To move or not to move
10-08-2017, 11:13 PM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 24
To move or not to move
Many if not most of you have more flying experience than I do, life experience, or just different perspectives so I'd like to exercise a little CRM and get your take on things.
I'm 30 years old, married, and expecting my first child any day now. In the last 10 years I've cash flowed a four year college degree and my PPL through CFII, completing my CFII last October. I'm only an instrument instructor due to the fact that someone totaled the complex right before I started the flying portion of my CFI. So I just went and did the CFII. I only have 600 hours total time.
I've been with my current day-time employer for the last six years in a non-aviation role. I teach at nights and on weekends at a super small 141 flight school five minutes from my house. My flying has slowed down considerably every since they brought a full time instructor on who gets most of the work now, including instrument students. Plus the school has some other issues...
During the day I am an Environmental Health and Safety Manager at an industrial facility for a global company. I am considerably underpaid for the position in comparison to the average salary for this job in my area. My boss says that there is no opportunity for me at my current facility to advance in pay.
So I'm racing two horses; The professional day job that pays the bills and supports a family and the pilot job that is an effort to try and realize a childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot.
The daytime horse in it's current state, is a dead-end, underpaid job at this employer. The flying job with my present employer is not advancing the goal fast enough.
I live in Northern California. I bought beautiful little home two years ago for 150,000 and it's now worth 200,000. Only problem is is that it is in the complete hood. But in our price range that's what we get. I hear gun shots three times a week minimum, have people having sex in cars next to my house and have had my windows shot out with a BB gun on several occasions. Not to mention the drugs, and homeless issues the city and state struggle with. It's cheaper than renting though and I can't afford to buy in a better neighborhood.
My wife and I wanted to use my flying career to ultimately move out of this messed up state anyway, should I hit 1,500 hours someday.
Now this is where it gets interesting...
Sitting at my desk and the global safety director of the entire company calls me up and says "you've been doing great work and I might have some new opportunities for you; Kansas City, Nebraska, Alabama, or Las Vegas. Take your pick if you'd like." Some preliminary research on Kansas City and the house prices are stupid cheap. I could trade my equity in on a decent home there in a good neighborhood and the family would be in a better position I think. He said let him know if I'm interested soon.
So here are my options as I see them.
A.) Try and get the same position with a different company for fair compensation in my current area. Use the added income to hit the books again and get the CFI. Then go to a busier flight school and continue to teach at night and on the weekends. This still puts me at a minimum of two years until 1500 hours in my estimation; probably more.
The disadvantage is that I would give up the opportunity to make more money and leave this state. I'd also be giving up a month of paid time off/vacation benefits. By starting over at another company, who knows what opportunities will be presented and in what time frame. If flying doesn't go through, I gave up an opportunity to leave the state for a better area.
B.) Take the job in Kansas City. I'd be managing three facilities in three different states. Cost of living is a lot cheaper, area is nicer and overall family wellness and financial prosperity improves. Try and find a flight school to get my CFI and hopefully they'll bring me on board. Teach weekends and nights when I'm not traveling for work.
The disadvantages might be that I'm leaving an area with several flight schools that are probably pretty busy than my current one while also giving up my super cheap (for California) living situation. No clue yet as to what my workload would be like or the frequency that I'd be traveling between Colorado and Kentucky.
Not to mention moving half way across the country with a new born and German Shepherd.
C.) Similar to option A except soon as I have my CFI, I go to a 141 school and teach full time, and I'm done in a year to a year and a half.
The disadvantage would be the decrease in pay, health insurance coverage and that I'd probably have to rely on my cash savings which are finite.
I'm torn because the opportunity presented by corporate sounds like a no-brainer move for my management career and overall family wellness but I'm 900 hours away from making good money in the right seat of a ERJ, achieving the goal I set when I was 7 years old.
Wow, this post was super long and I'm sure my writing doesn't reflect my college degree but time is of the essence.
I really appreciate those of you who took an interest and then the time to read this and provide insight.
Thank you kindly.
