What's your story?

[Goose Egg]

I had wanted to be an airline pilot for as long as I could remember. I started working on my private license when I was 17 and a junior in high school (1993). I finished when I was 18, then flew around a bit. When I was 19 I left on a two-year mission for my church, which was great, but didn't involve too much flying. When I got back home, I immediately got a job working as a dispatcher at an FBO. This was great because I got to build up a lot of the time I needed for the commercial as part of my pay--I didn't have to come up with it out of pocket. I then decided to try other majors, namely engineering and accounting. I learned a lot from those studies, but I just wasn't happy so I decided to get back into flying. I got my instrument, commercial, and CFI in about a year and a half, and finished up a BS in Aviation Science and set out looking for a CFI job. It was hard at first--there weren't a lot of jobs around. I moved out east to try and find something, with little avail at first. (In fact I spent my first year out here developing photos at CVS.) I then found my current CFI job, and I'm in my second year here. I've really been enjoying it. In fact, the school paid for my Commercial Glider and CFI-G ratings, and will be paying for my MEI here in about a month. Not to mention that I have health insurance and paid vacation! Also, since I work at an academic institution, college classes are free for me and that includes tuition for the MBA program, which I started in september. And actually, I really enjoy flight instructing, even after several hundred hours of dual given.

Anyway, I say overall I've been pretty fortunate, although I have had to be patient. I'm still not sure exactly what I'd like to do and what will work out for me. I wouldn't mind flying for an airline and I wouldn't mind flying for a corporate outfit. (It'll probably be some combination of the two!) Frankly, I try not to worry myself with things that I can't control at this point. I'm sure something will work out for me, I just don't know what.

I have noticed that some on this thread recommend finding another job and just fly for fun on the side. I have known for a long time that this just wouldn't work for me--it just wouldn't add up to enough flying. I'd get out maybe once a week, and that just wouldn't be enough. And I want to be out flying in everything--rain, snow, icing, turbulence. I couldn't afford anything by myself that could safely handle those types of weather conditions. Besides that, I'd much rather have flying be a money earning endeavor vs. a money spending endeavor.

I think I'd someday like to own my own glider. I'd also love to get back to the west someday (from UT originally, but any western state would work) but northern New England is fine for now. Just as long as I have somewhere to ski and mountain bike.

The one piece of advice that I would give is to take your time and don't get in a hurry. That is the easiest way to burn out. People instruct 8 hours a day, 7 days per week and wonder why they don't like flying anymore. Sure, you'll get a lot of time quickly, but what good is it if you hate flying? You should work hard, but not too hard.

-Goose

 

[TurboS7]

I have had 14 days off now I leave for a 10 day trip to Romania to fly to point east from there. The best of both worlds.

 

[smellthejeta]

Goose Egg,

Sounds like you have a really great job instructing, of all things. I see from the tone of your post that you realize that... I hope for your sake that you pick your next job carefully, because you may not find that the grass is greener

 

[Goose Egg]

Sounds like you have a really great job instructing, of all things. I see from the tone of your post that you realize that... I hope for your sake that you pick your next job carefully, because you may not find that the grass is greener

Wilco. I'm actually leaning towards either Cape Air or a PC-12 gig out of MHT. Both represent pay increases. We'll see what happens. I do need a bit more multi-time before I think I could safely quit instructing for a PC-12 gig, and Cape Air wants an ATP. I'm not really considering a regional gig just yet, although I think an offer from SkyWest with an SLC or DEN base would trump just about everything, although if I had my 'druthers I think I'd like to end up with a good corporate job. Like I said, that's all still a little ways down the road, so we'll just have to see what happens.

-Goose

 

[smellthejeta]

Wilco. I'm actually leaning towards either Cape Air or a PC-12 gig out of MHT. Both represent pay increases. We'll see what happens. I do need a bit more multi-time before I think I could safely quit instructing for a PC-12 gig, and Cape Air wants an ATP. I'm not really considering a regional gig just yet, although I think an offer from SkyWest with an SLC or DEN base would trump just about everything, although if I had my 'druthers I think I'd like to end up with a good corporate job. Like I said, that's all still a little ways down the road, so we'll just have to see what happens.

-Goose

From what I know about this industry, which ranges from either nothing to a lot depending on who you ask, there is nothing on the face of this planet that beats a good Part 91 gig. And I mean nothing (except for working 12 days a month flying INT'L making $300k for the airlines, but those days are gone).

