Crap!!!

[parmandjack]

....DELAYED!!!!!

So there I was, sitting minding my own business working away last Monday, when my boss emails me a nice polite reminder that I MUST get my PMP certification soon. The PMP is a "Project Management Professional" designation that is pretty much the be-all-and-end-all glory ticket for project managers. Anyway... I have to have it by Feb 26th!!! ... and I really have no choice... This job and the good income it provides is what I'm going to be taking advantage of to get the certs and min times as fast as possible... so I have to do it if I wanna keep this job until I'm ready to depart on my own time...

SO... every night this week since finding this out I have had to hit the books to prepare. My test is scheduled for 1pm Feb 26th ( as late as I could get it), 'cause the exam is 4 hours long and a killer... apparently only a low percentage of people pass it the first time... so considering that I'm still taking care of a wife recovering from surgery, and 4 small kids, while also working full time at my job, and I now also have to cram for 3 hours every night up until the exam date... there is absolutely no way I can fit in flight training/ground school studies too....

So thats the puts the kia-bosh on my ground school and flight training beginning on Jan 7th ! Now I have to wait until March!! ARRRGGG!!!!!

This blows! plus my wife is also giving me a lot of guilt/grief over the low-pay for flying, and desperately wants me to keep my IT job - so this is giving me a mental pounding! ... I posed to her that after I have the PMP in my pocket, and I have all the min hours for the Regional accumulated, that I could go to a Regional (and try to fly RJ's), and do it for a year to "feel-it-out". Then, after that year, if either I feel its not for me and my SJS is all gone, or she is not comfortable, then I could go back to IT Project Management and just fly for fun... she seems to be ok with this, so that might be the trade-off for now. Funny thing is though... She is completely 100% behind me doing this if I go to an Asian carrier and hang out in Hong Kong flying big boys, if that were possible.... hmmm..

So... for now I just hafta sit around dreaming about flying and just be jealous of all you guys-n-gals until March... For Pete's Sake, My Cat 1 Medical will have expired by the time I start my training!!

Cheers.

[wildfreightess]

Can you change the PMP to "Project Management In Professionalism?" At least that way, you'd be a PIMP!

Ok, so maybe you've heard that one already. All I can offer is a "hang in there" from a stranger and maybe make ya smile.

So... hang in there, smile, and keep flying!!!!!

[parmandjack]

Originally Posted by wildfreightess

Can you change the PMP to "Project Management In Professionalism?" At least that way, you'd be a PIMP!

Ok, so maybe you've heard that one already. All I can offer is a "hang in there" from a stranger and maybe make ya smile.

So... hang in there, smile, and keep flying!!!!!

LOL

[Lee D]

Stick with it. I'm sure you will make it work. Plus now you will have another feather in your cap for your backup plan. Thats always a good thing.

[MFT1Air]

I'm scheduled to take the classes online as well. My cubemate finished before Thanksgiving, and yes, she's braindead. Those classes are no easy task, and you're right. . .the test is no joke.

You're right; forego the flying until March. If you wish to successfully pass, you've got to bust your behind.

So, are you taking it online or at one of the universities?

[mooneyguy]

sorry to hear, keep the faith and hope it will work out!

[bigcat]

Well, do whatever it takes to clear that obstacle and pass the test. It may test your determination to make it as a professional aviator. Like the other comments made, I say hang in there! Continue to embrace your passion and your dream by keeping the faith. After all, once you start flying commercially you can say, "Yes I paid my dues!".

I too am in the project management business but my company has not forced us to be PIMPs yet..oooppps scratch that! I meant Project Management Professionals.Question?? Do you ever feel like transistioning to another career is just another BIG project to conquer?

Whenever you take the BIG leap of Faith, I think it will be another test of how bad do you want this dream. I said I think, I may be taking the leap soon myself. So let's see if I can follow my own advice.

Be well...good luck on your test!

[GalaxyIFE]

You have a backup plan, and that is the best thing of all. Too many people make the leap without any "life-preserver" and figure out that it isn't the life they want. It takes a huge sacrifice and just having a plan "B" will make it a little easier.

