To Do It or Not!?!

[PGA07]

Here is the situation...................some of you may remember that I posted about possibly going into the LE field. I am still going through the process with a LE department, however, I have not been given an offer yet.

I am trying to decide whether or not I should continue testing for other departments or stay where I am. The LE gig would be more rigid and yes the bennies are great. However, do the bennies really matter in the long run, if that is not where I hope to be?

Currently, I have to put up with the BS that goes along with sales (in a down market). Yet, I have ample free time and scheduling flexibility to do what I wish (fish, hunt, golf, etc.). Plus it would take me approx. 5 - 7 years in LE to make what I will make next year where I am now. In 5 -7 years I hope to be in my first 135 or 91 job.

Any advise on which road to take, one that will lead to the flight deck sooner rather than latter. I think I have an idea...............but I am interested in what others have to say!

Thanks all.

[LoadMasterC141]

If you have some money, enough to get your PPL, start on it now while you have the time free. That will at least give you enough to decide how fast you want to do the rest. You'll need around $6k.

If sooner than latter means "as fast as humanly possible", get the loan...go to ATP. Enjoy the payments after though.

[Ian J]

After I got my PPL add-on the DE asked if I was going to add the commercial soon. I said no... I had years before I got out of the Army so what's the point?

He said, better to get it at today's prices than for however much it'll cost a few years from now. It's the same certificates and ratings either way.

[igneous]

Holy crap its like we're twins. I have a business degree, and have been trying to get into sales for the past year or so (not sure why, probably just the money). I have had a lot of time to think about it, and basically have realized that I cannot spend the next 30+ years of my life in sales, I'll go crazy. So I've decided to either get into LE or become a pilot, both are careers that I have always had an interest in, but pushed them aside due to others opinions(not smart). I cant afford any fast tracks, so it would take me well over a year to get my licenses and stuff, and then I'd have to CFI, so I will probably not make to the regionals til my later 20's(i'm 24 now). With LE I can get in soon, as in a year or two, and have a great career, pension, etc., but I worry about if I will always regret not becoming a pilot. The industry itself has made me not want to become a pilot as much, with its low wages and many other problems. I go back and forth almost every day, one day I want to be a pilot, and another day I'll want to get into LE.

[cignaguy]

Originally Posted by igneous

Holy crap its like we're twins. I have a business degree, and have been trying to get into sales for the past year or so (not sure why, probably just the money). I have had a lot of time to think about it, and basically have realized that I cannot spend the next 30+ years of my life in sales, I'll go crazy. So I've decided to either get into LE or become a pilot, both are careers that I have always had an interest in, but pushed them aside due to others opinions(not smart). I cant afford any fast tracks, so it would take me well over a year to get my licenses and stuff, and then I'd have to CFI, so I will probably not make to the regionals til my later 20's(i'm 24 now). With LE I can get in soon, as in a year or two, and have a great career, pension, etc., but I worry about if I will always regret not becoming a pilot. The industry itself has made me not want to become a pilot as much, with its low wages and many other problems. I go back and forth almost every day, one day I want to be a pilot, and another day I'll want to get into LE.

That makes 3 of us

[PGA07]

Igneous and Cignaguy

If you start your training for aviation, I can make one statement that I think will hold forever..............LoadMaster hinted toward it. By all means avoid the loans! I made up my mind a long time ago to stay at an FBO and enjoy the ride. In reality, if you have the money to pay as you go and you have the time, you can get it done just as fast at an FBO as you can going to ATP or any of those type of schools.

I mentioned it somewhere else on this board a few weeks ago.............by avoiding the loans (if you can) you may be able to advance your "career" faster than if you took loans out for your "training". By keeping it inexpensive and by not having debt you may be able to accept a low paying, time building job. Whereas someone with loans may not be able to because they won't be able to pay those loans back.

Igneous............don't worry about your age! I am 28 and my goal is to be in a corp./frac. job by 35. That gives me 25 to 30 years of flying which I think will be more than enough. Also, rumor has it that many of the better corp./frac. jobs like to have pilots with a little grey . So time is on your side.

I just don't know if I want to put the time into LE training and all that goes along with a new career when I know that aviation is where I want to be in the end.

[cignaguy]

Originally Posted by PGA07

Igneous and Cignaguy

If you start your training for aviation, I can make one statement that I think will hold forever..............LoadMaster hinted toward it. By all means avoid the loans! I made up my mind a long time ago to stay at an FBO and enjoy the ride. In reality, if you have the money to pay as you go and you have the time, you can get it done just as fast at an FBO as you can going to ATP or any of those type of schools.

I mentioned it somewhere else on this board a few weeks ago.............by avoiding the loans (if you can) you may be able to advance your "career" faster than if you took loans out for your "training". By keeping it inexpensive and by not having debt you may be able to accept a low paying, time building job. Whereas someone with loans may not be able to because they won't be able to pay those loans back.

