When to pull the plug on the Aviation career?

[aviator2010]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROlDmux7Tk4

looks like being a pilot isn't the only option for a douch bag career

[Chris]

You have to decide what you want from life.

I want to make lots of money, and have lots of free time. Unfortunately, I'm not willing to wait 25 years for this.

I frequently read AvCanada & PPRUNE - to get some of my aviation insight.
I also read Seth Godin's Blog and his book called Linchpin.

Reading these, pulls me in two different directions. For the past 4 years I've taken the non-flying path, and it's paying me very well, and giving me the desire and confidence to create my own freedom. Build my own business, create jobs for others, and make lots of money. Soon I'd like to buy my own plane, and fly on my terms.

Then when I have more money than brains, I'll start an airline in Canada.

[pilotidentity]

I thought about pulling the plug once, when I was working for a crappy employer and just had become a dad but I figured out that I just needed to do a different kind of flying for awhile to get the excitement back.

When I seriously thought about doing a non flying job I realized I don't really do what you could call "work" for a living. I'm just too lazy to do a real job. I had a job once where the boss wanted me to help out in the hanger with maintenance - it was good experience and I enjoyed the maintenance part of it but I sure wasn't used to 15 minute coffee breaks, lunch hour and the need to try to look busy. I lined up another job after awhile and away I went. I'm not afraid of hard work, rolling drums, loading or washing the plane etc but working in the hanger seriously drove me crazy. That is the nice thing about flying - once you have some experience you can move around and don't have to stay where you don't want to be anymore.

Perhaps you could get out of instructing somehow? Change it up. You are right around that magic 1000 hour mark where getting work is much easier. I've made some drastic changes and they always paid off over time. If you can't move or don't want to then of course your options are limited and there might be something else out there you enjoy doing in your home town.

To be honest, once I put my time in I found I haven't even noticed the recessions, there is always a need for experienced pilots, the only thing I do notice is when things are going good I get to work with a younger crowd which is great!

[. ._]

15 minute coffee breaks, lunch hour and the need to try to look busy

I HATE that shit! HATE it! Is there a word worse than HATE? Despise? Abhor? Not even close! If so, then I (that word) that vile f*ing leftover practice from when Henry Ford would have the police shoot his workers.

My rage can not even be measured when I hear that AAAAAAANNNNNNGH from the lunch/break buzzer.

pm me if you have a pilot job for me though. CPL Multi-IFR 250 TT.

[jazzbeat]

My bet is that it would be a very bad time to quit.

My crystal ball is telling me there will be a lot and I think maybe even more then a lot of hiring in the next 5 years.. Everyone who has a commercial licence will be pulled toward the top pretty fast if you ask me.

Its a cycle, you think it's the end of the world in a beech 1900 and 6 months later you are in the right seat of a A320 or 737.

[Samson]

[180]

Don't quit now mattas350, you're almost there.

You're young, you don't have any dependents, you're employed in the industry, you've only invested 3 years of your life into the game and you're closing in fast on that magic 1000 hours PIC.

You'd be a foolio to quit when you're so close! Hang in there man!

Now if you were 30-something, had a family, had a mortgage, only had a few hundred hours, etc., my advice would probably be more along the lines of what many have been writing. But you're young, single, employed in the industry and well on your way.

Don't quit now man!!!

[Old Dog Flying]

At 75 years young I still enjoy flying after an extremely long, and for the most part, rewarding career. I went the ATC route in the air force and retired as Chief Tower Controller at YMJ. And then got back into ATC on the civil side until I fired NavCan in '03.

And all the while I ran military flying clubs, a large civilian flying club, instructed flying part time until it became too difficult getting in and out of spam cans...but I always enjoyed what I was doing.

If it ain't fun..get out and do something else! If you enjoy aviation stick with it because you'll never meet a better bunch of people than in this line of work....except those that give shitty advice on AvCanada!

Just kidding..I think.

[quickflight]

everyone at AC seems to agree that you only give it up at 60.

[wallypilot]

Don't quit now mattas350, you're almost there.

You're young, you don't have any dependents, you're employed in the industry, you've only invested 3 years of your life into the game and you're closing in fast on that magic 1000 hours PIC.

You'd be a foolio to quit when you're so close! Hang in there man!

Now if you were 30-something, had a family, had a mortgage, only had a few hundred hours, etc., my advice would probably be more along the lines of what many have been writing. But you're young, single, employed in the industry and well on your way.

Don't quit now man!!!

180 is right in my opinion. depending on who it is that is pushing you to get more stable employment (is it wife, or parents?). If' it's wife, then that might be a bit tough. If it's parents, then maybe you can find a way to make a few bucks on the side so that you're not reliant on other support anymore. When I instructed, I worked a second job for about a year just a couple evenings a week so that I'd have enough to make ends meet.

Another poster also said there is some hiring coming. I think that's correct as well, with AC picking up a few guys and the major airlines healthier these days, we'll see a bit of an uptick in movement. You're in a pretty good spot, and if you can just hold on for another year at the most, and you are persistent in looking for other work, you will be able to move into a better position. I'd encourage you to look at survey flying as a possibility. Lots of time away, but good pay and fun work, and internatinal travel. If you love the flying, then stick with it. something will come along.

[Luscombe]

I left once when I found it hard to make ends meet. I had around 1000TT then, no IFR, no Mulit, no Instructor rating, just VFR single stuff. I fired out resumes and thought the industry wasn't going to work out for me. I worked at a "real" job as an inside sales rep for three years at a terrible place that was ran like a 1930's Cape Breton coal mine. Anybody who's seen the movie "Margaret's Museum" would understand this. The owner was an absolute tyrant who ruled by fear. I didn't really know how much I hated the place until I saw one of my co-workers have a nervous breakdown and bolt out of the place after a very vocal tirade. We were all afraid he was going to "go postal" on us. That was the point where I realized that I made a mistake leaving aviation.