As for the 1st class "expiring" it will revert to a 2nd and then a 3rd class, so as long...oh hell, here is the FAA reg:

1. First-Class Medical Certificate: A first-class medical certificate is valid for the remainder of the month of issue; plus
   • 6 calendar months for activities requiring a first-class medical certificate, or plus
   • 12 calendar months for activities requiring a second-class medical certificate, or plus
   • 24 calendar months for activities requiring a third-class medical certificate, or plus
   • 36 calendar months for activities requiring a third-class medical certificate if the airman has not reached his or her 40th birthday on or before the date of examination.*

[LoadMasterC141]

I believe that is the same year your physicals will make you feel alot less friendly with your Doc!

Sounds like you are stuck with the PMP thing. My company was starting that BS a few years back. I studied for a month, and then they decided against it. Apparently even the higher-ups thought it to be too hard. I thought it was dumb personally, but not hard.

[wrxpilot]

At my old job all of the PMs (Project Managers) were required to be PMPs. Really it seemed to be just another title, as I sure didn't notice any stellar differences between PMs without the certification. Luckily I was just a lowly cubicle peon and didn't have to take it. We were required to take the PE (Professional Engineer) exam, but I got out before any ultimatums were given to me. Good luck and do whatever you have to. Just one more reason you'll be happy when you're out of that industry and flying an airplane for a living.

[Naluryder]

Well then March it is..hang in there.

[parmandjack]

Originally Posted by MFT1Air

I'm scheduled to take the classes online as well. My cubemate finished before Thanksgiving, and yes, she's braindead. Those classes are no easy task, and you're right. . .the test is no joke.

You're right; forego the flying until March. If you wish to successfully pass, you've got to bust your behind.

So, are you taking it online or at one of the universities?

neither actually. i've been a project manager for a little over 5 years and currently work for IBM. I did all the course work a little over two years ago, and was approved by PMI to sit the exam last Feb, but personal issues kept my preparation for the exam on the back burner. My boss though, forced it to be moved to the front, so now I'm sitting the PMP "exam", not a course, on Feb 26th...Hopefully it'll go well!

Cheers.

[parmandjack]

Originally Posted by bigcat

Well, do whatever it takes to clear that obstacle and pass the test. It may test your determination to make it as a professional aviator. Like the other comments made, I say hang in there! Continue to embrace your passion and your dream by keeping the faith. After all, once you start flying commercially you can say, "Yes I paid my dues!".

I too am in the project management business but my company has not forced us to be PIMPs yet..oooppps scratch that! I meant Project Management Professionals.Question?? Do you ever feel like transistioning to another career is just another BIG project to conquer?

Whenever you take the BIG leap of Faith, I think it will be another test of how bad do you want this dream. I said I think, I may be taking the leap soon myself. So let's see if I can follow my own advice.

Be well...good luck on your test!

Thanks BigCat!

Once the PMP is behind me, the only other obstacles was my wifes resistance to the low pay, and my own apprehension about being away from my 4 kids for days and days at a time...

But, it looks like the wife may be helping me to make the jump after all, as a divorce appears to be looming on the near horizon (for reasons other than flying), and the kids'll be with her ! HEY HEY!!! this year is turning out ot be terrific!

Well.. break the large task in to numerous smaller tasks/hurdles, and overcome them one at a time eh?

So things look to be shaping up

[zmiller4]

Originally Posted by wildfreightess

Can you change the PMP to "Project Management In Professionalism?" At least that way, you'd be a PIMP!

Wouldn't that spell "PMIP"?

[HOTDOG]

Originally Posted by parmandjack

....DELAYED!!!!!

So there I was, sitting minding my own business working away last Monday, when my boss emails me a nice polite reminder that I MUST get my PMP certification soon. The PMP is a "Project Management Professional" designation that is pretty much the be-all-and-end-all glory ticket for project managers. Anyway... I have to have it by Feb 26th!!! ... and I really have no choice... This job and the good income it provides is what I'm going to be taking advantage of to get the certs and min times as fast as possible... so I have to do it if I wanna keep this job until I'm ready to depart on my own time...

SO... every night this week since finding this out I have had to hit the books to prepare. My test is scheduled for 1pm Feb 26th ( as late as I could get it), 'cause the exam is 4 hours long and a killer... apparently only a low percentage of people pass it the first time... so considering that I'm still taking care of a wife recovering from surgery, and 4 small kids, while also working full time at my job, and I now also have to cram for 3 hours every night up until the exam date... there is absolutely no way I can fit in flight training/ground school studies too....