Igneous............don't worry about your age! I am 28 and my goal is to be in a corp./frac. job by 35. That gives me 25 to 30 years of flying which I think will be more than enough. Also, rumor has it that many of the better corp./frac. jobs like to have pilots with a little grey . So time is on your side.

I just don't know if I want to put the time into LE training and all that goes along with a new career when I know that aviation is where I want to be in the end.

Wow, awesome to see people going through the same decisions as I am. I love these message boards.

I have been struggling with the decison regarding to go to an ATP-type place or to stay at my current FBO and train (I currently am working on my PPL and only have about 18 hours). I have about $50K saved up, so I guess I could save a bit of money if I stuck to the FBO, but the assumption there is that I indeed could do my training at the same pace as an academy environment. I plan on quitting my current job and focusing on flying full time once I finally make the decision, so I could hopefully fly 5-6 times per week at the FBO. The part that gets tricky is the multi-engine time, and I could always buy a block of that somewhere I suppose.

[igneous]

My other problem is that I have very little ambition to CFI, and I know it makes you a better pilot, I just don't have much interest in it.

[cignaguy]

Originally Posted by igneous

My other problem is that I have very little ambition to CFI, and I know it makes you a better pilot, I just don't have much interest in it.

The thought of being a CFI scares me to death and I can't imagine being one, but I'm sure that changes with time and experience. If you want to make it to the regionals, I guess I don't really see any way around it?

[PGA07]

Cignaguy:

Regarding the ME time, you can buy a block of it but that is only one way. If your field has numerous ME aircraft and it is not to large, start that networking (in a causal way). You may quickly realize that most ME owners are lonely, but busy people. You start talking with them (about things other than aviation, but a compliment about their bird goes a long way) and the next thing you know they may be asking you to accompany them on some short cross country day trips. You never know where your next flight hour will come from or where your next job may actually begin.

Just a thought!


Igneous:

I know that you may not want to CFI but there is much to be said for it. I am not at that point yet, however I am looking forward to it. Where else do you get the responsibility to sign someone off to solo and a/c . Has to be an incredible feeling.

Search these boards and you will see more than one person who did not want to CFI, yet after doing it, they loved it. Might be worth considering. Plus the extra training and certificates never hurt.

[Ian J]

For those who don't want to/ or are afraid to be a CFI - can you tell us why?

There are lots of pro/ against CFI arguments now and then and I think they come from a lack of understanding from both parties. So maybe getting to the root of why you don't want to be a CFI would help.

[cignaguy]

Originally Posted by Ian J

For those who don't want to/ or are afraid to be a CFI - can you tell us why?

There are lots of pro/ against CFI arguments now and then and I think they come from a lack of understanding from both parties. So maybe getting to the root of why you don't want to be a CFI would help.

I'm not against it, the thought of it just scares me to death because I have so little experience thus far (18ish hours, ha!).

[igneous]

I'm not totally against it, I just have never had much ambition to be a teacher of any kind. I'm also really anxious to make it to the regionals(or whoever will take me).

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by igneous

I'm also really anxious to make it to the regionals(or whoever will take me).

Why?

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by cignaguy

I'm not against it, the thought of it just scares me to death because I have so little experience thus far (18ish hours, ha!).

In that case, I certainly wouldn't worry about it! You've got tons of time and experience to gain. I'd be willing to bet you'll change your mind at some point.

I would just advise anyone against thinking of CFIing as "something you gotta do." A change in attitude will make the experience so much more enjoyable and productive.

Don't listen to those who are exasperated why "newly minted, low time CFI's are teaching new pilots." A CFI is the subject matter expert to wanna be pilots who know nothing. It is a tremendous experience - one I highly recommend to any aspiring pilot.

[igneous]

Originally Posted by Ian J

Why?

I really need to get into something as a career. I'm sadly still living at home right now, and I'm not sure how much more I(or my parents) can take. Thats a problem for training, since I can't even really afford to move out right now.

[Fly_Unity]

Originally Posted by cignaguy

I'm not against it, the thought of it just scares me to death because I have so little experience thus far (18ish hours, ha!).

When I first started flying, there was no way in the world that I was gonna flight instruct, but the more I flew, the more I wanted to instruct, and now Im actuallly enjoying it.

[PGA07]

I really do appreciate all of the comments...............but................can I ask for one thing................back to topic.

I am just having a very difficult time deciding whether or not it is worth taking the time to learn a new career when I know I do not want that career as a "final" career.

Ultimately I want to be flying in a corp./frac. department as a career. What do you folks think?

[Minnesota_Flyer]

Originally Posted by PGA07

I know that you may not want to CFI but there is much to be said for it. I am not at that point yet, however I am looking forward to it. Where else do you get the responsibility to sign someone off to solo and a/c . Has to be an incredible feeling.

That's the part that scares the heck out of me!!