I'm 30 years old, married, and expecting my first child any day now. In the last 10 years I've cash flowed a four year college degree and my PPL through CFII, completing my CFII last October. I'm only an instrument instructor due to the fact that someone totaled the complex right before I started the flying portion of my CFI. So I just went and did the CFII. I only have 600 hours total time.
I've been with my current day-time employer for the last six years in a non-aviation role. I teach at nights and on weekends at a super small 141 flight school five minutes from my house. My flying has slowed down considerably every since they brought a full time instructor on who gets most of the work now, including instrument students. Plus the school has some other issues...
During the day I am an Environmental Health and Safety Manager at an industrial facility for a global company. I am considerably underpaid for the position in comparison to the average salary for this job in my area. My boss says that there is no opportunity for me at my current facility to advance in pay.
So I'm racing two horses; The professional day job that pays the bills and supports a family and the pilot job that is an effort to try and realize a childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot.
The daytime horse in it's current state, is a dead-end, underpaid job at this employer. The flying job with my present employer is not advancing the goal fast enough.
I live in Northern California. I bought beautiful little home two years ago for 150,000 and it's now worth 200,000. Only problem is is that it is in the complete hood. But in our price range that's what we get. I hear gun shots three times a week minimum, have people having sex in cars next to my house and have had my windows shot out with a BB gun on several occasions. Not to mention the drugs, and homeless issues the city and state struggle with. It's cheaper than renting though and I can't afford to buy in a better neighborhood.
My wife and I wanted to use my flying career to ultimately move out of this messed up state anyway, should I hit 1,500 hours someday.
Now this is where it gets interesting...
Sitting at my desk and the global safety director of the entire company calls me up and says "you've been doing great work and I might have some new opportunities for you; Kansas City, Nebraska, Alabama, or Las Vegas. Take your pick if you'd like." Some preliminary research on Kansas City and the house prices are stupid cheap. I could trade my equity in on a decent home there in a good neighborhood and the family would be in a better position I think. He said let him know if I'm interested soon.
So here are my options as I see them.
A.) Try and get the same position with a different company for fair compensation in my current area. Use the added income to hit the books again and get the CFI. Then go to a busier flight school and continue to teach at night and on the weekends. This still puts me at a minimum of two years until 1500 hours in my estimation; probably more.
The disadvantage is that I would give up the opportunity to make more money and leave this state. I'd also be giving up a month of paid time off/vacation benefits. By starting over at another company, who knows what opportunities will be presented and in what time frame. If flying doesn't go through, I gave up an opportunity to leave the state for a better area.
B.) Take the job in Kansas City. I'd be managing three facilities in three different states. Cost of living is a lot cheaper, area is nicer and overall family wellness and financial prosperity improves. Try and find a flight school to get my CFI and hopefully they'll bring me on board. Teach weekends and nights when I'm not traveling for work.
The disadvantages might be that I'm leaving an area with several flight schools that are probably pretty busy than my current one while also giving up my super cheap (for California) living situation. No clue yet as to what my workload would be like or the frequency that I'd be traveling between Colorado and Kentucky.
Not to mention moving half way across the country with a new born and German Shepherd.
C.) Similar to option A except soon as I have my CFI, I go to a 141 school and teach full time, and I'm done in a year to a year and a half.
The disadvantage would be the decrease in pay, health insurance coverage and that I'd probably have to rely on my cash savings which are finite.
I'm torn because the opportunity presented by corporate sounds like a no-brainer move for my management career and overall family wellness but I'm 900 hours away from making good money in the right seat of a ERJ, achieving the goal I set when I was 7 years old.
Wow, this post was super long and I'm sure my writing doesn't reflect my college degree but time is of the essence.
I really appreciate those of you who took an interest and then the time to read this and provide insight.
Thank you kindly.
10-09-2017, 03:49 AM
#2
On Reserve
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Posts: 20
Your goal is to change career and move out of California.
