Question from a career changer
09-22-2023, 07:07 AM
#11
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,258
You mention a desire to avoid drama in your working environment. While I’ve seen enough YouTube cop cam videos to have a sense of what a patrol officer comes across on a given shift, working for an airline, no matter how prestigious the name on the tail is, is far from a drama-free experience. I have the benefit of a very nice schedule and lots of days off, and there are still days with operational issues, passenger difficulties, weather diversions, maintenance delays, and all the other things that keep you on your toes.
Airline aviation is essentially zero drama compared to most other careers.
In the old days I did used to intervene in the cabin, usually with the intent of smoothing feathers, talking down down BOTH an FA and a pax, avoiding delays, and getting everybody where they needed to go.
Not anymore, after all the youtube and twitter shenanigans 99% of airline pilots just stay in the cockpit, lock the door if necessary and call for customer service and LE if needed. Goof off on your phone will other people deal with drama.
Drama with cabin crew? Don't date them, avoid most of them on layovers, and be nice to them. Even the ones with chips on their shoulders who are looking for drama. Nasty FA ignores your request for coffee, etc? Grin and bear it. The bad ones cannot pick fights with EVERY pilot they fly with or they won't have a job.
White collar office politics is toxic, and you usually have to play the game... if you get outmaneuvered it can sideline your career, or get you on the layoff list (there's ALWAYS a layoff list, and the economy will turn south eventually). It's simply unavoidable, and the sociopaths thrive in it.
LE is treading a very fine line between getting shot, getting jailed for murder, getting fired and losing their cert, and getting sued for everything they're worth. Go online and watch videos of all these entitled, outraged karens who try to turn every routine traffic stop into a kent state massacre and federal civil rights case.
My point is that while there are some opportunities today that may not have been available more than ten years ago, it’s still the same job it was back then. Jumping from cessnas to Spirit shouldn’t be the deciding factor in your decision. We could have blue airplanes by the time you are eligible to apply. Outside events have shifted the course of this industry multiple times throughout history, and they will again at some point. Make sure you consider all possible scenarios and your contentment with one’s that may not go the way you would prefer.
Also if you're going to do it, get on with it and hustle... the retirement wave is peaking, and the current unprecedented opportunities will not be available for too much longer (it probably won't stop suddenly, but rather taper off into the next decade).
Don't make the mistake of thinking it's safe to stay at a regional, despite the astronomical pay raises, that business model is in serious question. If you have 25 years are are 59 years old OK I get it. But under 40 (or 50) with no seniority skin in the game needs to focus on majors.
09-22-2023, 07:34 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 149
Spirit loves to hire pilots that don’t care about being the highest paid. You’re a shoe in. I know you’re just making a post on the internet but once you’re here don’t be that guy. Absolutely want to be the highest paid!
BTW if you live in south Florida at your age and experience I would strongly consider any pathway to American Airlines
BTW if you live in south Florida at your age and experience I would strongly consider any pathway to American Airlines
Yep, something else I'm looking at. None of these pathway things existed back then I don't think, so I'm trying to understand them. The way it worked at Delta Connection academy was you'd get your licenses, CFI-I, then comair would give you an opportunity for an interview. that's it. I don't even know if comair exists today. Working at a legacy was a dream for regional or even major guys I think.
I looked at envoy, but there were some pretty negative posts about that company and they say it's nearly impossible to get hired at AA if you're at envoy since they don't wanna take it from their regionals. I dunno. I'm overwhelmed with information.
This doesn't include me getting current and relearning many things that I've forgotten over the years. Hopefully I can still fly a plane LOL
09-22-2023, 07:47 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 149
I've worked in several other fields, mil and white collar, and have plenty of buds from the mil reserves who are cops... FBI, Deputies and everything in between.
Airline aviation is essentially zero drama compared to most other careers.
In the old days I did used to intervene in the cabin, usually with the intent of smoothing feathers, talking down down BOTH an FA and a pax, avoiding delays, and getting everybody where they needed to go.