So thats the puts the kia-bosh on my ground school and flight training beginning on Jan 7th ! Now I have to wait until March!! ARRRGGG!!!!!

This blows! plus my wife is also giving me a lot of guilt/grief over the low-pay for flying, and desperately wants me to keep my IT job - so this is giving me a mental pounding! ... I posed to her that after I have the PMP in my pocket, and I have all the min hours for the Regional accumulated, that I could go to a Regional (and try to fly RJ's), and do it for a year to "feel-it-out". Then, after that year, if either I feel its not for me and my SJS is all gone, or she is not comfortable, then I could go back to IT Project Management and just fly for fun... she seems to be ok with this, so that might be the trade-off for now. Funny thing is though... She is completely 100% behind me doing this if I go to an Asian carrier and hang out in Hong Kong flying big boys, if that were possible.... hmmm..

So... for now I just hafta sit around dreaming about flying and just be jealous of all you guys-n-gals until March... For Pete's Sake, My Cat 1 Medical will have expired by the time I start my training!!

Cheers.

PandJ,

Hang in there man, March is just around the corner....

I'm in IT as well, so I know how you feel about trading it in for aviation....

My training is going painfully slow due to my day job...but its moving nonetheless...now flying G-1000s and then commercial training.

I'll be rootin for you cause I know how it feels man.

Keep us posted.

[mcescher]

Hey PJack,
There is no need to worry. Just look at my situation and feel great:

• Talking (perhaps even thinking) about aviation was banned in my family during I was growing up. Even my father is a retired pilot with almost 20.000 hours under his belt.
• I grew up with the pressure that I should not even be thinking general aviation, military aviation, or even model aircrafts.
• I got married. My wife does not talk to me days if I play Flight Simulator on my computer. Just think about it if I say "I want to be a pilot someday."
• I earned my Ph.D and I am a college professor now. As any college professor, I am underpaid.
• I am not a U.S. Citizen; at least not yet, so I cannot get any "low rate" federal financial aid.
• I am now 30.

On top of those, I am still dreaming about being a pilot. I cannot think other than aviation. I even think myself as a pilot when I am driving a car. Perhaps, if I make a solo in one day, I will have the most intensive orgasm ever.

I made everything planned out... I will sacrifice everything when the time comes. Even if the ultimate price will be to loose everything I have. Maybe this summer, maybe closer than that.

Just keep your dreams bro... Do not forget that:

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things." (Shawshank Redemption) This movie changed my life. Whenever I feel hopeless, I watch this movie to recharge...

Thanks...

[TexasFlyer]

Yep, that is a crap... but luckily not a full blown #####. A couple month delay, but all will work out from the sound of it. You have many options which puts you in an ideal situation (current plan, ideal plan, back-up plan, etc.). So all is well from what I see.

Only potential challenege may be the wife. Sounds like she may not fully be prepared for you to commit to a flying career which brings in low pay for a solid 3 to 10 years pending your career path choice within flying (that'd be the time making $20k to $50k a year which is flat broke pretty much). So that can be tough since if you do not have the support of your spouse things could become tough in your personal life. It's takes both personal life and professional life satisfaction to really be happy! So fingers crossed she comes around and supports your dream fully.

I have my own novel on how I left my prior life to get to be just finishing up my last couple hours of commercial and moving onto the CFI route soon... it's been an interesting 8 month journey of leaving behind good friends, a great girlfriend, and a six figure income to pursue the dream.... flying is my passion and my poison. Overall though, I'd change nothing. New friends and relationships form, and flying has calmed me down and given me peace by eliminating the stresses of my past life.

So best of success to you

[cal99]

Hang tight.

I am a fan. I went to Flight Safety right out of school in '92 got all the ratings and became broke quickly. Went back to the Bay Area and worked as a PM for VISA & Charles Schwab in SF and have missed flying every single second. Have about 450TT, but have not flown in over a decade. I would be in agony if I went back to the cube life SF.

