Finally doing it!!

[maxlt1]

Hey all..this is my first post. I just wanted to start off in this sectoin to get some opinions. I'm going to finally follow my dream since 4yrs old and change my career to flying.

I currently work at Dell making some pretty decent money for my age but i realize more and more each day how much its NOT what i want to retire from. I've decided to put all my effort into, first finishing up my degree (2 yrs left) and while doing that i'm going to work up through my ratings (only have about 25hrs towards a PPL right now) on a "pay as you go" basis at a local FBO flight school and eventually get an instructing job to build up hrs.....ultimately getting on with one of the regionals and eventually a major carrier.

Is this the best route to take and in all honesty, at 27 is it too late for me to pursue this route? Thanks for the feedback!

[Kristie]

hell no, 27's not bad at all....if this is what you want to do, then i say go for it! too many people are doing jobs they no longer want to do and even i'm one of them that wants to switch from what i'm doing (only i don't want to be a pilot). I've seen pilots start their time building career at a much older age than you and succeed

so take that with a grain of salt because it's all about your determination and how badly you want this!

i wish i would have decided i needed a career change at 27... i'm now 10 years older and just starting to work thru my new career issues

[nkoenig]

Hey man I'm in the exact situation. I'm also 27 just got my PPL and am looking to go to ATP by this summer. I've been in the same career for the last 10 yrs and sometimes i wish i didnt wake up the next day so I wouldn't have to go to my miserable job. It's a scary thing to change and take a chance but you gotta go for it and at least give it a shot. Even if it doesn't work out at least you know you tried. Good luck..

Nick

[Beechlover]

Dude, I made the decision at 42 and moved my wife and I to Florida 5 months ago. Just turned 43 two weeks ago and am working on my commercial multi here in florida. There are several of us older career changers at the school I'm at and I've watched as they left for jet and turbo prop regionals so I'm VERY excited about the prospects. And with the retirement age kicking up to 65, that gives me 20 plus years to enjoy a lengthy flying career! My advice based on what lessons this journey has taught me so far.., Go for it, don't lose sight of it, be smart with your money (don't go into debt to do this if at all possible), find a school you can afford that will give you the opportunity log multi hours while CFIing to build experience, and leadership skills. Best of luck you.

[maxlt1]

Originally Posted by nkoenig

Hey man I'm in the exact situation. I'm also 27 just got my PPL and am looking to go to ATP by this summer. I've been in the same career for the last 10 yrs and sometimes i wish i didnt wake up the next day so I wouldn't have to go to my miserable job. It's a scary thing to change and take a chance but you gotta go for it and at least give it a shot. Even if it doesn't work out at least you know you tried. Good luck..

Nick

yeah those are the same mornings i'm having right now....for example..i hate sundays because i know i have to go to work the next day! I also thought about going to an accelerated flight school but i figured since i still have to get my degree as well, I might as well save some money and pay my way through flight school with my student loans/part time job (state schools are cheap so i'll have some loan money left over each semester) Good luck to you..I've heard some pretty good things about ATP!

[maxlt1]

Originally Posted by Beechlover

Dude, I made the decision at 42 and moved my wife and I to Florida 5 months ago. Just turned 43 two weeks ago and am working on my commercial multi here in florida. There are several of us older career changers at the school I'm at and I've watched as they left for jet and turbo prop regionals so I'm VERY excited about the prospects. And with the retirement age kicking up to 65, that gives me 20 plus years to enjoy a lengthy flying career! My advice based on what lessons this journey has taught me so far.., Go for it, don't lose sight of it, be smart with your money (don't go into debt to do this if at all possible), find a school you can afford that will give you the opportunity log multi hours while CFIing to build experience, and leadership skills. Best of luck you.

