I just dunno

B

brandonflores11

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Mar 5, 2016
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Display Name
Brandon
Hi all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. So I started my ppl in 2014 and loved flying however after only 5 hours into it I found out I was getting laid off from the oil company I was working at. Needless to say I had to put ppl on hold and it took me nearly 4 months to find a new job. So just as the wife and I are starting to settle in after having to move a couple hours away to take the new job, viola! I find out I'm getting laid off again. I've been seriously entertaining attending ATP and going the career path up in dallas which will be another move but we will be rent free as we can stay with my in laws while I'm in school. My wife is a teacher so it's nothing for her to get a job anywhere, in fact she has already interviewed up there. For me I have a bachelor's in safety engineering and am halfway through my masters. We have no kids and only a couple car notes with no cc debt, student loans or anything else. I'm 28, and just wondering what some of you think? I know that's a pretty general question and it's probably been thrown around on here before. I really can't see myself fighting this constant battle in my current profession of being laid off nonstop. From what I've noticed anytime profits fall my dept is the first to be eliminated in the short amount of time I've been in the field. I've sent out over 80 applications over the past month and been on a couple interviews with no luck. I'm thinking if nothing gives by June flight school it is. Any honest thoughts, comments, please don't be bashful.

A lost safety person who loved flying,
Brandon

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If your passion is flying,and not getting rich,go for the professional pilot course. You have to realize ,that you will start at the bottom.
 
Thanks 172, I know the pay isn't great starting out and the wife and I have already discussed about it being a rough few years. I can't say see is thrilled about that, but accepting. Would I be too far behind from an age perspective in being able to make a decent career out of though?

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I started flying at 38. I wish I had started at 28. Your age is not a problem.

I only had a very small thought of flying for a major airline. There are many routes to a rewarding aviation career without ever working for an airline.

With your wife working as a teacher, I am thinking you have very good health insurance, so that is a big help.

I would say that it is not good to start in an aviation career deep in debt, that is do not take major loans to pay for flight training. You will get the same job if you train at a major flight school or train with an independent flight instructor. That is something to think about before handing over all your money to an expensive flight school.

Yes, you can make a great living as a pilot. But as frfly172 said, you will start at the bottom.
 
One of the instructors I worked with in the late 90's launched his career in his late twenties. He went to atp pro pilot program. He made it to continental several years ago. I doubt he misses being a car mechanic. It all depends on your attitude, work ethic and a fair amount of luck.
 
Recognize the flying profession is NOT stable. It's cyclical, nomadic for the majority, and ultimately volatile, just like oil work. You will be exposed to employment insecurity just like you did in the energy biz. You're substituting the problem. Nothing wrong with that as long as the opportunity cost is palatable to ya.

Also recognize the difference between your wife being "copacetic" (so she says) about your job losses now versus tomorrow, hinges around y'all's lack of children. If the liabilities were higher, say being older, and now it's all of a sudden no longer cool with her to be bouncing around without kids, here comes indignant city.

I'd say you're at the upper end where I'd be willing to re-start training cold turkey. I would however try to do it part 61 and save some money while maintaining current employment. There's engineers that have done that. Save up, knock it out, take the plunge. BUT, the single common denominator I have seen from the non-retired career changing crowd is.... *drum roll*: lack of children. The added liability of having dependents makes it a non-starter on CFI and regional wages, for people who are otherwise expected to be primary breadwinner. Female spouses can get inflexible and terse like that when it comes to being told to be cool with sucking ramen at the age of 35. Now, if the spouse is the money sponsor for the house, then all that goes out the window. That makes it pretty workable. Alas, most men have non-living wage income earning spouses, and many much less willing to subsidize their husbands.

So I'd say go for it, but be careful and disclose this thing to all interested parties. Because indignant city tomorrow will wreck your life and the last thing you need right now is to be an AIDS statistic on top of being laid off from your primary occupation. Good luck to ya.
 
It's a tuff industry to get into, you really have to have a passion for it, always said if you even have to ask if you can do it, should you do it, well it's not for you.

That said, I've been very happy as a working pilot, and I haven't had to live in a box or eat top ramen, ever, nor have I had to deal with unemployment shy of my choice to change jobs

Ether way I would highly recommend NOT using ATP Inc, they have provided the worst instruction I have ever received, you're better off with a free lance guy and a flying club, maybe build some hours in a glider (will look very good on your resume), even maybe buy very modest a plane to build hours in and sell it when done.

