Have any pilots in this group made a career change AWAY from flying? Let’s hear it
Posted by FrequentFlyer96@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 106 comments
Title says all. I’m tired of chasing this airline career and I’m really starting to lose my love and interest for this. I’ve been over minimums for over a year now doing everything I can to get a sniff from ANYONE. Stuck in a physically taxing 135 operation getting shit sleep and shit pay and no other avenues or openings. I really don’t know how much longer I can do this.
Previous-Distance81@reddit
I left the military in 95. 40,000 pilots in furlough. Started a “regular” job at a major Pharma company. Flew as a reservist. Picked up some “side hustle” flying in the meantime. 30 years later, I ended up retiring from both the reserves and my civ jobs. 5 type ratings later, flying a Citation and King Air in retirement. Never missed a paycheck during those years.
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
This sub is pretty largely populated with people who started in the early 2010s and got in at a good time, so you might not get a lot of interaction here. Additionally, people out of flying probably aren't hanging out in a flying sub.
The grind sucks, I know. The end is worth it IMO, but it's hard.
Several-Village5814@reddit
Yea I know people who gave up on aviation after hitting 1500 hours, and couldn’t find a jet job. Safe to say they aren’t spending their free time on flying Reddit.
hxk1@reddit
A friend of mine gave up at 1,800h with 400 multi in 2014 with a 4y degree. That was the last time it was legitimately difficult
dashdriver@reddit
That’s weird. The regional pilot shortage was just starting then. With 1800 hours and 400 multi if they answered the phone they would’ve gotten a class date.
The barrier to entry back then was the 1500 TT and largely nothing else.
Mesa offered you a class date if you met the minimums. Ground school served as the “interview.”
Guys with 1500 hours over 25 years in their personal Bonzanas were becoming airline pilots after retiring from their career if they were younger than 65. I flew with many of them at my regional. Hell we hired one guy when he was 62 and a half.
Gotta be more to your friends story.
Mr-Badcat@reddit
Depends on where you were. Some regional airlines were still shrinking and some had just gone bankrupt a few years before.
EnvironmentCrafty710@reddit
Yup. I know a stack of people like this. All of them start the conversation with how much more stable their lives are.
More stable. More regular. Way less stress. They're making plans for years down the road, not months. The have stable families, kids, pets, careers.
Aviation isn't all upside. We've got a ton of good things, but they come at a price. (Nearly) Everyone here has decided that those costs are worth it, and most of us think they're well worth it, but make no mistake, there is a cost.
Not everyone came to the same conclusions that we have.
GuppyDriver737@reddit
This guy is complaining after 1 year of the suck? That’s comical.
GuppyDriver737@reddit
It’s fine, man. I’m genuinely happy for the guys who made it after a year at the regionals. The timing for them has been incredible. And that’s what this career is all about, timing. I just find it frustrating when guys expect it. This is precisely why there’s a small group of us who have exceptionally high seniority at the majors now. We persevered when everyone else, like the original poster, couldn’t see the long-term vision. I hope he quits and finds his true passion, creating an opportunity for someone else.
Cascadeflyer61@reddit
Sorry you are getting downvoted!! If it was that easy, with exceptions after COVID, I wouldn’t be making 400k a year.
NonVideBunt@reddit
This. The end result is absolutely worth it, but you have to have the resilience and fortitude to see it through. Not everyone does and that’s ok.
FrequentFlyer96@reddit (OP)
I did the instructing grind for years and now stuck in this 135 as this current “hiring wave” is subsiding and hiring departments are again slamming their doors. It could be worse, and maybe I’d be in a better state of mind if I was 5 years younger
thefouthblindmouse@reddit
I left to become a nurse. This sub often recommends people not get an aviation degree in college. I went to school to become a nurse. I have always loved aviation and did become a pilot and got my ratings before becoming a nurse "passing the NCLEX". It all came down to time and money. As a nurse I am home every night and make good money right away. If I stayed flying I'd still have to grind before I would make the big bucks. I would also have many nights away from home.
As a nurse I make good money, have an incredible pension, and have great benefits. I get to run every night. Have several days a year I can get out skydiving. I do miss the cockpit, but will never regret pursuing nursing.
PardoningTurkeys@reddit
Im an aviation enthusiast. I wanted to be a pilot so bad 18-21 but met a guy when I was 21, former 737 pilot that switched to contracting told me “get your private and STOP” that was in 2011. My career is Surveying, made $167k last year, if I decide to go to my summer job (prevailing wage) this summer, I could break $200k. I stopped at 22 hours, never got my private, I only have Part 107 for Surveying so I can fly my RTK drones.
I do want to finish my private, it is my dream, but feel like its a waste of money and the money is better fit spent on something that benefits my family. I have thought about saving for a C152 but I couldnt justify it unless I broke $200k.