I've watched you're thread closely because we are in similar scenarios. And particularly with the wife. I have an over-achieving type-A wife who has basically told me that she'll plunge a knife into my skull if I get back into cockpit again. Still, despite this I went and got the medical out of the way and routinely prowl the FBO's around my area. Just tying to work out the financial plans in order that my family won't starve (sound familiar?). Maybe we're just nuts, but I gnash my teeth when I hear the argument that,"...drop those childish dreams, find a job with good pay because your only responsibility is to your kids & family." Being a pilot (low pay or not), can co-exist with being a good dad. My wife is not convinced.

So now I am watching your quest closely. Deal with that PMP. It won't hurt you at all other than the time delay. Yes, Yes I know how that feels too. I'm 39 staring at the big 40, in a job I hate, constantly tortuted by Brasillias & Beech 99's flying over my house hear in Merced, CA. Just do it so I (and many others) will finally get the guts to follow in your footsteps.

No pressure dude.

S.

[Doug Taylor]

Follow your heart man. Talk to Bumblebee!

[cal99]

Dear Doug,

It's 2:29 PST and I just finished both your blogs. How cool. I'll adjust my dreams for the moment as I would love just to be PIC on the Ameriflight BE99 that lives at my home airport:KMCE.

I may have missed it but there was no bio/background link on your blogs. Are you former military (Delta, ran with that assumption) or did you FBO/Freight dog-it?

Keep posting.

Cheers,

Call99

[parmandjack]

Last you heard from me I was moping around.... I had just gotten my fresh 1st Class medical and planned on starting my training on Jan 2...then shock-of-shocks!!! I had to delay my start until I completed a professional level certification called a PMP, so as to meet commitments my boss imposed upon me, and which would delay me until March... I was distraught..after all, March was YEARS AWAY!!!

Well here we are in March already.... I successfully completed the PMP exam on the 1st attempt a week and a half ago....and I attended my 1st ground school class there on Wednesday, just 2 nights ago.... I also have a 172 booked for 3 hours this coming Sunday, so will FINALLY be back up in the air! WOOO HOOO!

I'm still not sure If I'll be able to successfully make the jump over to the Regionals, as my wife still has concerns with me giving up my day job considering that I'll be 45 on April 4th ...BUT, she has agreed that i can plug along and get all the necessary certs (ppl, multi, comm, ifr, cfi) and then get an instructor gig to build time. Once I've got the time built, I "may" take a year sabbatical from my project management career to fly with a Regional and see if that gets it out of my system... baby steps kind of... if it does, then great, we'll by a Turbo Lance or Saratoga to build insurance time, then step-up to a twin, I'll fly for fun and give flight instruction on-the-side...BUT if a year with the Regionals only proves that flying for a living is what I NEED to do, then we will take up that battle at that time...like I said... baby steps....gotta ease her into it

I'll keep y'all posted on my progress, but its just GREAT to be back!

Cheers y'all

[parmandjack]

Well, was in the 172 yesterday (actually 2 weeks ago now) for the 1st time back up at the controls in 10 years...

It was a blast! Its amazing how much I remembered about actually flying the plane, while I've forgotten a lot of the technical aspects. Flying th plane is actually easy...

We spent an hour doing slow turns, descending and climbing turns, and holding a point. It was natural, and after 10 minutes it was like riding a bike, power, attitude, trim, or attitiude, power, trim for descending and climbing and maintaing altitude and or speed... it was great! The instructor even commented that I was right on the ball with my coordinated turns

To be truthful, I was exceedingly happy just to be able to hold a desired altitude, as I figured i'd be chasing it and oscillating up and down... taxiing for take-off was the hardest part as I'd forgotten how much movement of the rudder was needed to stay on the centre line.. you'd have thought I was trying to stay in "my lane" on the right side of a road! lol

Anyways, got the next 4 classes booked out with the instructor, so should atart picking it back up again soon... only thing that bugs me is the landing fee of $40 each time, as its an International Airport... Calgary (YYC). But, I'll chalk it up to the cost of education in a busy internatioanl airport to learn the radio work and traffic routing norms of operating in that kind of airspace, then I won't be scared to do it myself when I'me certified...

Anyways, thats all for now. Cheers.

[parmandjack]

Well, another change!!! 2 things happened actually....

