considering career change
10-21-2015, 08:39 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
considering career change
Hello,
Long time lurker, first time poster. I apologize in advance for the long post.
So I am 29 years old, married with 2 kids. I currently and have worked as a career firefighter / paramedic for the past 11 years.
I previously worked for large city and was assigned to a very fast paced and action packed station. After losing my retirement and having my pay cut drastically I relocated back home and now work in a nice suburb. Great pay (high 50's now, 77k in 5 years) with a good retirement and a solid benefits package. While the new job is good, I am painfully bored. Frankly I can't imagine doing this for another 25 years.
I have always been fascinated by aviation and am a lifelong airplane geek. I have always been intrigued by a career as an airline pilot but it never seemed to be in the cards. I am not to the point of frustration in my career and am contemplating trying to make a career change. With all of that being said I have several questions I was hoping to get some feedback on.
1. While the industry seems cyclical historically It now seems to be on the upswing. Do you feel that starting from zero ratings and flight time I could still "get in" while the getting is good so to speak?
2. I currently have an associates degree in fire science. Is it possible to get hired at a major without a bachelors degree? Does a degree in non aviation field hurt me?
3. Because my current job only has me schedule 8-9 days per month I have been looking at getting my ratings at a part 61 school part time. While I would be a part time student, my schedule would allow me to still be fairly aggressive in working towards my ratings. Would this hurt me at all?
4. With 1500 hours now be required to work for a 121 airline, are their part time instructor jobs available to build time? Any other part time time building opportunities out there? Again, my schedule would still allow me considerable time to fly.
5. Realistically what kind of timeline could I expect to be competitive for a regional carrier? A major?
6. Based upon my time estimates I would be making low 70s a year by the time I would have the hours to get hired at a regional carrier. How long could I feasibly expect to be back at that income level?
7. Do you think I am crazy for considering this career change?
I have an uncle who is an airline pilot who I plan on sitting down with very soon to get his input and feeling on all of this as well. I am hoping to cast a wider net and hear from you guys as well. I really appreciate any feedback you are willing to give.
Thank You,
Ben
Long time lurker, first time poster. I apologize in advance for the long post.
So I am 29 years old, married with 2 kids. I currently and have worked as a career firefighter / paramedic for the past 11 years.
I previously worked for large city and was assigned to a very fast paced and action packed station. After losing my retirement and having my pay cut drastically I relocated back home and now work in a nice suburb. Great pay (high 50's now, 77k in 5 years) with a good retirement and a solid benefits package. While the new job is good, I am painfully bored. Frankly I can't imagine doing this for another 25 years.
I have always been fascinated by aviation and am a lifelong airplane geek. I have always been intrigued by a career as an airline pilot but it never seemed to be in the cards. I am not to the point of frustration in my career and am contemplating trying to make a career change. With all of that being said I have several questions I was hoping to get some feedback on.
1. While the industry seems cyclical historically It now seems to be on the upswing. Do you feel that starting from zero ratings and flight time I could still "get in" while the getting is good so to speak?
2. I currently have an associates degree in fire science. Is it possible to get hired at a major without a bachelors degree? Does a degree in non aviation field hurt me?
3. Because my current job only has me schedule 8-9 days per month I have been looking at getting my ratings at a part 61 school part time. While I would be a part time student, my schedule would allow me to still be fairly aggressive in working towards my ratings. Would this hurt me at all?
4. With 1500 hours now be required to work for a 121 airline, are their part time instructor jobs available to build time? Any other part time time building opportunities out there? Again, my schedule would still allow me considerable time to fly.
5. Realistically what kind of timeline could I expect to be competitive for a regional carrier? A major?
6. Based upon my time estimates I would be making low 70s a year by the time I would have the hours to get hired at a regional carrier. How long could I feasibly expect to be back at that income level?