Not anymore, after all the youtube and twitter shenanigans 99% of airline pilots just stay in the cockpit, lock the door if necessary and call for customer service and LE if needed. Goof off on your phone will other people deal with drama.
Drama with cabin crew? Don't date them, avoid most of them on layovers, and be nice to them. Even the ones with chips on their shoulders who are looking for drama. Nasty FA ignores your request for coffee, etc? Grin and bear it. The bad ones cannot pick fights with EVERY pilot they fly with or they won't have a job.
White collar office politics is toxic, and you usually have to play the game... if you get outmaneuvered it can sideline your career, or get you on the layoff list (there's ALWAYS a layoff list, and the economy will turn south eventually). It's simply unavoidable, and the sociopaths thrive in it.
LE is treading a very fine line between getting shot, getting jailed for murder, getting fired and losing their cert, and getting sued for everything they're worth. Go online and watch videos of all these entitled, outraged karens who try to turn every routine traffic stop into a kent state massacre and federal civil rights case.
Yes, make sure you have more than one path to success.
Also if you're going to do it, get on with it and hustle... the retirement wave is peaking, and the current unprecedented opportunities will not be available for too much longer (it probably won't stop suddenly, but rather taper off into the next decade).
Don't make the mistake of thinking it's safe to stay at a regional, despite the astronomical pay raises, that business model is in serious question. If you have 25 years are are 59 years old OK I get it. But under 40 (or 50) with no seniority skin in the game needs to focus on majors.
Airline aviation is essentially zero drama compared to most other careers.
In the old days I did used to intervene in the cabin, usually with the intent of smoothing feathers, talking down down BOTH an FA and a pax, avoiding delays, and getting everybody where they needed to go.
Not anymore, after all the youtube and twitter shenanigans 99% of airline pilots just stay in the cockpit, lock the door if necessary and call for customer service and LE if needed. Goof off on your phone will other people deal with drama.
Drama with cabin crew? Don't date them, avoid most of them on layovers, and be nice to them. Even the ones with chips on their shoulders who are looking for drama. Nasty FA ignores your request for coffee, etc? Grin and bear it. The bad ones cannot pick fights with EVERY pilot they fly with or they won't have a job.
White collar office politics is toxic, and you usually have to play the game... if you get outmaneuvered it can sideline your career, or get you on the layoff list (there's ALWAYS a layoff list, and the economy will turn south eventually). It's simply unavoidable, and the sociopaths thrive in it.
LE is treading a very fine line between getting shot, getting jailed for murder, getting fired and losing their cert, and getting sued for everything they're worth. Go online and watch videos of all these entitled, outraged karens who try to turn every routine traffic stop into a kent state massacre and federal civil rights case.
Yes, make sure you have more than one path to success.
Also if you're going to do it, get on with it and hustle... the retirement wave is peaking, and the current unprecedented opportunities will not be available for too much longer (it probably won't stop suddenly, but rather taper off into the next decade).
Don't make the mistake of thinking it's safe to stay at a regional, despite the astronomical pay raises, that business model is in serious question. If you have 25 years are are 59 years old OK I get it. But under 40 (or 50) with no seniority skin in the game needs to focus on majors.
Aviation isn't without risk. You are responsible for many passengers and it's go go go. one wrong thing you do, and that line between life and death can apporach fast. there are no rooms for any errors. I would assume if you put the flaps up or gear up too late, it's documented and you'll have some explaining to do.
