Considering... - Your opinions?

[BenWlson]

Your opinions?

I'm currently a 28 year old engineer in Dallas making ~$65k/year with a family and all the expenses. I am a private pilot with roughly 150 hours in a PA-22. My father was a flight instructor and worked for the NTSB and my mother was an air traffic controller, so I've been around aviation my whole life. I continually question why I chose to be an engineer instead of a pilot.

I stand to be getting a windfall of about $70k in the near future. I've got two options to choose from:

1. Buy a 1952 Cessna 170B and enjoy nastolgic tail-wheel flight with the family when I can afford to fill up the tanks.

2. Quit my job, enroll in ATP, and chase a dream for half of what I make now and risk my marriage and financial security without even the guarantee of a job.

This one has probably been beaten to death a hundred times over on this forum, but hey, that's why it's here, right?

---

Let's say I choose option 2. What can I realistically expect? I could very easily get another 50 hours PIC in the PA-22 on my own, so after the ACPP at ATP, I would already have 500TT/100ME, right? Is this enough to realistically get a job right out of the program? After $50k for the tuition and all the living expenses with no income for 3 months while training, my windfall will be about gone. What is a realistic job to expect right out of the program? What kind of salary? Would it most likely require to be relocated? What kind of hours? etc? etc? I'm just really curious what the reality of life is after this training. Thanks for any input!

[Fly_Unity]

Originally Posted by BenWlson

Your opinions?

I'm currently a 28 year old engineer in Dallas making ~$65k/year with a family and all the expenses. I am a private pilot with roughly 150 hours in a PA-22. My father was a flight instructor and worked for the NTSB and my mother was an air traffic controller, so I've been around aviation my whole life. I continually question why I chose to be an engineer instead of a pilot.

I stand to be getting a windfall of about $70k in the near future. I've got two options to choose from:

1. Buy a 1952 Cessna 170B and enjoy nastolgic tail-wheel flight with the family when I can afford to fill up the tanks.

2. Quit my job, enroll in ATP, and chase a dream for half of what I make now and risk my marriage and financial security without even the guarantee of a job.

This one has probably been beaten to death a hundred times over on this forum, but hey, that's why it's here, right?

---

Let's say I choose option 2. What can I realistically expect? I could very easily get another 50 hours PIC in the PA-22 on my own, so after the ACPP at ATP, I would already have 500TT/100ME, right? Is this enough to realistically get a job right out of the program? After $50k for the tuition and all the living expenses with no income for 3 months while training, my windfall will be about gone. What is a realistic job to expect right out of the program? What kind of salary? Would it most likely require to be relocated? What kind of hours? etc? etc? I'm just really curious what the reality of life is after this training. Thanks for any input!

Option 1 looks pretty good to me, maybe get some more ratings on the side while keeping your high paying job.

BTW, are you the one that used to be on VATSIM some? or used to live in WY? Welcome to JC

[LoadMasterC141]

Well I have less hours, and no PPL, than you yet, but I’ll toss out the info I have learned for what it is worth.

Yes it has been beaten to death. A lot of the guys who have “made it” would tell you option B. A lot of Academy naysayers will too. But there are some facts to both sides that I can see.

It all depends on how FAST you want to get to the airlines really. Going to ATP will get you there faster than any other route. Right now, catching the beginning of a big hiring spree will ensure your time in the low-paying left seat is kept to a minimum, and you will more easily get the airline of your choice. The biggest detriment to the ATP route is usually the loan, which you will not need with the big windfall. Still, it is probably more costly than buying a plane, if you do not count the savings in getting to the left seat faster.

If you did the RJ course, I would say you would have quite a few options on what regional you could go to. OR...instruct for a few months and get higher times to get to some fo the higher echelon regionals (Skywest comes to mind)

Option B is not bad either though. Buy a plane and fly the snot out of it. Sell it for what you bought it for, or more. Obviously, you will still need to pay to get more ratings, and probably buy a 100-hour block of ME time to get to mins, if the regionals are your goal though. This option will take longer, but cost substantially less.

[surreal1221]

Option 1. . .

[Airdale]

It all depends on what you really want. No matter the advice you receive here regarding which option to choose, in the end you have do what makes you happy. I could be home every night, making a lot more money then I do now. But I've been down that route - it wasn't for me. I was miserable in the end because money isn't everything and having money doesn't make you happy (in most cases, I'd be pretty happy with a couple $k right now ).

My fiance knew I wasn't happy. Our home life was miserable. All I kept talking about was how I could be doing this, and 5 years from now I could have been flying 737's etc. etc. There were too many could haves and I finally decided to go back to aviation. I spent 4 years in the military, then went right to ATP for the PPL and ACPP programs. Immediately went to work for ATP when I graduated and spent 5 months in Washington DC. I spent a LOT of time away from my fiance and my family. It got tough, and after 8 months of instructing, I said enough is enough and left for another line of work for a bit to clear my head.

Best thing I could have ever done. Because now I have 5 days left in training here at Colgan, and very soon I will be flying Beech 1900's on the line. Again I've made a sacrifice of being away from home for 5 weeks for training. Its hard, but I'm happy. I'm where I need to be, I'm where I belong. I've just decided over time, that being an Airline pilot is what I was meant to do. And luckily I've got a fantastic woman who supports my career ambitions 100%. Things are much better now, and once I get out of training, life is going to be good. I'll travel a lot, but I'll never be away for more then 3-4 days, that was my typical schedule in the military and we liked it. When I upgrade to Captain, I'll build my TPIC time and hopefully be flying 737's in 5 years. Then instead of saying what could have been, I'll be saying what has been.