7. Do you think I am crazy for considering this career change?
I have an uncle who is an airline pilot who I plan on sitting down with very soon to get his input and feeling on all of this as well. I am hoping to cast a wider net and hear from you guys as well. I really appreciate any feedback you are willing to give.
Thank You,
Ben
10-22-2015, 06:21 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,666
Hi Ben,
1. It's entirely possible you could get in during the current upswing, but it depends on how long the current upswing lasts. That is anyone's best guess.
2. It's possible, but not probable. Plan on getting your Bachelors. Non-aviation field does not hurt at all.
3. The faster you can get your certificates and ratings the better so your plan sounds good.
4. Yes there are part time instructor opportunities available.
5. Timeline depends on how quickly you can get to 1500 hours and meet the other ATP minimum requirements. A lot of it will depend on how many hours a month you could get as a CFI. That is where the bulk of your hours will come from.
6. Very difficult to say since there's a lot for you to accomplish in the 2-3 years and a lot for the regional airline industry to go through in the next 2-3 years. If things are going well and you can upgrade at your regional reasonably quickly, 4-5 years maybe?
7. Not at all...I went from flying to law enforcement and back to flying again. I get it.
1. It's entirely possible you could get in during the current upswing, but it depends on how long the current upswing lasts. That is anyone's best guess.
2. It's possible, but not probable. Plan on getting your Bachelors. Non-aviation field does not hurt at all.
3. The faster you can get your certificates and ratings the better so your plan sounds good.
4. Yes there are part time instructor opportunities available.
5. Timeline depends on how quickly you can get to 1500 hours and meet the other ATP minimum requirements. A lot of it will depend on how many hours a month you could get as a CFI. That is where the bulk of your hours will come from.
6. Very difficult to say since there's a lot for you to accomplish in the 2-3 years and a lot for the regional airline industry to go through in the next 2-3 years. If things are going well and you can upgrade at your regional reasonably quickly, 4-5 years maybe?
7. Not at all...I went from flying to law enforcement and back to flying again. I get it.
10-24-2015, 03:32 PM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
What about keeping the firefighting career, with it's stability, good pay, and solid benefits and working towards a CFI rating? Do both. Fly for fun on your days off, and maybe a bit of extra pay either instructing or doing contract pilot work while keeping a solid living. Can you afford several years making 1/3 what you do now while maintaining a decent quality of life for your family?
10-24-2015, 07:11 PM
#4
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 3
What about keeping the firefighting career, with it's stability, good pay, and solid benefits and working towards a CFI rating? Do both. Fly for fun on your days off, and maybe a bit of extra pay either instructing or doing contract pilot work while keeping a solid living. Can you afford several years making 1/3 what you do now while maintaining a decent quality of life for your family?
I believe I could continue to work as a firefighter while working on my ratings and flight instructing / time building.
I could afford to take a hit for a bit as my wife has a decent job. I see how abysmal first year regional pay is but what could i realistically earn as a second and third year regional fo? What is a realistic time window to upgrade to a regional captain?
10-25-2015, 11:12 AM
#5
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Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,323
1. While the industry seems cyclical historically It now seems to be on the upswing. Do you feel that starting from zero ratings and flight time I could still "get in" while the getting is good so to speak?
Yes. There will be hiring for a while. That said, it's matter of how fast you get 1500 hours.
2. I currently have an associates degree in fire science. Is it possible to get hired at a major without a bachelors degree? Does a degree in non aviation field hurt me?
Get a bachelors degree. Any degree. Non-aviation is fine. Even an online degree (some are better than others of course).
3. Because my current job only has me schedule 8-9 days per month I have been looking at getting my ratings at a part 61 school part time. While I would be a part time student, my schedule would allow me to still be fairly aggressive in working towards my ratings. Would this hurt me at all?
No. Be as aggressive as possible. You will learn more and save money. A lot of money. You'll retain info and won't need as many repeat lessons.
