Leaving a good paying secure job for aviation

[iflyforpie]

Well.... everything is perceived. Even success. One person’s success is another person’s failure.

Also, security in one form or another is usually required for success. Look at Pablo Escobar. One of the richest men alive to dead in a matter of years. Nobody wants to be temporarily successful. So whether security is in the form of a government job that might be privatized or a high net worth that might suffer volatile markets or a gold digging spouse, we still pursue it. You’ll notice that most people in high positions are chess players rather than gamblers.

One ultimately has to ask what will make you happy...
if anything? For some, working a dull but secure job and using that to do what they enjoy is the route to happiness. For others, doing the job they dreamed of with a few personal sacrifices is the route to happiness. Some aren’t happy no matter what. Life is always what you make of it.

['97 Tercel]

[raccooncptn]

Go for a flying job.

You obviously have the flying bug, we all do, even the ones on AvCanada bitching about everything do.

Sure you'll be giving up a job with pay and stability to work for Companies that are teetering on success, with crap margins and high risk. Some days will be the best experience of your life, some will be 14 hours of boredom or exhaustion. But no office job compares to the satisfaction of lining up your plane, taking one last sip of coffee then push the throttles forward, feel 5000Hp come to life and barrel you down the runway. You rotate into 15 degrees, poke through the cloud layer and see the sun rising in the East. Been doing this job for 20 years and I still love that. Aviation has given me some financial and love life woes, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Guessing you're sitting at a desk looking out a window at the airplanes flying above you and feel a little jealousy or envy. Well, do it. You won't regret it.

[KAG]

Hello all,

I did my flight training about 5 years ago but a lot of things didn't work out so had to put it off. I'm always thinking about getting back into aviation to the point that it's bothering me every day, the goal would be the airlines obviously (i.e Sunwing, Transat, etc.) The dilemma is now I have a very well paying, secure government job with a great pension and benefits. Would it be worth it for me to now leave my current career to pursue aviation again, even with the low starting salaries and job prospects (I hear its very good now) ?, I know that the question I'm asking probably has an obvious answer, but I need some good advice or closure and move on and keep it as a hobby.

Also, are airlines still requiring degrees?


Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated, Thanks!

Currently, have:

304 Total time / CPL-IFR

What about doing both for a while. Get your instructor rating and teach part time. Get to 500- 1000 hours and see what doors open.
I have to ask, how old are you and are you married, kids, etc. The more financial responsibilities you have the harder it will be to make the plunge. Its doable though for sure. There hasn't been a time this good in decades.

[a7aka]

Hello all,

I did my flight training about 5 years ago but a lot of things didn't work out so had to put it off. I'm always thinking about getting back into aviation to the point that it's bothering me every day, the goal would be the airlines obviously (i.e Sunwing, Transat, etc.) The dilemma is now I have a very well paying, secure government job with a great pension and benefits. Would it be worth it for me to now leave my current career to pursue aviation again, even with the low starting salaries and job prospects (I hear its very good now) ?, I know that the question I'm asking probably has an obvious answer, but I need some good advice or closure and move on and keep it as a hobby.

Also, are airlines still requiring degrees?


Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated, Thanks!

Currently, have:

304 Total time / CPL-IFR

What about doing both for a while. Get your instructor rating and teach part time. Get to 500- 1000 hours and see what doors open.
I have to ask, how old are you and are you married, kids, etc. The more financial responsibilities you have the harder it will be to make the plunge. Its doable though for sure. There hasn't been a time this good in decades.

Good Point I was thinking of starting it off part-time, then seeing what doors open. I'm 24 and single at the current moment, still gotta complete my Multi and Multi IFR

[a7aka]

Thank You All for the replies and advice it is much appreciated !!