I love aviation, but working for some airline or even part 135 pilot flying a Cessna caravan, lose sleep with shit schedules or eat ramen noodles flying the caravan, im good
Worried_Night8932@reddit
are you a drone pilot?
Scary-Comfortable754@reddit
The problem is, pilots aren't qualified to do anything else- I've seen layed off pilots selling encyclopedias, and bagging groceries....
LeafCase9847@reddit
I'm doing this right now. Interviewed for a non-aviation job today.
Been flying for 8 years and I'm done working so hard for nothing to show. I've spent 8 years being underpaid, overworked and sexually harassed at work (at a rate of one creep per year).
UtopianVirus@reddit
Not yet still grinding it out at a regional airline.
Fin_the_great@reddit
FAA
alicia_mac@reddit
Left airline flying to become a software engineer. Got burned out. Came back to flying for a living about 3 years ago. Money and job security are good.
jumpseat320@reddit
This is great. Is 45 too late to start training? Have a family, mortgage to deal with. Already have my PPL and will be happy to just stay as a Regional FO given my age. How did you pay for training?
TxAggieMike@reddit
Age 45 is not too late to start.
With a family and those costs, plus mortgage plus retirement and college savings, be extra careful about your finances and financial situation as you think about funding training.
Please read what u/RaisetheDed has to say about Paying for Flight Training With Loans/Debt
Doing it wrong will put you in a very bad financial situation. You cannot count on paying off debt with airline pay since you need to get hired and flying for airline first. And that is not a sure thing.
Best first step is saving in advance $20,000 to cover private pilot training, complete that, and then consider if you will continue pushing for the career switch.
jumpseat320@reddit
Yes Sir, seen the posts on loans. I worked and paid for my PPL but it took a while. Only loans I have is the mortgage and so tempted to take a loan but not doing it. If I paid for IR, would it be ok to take a loan to finish the rest of the way?
TxAggieMike@reddit
Avoid debt the entire time. Else your ability to fund retirement and kids college is diminished.
And you should still be able to self pay if you’re smart about it.
Commercial instruction should be more than $6000-$7000 and you can roll in some CFI instruction parts.
Time building can be done on reasonable if you legally split costs with another time builder.
jumpseat320@reddit
Thank you, appreciate the details and direction. Yes kids college is on my mind. Already with an IT job (20 yrs) I fund a 529 but nothing spectacular..my kids will still end up with loans. Saving the Heloc for kids if it comes to that. We have thought about selling our home and moving to a home and live debt free. Then use what we paid for mortgage beforr towards flight training. Genuine question, but with Fafsa, when you make a certain income, kids get grants. So don't pilots starting with 80k annually, wouldn't their kids be eligible? I have no clue how ppl run a family with cfi pay.
TxAggieMike@reddit
You save up the money in advance.
Stating liquid might mean a delay, but have the cash on hand means you have the cash on hand when Mr. Murphy causes the house to break expensive, or the car needs big time repairs, or one of the kids needs expensive medical attention.
alicia_mac@reddit
Get a loan & pay it off asap. Get your ratings quickly, like with all atp . Keep in mind that airline flying is not the only gig out there - there’s corporate, air ambulance, cargo, etc.
SandySprings67@reddit
I made one away from Medicine. Similar decision and experience. After decades of training and experience I decided enough was enough. Best decision I ever made. I no longer save (many) people’s lives but I have a better lifestyle and make much more money. I still moonlight in the ICU (a little). Most of my income now doesn’t have anything to do with traditional medicine. I am also a pilot (just PPL) which is why I’m interested in this post.
the_silent_redditor@reddit
What did you do?
SandySprings67@reddit
ICU for 31 years. Quit doing it full time about 8 years ago. Since then only about 2-3 days per month.
I watched the quality of healthcare spiral downward while Nurses got mistreated (first) and eventually Doctors too all the while Administrators, Pharma and Insurance got rich moving fake goal posts around. The other group to benefit were the malpractice Lawyers.
I could talk about it for hours but unless you lived it you wouldn’t believe it. By the time I quit I had ten bosses (mostly 25 year old tech school 2-year degree grads) many of whom were simply layers or buffers in suits just to insulate the elite uppers from having to actually lie to our faces directly anymore. They had so much money they could hire someone to do it for them.
They literally would insult us constantly and acted like we would KILL someone just to get a free hamburger lunch from a drug rep. Just as one example of many, the hospital literally had me do mega extra nighttime work for an entire year one time and promised to “pay me later” (“don’t worry, we’ve got you, we won’t forget”) and when later came they kept the $150,000 they owed me and told me that if I went to get a lawyer I could also go get another job. Same thing when they took our vacation days without compensation or substitution. Multiple other horror stories.