Its all up to you my friend. Sounds like you need to do some soul searching and find out what you *really* want. There are a ton of sacrificies you have to make in this career. Pay, time away from home, job security, medical etc. You need to talk with your wife and determine which course of action is best for you and your family. ATP is a great school though, they will get you hired fast. But you need to know where you want to end up first.

[killbilly]

This is just what *I* would do, but, like the others said, you gotta do what makes you happy.

I'd stick about half that 70K in some kind of interest bearing account. (Tax free? Make sure you account for that.)

I'd use the other half to rent aircraft, pay cash, get the rest of my ratings, take the wife on a really cool date somewhere in the plane, take the kids flying a few times, get em' happy and on-board with you.

Once I had the hours, if I wanted to go to the Regionals, I'd start applying and get hired. Once hired, I'd use the OTHER half of that money to offset the lower pay at the Regional level while building more hours and seniority.

And you wouldn't have any flight training debt.

Your mileage may vary, but it's definitely what I'd do.

Where in Dallas are you? There are a whole lot of us here.

[Swen]

I like option 1. Flying on your own time, in your own plane with the family. Whenever you want, where ever you want to go.

I cannot attest to it, but the switch from your current status to that of a regional pilot will be very taxing, but also rewarding in some ways.

If you wanted, blend the lines a bit. Continue your current work, fly twice a week and achieve all your ratings, in your aircraft, for much less than most people are able to. Once you have your CFI, freelance if want, work some evenings and weekends. The benefit of this is flexibility for you and your family. Do this until you get the bug to move on. Hopefully by then you'll have a fair number of hours and have the option of being somewhat picky for the job that will follow being a CFI. I'm thinking of charter or corporate that would have a cushy schedule. Afterall, by this point you're in no race to get anywhere.

[mpv broker]

Ben,
Your question, is a tough one and one that i am pondering/ struggling with.Some backgrounf on me, 3 years ago I went down the 0 to commercial path and now have my single engine commercial with about 238 hours but at that time very few regionals were hiring, so i went back into the investment industry. And have been getting the itch to fly for a regional.
-We are the same age, with the same fiance/wife issues (as starting life as a regional airline pilot may wind up endangering my marriage).
-After doing quite a bit of research on my end it seems that ATP would be the quickest route, but also the most costly if i were to get back into the cockpit.
-I have also looked at other cheaper programs that will produce about the same amount of hours/ results in relatively the same amount of time. (for example White Air: Commercial/Multi Commercial, CFI/II/MEI and about 125 multi hours for 25k)
-I am faced with the issue of giving up a 6 figure income for the low pay of regional pilot vs buying a plane (a very expensive hobby)
I am not sure that ATP is the only solution so as a previous post mentioned i would probable take the 70k, use some of it for flight training, take the rest to supplement your earnings as you climb the ladder with the regionals.

If you come accross any guiding light or burning bush that tells you one way or the other, let me know!

[Tuckster]

My situation is similar but very different !!!??? I already have my PPL with IFR & about 350 hours. I'm retiring & considering investing some of my pension into a comm school with the idea I may be able to fly a few $$ back into my wallet. The BIG difference is I'm 57 years young. The regionals may look at me but unless the mandatory 60 rule goes to 65, thats going to be a tough sell. Any thoughts or suggestions ??? I was all excited about Gulfstream Academy until I read this & other forums.

[stillageek]

Making a career change is huge. I was in IT for 7 years. Leaving my old job was odd. On my exit interview they asked if I was leaving for the money.....I chuckled.....nope not for the money. It will take me 6 years to get back to my old pay. I finished the program April 2nd. I couldn't be happier...well I could if I were back in GKY instructing (I am currently in Jacksonville waiting for a spot to open in GKY....maybe another 2 weeks). I am living my dream each time I step into the cockpit. If it wasn't for my wife none of this would be possible.

[MikeOH58]

Do the ratings on your own and save tens of thousands

[ryanmickG]

Option 1!!!!

Flying tailwheel will make you a better stick.

I wish I had more tailwheel time.

[ETAV8R]

Similar situation.
35, almost 36, no fiance but I do have an 11 y/o daughter.
I have a non-aviation career which brought in around 60k last year. Now working part-time as an xray tech and part-time in airport operations earning significantly less than before.
Bills:
Car, one credit card, child support, minimal rent, home phone, and celphone. Any loan I would take on would have to either cover my existing bills or pay them off in the case of the credit card.

Recently earned my ASEL. The bug is definately biting now. I was approved for a personal loan by my bank but the terms were atrocious, not harping on USAA, they are a great bank for those of us that have access to them. It was a late night whim to see if I would be approved-WHAMMO! I was approved. This was w/o a cosigner. Twice before sallie mae west life preserver denied me the cash with a cosigner.

So now the bug biting every day I am on the airfield and not getting any younger I want to do ATP. No answers for you really. Go with option B.

[ETAV8R]

Originally Posted by ryanmickG

Option 1!!!!

Flying tailwheel will make you a better stick.

I wish I had more tailwheel time.

Very true according to my father who flew from props to jets. As a check pilot for many types of aircraft he could always tell what pilots learned in a taildragger.