ATP is over priced fast food style training.
 
GRG55 said:
Have you thought about combining your skills and interests and looking at a career in aviation safety?
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Yes, however I have yet to find one that doesn't require applicants to have many hours of flight experience. Most requiring a cpl with 1500 pic time. I don't even have a ppl yet.

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hindsight2020 said:
Recognize the flying profession is NOT stable. It's cyclical, nomadic for the majority, and ultimately volatile, just like oil work. You will be exposed to employment insecurity just like you did in the energy biz. You're substituting the problem. Nothing wrong with that as long as the opportunity cost is palatable to ya.

Also recognize the difference between your wife being "copacetic" (so she says) about your job losses now versus tomorrow, hinges around y'all's lack of children. If the liabilities were higher, say being older, and now it's all of a sudden no longer cool with her to be bouncing around without kids, here comes indignant city.

I'd say you're at the upper end where I'd be willing to re-start training cold turkey. I would however try to do it part 61 and save some money while maintaining current employment. There's engineers that have done that. Save up, knock it out, take the plunge. BUT, the single common denominator I have seen from the non-retired career changing crowd is.... *drum roll*: lack of children. The added liability of having dependents makes it a non-starter on CFI and regional wages, for people who are otherwise expected to be primary breadwinner. Female spouses can get inflexible and terse like that when it comes to being told to be cool with sucking ramen at the age of 35. Now, if the spouse is the money sponsor for the house, then all that goes out the window. That makes it pretty workable. Alas, most men have non-living wage income earning spouses, and many much less willing to subsidize their husbands.

So I'd say go for it, but be careful and disclose this thing to all interested parties. Because indignant city tomorrow will wreck your life and the last thing you need right now is to be an AIDS statistic on top of being laid off from your primary occupation. Good luck to ya.
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Thanks 2020! I am really being as upfront as can be with my wife about this. I even find myself trying to talk her into talking me out of it, but she simply keeps stating "go for it, I know it's what you want". I'm going to keep on applying and wait until June to see if anything comes up between now and then. After all my wife is teaching in conroe and is under contract until then, so we can't leave until she finishes this school year. Ultimately I would like to land a job and do as others suggested and be able to pay for the schooling at a part 61 earning my ratings and still making an income at the same time. Atleast I would always have something to fall back on.

I appreciate everyone's input and honesty! Sure giving me more to consider and discuss with the family.

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I don't see why you'd need to move. I'm not convinced that the Dallas aviation community / CFI opportunity / educational opportunities are any better than Conroe with it's proximity to Houston, and don't kid yourself, living with the in-laws brings it's own set of problems even if they are the best in the world.
 
RyanShort1 said:
I don't see why you'd need to move. I'm not convinced that the Dallas aviation community / CFI opportunity / educational opportunities are any better than Conroe with it's proximity to Houston, and don't kid yourself, living with the in-laws brings it's own set of problems even if they are the best in the world.
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That's my wife's terms for starting the new career path, her family moved to dallas/denton last year due to my father in law's job and she is really close with her parents.. sobbed for weeks after they left, they are a tight nit family and very loving/caring and haven't been without each other for more than a week their whole lives, yadi yah. You can stop crying now.
I'm fine with that as they are very supportive of me as well and truly look out for the both of us. Now my family, completely different story, I haven't seen my parents or brothers in nearly 2 months who live in NOLA, but we're use to it.

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Last edited:
Brandon: check for a pm from me. I can point out a safety job in the company that I work for, it's inthe DFW area and pays well. It does require a security clearance. Will pm details when I get home late this morning.
 
You aren't too old at all. There are plenty of people who started after you. With the retirement age of 65, and you being at 28 now you are looking at over a 30 year career.

One thing I can say is SENIORITY. It's everything in this job, schedule, quality of life and even job security. If it's something you want to pursue I would highly recommend doing it sooner rather than later and I'm sure the other airline guys in here will agree with me

Flying in the airlines is the best job I ever had, I absolutely love it. Of course there are the bitter people but you get out of it what you put in, and attitude is key!
 
Craig said:
Brandon: check for a pm from me. I can point out a safety job in the company that I work for, it's inthe DFW area and pays well. It does require a security clearance. Will pm details when I get home late this morning.
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Will be on the lookout. I was in the army and had a low level clearance when I was in.

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