During my career I watched hundreds of the best people our society has to offer (selfless, hard working) get sacrificed at the altar of corporate medicine. These are naturally caring and hard-working individuals who had to make a choice to suffer personally in order to protect the patients (this “held out” that way for years). They wanted rules followers who didn’t know enough to fight the system. They literally gave raises that were less for people with more experience to weed out the experienced staff.
The whole “Doctor’s are evil” narrative pushed by the media and Hollywood in the early 90’s and onward was just a coup to steal power and thereby money from the system, all-the-while real healthcare (not the kind in propaganda charts and tables) got worse.
I care about people a lot but I had to save myself.
the_silent_redditor@reddit
Yeah, 100% agree and see all of that in my field.
So exhausting. So burnt out. So poorly compensated for giving 110% at all hours throughout the year - weekends, holidays, family events, you name it. Lost to my shit job.
What did you go into?
I don’t know if I can keep doing this, but don’t know what I’d do instead.
SandySprings67@reddit
I took all of the money I made my entire career and invested it into land and other real estate. I worked very hard. I did an average of 2.7 full-time positions for over 10 years. At another point I did every other night on-call and didn’t take a vacation for 11 years in a row. I worked days, nights, weekends. Straight. No breaks except every other night off. I can’t tell you how many times I missed things. I used to call caffeine my “pain killer.” You don’t know real pain until you’ve been awake for days and can not go to sleep.
I own about $29M in real estate… thousands of acres… a farm, timber properties, college rental apartments, resort rentals, commercial properties. I collect rents and make repairs. At this point I don’t really need to work, I am a “very high net worth individual.”
I shifted my medical practice to aesthetics… I make women’s faces, breasts, bellies and butts more “desirable.” I don’t help anyone in any meaningful way. I had to do whatever it took to not be in the hospital- which is what I gave up my entire youth (20-30), day and night, learning how to do. I paid off all of my college debt, equivalent to about $400,000 today, in the first two years. Spent 95% of my paychecks paying off my student loans. I was a god in the hospital. I could help 80 people in need daily. I could solve problems no one else could figure out. It was a team of great people and what I did really mattered back then. And I was paid well for it. At one point I generated as much money for the hospital as an individual as the entire cardiology department and was only bested by one entity… the entire neurosurgery department. Admin used to roll out the red carpet for me and really listen to my suggestions for how to make things better. That all changed in the mid-2000’s. There is no money now in anything that involves basic needs and rights- preventative medicine, emergency or critical care medicine, the care of children, mentally ill or elderly. Forget about it. All you will get is abuse, broken promises, finger pointing, ten bosses, you name it.
I’ve had people attempt to sue me about 8 times. Each event is very stressful and takes about a year to resolve. I’ve never lost a lawsuit because I never do anything that is malpractice, not because they haven’t tried to hurt me so they could make money frivolously.
One time I was working in the ICU. Pulling a 48 hour shift. I sensed and heard a commotion down the hall. Nurses yelling. I went to go see if I could help. It was another Doctor’s patient, not my responsibility. I was super busy already with my patients. Tired and hoping to get off on time. Was the end of my shift. I stayed over an extra 90 minutes in the ICU after my shift was done covering for this other Doctor who for some reason they couldn’t get in touch with. I ended up saving the lady’s life. She had a stroke but fully recovered. My thanks? She and her family sued me! I had no obligation to help her other than a moral one. My name didn’t even need to be in her chart. I could have walked away. Her hisband knew that. He was told that by the staff. He had even thanked me for saving his wife’s life. The other 7 “lawsuits” were equally bad. Ridiculous.
I am lucky that I always saved and invested every dime I could spare. I was able to escape from hell.
Anyway, lol. I could go on forever. My best advice to you would be to work your ass off and invest wisely. Make a ten year plan and stick to it. Then semi-retire to something else.
the_silent_redditor@reddit
Thanks for the in-depth reply and advice.
Congrats on your journey - I’d kill to be where you’re at. Sounds like you worked tirelessly for it and were a great doctor; I hope you are finally enjoying the good life.
One day, hopefully, I’ll be in half as good as a position as you.
SandySprings67@reddit
Thank you, there were times I wondered if I wasn’t literally in hell (like, literally) and I just didn’t know it- like that’s what hell really is - a terrible deception and you don’t actually know you’re there.
The hardest times are when you aren’t enjoying yourself and you haven’t yet reached your financial goals. Each generation tastes a slightly different flavor of this- but they are all sour in their own way.
Time is on your side. Things will work out for you. Keep your chin up and stay safe out there.
All the best!