But there is so much drama here. other people critique your work whether you did good or bad. you do 100 things that are good and get very little appreciation, but one little mistake, your career is on the line. you have other officers/supervisors fighting you for that next rank up. Don't even get me started with the weird things between female/male cops. It's stressful. a friend of mine who used to be cop like me but got back into aviation and now going to delta from frontier is the one who has been telling me flying is so much better and there is no better time. he said the worst drama he had on his flight yesterday was he had to call an FA to block the door with the galley thing so he can use the bathroom. He loves his job, shows me his schedule. shows me his salary and I'm jealous. Very jealous.
my only hurdle is I need to finish up CMEL/CSEL, get the almost 1000 hours somehow and get this dang ATP-CTP done. I am going to sell my beloved corvette and that should be enough to get me to finish my commercial, and allow me to buy about 1000 hours on a plane share time building thing. I believe I might be able to reach this goal in about 12 months.
I looked at MESA and that program they have where you payback your hours you build up, but I can't leave me job and dedicate 7 months to flying 144 hours a week and move away 3.5 hours leaving family behind lol. I don't even know if they're accepting applications.
I will just need to rough it out and get as much flight time as I can get and either try planesese at 750 and take a paycut for a year or two, or build upto 1500 on my own and get to a bigger airline, regional or major.
it's alot of thinking and a career change to better provide for my family at 38 is scary.
09-22-2023, 08:12 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 770
I've worked in several other fields, mil and white collar, and have plenty of buds from the mil reserves who are cops... FBI, Deputies and everything in between.
Airline aviation is essentially zero drama compared to most other careers.
In the old days I did used to intervene in the cabin, usually with the intent of smoothing feathers, talking down down BOTH an FA and a pax, avoiding delays, and getting everybody where they needed to go.
Not anymore, after all the youtube and twitter shenanigans 99% of airline pilots just stay in the cockpit, lock the door if necessary and call for customer service and LE if needed. Goof off on your phone will other people deal with drama.
Drama with cabin crew? Don't date them, avoid most of them on layovers, and be nice to them. Even the ones with chips on their shoulders who are looking for drama. Nasty FA ignores your request for coffee, etc? Grin and bear it. The bad ones cannot pick fights with EVERY pilot they fly with or they won't have a job.
White collar office politics is toxic, and you usually have to play the game... if you get outmaneuvered it can sideline your career, or get you on the layoff list (there's ALWAYS a layoff list, and the economy will turn south eventually). It's simply unavoidable, and the sociopaths thrive in it.
LE is treading a very fine line between getting shot, getting jailed for murder, getting fired and losing their cert, and getting sued for everything they're worth. Go online and watch videos of all these entitled, outraged karens who try to turn every routine traffic stop into a kent state massacre and federal civil rights case.
Airline aviation is essentially zero drama compared to most other careers.
In the old days I did used to intervene in the cabin, usually with the intent of smoothing feathers, talking down down BOTH an FA and a pax, avoiding delays, and getting everybody where they needed to go.
Not anymore, after all the youtube and twitter shenanigans 99% of airline pilots just stay in the cockpit, lock the door if necessary and call for customer service and LE if needed. Goof off on your phone will other people deal with drama.
Drama with cabin crew? Don't date them, avoid most of them on layovers, and be nice to them. Even the ones with chips on their shoulders who are looking for drama. Nasty FA ignores your request for coffee, etc? Grin and bear it. The bad ones cannot pick fights with EVERY pilot they fly with or they won't have a job.
White collar office politics is toxic, and you usually have to play the game... if you get outmaneuvered it can sideline your career, or get you on the layoff list (there's ALWAYS a layoff list, and the economy will turn south eventually). It's simply unavoidable, and the sociopaths thrive in it.
LE is treading a very fine line between getting shot, getting jailed for murder, getting fired and losing their cert, and getting sued for everything they're worth. Go online and watch videos of all these entitled, outraged karens who try to turn every routine traffic stop into a kent state massacre and federal civil rights case.
And while you’re right that the days of the captain dusting off their cap and striding back into the cabin to deliver a final word of public authority in the day of viral cell phone videos have given way to calling ops for a customer service person have alleviated some of that. Still, it is replaced by other things like time away from home and family, juniority not allowing the holidays and birthdays and being on the sidelines at sports games, sitting in a crash pad across the country on reserve, etc.