I've been busy trying to find work as a PM down in the US as we lived there for 5 years previously, and we're gonna move back there whether I end up with a flying job or not.

So just after my first flight, it looked like I had an offer coming with a company back down in Houston (where we used to live). I closed down my account with the flight school (which I'd just opened) as I figured I may as well simply restart with an school down in Houston.... As you can guess though, the offer fell through!

In the week and a half between closing my flying school account and the job offer falling through though, I received the bill for the 1st flight... not including the $40 landing fee for the international airport the club flies out of, the bill for 1.5 hours on the Hobbs and .5 hour pre/post flight with the instructor, came out to $355 with tax!!! Absolutely bloody crazy!

SO my wife has said that if I hold on the flying until I get a job as a PM down in the US, then I can buy a plane right away and use it for my training, as this would be cheaper than these kind of costs... can you get a private rating in a turbo Lance, or would I need to buy a Warrior or Arrow to start?

Anyway, the wife has decided that she'd like to fly too, and although she is willing to let me take a year off to fly regionals, she's pretty much convinced me that with the kinda $$'s I make in my PM career, as well at this later age (45 in 2 weeks :-) that I'll never come close to ever reaching the same $$'s thru flying, as well as having 4 young kids that may want to know their dad as they grow up and who'll probably want to go to college, that I kinda think now I'm going to stick to flying privately, but get my CFI ticket and just teach part-time as my input to the flight community! AS long as I'm flying, thats the main thing!

So if anyone knows of any opps for an IT PM in their company, or who knows someone else who does, please feel free to ping me.. the sooner I get back to the US, the sooner I can get started on this dream!

Cheers.

[TexasFlyer]

Sounds like the plans are coming together nicely.

And yeah, I hear you on those user fees. Hopefully that never happens here. But I'm afraid some day it will since Congress keeps pushing to implement user fees.

As far as work, San Antonio has a lot of companies that may need your expertise. Check out what you can dig up on AT&T, Valero, Tesoro, USAA, Clear Channel Communications, HEB, and Rackspace

Those are all very large companies with their headquarters there and I know they all have many PMs on staff as both contractors and full time employees. You may also look into the Toyota plant there, but not being a headquarters they may not have many PM needs.

And if you get there, Wright Flyers in San Antonio is a solid school. And there are several other smaller schools there too you can learn and/or instruct at.

[Texas_Toyman]

Originally Posted by parmandjack

Well, another change!!! 2 things happened actually....

I've been busy trying to find work as a PM down in the US as we lived there for 5 years previously, and we're gonna move back there whether I end up with a flying job or not.

So just after my first flight, it looked like I had an offer coming with a company back down in Houston (where we used to live). I closed down my account with the flight school (which I'd just opened) as I figured I may as well simply restart with an school down in Houston.... As you can guess though, the offer fell through!

In the week and a half between closing my flying school account and the job offer falling through though, I received the bill for the 1st flight... not including the $40 landing fee for the international airport the club flies out of, the bill for 1.5 hours on the Hobbs and .5 hour pre/post flight with the instructor, came out to $355 with tax!!! Absolutely bloody crazy!

SO my wife has said that if I hold on the flying until I get a job as a PM down in the US, then I can buy a plane right away and use it for my training, as this would be cheaper than these kind of costs... can you get a private rating in a turbo Lance, or would I need to buy a Warrior or Arrow to start?

Anyway, the wife has decided that she'd like to fly too, and although she is willing to let me take a year off to fly regionals, she's pretty much convinced me that with the kinda $$'s I make in my PM career, as well at this later age (45 in 2 weeks :-) that I'll never come close to ever reaching the same $$'s thru flying, as well as having 4 young kids that may want to know their dad as they grow up and who'll probably want to go to college, that I kinda think now I'm going to stick to flying privately, but get my CFI ticket and just teach part-time as my input to the flight community! AS long as I'm flying, thats the main thing!

So if anyone knows of any opps for an IT PM in their company, or who knows someone else who does, please feel free to ping me.. the sooner I get back to the US, the sooner I can get started on this dream!

Cheers.

Here is a Desktop Engineer position in Plano (north of Dallas, TX) that requires PM experience from Monster.

http://jobview.monster.com/GetJob.as...mc_n=MKT000350