Sea-Progress2213@reddit
I had a CDL Trucking career before I went to flight school. Realized real quick I enjoyed flying but not the airlines. Basically a truck driver of the sky. Found some other interests in aviation that would be more accommodating to having a family. That’s how I ended up in Alaska. I’m currently trucking up here and I hope to get the flying back on track at some point. I have my CSEL and IR but I need to finish my CFI still.
bahenbihen69@reddit
I find this offensive. We aren't even close to being truck drivers of the sky. We are bus drivers of ths sky.
Sea-Progress2213@reddit
I guess I should have clarified, I wanted to do Cargo initially. That would make my description more applicable. Still my point remains, gone from home a lot.
freedomandbiscuits@reddit
Yes, it happens every time there is downturn in the economy and the airline furlough. A certain percentage of people don’t return. Of my classmates that received their commercial certs in 01/02, probably half of them are no longer pilots, or spent a significant amount of time outside of the profession before coming back.
theGoatRocks@reddit
Lots of good replies. I’ll add one from the perspective of “made it to the other side”
At a US major. Absolutely love my job. I also try to fly min schedule, and even drop time where possible. Sitting around 50 hours for May right now. A “normal” airline month is 70-85 block hours more or less, fyi. Some might call it a luxury, others lifestyle design. Doesn’t really matter, the key is to find a balance that will allow you to run the marathon of this career over hopefully another 35 years, for you.
On the side I run a very small software business that does well enough to take (almost) all the stress out of the industry. During the big COVID yo-yo I was able to lean into the software biz even more and actually saw income go up.
I know this isn’t for everyone, and I feel very fortunate to have ended up in this place where each (unstable) industry balances out the other and allows me to not hang on every rumor of bad news like i used to.
Long way to say, OP you’ve already done most of the hard work. So many of us have been where you are and I would have for you to miss out on all the legitimately awesome benefits of an airline career, if that’s actually what you set out to do.
In the meantime, is there any way to start nurturing some side interests? This job is a lot more enjoyable when ALL of your eggs aren’t in the same basket. The benefit is more mental than financial, especially when you’re just getting going.
diningroomchaircover@reddit
I’m thinking of leaving as well but everyone thinks I’m crazy because I’m at a major. Thinking of going to grad school, maybe a top MBA program.
FrequentFlyer96@reddit (OP)
This was a great write up, and thank for kind of talking me off the ledge.
Any-Rhubarb2703@reddit
It’s pretty unfortunate that a conscious decision to go do things that make you happier is framed around here as not having the grit or determination to see it through. I chose to leave aviation. I now work in a senior strategic role, at the interface of operations, policy, and the political world. It’s challenging, fast-paced, varied, and stimulating. I have evenings and weekends to myself, plenty of leave I can take whenever I want, and I am paid better than I ever was as a pilot.
You can love flying and not work as a pilot. There are some pretty great lives to be had out there, doing exactly that.
Foxbat100@reddit
Because people like to downplay the level that timing and luck have to do with success to maintain their perception of being a tough manly man with grit. For most, it is a game of attrition to see whose bank account dies first.
Cascadeflyer61@reddit
No, actually takes a lot of drive, saying it’s to be tough and manly sounds like sour grapes. It’s just hard work and an element of luck.
Cascadeflyer61@reddit
Keep it up! Hang in there. Maybe a different 135 job in someplace interesting. I loved flying 135 in the Caribbean, and I was offered a couple jobs in Alaska.
This is a cool career, I have good memories of those early jobs, even flight instructing, even though the pay was shit, even at Horizon I made poverty level wages.
Here’s the thing, it’s a small part of your career. I was just offered double pay for a hard time 28 hour trip earlier this month. 20k in four days! It’s a great job, I hate to say it was harder when I started out in the early 90’s, but it was. I saw many people fall by the wayside, don’t be one of them!
Good luck! Think out of the box!! Move somewhere cool!
SimonBumblefuck@reddit
I have now spent more time as a professor vs. time in the left seat. Before I hit thirty, I thought moving to a better regional would make life easier. The livery was different, but it was still the same crisis management industry. It doesn't matter who you fly for, or what you fly. It does not matter how skilled you are. The process is the same.
And you are going to eat like crap, and sleep like shit. Everyone is stuck in the crab bucket.
No one in the industry will tell you to quit, because they have an outcome focused mindset. They thought I was an idiot for walking away from a decamil career. So, I lived with the crabs in the bucket until I burned out.
Think about this: In twenty years, do you want to wake up in a wildly different timezone, to drag your ass back to the airport for the 10,000th time, and stare at white fog all day? How will your body handle the stress after grinding out another decade?
I love aviation, but I hate the airlines. I have not missed a day of that lifestyle.
P.S. It took me nearly a decade to stop having PTSD style dreams, where crew scheduling calls screaming about my whereabouts. Fuck. That. Noise.
