NEDude said:
Not bad advice. But personally I am tired of hearing guys who have spent their entire adult lives in aviation complaining and wanting to quit and find a "real job". I am a career changer. I worked in a couple of different industries before flying professionally (I got my private while still in high school). I made very good money in my last job. But I spent hours every week in rush hour traffic. Spent hours upon hours staring at data on a computer screen sitting in a cubical. Took a lot of work home at night and weekends. And spent a lot of time riding around in the back of airliners while on business trips. And generally hated my work.
A couple of truths for those of you who have never worked in the "real world":
- Nobody makes good money working 40 hours a week. Most decent paying careers require a minimum of 50-60 per week in the office, and many more hours brining your work home.
- Unless you work for McDonalds, stability does not exist in the USA these days.
- With every job you will worry about pay raises, career progression and retirement security.
- Every job is requiring more work for less money these days, even lawyers and doctors. The rich doctor who spends hours on the golf course is about as rare as the rich 747 captain. Most doctors these days make less than 100k and work for HMOs. Many private practices are failing. Most lawyers are staffers at mid-sized firms making high five figures - about what captains at most decent regionals end up making. (Yes I grew up around a lot of doctors and lawyers).
Basically every job has its positives and negatives. Most of the stuff we deal with in aviation is the same that you'd deal with in any career. Thankfully I have seen the other world and do know what I am missing. The grass isn't greener on the other side.
But you know what is a cool job? Working in collegiate athletics administration. That is a job I'd go back to. If only it paid decent money.
NEDude,
Good post.
I have found this thread to be interesting. I've always wanted to fly, but never really thought it was a good return on the investment (civilian). When I started flying, it was for the shear fun of it.... doing some sight-seeing, $100 hamburger, etc.... Then, the bug bit me...... I thought about turning it into a career. Luckily, I stumbled across this board and saw the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of aviation.
I've given much thought to the career, and from where I stand, it's just not viable. I'm 34 years old, got a decent gubment job; I'm not getting rich, but not on food stamps either. I have done like many folks before me...... paid as I went. Took me 1 1/2 years to get my private, but not really in any hurry. Sure, I could have completed it way faster if I took out a loan, but couldn't justify it. I still have the ocassional pipe dream of flying corporate, but I figure at the rate I'm going, I'll be 50 years old before I have the hours and ratings to be somewhat competitive. It just astounds me that someone would pay 100K for their ratings. Even if I went that route, got my ratings, and had the hours, it would be a HUGE leap backwards in QOL for the next 10 years.
Did I miss my ship somewhere? Naa, I don't think so. I'm just following the path, and enjoying the journey. I would like to continue with my ratings, and hopefully be and instructor one of these days. That would give me a good excuse to keep me in the game, enjoy the flying, and incentive to keep learning. I think there are a ton of kids coming out of these pilot mills that will never even come close to a return on their investment. All they have to look forward to is an ugly credit history, and a lot of grief.
I guess my whole point to this long-winded post is to have a plan. Always leave yourself an out. I firmly believe in following your dreams, just do so wisely. If I were a high school senior, and could do it all over again, I would have gone in the military. I think that is without a doubt, the biggest "springboard" a young person could have these days.