Well that really is comforting knowing that pilots older than myself have had successful career changes. I decided to save money by going the FBO route while finishing up school. We have a great local flight school that moves you through all the ratings at your own pace. As for leadership skills...hopefully I have some of those already

[cignaguy]

Originally Posted by maxlt1

Hey all..this is my first post. I just wanted to start off in this sectoin to get some opinions. I'm going to finally follow my dream since 4yrs old and change my career to flying.

I currently work at Dell making some pretty decent money for my age but i realize more and more each day how much its NOT what i want to retire from. I've decided to put all my effort into, first finishing up my degree (2 yrs left) and while doing that i'm going to work up through my ratings (only have about 25hrs towards a PPL right now) on a "pay as you go" basis at a local FBO flight school and eventually get an instructing job to build up hrs.....ultimately getting on with one of the regionals and eventually a major carrier.

Is this the best route to take and in all honesty, at 27 is it too late for me to pursue this route? Thanks for the feedback!

Hey Maxlt1-

I am 29 and just completed my 2nd lesson an hour ago, so 27 is nowhere near too late, as others have already indicated. I too have joined the "I can't stand my corporate job" club after 6 years. My plan is to make sure I can see myself flying for a career and possibly quit my job in a couple of months to learn to fly full time. I've saved up a good bit of cash to hopefully get me through a year of flying and living expenses (as soon as my house sells and I can get an apartment with a roomate!), so hopefully I won't go into debt. I luckily do not have any other debt. I too am doing my flying at an FBO here in Denver.

Welcome and good luck!

[maxlt1]

Originally Posted by cignaguy

Hey Maxlt1-

I am 29 and just completed my 2nd lesson an hour ago, so 27 is nowhere near too late, as others have already indicated. I too have joined the "I can't stand my corporate job" club after 6 years. My plan is to make sure I can see myself flying for a career and possibly quit my job in a couple of months to learn to fly full time. I've saved up a good bit of cash to hopefully get me through a year of flying and living expenses (as soon as my house sells and I can get an apartment with a roomate!), so hopefully I won't go into debt. I luckily do not have any other debt. I too am doing my flying at an FBO here in Denver.

Welcome and good luck!

Now thats motivating. I wish i had a house to sell though! I sure could use that cash Its ok though, I can handle a little debt if it means realizing my life-long dream.

[Texasspilot]

I think your in a great situation to switch over. With a good job and plenty of time left to complete your degree you should easily be able to accomplish your ratings in the next two years if you stick with it.

My advice would be to take a good hard look at what its actually gonna cost you, not just the minimum times, but average times. That way you can plan ahead and start saving and cutting your spending now. A rough guestimate would be 50K total for everything through MEI depending on how much your rental fees are.

The reason allot of us are miserable when were just starting out is that were so broke and have no time off that life just sucks.

I could deal with being poor and i could deal with never being at home but put both together and it just sucks.

Save, pay your way, study hard, and good luck.

[notawannabee]

Originally Posted by maxlt1

Hey all..this is my first post. I just wanted to start off in this sectoin to get some opinions. I'm going to finally follow my dream since 4yrs old and change my career to flying.

I currently work at Dell making some pretty decent money for my age but i realize more and more each day how much its NOT what i want to retire from. I've decided to put all my effort into, first finishing up my degree (2 yrs left) and while doing that i'm going to work up through my ratings (only have about 25hrs towards a PPL right now) on a "pay as you go" basis at a local FBO flight school and eventually get an instructing job to build up hrs.....ultimately getting on with one of the regionals and eventually a major carrier.

Is this the best route to take and in all honesty, at 27 is it too late for me to pursue this route? Thanks for the feedback!

look at it this way....with retirement going to 65, you are only 22 years old.

[maxlt1]

Texaspilot, thanks for the info! luckily I dont live a lavish life-style so cutting costs would not be a problem at all. I've already put a lot of thought into how to save and cut costs to pay my way as i go...the last thing i want to do is take out a loan (SLM!!) and end up 80k in debt when all is said and done.

I guess I never thought about it that way notawannabee! That definitely gives me a lot of encouragement