Again, I’m not telling him not to go for it, or that his goal is unattainable. I’m just making sure he sees at least a few of the reasons he decided to forego this career path years ago like a prolonged stint in the regionals or maybe not getting the major of his choice and looking at years of commuting to another are still a real possibility.
09-22-2023, 08:19 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2022
Posts: 891
as far as pay.. I will start 1st/2nd year making more than what I make at a veteran sgt. so no complaints, but I won't mention that lol
Yep, something else I'm looking at. None of these pathway things existed back then I don't think, so I'm trying to understand them. The way it worked at Delta Connection academy was you'd get your licenses, CFI-I, then comair would give you an opportunity for an interview. that's it. I don't even know if comair exists today. Working at a legacy was a dream for regional or even major guys I think.
I looked at envoy, but there were some pretty negative posts about that company and they say it's nearly impossible to get hired at AA if you're at envoy since they don't wanna take it from their regionals. I dunno. I'm overwhelmed with information.
This doesn't include me getting current and relearning many things that I've forgotten over the years. Hopefully I can still fly a plane LOL
Yep, something else I'm looking at. None of these pathway things existed back then I don't think, so I'm trying to understand them. The way it worked at Delta Connection academy was you'd get your licenses, CFI-I, then comair would give you an opportunity for an interview. that's it. I don't even know if comair exists today. Working at a legacy was a dream for regional or even major guys I think.
I looked at envoy, but there were some pretty negative posts about that company and they say it's nearly impossible to get hired at AA if you're at envoy since they don't wanna take it from their regionals. I dunno. I'm overwhelmed with information.
This doesn't include me getting current and relearning many things that I've forgotten over the years. Hopefully I can still fly a plane LOL
I don’t want to come across as disrespectful bc LE is so very underpaid for the risks. My best friend is a deputy. I try to get him to become a pilot all the time. The risks will be much less and the pay much much higher.
That said you cannot compare wages at spirit to your wages at your LE job. We need to compare our wages to other major airline pilots I.e. Delta.
While the change in career will probably make real quantifiable changes to your life, it doesn’t change that we are still under compensated. Not caring about being the highest paid is what Spirit loves in pilots and it kills us in ever contract. Caring about it matters. I’m not happy just making more than LEOs. It’s a completely different career.
09-22-2023, 08:27 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 149
When I used the term pathway I didn’t necessarily mean structured program. Coming to spirit and then going to AA is a very viable pathway that hundreds have done the last couple years. If you’re approaching 40 with no seniority on the line yet I would be thinking legacy only as my end goal. Your overall progression will be faster and better as long as living in base is a constant.
I don’t want to come across as disrespectful bc LE is so very underpaid for the risks. My best friend is a deputy. I try to get him to become a pilot all the time. The risks will be much less and the pay much much higher.
That said you cannot compare wages at spirit to your wages at your LE job. We need to compare our wages to other major airline pilots I.e. Delta.
While the change in career will probably make real quantifiable changes to your life, it doesn’t change that we are still under compensated. Not caring about being the highest paid is what Spirit loves in pilots and it kills us in ever contract. Caring about it matters. I’m not happy just making more than LEOs. It’s a completely different career.
I don’t want to come across as disrespectful bc LE is so very underpaid for the risks. My best friend is a deputy. I try to get him to become a pilot all the time. The risks will be much less and the pay much much higher.
That said you cannot compare wages at spirit to your wages at your LE job. We need to compare our wages to other major airline pilots I.e. Delta.
While the change in career will probably make real quantifiable changes to your life, it doesn’t change that we are still under compensated. Not caring about being the highest paid is what Spirit loves in pilots and it kills us in ever contract. Caring about it matters. I’m not happy just making more than LEOs. It’s a completely different career.
the pay-scale and dynamic, I will have to understand for myself when I get to the airlines I suppose. I can complain about my wages and how I make less than some other departments here, but only us in the field will understand. Not sure where spirit is in the pay-scale. Friend from frontier said they are the lowest paid and he's going delta after 1.5 yeras with them.
