Career changer looking for clarity
Posted by Flashy_Campaign_7683@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 12 comments
Hello reddit community, I need your help. This is a career changer question. How in world would you pay for flight training if you were me?
Here's my particulars: 41 yr old chef, currently making 80k. I absolutly could not hate my profession more. My hatred of the hospitality industry burns with the fire of 1000 suns. I have past student loans.
I live in New England. But I'll move anywhere.
I have gone on 3 discovery flights. Flying is my next career.
I have gone through 18 months of trail and tribulation and I finally have my 1st class medical.
I've spent the last 18 months looking at every possible option I can find to get my training.
If I twice a week locally that's $500 a week, there is no way I can afford that. Flying once a week will take forever, I'm just not going to accept that.
Loans are the dirty word around here, and I understand way; however what other option do I have?
I'm thinking maybe I take a loan for private only, get that done fast and piece together the rest with scolarshipsand cross those bridges when I come to them.
Cadet programs seem to be an option after I get my PPL also. I read on here about the dark side of those programs, but I'll tell you what guys...it's all about perspective. If I'm not jumping in the dish pit because my new dishwasher is too slow, or mopping the floors at the end of 10 hours because we are so short staffed...any day that I'ma not doing those things is a damn good day.
So, if you were me what would you do to get your new career started??
SillyCubensis@reddit
At your age your only real option is to jam through a 141 school as fast as possible. It's the only way you're going to be able to get hired and into a job fast enough to make a career of it.
Nyaos@reddit
I’m not sure I agree with that. You can go from 0 to ATP mins with part 61 schools and your CFI, or whatever other commercial path you take, in 2-4 years depending on your motivation. For OP he’d still have 20 years of professional flying. Nothing against 141 schools but I don’t think it’s their only option.
SillyCubensis@reddit
Yeah, you can get to ATP mins that fast, but but then you need to figure on another 1-5 years of regional "flying for free", depending, obviously, on the job market (the past 5 years hiring boom was unprecedented) so for getting a job that actually pays (in an industry where SENIORITY IS EVERYTHING) jamming it out as fast as possible is a better career path.
Also, 141 schools often allow financing for room and board so you can go to school and fly full time and have semi-guaranteed progression from CFI to regional to major interview.
I came up flying with my local CFI/FBO during summers and it took forever. Jamming it out as fast as possible winds up being more efficient in the long run.
Also, there are a bunch of airlines offering 'cadet' programs. I haven't looked into them because they weren't around when I was learning but they may be an option. Although, anecdotally, they tend to turn out crappy pilots because their graduates are hogtied by procedures and lack real world decision making skills.
Flashy_Campaign_7683@reddit (OP)
Awesome to hear your experience! Coming from Independent restaurants I know how important real world decision making skills are, I value that skill highly!
Nyaos@reddit
Flying for free? Regionals pay decent now. OP works in a kitchen, I'm sure they're more than happy to make six figures at a regional airline the rest of their career if they don't want to move on there.
I went from private to CFI in about a year and then to the airlines in another 2 years, all with part 61 so I know it's totally possible.
Flashy_Campaign_7683@reddit (OP)
20 years is a solid run! Also I don't see myself "retiring". I like having stuff to do!
Nyaos@reddit
Well you gotta retire from the airlines at 65 but there’s definitely other gigs still available after.
Don’t let people discourage you, you got plenty of time to make the switch. Airlines aren’t hiring now which is a good time to start training as there’s a higher chance they’ll be hiring again by the time you finish.
Flashy_Campaign_7683@reddit (OP)
I appreciate your thoughts, it's easy to get caught in a negative thought pattern. That's what I was thinking too, about hiring cycles.
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
asked and answered hundreds of times already
use the search function to see previous posts or go back and read some
You pay as you go
SafeAtFirstRN@reddit
Swap “chef” with nurse and we are in very, very similar boats. I’m still not sure if I’ll ever make a complete career change, and I enjoy what I do (but trust me, not as much as I used to… I’m burnt out and exhausted from working short-staffed nearly every shift) so working to help pay for lessons is doable at the time, but I get where you’re at. I’d recommend getting involved with a local EAA chapter or network (like you’re doing here) with other pilots who, like you, made flying their second career. I’d like to say I’ve seen scholarships that are geared toward just that.
I’m sorry I don’t have better advice, but I wanted to let you know you’re not alone.
Flashy_Campaign_7683@reddit (OP)
I really appreciate you reaching out! Not feeling alone is very very important, so hopefully you feel less alone also. Eaa is a great suggestion. I actually haven't visited their website until just now!
SafeAtFirstRN@reddit
No problem! During my last discovery flight I found out my CFI is a fellow nurse. He just turned 50 and is making the career change and I think that’s pretty incredible. Even if he doesn’t get hired on at an airline for years, he’s having an absolute blast. Good luck to you!