4. With 1500 hours now be required to work for a 121 airline, are their part time instructor jobs available to build time? Any other part time time building opportunities out there? Again, my schedule would still allow me considerable time to fly.
Yes. CFI jobs are available. Other jobs are possible, but much harder to find with your schedule. Networking would be your best bet to find one. However, think banner towing in the summer.
5. Realistically what kind of timeline could I expect to be competitive for a regional carrier? A major?
Impossible to say. Total WAG... Two years for a regional. Five to ten for a major. Though it may just as easily never happen.
6. Based upon my time estimates I would be making low 70s a year by the time I would have the hours to get hired at a regional carrier. How long could I feasibly expect to be back at that income level?
Impossible to say. Best case scenario as of today's pay rates, about three years after being hired. But that's as of RIGHT now. When I was hired it took me seven years to see 70k. People hired six months before me saw it in three years. People hired six months after me were furloughed for a year.
7. Do you think I am crazy for considering this career change?
Nope. I almost left aviation twice. It's the worst career field I can imagine. It's a great job, it's an absolutely horrible career if you're unlucky.
Yes. There will be hiring for a while. That said, it's matter of how fast you get 1500 hours.
2. I currently have an associates degree in fire science. Is it possible to get hired at a major without a bachelors degree? Does a degree in non aviation field hurt me?
Get a bachelors degree. Any degree. Non-aviation is fine. Even an online degree (some are better than others of course).
3. Because my current job only has me schedule 8-9 days per month I have been looking at getting my ratings at a part 61 school part time. While I would be a part time student, my schedule would allow me to still be fairly aggressive in working towards my ratings. Would this hurt me at all?
No. Be as aggressive as possible. You will learn more and save money. A lot of money. You'll retain info and won't need as many repeat lessons.
4. With 1500 hours now be required to work for a 121 airline, are their part time instructor jobs available to build time? Any other part time time building opportunities out there? Again, my schedule would still allow me considerable time to fly.
Yes. CFI jobs are available. Other jobs are possible, but much harder to find with your schedule. Networking would be your best bet to find one. However, think banner towing in the summer.
5. Realistically what kind of timeline could I expect to be competitive for a regional carrier? A major?
Impossible to say. Total WAG... Two years for a regional. Five to ten for a major. Though it may just as easily never happen.
6. Based upon my time estimates I would be making low 70s a year by the time I would have the hours to get hired at a regional carrier. How long could I feasibly expect to be back at that income level?
Impossible to say. Best case scenario as of today's pay rates, about three years after being hired. But that's as of RIGHT now. When I was hired it took me seven years to see 70k. People hired six months before me saw it in three years. People hired six months after me were furloughed for a year.
7. Do you think I am crazy for considering this career change?
Nope. I almost left aviation twice. It's the worst career field I can imagine. It's a great job, it's an absolutely horrible career if you're unlucky.
10-27-2015, 11:57 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
Truthfully I have no desire to be a flight instructor for the long haul. Contract flying does have some appeal.
I believe I could continue to work as a firefighter while working on my ratings and flight instructing / time building.
I could afford to take a hit for a bit as my wife has a decent job. I see how abysmal first year regional pay is but what could i realistically earn as a second and third year regional fo? What is a realistic time window to upgrade to a regional captain?
I believe I could continue to work as a firefighter while working on my ratings and flight instructing / time building.
I could afford to take a hit for a bit as my wife has a decent job. I see how abysmal first year regional pay is but what could i realistically earn as a second and third year regional fo? What is a realistic time window to upgrade to a regional captain?
Upgrades at my previous airline went from 7 years to 3 years within a few months earlier this year. When I was hired in 2007, they were less than a year at many airlines. It's hard to say what will happen. They should return to 2-3 years industry wide, but all it will take is a spike in oil prices, recession, terrorist attack, or another hike in the retirement age and you'll see things stagnate again. Can you afford to be in the right seat for 8 years? Plan for worst case and be happy if it happens earlier.
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