WhiteH2O@reddit
I got furloughed twice in 2008. I worked as a civilian for the navy for 10 years doing mostly electrical and supervisory work. lt wasn't horrible, but I came crawling back in 2018 and now I'm at one of the big 3. It is soooo much better flying than actually working for a living.
itmustbeforreal@reddit
I flew helicopters for 10 years commercially and then transitioned into a job running snowcats at a ski resort and am super happy! Life outside of flying does exist
FabulousArtichoke457@reddit
Pistons to piston bully’s!
jetblackpilot@reddit
I know it sucks flying part 135 but honestly have you looked at regionals before you give up? I know you’re looking and trying but man if you can hold out for 121 you will thank me later, idc what anyone says…a 121 legacy airline gig is the best job in the whole world man. It’s worth the grind if you can hold out…
CorporateKaiser@reddit
That’s the issue though, how long does “hold out” mean? The market isn’t going to suddenly open up like it did during Covid, and we’re creating way more pilots than we need. The reality is that the pilot shortage, at least in America, is over, but unlike every other industry, pilot jobs are bottlenecked by a hundred different factors
jetblackpilot@reddit
I wish I could give you a better answer on how long but I don’t hold a crystal ball. All I know is that guys are still getting hired…at least at my major airline. So there is hope
justtwoguys@reddit
I was planning on being a pilot in high school. Got my PPL at 17 then IR then started work on my commercial. In Canada, you would need to fly up North for several years before getting even a chance at a job in the airlines. My instructor sat me down one day and told me if I could do anything else and fly for fun I should do that. I listened to him. I'm a specialist physician now and very happy but it was definitely an insane grind to get here. I make 2.5x the very top end of the pilot pay scales and sleep at home 28/30 nights a month with 10 weeks off a year. Still fly for fun.
PerceptionJumpy7523@reddit
Stick with it kid… I’ve chased money got a doctorate, got and MBA made some really nice quick money. I dream of the sky’s often from the front view of that regional. My 172 I fly doesn’t compare to the Embraer 145 I once flew and thought I hated. Looking back I was young and naive to leave. I was working 14 hour duty days and logging 3 hours. Staying at Ramada’s and Microtels… I thought I was miserable. Take it from an old guy who would change many things to go back… stick with it. You’ll get lucky, your friends will eventually get into the manors and help you out with their connections… even my friends who I thought would never make the majors did… albeit a few years behind the rest. Don’t give up… do it for us that left and wish we never did. Corporate America is way worse than an occasional jerk pilot or controller.
pilottrev16@reddit
I made the switch in 2024 to join the FAA as an inspector and have thoroughly enjoyed it. You get the enjoyment of still working alongside other pilots and enthusiasts with a job that is structured, has great benefits, and allows for endless areas to grow and explore. Nothing says you can’t try something for a year/few years to see if you enjoy it. Will I spend my entire career at the FAA? Who knows. I’d say only half the people I work with are career Feds. Many joined as a second or third career, some started and are leaving to join the private sector, that’s a healthy mix. Give something new a try, you can always come back to flying on your own timeline.
indecision_killingme@reddit
Academia has worked out well for me for the most part. I get to fly a little, but I’m mostly in the classroom.
Depend, depending on the gig, you might be able to get a free masters degree in transition into something else or move up in your department
Dry_Representative53@reddit
Yup. I’m 33 and was at a regional for about a year. Lifestyle wasn’t for me and I went back into law enforcement. I get half the month off and don’t have to bid in order to get it.
migmma89@reddit
I always found it bizarre that people think the only flying job that exists is being an airline pilot. I'm an airline pilot but it is by far the most boring flying job I've ever had. And I only do it for the money and benefits. And once I hit my exit number or fire number then I'll go do another type of flying.
ResoluteFalcon@reddit
Not speaking as someone from the aspect of a full/part time career/job in aviation.
I got my PPL in 2023 and started Instrument training a little while after. Got about half way through Instrument and then I just.....stopped. It suddenly didn't make sense for me to spend $30K over the next couple years to get all the way through Commercial and CFI just to have a shot at getting hired somewhere in an already oversaturated market. I don't feel as though I am going to be competitive given how many times I have been rejected by companies in my own field (IT/computers/tech).
I therefore pursued learning electronics repair on a component level on my own time, and it has provided a wealth of skills....not to mention that it is a wonderful backup field of study.
Deep down I'm being tugged back in to at least try to get through pursuing aviation, but I can't do it for some reason; no matter how much people tell me about "being on my deathbed and regretting it" or "answering phones all day"....shit like that.
I don't know.
