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Originally Posted by Stoneage  I would advise against quitting your job until you have explored all of your alternatives. Does your employer have a leave of absence program? Even if they do no one may actually know anything about it so it may take some research on your part. A leave of absence commonly gives you 6 to 12 months off without pay but keeps your senority and pay rate as long as you return within the allotted time.
From where you are at now in your training you could get your Private on two weeks of vacation, probably get some instrument training in also. Once you have your licence you can start flying some of the hours you will need for your Instrument & Commercial. The income from your job can certainly help to pay for this expense.
Be sure to consider the benefits (Medical, retirement) you would lose if you up and quit your job today. I am all for pursuing a career in aviation, just do it carefully. First schedule an FAA Medical exam, study for your written (you can do this at home). Pass your written. Become a miser and save every penny you can, pay off as much debt as possible, sell off stuff you don't need (like the second car). Try to find somewhere to do a finish-up for your private. Also make sure you can get an examiner, for the checkride, within the allotted time. I prefer part 61 training it takes more hours but often won't cost anymore for your ratings.
Best Wishes
--StoneAge |
My wife and I already sold the second vehicle. Our house is on the market, once it sells we will go back to the apartment life for a couple of years. She is also with the same agency and plans on staying for the time being, so we get to keep the benifets. I already have $30, 000.00 saved up for training.
I took my written back in 98' and will take it again soon since it has been nearly ten years. As for the leave of absence - thats' a good idea! I have abot two weeks of paid leave right and abot three months of sick leave saved up. Hmm...wonder if I can call in sick for a couple of months
. Oh yeah, I already have my first class medical.
I already talked to Mike up at Career Pilot School about a ten day finish up for my PPL. Looks' like I will give that shot in the near future.
The nice thing about working for the fed is I have life-time re-hire status with the agency. This isn't a gaurantee, but it makes it much easier if I want to come back or hook up with a job flying CA-172s for the NPS later on. The job security is nice here, however most folks I talk to have an erroneous impression of what a National Park Ranger does everyday. I spend nearly nine hours a work day behind a computer in an office with no windows. But hey, at least its in a National Park! We are also forced to live in parts of the country (despite my seniority) that they could'nt pay me to...hey wait a second...
Oh well, enough of the negative. Thanks for the advice!
Ray