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coreylaing · October 7th, 2007, 00:10

I have been reading threads on the site for about a month now, but haven't posted anything, so here goes. I am 39 and am making a career change like a lot of you out there. I have been self-employed for the past 9 years in two different businesses, one I had as many as 20 employees, and for the past 4 years have had no employees flipping houses with my brother. I have made an OK living, but I realized that if I keep doing what I am doing and still be in the same situation in 25 years. And the manual labor is getting old. I got my PPL back in Oct. 96 just for fun, but had been inactive until March of this year, when I heard of the crunch need for pilots. So I started my IFR training at the local FBO, but got discouraged in a hurry due to lack of flight time and the revolving door of instructors. So knowing the importance of multi time, I started to look around. ATP offers 160 hours, all ratings, apartment, and a FTD for $50K. To get 160 hours of multi time at the local FBO would cost me $38,400 and taken who knows how long, so I decided that it was worth the extra money to go to ATP. I start in SAC on Oct. 22. I am really looking forward to being "immersed" in aviation, although being away from my family for 3 months is going to suck. I am somewhat concerned about what I read about pilots wages. I hopefully assume right that the first few years as a FO are bad, but are better once you make captain and have a few years under your belt. Anyone out there with a few years experience and making a good living care to share what they are making? Sorry this is so long, and yes, my username is my name. Thanks for your input.

October 7th, 2007, 00:10	#1
coreylaing Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: American Fork, UT Posts: 5	Another career changer I have been reading threads on the site for about a month now, but haven't posted anything, so here goes. I am 39 and am making a career change like a lot of you out there. I have been self-employed for the past 9 years in two different businesses, one I had as many as 20 employees, and for the past 4 years have had no employees flipping houses with my brother. I have made an OK living, but I realized that if I keep doing what I am doing and still be in the same situation in 25 years. And the manual labor is getting old. I got my PPL back in Oct. 96 just for fun, but had been inactive until March of this year, when I heard of the crunch need for pilots. So I started my IFR training at the local FBO, but got discouraged in a hurry due to lack of flight time and the revolving door of instructors. So knowing the importance of multi time, I started to look around. ATP offers 160 hours, all ratings, apartment, and a FTD for $50K. To get 160 hours of multi time at the local FBO would cost me $38,400 and taken who knows how long, so I decided that it was worth the extra money to go to ATP. I start in SAC on Oct. 22. I am really looking forward to being "immersed" in aviation, although being away from my family for 3 months is going to suck. I am somewhat concerned about what I read about pilots wages. I hopefully assume right that the first few years as a FO are bad, but are better once you make captain and have a few years under your belt. Anyone out there with a few years experience and making a good living care to share what they are making? Sorry this is so long, and yes, my username is my name. Thanks for your input.