Sicktuna@reddit
same bro, honestly it’s not worth it all the stories I read about how the job market is stable every couple years and airlines will just lay you off is ridiculous. And even worse spending 30+ thousand just to learn how to fly and a non-marketable skill.. I am invested 12,000 and it wasn’t until I had a medical issue that took months for the FAA to respond I realized flying is kind of for bots lol I found so much more success in the real world working on my own business and I’m glad I didn’t pursue my career and flying
ResoluteFalcon@reddit
Three...four years ago, I was dead set on pursuing this field and was aware of the risk that I might not find a job. The money is there in my savings just standing by and gaining interest.
Now I can't commit to it anymore. I've been in a cycle of "should I" and "why not" for the past year and a half. I don't know what happened.
Brave_Recognition798@reddit
I am exactly in your boat, I started several years ago (pre covid) and I knew there would be some challenges getting a job, but it was nothing like now.
I’m in a similar field and making OK money, it is nice having weekends off and knowing when I’m gonna go to sleep and wake up 😂
If the cost of entry entry (quitting my job and working ramp for two or three years just to stay in the north) wasn’t so high. I’d probably do it tomorrow but unlike you and it doesn’t all feel worth it at least with the way things are.
Mobile_Smell_4214@reddit
You’re 29. The average age of a new hire class at a major is close to 40. At a regional it’s probably about 30. You aren’t behind. I had all my apps in and didn’t hear anything… and then all the sudden I got so many interview invites in a 3 month period I was literally turning them down.
brongchong@reddit
Harden up, Joey. Take some try-actin’. Tryactin’ like a man. You think you’re special and you deserve a job RIGHT NOW? There are thousands that went before you that worked shite jobs much longer than you have, suffered furloughs, struggled through carriers and employers going out of business, 9/11, and general industry mayhem while living in a crappy crash-pad and living on Ramen noodles for $12K a year at Mesa, the worst regional on the planet along with great mistakes airlines.
On second thought - you should quit. You’re too soft for this profession.
An_ocean_of_salt@reddit
Bro screaming the boomer call to arms here.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
YOU GOT SOLF HANDS BROTHER HOW BOUT YOU GO AHEAD AN QUIT YOU ANT CUT OUT FOR THIS
imapilotaz@reddit
I mean... theres a whole generation of us that did this. Its like the GenX of pilots. We were a completely lost generation that got screwed 8 ways to Sunday.
Kids these days really have no concept of shit. So many pilots couldnt get a shitty B1900 job until 3k+ hours
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
I mean there was a whole group of people who started flight training in 2017 and got to the regionals by 2021 and then legacy’s by 2023. I’m at 800 hours and don’t even have a job yet. Makes me wanna quit and when people tell me to it’s like damn. I really should. I’m living in actually poverty now and I’m at a point where it’s no longer about a dream. I just got to start making real money ASAP and move on with my life.
Individual-Elk-6759@reddit
Wtf is this? 😂
FrequentFlyer96@reddit (OP)
Man there are way too many pilots like you
No-Cell-8208@reddit
Awhile back, but came out of college after 9/11. Went to grad school instead, fell into a career in consumer insights and market research that became a career in airport management consulting. Fly my own plane for fun. Still on the first marriage. Kids don't hate me. Life is good.
goatfuckersupreme@reddit
dont worry man, you've got time
Loose-Engineering487@reddit
What is airport management consulting? And how does one get into that?
No-Cell-8208@reddit
Well it's a broad classification, but pretty much anything that airport staff do they can also hire consultants to assist or manage for them. It's mostly on the business side - less on the operations.
I'm an air service development consultant, so I work to recruit new airlines/new routes for my client airports. I served as Director of Air Service Development for two large airports prior to going into consulting - basically doing the same thing, but for many airports.
A lot of folks who do what I do also came from airline network planning roles - so that's another avenue.
iwontmakeaname@reddit
Hey we may be able to use your help shoot me a dm if you're open for work
FrequentFlyer96@reddit (OP)
I’m also curious!
Capital-Cricket-1010@reddit
id like to do this, but my last pay check for two weeks was $18,000 (before tax)
Number1innovation@reddit
Do you have an ATP?
Plenty of guys at Flight Safety and CAE who got tired of the grind and wanted a job that is solid 6 figures and pretty good schedule depending on the center
Panacamana@reddit
I'm on the other side of the fence from you, currently in a non flying career but very lowkey considering pursuing an aviation career. More accurately I should say I was considering. I have always loved aviation and dreamed of flying but I feel like I waited too long and am getting closer to 40.
I am a fireman. Low cost of entry and in the right parts of the country it pays good not great but you can make low six figures without breaking a sweat while having great benefits and time off along with a legitimate pension. 30s is not too old.
I still somewhat consider the flying thing but then my logical self talks me out of it.
