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This one is for the Warrants and Commisioned aviators out there. I am going to a civilian flight school to get all of my ratings, in 89 days I should have my Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFII, and CFMEI. I know this will be a lot to cover in one stretch, but since I figured I was in the grove might as well suck it up, and get some intestinal fortitude. With that being said, do you think its a better idea than staying as a mechanic? I have always wanted to fly just was unable to qualify for the 1W Flight Physical required by the Army.
Aviation
Enlisted
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 3
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My brother could speak to this much better than I can, as his mid-life crisis manifested in selling his granite business and becoming a pilot. What I know from him is pretty much in line with the comments of Maj (Join to see). If your financial well being is already set, then by all means, follow your dream. I'm a private pilot myself, so I well know that flying is a bug that doesn't un-bite you. Ditto the previous comments on low pay and a long road...that long road being spending A LOT of time as a flight instructor to get enough hours to even be considered by a regional, which is a must in order to be considered by a major airline. You can also pick up alot of time by flying charters, etc.
Quick story that came to mind while typing this: A friend of mine went to a helicopter flight school a couple years after high school. His goal was to fly for Columbia Helicopters in Portland, OR. After the school and a couple hundred hours staying at the school as an instructor, he paid them a visit and was told that he needed 2000 hours minimum to be considered as a copilot. He bucked up and found a job flying a crop dusting bell-textron helicopter (the ones that loook like M*A*S*H helicopters) until he got up to about 2500 hours and went back. They offered him that copilot job...for $16k a year. He said "screw it" and went to work for a logging company falling trees for about 4x the money. The moral: You really have to want it.
Quick story that came to mind while typing this: A friend of mine went to a helicopter flight school a couple years after high school. His goal was to fly for Columbia Helicopters in Portland, OR. After the school and a couple hundred hours staying at the school as an instructor, he paid them a visit and was told that he needed 2000 hours minimum to be considered as a copilot. He bucked up and found a job flying a crop dusting bell-textron helicopter (the ones that loook like M*A*S*H helicopters) until he got up to about 2500 hours and went back. They offered him that copilot job...for $16k a year. He said "screw it" and went to work for a logging company falling trees for about 4x the money. The moral: You really have to want it.
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What do you want to do with all your ratings? Do you want to fly commercially? If so, it is a pretty arduous road ahead. Look at what different airlines' minimum requirements are for employment. Then look at what their pay scales are. (check out airlinepilotcentral.com for these numbers) If you can get picked up by a regional, you'll be making about $20k a year, initially. The majors are starting to hire again, but you're competing with folks that have been flying multi-engine aircraft for many years already.<div> If you're getting your ratings to be able to rent a plane and go wherever you want, then you might not need all the aforementioned ratings.</div><div> In the end, do what makes you happy. It is better to make a decision and do what you think you'll enjoy rather than sticking with something and always wondering "what if?"</div><div> I will caveat the "whatever makes you happy" comment with you should really take a logical look at your decision. Don't just consider what puts a smile on your face, consider how much life is going to cost (food, housing, kids, bills, etc etc), how much loan payments for the flight school is going to cost, and then see how much you could possibly make (If you're scraping by and not making ends meet, I guarantee your happiness will be affected). Check both your best and worst case options. If you're willing to live with that worst case option...Then go for it... Go all out and don't look back!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
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SGT (Join to see)
Sir, I appreciate the input. Fortunately the sacrifice my mother made in 1992 really put a dampner on my spirits, but not my financial well being...lets just say I wont have to worry about the astronomical costs of getting all of those ratings, and the majority of that time is multi.
My end state is working for a corporate flight department or capping out at Alaska Airlines. I realize I have to scrape the bottom for a while, however, when you were a 1st Lieutenant, you had to pay your dues as well right?
I think the combination of the "what if" and the fact that humans would never be as advanced as we are if we never took risks really helped me take the plunge.
I feel like an idiot for leaving the Federal Civil Service Technician program. I often compare to how Cortez burned his ships when he reached the New World to ensure his men were well motivated. However, I also feel the rate of return will make a tremendous form of relief in the next five or six years.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSG Graves-being a mechanic has been awesome for me. The Army taught me so much, but the actual learning was done in the shop. I have loved being a Prop and Rotor guy, but I tell you what, ever since I first saw the pilots strapping into the Apache, I wanted to be a pilot.
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