I would love to work for AA and fly to my home country in europe one day, but It's so hard to predict the future.
say I go to spirit, and 3-4 yers later I get on with AA. will they put me in an airbus, or they don't care i'm type rated and they'll put me in whatever they need? not sure how all that works.
I def don't like changing companies/depts. I stuck with mine for a while because I didn't want to start from another, go through field training again on nights and have to prove my worth to others.
09-22-2023, 08:30 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 500
Yes, exactly. I don't know if I'm gonna get shot right now, end up in a civil lawsuit, do the wrong thing as a supervisor, I do my best to stay out of it and do the right thing. It has worked out very well for me in the last 12 years or so.
Aviation isn't without risk. You are responsible for many passengers and it's go go go. one wrong thing you do, and that line between life and death can apporach fast. there are no rooms for any errors. I would assume if you put the flaps up or gear up too late, it's documented and you'll have some explaining to do.
But there is so much drama here. other people critique your work whether you did good or bad. you do 100 things that are good and get very little appreciation, but one little mistake, your career is on the line. you have other officers/supervisors fighting you for that next rank up. Don't even get me started with the weird things between female/male cops. It's stressful. a friend of mine who used to be cop like me but got back into aviation and now going to delta from frontier is the one who has been telling me flying is so much better and there is no better time. he said the worst drama he had on his flight yesterday was he had to call an FA to block the door with the galley thing so he can use the bathroom. He loves his job, shows me his schedule. shows me his salary and I'm jealous. Very jealous.
my only hurdle is I need to finish up CMEL/CSEL, get the almost 1000 hours somehow and get this dang ATP-CTP done. I am going to sell my beloved corvette and that should be enough to get me to finish my commercial, and allow me to buy about 1000 hours on a plane share time building thing. I believe I might be able to reach this goal in about 12 months.
I looked at MESA and that program they have where you payback your hours you build up, but I can't leave me job and dedicate 7 months to flying 144 hours a week and move away 3.5 hours leaving family behind lol. I don't even know if they're accepting applications.
I will just need to rough it out and get as much flight time as I can get and either try planesese at 750 and take a paycut for a year or two, or build upto 1500 on my own and get to a bigger airline, regional or major.
it's alot of thinking and a career change to better provide for my family at 38 is scary.
Aviation isn't without risk. You are responsible for many passengers and it's go go go. one wrong thing you do, and that line between life and death can apporach fast. there are no rooms for any errors. I would assume if you put the flaps up or gear up too late, it's documented and you'll have some explaining to do.
But there is so much drama here. other people critique your work whether you did good or bad. you do 100 things that are good and get very little appreciation, but one little mistake, your career is on the line. you have other officers/supervisors fighting you for that next rank up. Don't even get me started with the weird things between female/male cops. It's stressful. a friend of mine who used to be cop like me but got back into aviation and now going to delta from frontier is the one who has been telling me flying is so much better and there is no better time. he said the worst drama he had on his flight yesterday was he had to call an FA to block the door with the galley thing so he can use the bathroom. He loves his job, shows me his schedule. shows me his salary and I'm jealous. Very jealous.
my only hurdle is I need to finish up CMEL/CSEL, get the almost 1000 hours somehow and get this dang ATP-CTP done. I am going to sell my beloved corvette and that should be enough to get me to finish my commercial, and allow me to buy about 1000 hours on a plane share time building thing. I believe I might be able to reach this goal in about 12 months.
I looked at MESA and that program they have where you payback your hours you build up, but I can't leave me job and dedicate 7 months to flying 144 hours a week and move away 3.5 hours leaving family behind lol. I don't even know if they're accepting applications.
