I made.

Is this normal?

 

[Toy Soldier]

Foobar

You are probably suffering what the rest of us feel when flying becomes a "job"! It does seem like "working at it" kind of takes away the fun and "glamour" of it.

I love my job but there are days when I dread walking to the plane because the boss is getting on my nerves and I am now gonna spend some "quality" time all couped up on a trip with him...

There are days when it just plane(sp) isn't any fun and I don't enjoy it one bit. After all, it is a JOB! But most of the time it is a hoot and I love every minute of it. Hey, at the end of the day - my job is tied to an airplane.

Having said that, I still love my job and wouldn't trade it any time soon, that's for sure! But then again, I have a pretty descent schedule and am not gone too many nights a year either.

 

[bobbysamd]

Should you quit?

I’ve got 1000TT 200Multi. I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science. I just started flying full time about three moths ago. I instruct in brand new Cessna 172s and fly a baron around for a law firm. I'm 27 years old.

I’m starting to hate it (and no you can’t have my job.)

It sounds like you don't want it, though. Guaranteed, there are plenty of people who do. The line forms at the right.

How about me? What is your lawfirm's specialty? Would it be interested in someone with the pilot quals at the left and nine years of paralegal experience in three specialties(actually more - I worked in elder law, which includes (1) probate, (2) estate planning and (3) Medicaid)? I have B55 and B58 Baron time. Maybe I can be a paralegal-pilot for your lawfirm.

I can’t keep up with the schedule. I don’t like being gone over night. And after this I graduate to a regional where I might make 25K a year and I’m gone 15 nights a month. It’s just not looking attractive.

I can understand some frustration at someone closer to my age or even ten years younger who hears the clock ticking. In your case, the clock has just begun to tick, if it is ticking at all.

You really want to give up after only three months? At your age? I started when I was ten years older than you and gave it six years. I gave it up primarily because I saw little future in it at my age. If I could turn back the clock to your age I would leap at the chance to do what you're doing, bar none.

With the opportunity you have to build multi PIC time in the Baron and your age you have a golden opportunity to succeed - but only if you want to. I gather that you don't.

 

[hydroflyer]

There is always 135 cargo. Not a very glamorous job or anything, but there are companies such as Airnet that pay well and you don't spend days (or nights depending on the schedule) away from home. Not bad for quality of life. Of course the pay will be more than a regional to start, but won't top out as high.
Like bobbysamd said, maybe you should give it some more time. Think about your past jobs. If they were anything like mine then you start off thinking it is great, after a few months it gets routine and you think it isn't as great as you first thought, then after about a year you settle in and you realize it really isn't that bad after all.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

Foobar:

You are the only one who can answer that question. Personally, I'd kill for something like that for a while. I'm in about the same boat time-wise (I'm a bit younger than you though), and it just kind of stinks to have not enough hours for 135'in, but too many to be innocent (I've been turned down A&P jobs because of my hours, and flying jobs because I have an A&P--go figure).

I left my last job pretty much out of necessity (I just don't think it's ethical for a full time CFI and A&P to be paid THAT little--and trust me, it was a VERY small number). Nine months later, I'm almost starting to regret that desicion--if I would have put up with that stuff a few months longer, I could at least be freight dogging it up. But with this "in between" time of mine, nobody would trust me as a CFI to stick around very long (no matter what assurances I can give), and nobody that would be the logical "next step" will even consider someone with so little time.

If you're wondering whether or not you really want to fly for a living, I can help you there (I know for a fact that I do). But I can tell you that your options will at least open up if you get 135.243(c) minimums.

Dan

 

[Q200_FO]

I don’t like being gone over night.

You really answered your own question. If you hate being gone overnight that much, how are you going to deal on a 4-5 day trip. You picked the wrong business bub. Stick to computers.

 

[Nolife]

Perspective

I went scuba diving in Belize a few years back and our guide was this fourty something divemaster named Changa. He'd been diving the reef for almost thirty years and you could tell he was bored. I thought it was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen underwater and this guy was yawning.

In order for Changa to continue appreciating his position in paradise I think he needs to go vacation at a tire factor in Akron, Ohio for two weeks.

It's the same here. It can become a job but when you stop and do something else you realize how much you miss it and how lucky you were. Between my current job and my previous job I went back to pumping gas at an FBO for 4 weeks. Man am I glad to be back flying. It was just the perspective I needed.

 

[KATL8R26L]

ugh

Blagh, Blagh, Blagh,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, young kids always quit when it is not what they realy want.


Either you don't want it bad enough, or you just cant figure out what to do,may be you don't have your heart in it.

There are other areas of flying,one of these that i have been looking at is Air Attack, fighting fires from above, you are gone some times as much as 6 or 7 months at a time.


I know a few people who fly cargo for such compines as FEDEX, UPS , They all agree on one thing they like cashing big checks, they all so can remember what it was like to be poor and not have much money ,or to be low on the list and have to work when called. Now they sit in a postion where they pick their on runs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Learn to play through the pain