Gold-Weather_69@reddit
Welcome to the reality of aviation mate. You’re not alone. I hope you have a backup plan.
Traditional_Pace9238@reddit
I’m kinda feeling the same uncertainty, I lost medical and am considering a different career, just scared cause I love flying so much. At the same time if I do something else I can come home every night to the family I hope to one day have. I’m considering getting on basic med and continuing to instruct on the side because unlike many of my peers I enjoy it and find it very fulfilling especially to see the smile on the face of a new student who just got their first smooth landing. You can also be a DPE on basic med which is very lucrative although a very nepotism based hiring setup. Only issue is finding another job that is at least somewhat enjoyable and can pay off my flight school debt.
GroundbreakingWeb813@reddit
Scour LinkedIn profiles for USAFA 89-92 grads. If we even got into the airlines after being banked or flying hours in circles over Iraq, we then got furloughed at 9/11. Those LinkedIn profiles mostly read like i tried the airlines and then tried something else. I would hazard most like myself stuck with the “else”.
Impossible_Sky9384@reddit
Was getting my ratings just after 9/11, wasn’t really old enough to know what was going on. My father pushed me in the direction of an engineering degree and management, etc. Now I run my own business and travel around a bunch in the family airplane. Never got to fulfill my childhood dream of airline captain, but life is good.
HarryDixkin@reddit
This won’t help - but - I’ve gone through phases where I’ve loved, and hated my career. Last year was a difficult one for me. This year is shaping up better, so far. Different operators, and even different seasons with the same operator will greatly affect your enjoyment for your career.
I’d suggest considering what it is you still enjoy, and what you are tired of, and seeing if there’s anything you can do to impact your experience for the better. Or, just get out like you’re considering. There’s no shame in that, but it’s a pretty big decision to make.
AHarmlessCat@reddit
During the beginning of my flight training I started a hobby making things and selling them online. I did this on the side until I was an instructor at a 141 with about 850 total time and would qualify for R-ATP, but by that point the hobby evolved into a business. Decided while I'd be happy at the airlines as far as jobs go, I couldn't live with throwing away the business I grew. Plus Id make only slightly less then I would have otherwise and still growing while working for myself at home. I still instruct part time because I enjoy flying, but no longer motivated to go to the airlines or anything unless I needed too.
reidmrdotcom@reddit
I had my private and was working towards more in the mid 2000's. Stopped, finished my degree, and worked and traveled for about 5 years until the economy was getting better (taught English abroad, worked in a cafe). Got back into flying in the mid 2010's and it's been crazy with all the hiring. When I got back into it, my instructor had about 6,000 hours and things were just starting to pick back up. Many regional FOs who finally started to upgrade in the late 2010's after over a decade with the company. Many regional captains with over 20 years who stopped trying to get out due to seeing their friends get furloughed and be out of work for a decade. And their pay being better for years than the majors, so staying.
Basically, times can be very tough. I'm glad I got out when I did, and got back in when I did. I also paced myself by not working extra the whole time, not picking up extra, and just working my schedule and no more. Pacing helps prevent burnout and keep enjoying the job. If I were where you were at today, I'd try to find some role I enjoy and focus on hunkering down for a while and ride things out. The next best step from where you are at. Or, step out and rejoin. I got flushed out before and came back. In my regional class in the mid 2010's there were many folks who stepped away from flying and got back in after over a decade away. A number of them just couldn't get back up to speed and couldn't finish. Many got back and enjoyed the next stage of their career with kids who were grown at that point, and were pretty settled and wanted to fly again with an easier home life.
TaigaBridge@reddit
I never intended to go to the airlines, I started out with the intention of becoming a small aircraft dealer, back when everybody and his dog was rolling out new light sport aircraft and we were told this was going to revitalize general aviation. I would get my CFI (and CFI-G) to demonstrate and sell LSAs and motor gliders.
By the time I had a couple hundred hours in, it became abundantly clear that LSAs were not selling the way people initially hoped they would - and that I had under-estimated just how much of a problem my politics and religion were for doing business with the people in the area where I lived at the time.
I would still love to do it, but the business case wasn't there to twist some local investors into giving me a million bucks to get started, and still isn't.
cwc80@reddit
Unless you can change careers to a job that you are passionate about and that has a relatively high top end pay, you are probably just trading one grind for another, with less potential. There are a ton of people who are older than you but still think it’s worth it to keep trying. Right now we’re between “good“ times in the industry, but another wave will come around.
Good_Independence_69@reddit
This is the best answer here.
Unless OP some amazing talent or lots of experience some place else they're still starting at the bottom. Airlines follow the same economy as everyone else and the job market is shit in lots of places. Knowing that, the question then becomes are they passionate enough to keep struggling. If not, then perhaps they should find something else.