I will just need to rough it out and get as much flight time as I can get and either try planesese at 750 and take a paycut for a year or two, or build upto 1500 on my own and get to a bigger airline, regional or major.
it's alot of thinking and a career change to better provide for my family at 38 is scary.
It is a lot of information. Programs, incentives, offers are changing so fast a lot of it could very well no longer be in place or accurate by the time you're ready (for better or for worse). Set short term goals or else it can all become overwhelming.
Set your mind to focus on the next rating and work on that for now, when that is done work on the next rating, next 100 hours etc. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you can, keep working your job to provide for your family and fly on the side. It may take a little longer but you have a family that is your #1 priority and needs to be provided for.
Sometimes you have set backs or feel like it's too much, just keep plugging away and remember to take breaks so you don't end up hating flying by trying to condense everything into a short period of time. Good luck and have fun. Feel free to PM me as I was a career changer with a young family and worked evening shifts and flew/took online classes in the mornings.
09-22-2023, 08:44 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2022
Posts: 891
It is a lot of information. Programs, incentives, offers are changing so fast a lot of it could very well no longer be in place or accurate by the time you're ready (for better or for worse). Set short term goals or else it can all become overwhelming.
Set your mind to focus on the next rating and work on that for now, when that is done work on the next rating, next 100 hours etc. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you can, keep working your job to provide for your family and fly on the side. It may take a little longer but you have a family that is your #1 priority and needs to be provided for.
Sometimes you have set backs or feel like it's too much, just keep plugging away and remember to take breaks so you don't end up hating flying by trying to condense everything into a short period of time. Good luck and have fun. Feel free to PM me as I was a career changer with a young family and worked evening shifts and flew/took online classes in the mornings.
Set your mind to focus on the next rating and work on that for now, when that is done work on the next rating, next 100 hours etc. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you can, keep working your job to provide for your family and fly on the side. It may take a little longer but you have a family that is your #1 priority and needs to be provided for.
Sometimes you have set backs or feel like it's too much, just keep plugging away and remember to take breaks so you don't end up hating flying by trying to condense everything into a short period of time. Good luck and have fun. Feel free to PM me as I was a career changer with a young family and worked evening shifts and flew/took online classes in the mornings.
Taking the leisurely route could have major seniority QOL/money consequences down line when things ultimately slow down perhaps when he’s in his 50s barring other black swan events.
Sell the vette yesterday and start flying now! Get the commercial ASAP and then start time building every single off day. You may be able to find a kid to split time with you. One of you acting as safety pilot and one on instruments so you both log it at half price. Normally I’d say become a CFI and build time by getting paid but since you have a career and trying to fill your off days with students could be incredibly fatiguing as well as inconsistent, I say put up the money with the vette and just fly as much as possible.
As soon as you are close in time where options like regionals or 135 flying are available start doing research on what is possible and what works for you to get you to a legacy carrier as fast as possible. Right now it should be commercial and build time as quickly as you can. Start now!
09-22-2023, 08:50 AM
#19
All is fine at .79
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: Paahlot
Posts: 4,221
Its completely insane to try and timebuild 1000 additional hours.
Start thinking banner towing and who does what and where.
Florida season coming up so hurry with your commercial.
When you get to 600-700 hrs start looking at PlaneSense or similar.
Start thinking banner towing and who does what and where.
Florida season coming up so hurry with your commercial.
When you get to 600-700 hrs start looking at PlaneSense or similar.
09-22-2023, 09:10 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 149
It is a lot of information. Programs, incentives, offers are changing so fast a lot of it could very well no longer be in place or accurate by the time you're ready (for better or for worse). Set short term goals or else it can all become overwhelming.
Set your mind to focus on the next rating and work on that for now, when that is done work on the next rating, next 100 hours etc. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you can, keep working your job to provide for your family and fly on the side. It may take a little longer but you have a family that is your #1 priority and needs to be provided for.