 

[Draginass]

You should consider applying to the RCAF only if you have a sincere desire to serve your country as well as fly. I would imagine that getting a flying officer slot in the RCAF is highly competitive, so they're only going to take the best of the best. Having met many Canadian Air Force pilots and being an ex-USAF pilot myself, I hold the RCAF in high regard.

If the attitude is to "use" the Air Force as a "necessary evil' "stepping stone" you'll be smelled out in a second.

 

[Dumbluck]

I would recommend something like the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve if Canada has something equivilent. Finish your degree, obviously. If you decide to go into commercial aviation, and find a type of flying you like with a company YOU like and stick with it. I can't tell you how many guys I know that listened to whiners and left good companies. Also, this way down the road for you, but EVERY company has problems and usually its the same problems. Schedules, mechancal issues and every pilot seems to know how to run airline better than mgt., be careful what you wish for, you just might get it

 

[Almerick07]

You sound like me about a year and a half ago, I was out in west texas playing college football when I realized I had no hopes of being a professional athlete so I decided to hang up my cleats and pursue my love of aviation. I heard everyones advice of get rich then fly, but i knew it just wouldnt be the same of as being a professional pilot. So here I am, 20 years old with a fresh CFI ticket instructing for a university while I finish up my degree. If you decide to do this go into it with a full head of knowledge and eyes wide open. Although only about a year and a half I still feel confident us young kids will make it, dont plan on getting rich, stay flexible and prepare financially for retirement on your own. Good luck and feel free to PM me with any questions, take care.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Research the career before you jump.

1. It is NOT like the movies portray.
2. You will NOT make huge sums of money. (Those days are gone)
3. You WILL be gone from home more than you are home. At a Major, including commuting I only averaged 6 nights a month in my own bed. It was either commute or move every year or so due to base changes. Current job is better with the home time but I am gone 16 to 20 days straight every month.
4. It is very hard on families, especially kids. The divorce rate among pilots is very very high. I am lucky so far, I have a very understanding wife.
5. Holidays off are a thing of the past, no birthdays anniverseries etc. Of course there are exceptions with creative schedule bidding but you will miss most of the traditional family holidays. Christmas morning in an empty hotel is about as bad as it gets.

Of course there are many good things about flying also. Just know what you are getting in too. I have seen many people waste large sums of money only to find that they are not suited to the lifestyle that is required, or their family cannot adjust to the required lifestyle

I also cannot stand to hear the ones that whine constantly while flying over the holidays. So you are forwarned, we don't want to hear any whining that you missed your kids b-day or that you are out flying on Christmas. It is part of the job in 95% of the aviation industry.

Having said that. It is an exciting career for the most part, you just have to become numb to the down side of it.

 

[Zach15]

Wow!

Glad to see all the replies, thank you all for that. As I said in my post I don't have any experience in aviation, so this message board and even this post is one of the means I am using to gather information. I'll probably be sending a few of you PM's just for conversation about flying.

I really have no idea where I want to go with my life, thats why my interest in flying is so exciting for me. For now I just plan on getting my degree and hopefully after that work on making flying my career. The low pay instability doesn't really scare me, because that has never been too important to me. I have always been terrified of working a job I hate, to me that would be the worst.

Right now I find helicopters very interesting. Something like search and rescue sounds very cool. Who knows!

Again, thank you all for the replies. Also thanks for being honest, some times the things you don't want to hear are the best sources of information. I just want to learn everything I can for now while I am still deciding what to do.

G'night.

- Zach

 

[Stearmanut]

Zach,

I think since you are new to the aviation community, you'll find that MOST people are very genuine and friendly. There are, of course, those that are not.

If you are really interested in helicopters, read carefully. They are incredibly expensive to train in if you are doing this privately. Sometimes twice as much per hour than an airplane. If you are serious about the helicopter thing....Seriously consider joining the military and let them pay for your training by committing a few years to them. Should you get into flight school and get into choppers, when you get out of the military, you will be priceless in the market for helicopter pilots.

Its very hard to get a job flying helicopters, especially med-evac helicopters without military experience. But thats not to say it has not been done. My best friend was on the same track, with med-evac as his ultimate goal and he found he could only get enough time by going into the Marines.... he now flies the Chinook.

Something to consider.

 

[Zach15]

Yeah I think the only route available to me would be to finish my degree and then hit up the air force. That way I still have the degree to fall back on if my pilot dream doesnt pan out.

I would like to be able to get a little experience in flying while I am doing the school thing though, so I still need to look into ways about doing that.


Thanks for your input

Zach