Top_Ad39@reddit
Do you have something else you wish to transition into? If there isn’t something else arc your fingertips, you might as well hunker in. Right now people in most industries are unable to move fwd in their careers, every industry is suffering, there may not greener pastures for now. Id take some deep breaths, breathe in and embrace the suck fur as long as it takes. And you’re a lot closer to the prize than most. That call could come any day. 30 is just a number.
imapilotaz@reddit
Pre 9/11 graduate. Pre 9/11 CFI. It was bad before. It became even worse after.
So i decided to go the management route. Its been one hell of a ride spanning 3 different decades.
Perfect_Big_5907@reddit
You are only 30. If you can stick it out it will change at some point. At 30 i was flying crappy part 91 entry level stuff but stuck it out and got much better.
PILOT9000@reddit
I know guys who have left and gone into business, insurance, real estate, law, medicine, and gov/mil contractors.
Rotten_Pumpkin_008@reddit
One I know got out of regional airline to work at a flight school, he now own/operate his own flight school.
The other pilot I know shifted to getting a degree in airport management and now is the airport manager of a public airport
B100West@reddit
Couple friends from the military became pilots. The lost their medicals
One went simulators. The other flight dispatch
bowhunterb119@reddit
I’m considering dispatch whenever I get out or retire from the military. I like flying but I kinda want to go home every day once I’m done with this. I just want to make enough to own a small airplane or rent one a time or two each month, my time at home is more important to me than chasing the big bucks at an airline. That kind of flying sounds boring to me anyways.
B100West@reddit
r/FlightDispatch
bowhunterb119@reddit
Thanks, didn’t even know that was a thing
CarefulCanadian@reddit
I'm right around your age and have been flying in the military for a number of years now. A year ago I decided that the airlines wasn't for me after watching many friends switch over. Decided to go back to school this summer to become a physician and really looking forward to it! You're only 30 and have a lot of working years ahead of you, there are real sacrifices that come with flying for work. Make sure it's something you really want if you're going to continue down this path for another 30 years.
BoboTheLhasaDog@reddit
You’ll probably lose your love and interest for whatever else you do, too. Best of luck!
Swimming_Way_7372@reddit
I was very close to being done with it all. I was working part 91 and just getting ran ragged. I interviewed for some 121 jobs and even got a CJO at Breeze that was rescinded before the background check was even started. I was pretty much done with it all but a friend of mine asked me if I would join his outfit and fly with him. If this one goes away I'll be just fine hanging it up in my 40s and working a part time job somewhere to support my hobbies and travel.
Enough_Professor_741@reddit
I got my licenses up to ATP in the 80's: Lear ratings, plus King Air 350. 727 FE. And could not find a job. 4K hours flying cargo, had multiple layoffs in training. ASA, Eagle, Ryan, etc. Airline deregulation, Braniff closing, etc., meant there were very few jobs. Flew corporate for a few years and kept getting laid off. I got a job flying a Lear for GE/CFM in the US, which transitioned into an HR Manager job. We had 2 kids, and I was tired of being gone all the time, plus a probable layoff was coming. I moved up to Director, then Vice President of North American HR. I stayed there a long time, no layoffs, regular hours, and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's off. I kept my CFI active and was an American Bonanza Society Instructor, Aviation Safety Counselor, etc. I retired not too long ago, and life is good. Timing is everything in this industry, and it also takes a willingness to move, take any job, and be away from home often. I stayed married, went to all of my kids' life events, and don't regret anything.
Cxopilot@reddit
I got in right at the start of Covid. Got furloughed. Went to fly for a 135 charter outside with constant back side of the clock flying. The schedule was so tasking I lost 80 pounds just from sleeping during the day. I was just about to give up after not hearing back. But like fishing all it takes is 1 bite. And I got a bite in late 2021. Now I’m at the airline I want to retire at. The road is tough. But not to the extent 2009-2012 was or 2020-2021. Things now are more inline with 2016-2018 level hiring. However. If the grind is wearing on you. Best piece of advice I got is do I want to be looking back at my career with regret. And make a decision from there.
Nyaos@reddit
I got really close a few years ago to leaving, personal stuff and dealing with some really big career changes and setbacks. But I ultimately stuck it out and now I’m really glad I didn’t give up.
noBuffalo@reddit
To Quote Blake Lively from The Town: gotta chase the rabbit if you want the tail
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Title says all. I’m tired of chasing this airline career and I’m really starting to lose my love and interest for this. I’ve been over minimums for over a year now doing everything I can to get a sniff from ANYONE. Stuck in a physically taxing 135 operation getting shit sleep and shit pay and no other avenues or openings. I really don’t know how much longer I can do this.
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