Sometimes you have set backs or feel like it's too much, just keep plugging away and remember to take breaks so you don't end up hating flying by trying to condense everything into a short period of time. Good luck and have fun. Feel free to PM me as I was a career changer with a young family and worked evening shifts and flew/took online classes in the mornings.
Set your mind to focus on the next rating and work on that for now, when that is done work on the next rating, next 100 hours etc. Stay out of debt as much as possible. If you can, keep working your job to provide for your family and fly on the side. It may take a little longer but you have a family that is your #1 priority and needs to be provided for.
Sometimes you have set backs or feel like it's too much, just keep plugging away and remember to take breaks so you don't end up hating flying by trying to condense everything into a short period of time. Good luck and have fun. Feel free to PM me as I was a career changer with a young family and worked evening shifts and flew/took online classes in the mornings.
I don’t disagree but unfortunately bc hiring is so fast and furious right now time is not on his side. Ideally he could quit his job and fly full time. The only good hedge would be continue to work as a LEO and if he’s on a 4on 4off schedule he needs to literally fly 10hrs a day on all his days off.
Taking the leisurely route could have major seniority QOL/money consequences down line when things ultimately slow down perhaps when he’s in his 50s barring other black swan events.
Sell the vette yesterday and start flying now! Get the commercial ASAP and then start time building every single off day. You may be able to find a kid to split time with you. One of you acting as safety pilot and one on instruments so you both log it at half price. Normally I’d say become a CFI and build time by getting paid but since you have a career and trying to fill your off days with students could be incredibly fatiguing as well as inconsistent, I say put up the money with the vette and just fly as much as possible.
As soon as you are close in time where options like regionals or 135 flying are available start doing research on what is possible and what works for you to get you to a legacy carrier as fast as possible. Right now it should be commercial and build time as quickly as you can. Start now!
Taking the leisurely route could have major seniority QOL/money consequences down line when things ultimately slow down perhaps when he’s in his 50s barring other black swan events.
Sell the vette yesterday and start flying now! Get the commercial ASAP and then start time building every single off day. You may be able to find a kid to split time with you. One of you acting as safety pilot and one on instruments so you both log it at half price. Normally I’d say become a CFI and build time by getting paid but since you have a career and trying to fill your off days with students could be incredibly fatiguing as well as inconsistent, I say put up the money with the vette and just fly as much as possible.
As soon as you are close in time where options like regionals or 135 flying are available start doing research on what is possible and what works for you to get you to a legacy carrier as fast as possible. Right now it should be commercial and build time as quickly as you can. Start now!
We work a 2-3-2 schedule, so I pretty much work 14 days out of the year. week one I work Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat Sun. Week two I work Wedn Thu. that's plenty of flying time I think. I will def need a day off here and there.
I found a company in miami area that offers 152 time building. about 50 dollars an hour and you share with someone. I will sell my corvette, which will net me about 45K to finish CSEL/CMEL and log as many hours as I can. During this time, I will continue to work. I am meeting up with an instructor Tuesday to start working on getting back up in the air and start working on commercial. This is also the day I will try to sell the love of my life to pay for my flights.
Once I reach 750, I was thinking try planesense or something similar and quit my PD job and yolo at this point. I'll drop from making 110K to 40K so this will be hard. I can get to ATP hours and get the ATP-CTP and start trying with regionals. but at
this point, I'm not sure what the airline industry will be doing. It's har to plan that far ahead.
I am obviously going to buy another corvette when I make captain eventually. that's for sure. LOL
I really really really regret not finishing my CSEL/CMEL back in 09. I was doing a 141, and was about 3 lessons away from a check ride along with the long solo. I have like 17 hours of ME already and nothing to show for. shoot me
If I could find a part time flying job (besides CFI) I could probably get some more hours on days off as a 135 pilot or something. I looked at some "taxis" that could fly out of PBI of FLL to the bahamas, but I can't find them. I believe this was a thing back in 09 when guys were looking for hours.
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rickair7777
Flight Schools and Training
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10-30-2014 04:46 PM
