theycallmered

^This. Every job has it's ups and downs. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. I'm a firm believer in, you get out of it what you put into it. If you want to enjoy it, you can. If you want to hate your job, knock yourself out.

bedrock

I have to leave aviation due to health problems. I was previously in (16 yrs ago, in IT doing DB mgmt. and network admin. I would like to to learn what is necessary to work in cyber security. Any advice?

ClickClickBoom

There is a reason for all the negativity here. 25 years ago I chased the dream, actually caught it. I used to get butterflies in my stomach the night before flying, that lasted through flying freight in a BE99. Got hired at an airline, year later they closed my domicile, hello transcon commute. Got hired at another airline, that company spent the better part of a decade slowly strangling my puppie(passion) right in front of my face. Friends/coworkers fired, furloughed, told to "fly it, grieve it", if you want to work at a place where your best effort is expected, and when the company needs to make a point, they furlough, come on down. I wish I had never went down the airline path. Every other job I have had was either tough, poor pay, or frustrating, this one has all that in spades. The few minutes of actual hand flying isn't worth the BS that the rest of the time. But come on down, misery loves company. I have seen legions of guys like you, come in, thinking "I'm different". Your not.

Vital Signs

+1
Had lots of jobs for reasons beyond my control.

1800RVR

True, you can get your ratings at any school you want and get a job just about anywhere instructing right now. I've just seen too many students get strung along at mom and pop flight schools for way too long (including when I was the one instructing). ATP is definitely a big chunk of change, but it's a good efficient way to get on with your career as soon as possible. Definitely requires you to be self sufficient though, they won't hold your hand along the way

Stratapilot

I've had the bug for as long as I can remember as well. I worked in Aviation Insurance until the drudgery became unbearable. I suggest the following.

0. If you have a family get the approval from them first. They are going to be with you in your career, and in many ways victims of it as well. Do not embellish the benefits, do not regale them with tales of flying anywhere in the world for free, do not tell them that you'll make a lot of money after x years because aviation is like a radio contest: Many will enter, few will win.

1. Buy something simple and cheap like a Cessna 172, or a Cherokee. Find an EXPERIENCED independent instructor to take you through your Private, and Instrument Rating. Keep your day job.

2. DO A GUT CHECK AT THIS POINT. Worst case scenario you'll have your own plane and can fly for your own personal satisfaction. You won't feel the same way about flying once it becomes your job, so seriously, do a gut check at this point. Flying when you WANT, as opposed to flying because you HAVE TO feels entirely different. Keep your day job.

3. Find some cheap retractable gear airplane someplace and get your commercial out of the way. Keep your day job

4. Get your flight instructor certificates. This will make you a better "Crewmember" down the road. Keep your day job.

5. STOP. Do another gut check. Some of the most fulfilling work I ever did was as an independent flight instructor. I took on my own clients, made my own hours, and if I didn't want to fly, I didn't fly. Meanwhile I was making 70 bucks an hour, clearing 10K a month. If you can get in to Cirrus, Cessna 400, or TBM training you can charge $200 per hour. It's a viable career option. Keep your day job.

6. Get the hours you need, and find a regional that offers the BEST QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. If you find one where you can live in base, pick that one. Period. I chose Mesa, not for the money (haha), but because it offered the best quality of life for me. I live 20 minutes from, not just the airport, but the gate itself. Not everybody would agree with my decision, but screw em'. This is my second airline, and I'm much happier here than at the other place. Trust me. QOL trumps all. Even making 200,000 a year with Delta isn't worth it if you have to commute to reserve from Anchorage to JFK every week. Keep your day job.

7. Find a way to do cyber security on the side from the hotel room, or from home when your on reserve. This whole process is going to take a a few years, so you'll have plenty of time to transition from a full time cyber security role, to a freelance or contract professional.

8. Periodically, do gut checks within yourself, and with your family. Make sure that they're a still ok with all this. If things are getting shaky, try to resolve them, but you may just have to find a compromise which could involve leaving the airlines. That doesn't necessarily mean leaving flying, you could find a corporate job close to home that results you being home a lot more.

Understand that you're looking at this career as it stands in the present. During your journey you may find that the airlines aren't for you, or that the industry climate has changed so much that it isn't worth it. Thats OK. You are not the job, you're you first, and a pilot second. It took me a long time to realize that, primarily because i've been flying since I was 15 and it essentially made up a significant portion of my identity.

Finally, DO NOT sacrifice anything for this career. Keep your family, keep your home, keep your cars. If you find that you're having to give up the things and people you love to do this career, then it's time to bow out.

Is offline

Best advice ever..."Do NOT become a career pilot". Too bad I didn't listen. He was a 5 time legacy furlough that retired as an FO at 65. If you do this job don't expect to get Christmas, birthdays, or anniversaries off. Some people are lucky enough to get it but don't plan on it and as yourself if it's worth it.

JetEagle

I thought this was a thread about a career change out of the airline industry! If you are single, don't ever plan on having a family, have 100k saved up, don't care about job security or compensation and don't ever want to be home, then this career is for you! Otherwise, maybe just keep it as a hobby. You get more freedom from flying a C172 than any airliner.

contrail44

dont do it

FirstClass

That's not horrible advice.

I would take things in steps- ie get your private pilot then re-evaluate how you feel about it.

Also, do not go into any debt to do this.

If you are married, you need to get buy-in from your sig other. You weren't flying when you met him/her so this will likely be a huge change for the family.