As I understand it your boss is vaguely offering you a promotion but no specifics (pay, workload, benefits). Your current benefits should remain the same since you are not changing company, just location. Your goal is to work as an airline pilot not climb the corporate ladder at your company. So i would stay put, get your cfi and continue building hours. Your life is about to change for ever (for the better) with your first child and your wife will appreciate all the help she can get from you. This new job will not help with your goal. Give it a couple of years , apply at the regional of your choice, move out and don't look back
As I understand it your boss is vaguely offering you a promotion but no specifics (pay, workload, benefits). Your current benefits should remain the same since you are not changing company, just location. Your goal is to work as an airline pilot not climb the corporate ladder at your company. So i would stay put, get your cfi and continue building hours. Your life is about to change for ever (for the better) with your first child and your wife will appreciate all the help she can get from you. This new job will not help with your goal. Give it a couple of years , apply at the regional of your choice, move out and don't look back
10-09-2017, 05:59 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2015
Posts: 196
My two cents:
-CFI is in big demand right now in most places I looked.
-900 hours can be built in less than 12 months in busy flight school.
-California Sucks! I too am moving out this month.
oh and with three kids and no German Shepard.
-CFI is in big demand right now in most places I looked.
-900 hours can be built in less than 12 months in busy flight school.
-California Sucks! I too am moving out this month.
oh and with three kids and no German Shepard.
10-10-2017, 08:17 AM
#5
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2017
Posts: 53
Make the move so B.
You can always resort to plan C if end up traveling too much with plan B. Plus, at least with the pay decrease you'd have the cheaper col.
Kc weather is gonna be way way different but if you can get use to the ridiculous highest system it's a nice enough place
You can always resort to plan C if end up traveling too much with plan B. Plus, at least with the pay decrease you'd have the cheaper col.
Kc weather is gonna be way way different but if you can get use to the ridiculous highest system it's a nice enough place
10-10-2017, 11:28 AM
#6
CFIing
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 167
Hi, I'm familiar with the KC region.
With regards to flight schools, there are several all within a 30 min drive of each other. All have plenty of work, and 3 I can name you, that can do your CFI and MEI. All schools are very good, and would be great to work at, with advancement opportunities. I have had friends work at 2 of the schools, and gave good reviews for both.
PM me if you want more details.
With regards to flight schools, there are several all within a 30 min drive of each other. All have plenty of work, and 3 I can name you, that can do your CFI and MEI. All schools are very good, and would be great to work at, with advancement opportunities. I have had friends work at 2 of the schools, and gave good reviews for both.
PM me if you want more details.
10-11-2017, 07:50 AM
#7
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 24
Your goal is to change career and move out of California.
As I understand it your boss is vaguely offering you a promotion but no specifics (pay, workload, benefits). Your current benefits should remain the same since you are not changing company, just location. Your goal is to work as an airline pilot not climb the corporate ladder at your company. So i would stay put, get your cfi and continue building hours. Your life is about to change for ever (for the better) with your first child and your wife will appreciate all the help she can get from you. This new job will not help with your goal. Give it a couple of years , apply at the regional of your choice, move out and don't look back
As I understand it your boss is vaguely offering you a promotion but no specifics (pay, workload, benefits). Your current benefits should remain the same since you are not changing company, just location. Your goal is to work as an airline pilot not climb the corporate ladder at your company. So i would stay put, get your cfi and continue building hours. Your life is about to change for ever (for the better) with your first child and your wife will appreciate all the help she can get from you. This new job will not help with your goal. Give it a couple of years , apply at the regional of your choice, move out and don't look back
10-11-2017, 07:51 AM
#8
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 24
Nice! Run and don't look back!
10-11-2017, 07:52 AM
#9
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 24
10-11-2017, 07:52 AM
#10
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 24
Make the move so B.
You can always resort to plan C if end up traveling too much with plan B. Plus, at least with the pay decrease you'd have the cheaper col.
Kc weather is gonna be way way different but if you can get use to the ridiculous highest system it's a nice enough place
You can always resort to plan C if end up traveling too much with plan B. Plus, at least with the pay decrease you'd have the cheaper col.
Kc weather is gonna be way way different but if you can get use to the ridiculous highest system it's a nice enough place
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