For me, I think I was a little premature in my decision to leave. This was due to family pressure (I had just gotten married a year after starting my first flying job). I naively believed that the grass was greener, but found out that it wasn't. I re-joined the industry in 1998 and haven't looked back. Second best decision I ever made (first of course was getting married to a very understanding wife).

If you love flying, and I mean really love flying, then stick with it. Only you can answer that question.

[CommSpaz]

I left 5 years ago.
I do miss it, but I'm SO much happier now.
My decisions were for many of the reasons that others had mentioned
- I never got to see my husband, friends or family
- I could hardly make $$ ends meet, and I was tired of the instability of wildly fluctuating paycheques
- There's no way the aviation schedule would let me be the mom I really wanted to be
- Sleep disorders were on their way to making me a hazard in the sky

I managed to find a really cool job, still in aviation, but with a lovely 9-5 w/flex time and benefits, that lets me be home with my daughter if she's sick, still use everything I needed to know from flying, and lets me fly for fun on the side.

Best decision I ever made, but must admit get a *bit* envious of my friends' pictures from the cockpit and abroad in exotic destinations. Good luck!

[conehead]

I know a lady who works as a pilot on 767's with Air Canada. She has enough seniority to bid flights where she only works on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. She proudly says that she is "a full-time Mom and a part-time pilot"... Good gig!

[. ._]

Yep. Some people win the lotto 6/49. That is true.

[1000 HP]

I've been flying on and off for 26 years. Presently in the "off" mode. I like the work, but I'd rather do my own thing. I only flew 60 +/- hours this summer plus a trip to Buttonville delivering a Commander 114B. Flying for me was fun but it is even more fun as a part-time job. If I wanted to go fly for an airline, I'd have to take a 60% or more pay cut. Plus I would possibly die from boredom. During my flying career, I've been shot at, jumped by a knife wielding maniac, and thrown in jail. It was interesting. Now I get home most nights around 1630 hrs and work 9 on 5 off. I'm thinking of buying my own airplane for travel. Life is good.... Sooo, if you want to "give it up" for better things, just remember: Aviation is a Disease !

[Speedbirddog]

I quit 5 years ago and now make a butt load of cash and I hate it. Really my only regret in life was leaving aviation. So F it all I'm throwing my hat back in the ring for round 2. I'm pretty sure my wife has seen my eyes dulling from being a 9-5er. Whoever said aviation is a disease was right on, but one I'm willing to live with.

[scm]

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=67792

I posted this here before but it got moved to Poli. I think the subject matter may apply to this thread.
Bottom line, don't put all your eggs in one basket.

[Driving Rain]

I pulled the plug 15 days ago and so far so good. I couldn't be happier. 42 years in was enough.

[The Old Fogducker]

I'm about half way through pulling the plug after some number greater than 35 years, but there seems to be a demand for The Old Fogducker's services in a consultant and advisor capacity, and I'm still finding it interesting to hang around with aviation people.

Now, I'm able to select those with whom I associate rather than being forced to suffer fools because of the need for a paycheck.

So, the plug dangles in the outlet.

A buddy told me went on the 3 in 30 plan .... piss me off 3 times in 30 days, and I'm gone.

The Old Fogducker

[N2]

I pulled the plug years ago and have to admit sometimes I do wish I had "made" it but such is life. The only regret I have is spending so much money on so little return.

[KAG]

M
Sounds like you need to find a new job, not career. I did the instructor route, I know how tough it is; I collected 1 welfare check on a really bad stretch of no flying even though I was there 7 days a weeks, my paycheck was $28.00. That was the kick in the ass I needed, I found a new instructing gig at a busy school, and I have never looked back.
Most pilots I’ve worked with have similar stories.

If I were you I would be looking to get some multi time and really start your career. The money comes with experience, drive and chance.
This industry is a lot of hard work and luck. Right place right time, knowing the right person, or following up on a lead. The jobs are out there, you just need to be driven enough to get them. Don’t know anyone, put yourself out there and shake some hands. Make your own luck by being in the right place; if you’re trying to get a good job in a major city, good luck it probably won’t happen. You also aren’t likely to get a job with just circuit time, you NEED multi time. Target schools that have (busy) multi programs and bug the shit out of them. Get you’re A’s, 500 Multi PIC and you’re looking great.

Everyone doubts themselves at some point; you just need to decide if this is what you really WANT. Failure cannot be an option. You have to be thick headed and stubborn enough to plow your way through the “character building years”. Yeah it sucks, but IMHO it’s worth it.

[mattas350]

First of all I would like to Thank everyone who replied to this thread, or messaged me, or came into avchat and talked me in their, all your advice, words of wisdom, etc are very much appreciated, all your advice helped me a lot.

I am happy to report, after talking with everyone I decided to make "one last stand" at this crazy aviation career, and as a result of making some inquiries and calls/emails/etc, this morning I received a job offer from a reputable airline/charter operation and will be joining them in 2 weeks. I feel as if my passion for aviation is renewed! haha.

Once again, thank you to everyone who offered words of advice and helped me along the way to get to where I am today! This is truly what avcan is about.

M.

[Flybabe]

You're the only one that can make that decision matt I sure hope this works out for you. Keep me posted

[aviator2010]

aviation sucks

right up until it dosen't

[Airtids]

As we talked about in my office that day, persistance pays!! Congrats! Is it who I think it is?