Decisions with training / backup plans
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Decisions with training / backup plans
Hi folks,
I have just been considering a number of possible options with regard to my flying career / other career and development and thought I'd drop a quick post on here to get some opinions as its quite complex.
Basically i'm 25 with PPL, Night rating and 143 hours in. I also have a degree in Business / I.T and a teacher training qualification. I have no commitments thankfully, and intend on spending the next few years living with the folks until this nastey economic weather has completely blown over!
Put simply, my options are shaping up as follows.
1) Carry on working in my current teaching type roles earning 18 - 25k. However, my last job has just ended as it was contract based, so now need to find another contract or a perm position (Could take a few months or so)
2) I have the potential to pursue a doctorate (PhD) in management at my local university just down the road. This would commence April time next year and would pay me 13k a year take home for 3 years, making me 29 on completion.
Due to my frugal living I could probably pursue option 2 and still have enough time / cash to finish my ATPL exams off, as well as save up for my CPL, IR and MCC and complete it when i'm about 28 / 29.
Obviously if I was to invest another 3 years in the PhD I would have a pretty good case for a cracking support career, as well as the option of easily emmigrating to anywhere in the world as a lecturer / consultant.
To be honest I am tending towards the PhD option, as it seems to add a lot of value into the long term. However, I was interested in getting opinions as to whether 29 is a bit old to be qualifying, as well as whether while i'm training for another 3 years, I might miss a serious up turn in the pilot's job market.
Any advice / opninions of any kind are greatly appreciated.
Grouse
I have just been considering a number of possible options with regard to my flying career / other career and development and thought I'd drop a quick post on here to get some opinions as its quite complex.
Basically i'm 25 with PPL, Night rating and 143 hours in. I also have a degree in Business / I.T and a teacher training qualification. I have no commitments thankfully, and intend on spending the next few years living with the folks until this nastey economic weather has completely blown over!
Put simply, my options are shaping up as follows.
1) Carry on working in my current teaching type roles earning 18 - 25k. However, my last job has just ended as it was contract based, so now need to find another contract or a perm position (Could take a few months or so)
2) I have the potential to pursue a doctorate (PhD) in management at my local university just down the road. This would commence April time next year and would pay me 13k a year take home for 3 years, making me 29 on completion.
Due to my frugal living I could probably pursue option 2 and still have enough time / cash to finish my ATPL exams off, as well as save up for my CPL, IR and MCC and complete it when i'm about 28 / 29.
Obviously if I was to invest another 3 years in the PhD I would have a pretty good case for a cracking support career, as well as the option of easily emmigrating to anywhere in the world as a lecturer / consultant.
To be honest I am tending towards the PhD option, as it seems to add a lot of value into the long term. However, I was interested in getting opinions as to whether 29 is a bit old to be qualifying, as well as whether while i'm training for another 3 years, I might miss a serious up turn in the pilot's job market.
Any advice / opninions of any kind are greatly appreciated.
Grouse
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Option 1. sounds a bit risky. Anything could happen. If you could find a permanent position for more than say £20k though, living at home on the cheap, you could probably sail through to a fATPL. You would also have a job to stick with if you couldn't find work as a pilot.
Option 2. Judging by your post this is what you want to do, though I would have a good look at some of the ATPL books first (if you haven't already) if you're planning to take on the ATPL's alongside a PhD.
If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about being 30-ish when you qualify but do you really want to fly as a career? No one really knows when the industry will pick up or if it will at all so again I wouldn't really worry about that either. You will have your non-flying qualifications to fall back on regardless.
Now there's nothing wrong with having a backup plan but it sounds from your post like you would be quite happy working in business support or whatever, so do you really want the extra hassle and expense of learning to fly for a job instead of just for fun?
If you're dead set on flying then go for it! I don't think there are many people that could tackle the ATPL's alongside a PhD but if you think you can pull it off, and the money from the PhD isn't an issue, best of luck to you.
I'm planning on starting the ATPL distance learning with London Met next month. I'm in the reasonably fortunate position of having a full-time permanent job that pays more than enough that I can fund my training. I decided a while back that I will go all the way to fATPL regardless of whether I can get a job flying on not because it is really what I want to do. If I can't get a job flying I already have a cosy alternative.
Good luck whatever you decide. I can see either of your options working out quite nicely.
Option 2. Judging by your post this is what you want to do, though I would have a good look at some of the ATPL books first (if you haven't already) if you're planning to take on the ATPL's alongside a PhD.
If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about being 30-ish when you qualify but do you really want to fly as a career? No one really knows when the industry will pick up or if it will at all so again I wouldn't really worry about that either. You will have your non-flying qualifications to fall back on regardless.
Now there's nothing wrong with having a backup plan but it sounds from your post like you would be quite happy working in business support or whatever, so do you really want the extra hassle and expense of learning to fly for a job instead of just for fun?
If you're dead set on flying then go for it! I don't think there are many people that could tackle the ATPL's alongside a PhD but if you think you can pull it off, and the money from the PhD isn't an issue, best of luck to you.
I'm planning on starting the ATPL distance learning with London Met next month. I'm in the reasonably fortunate position of having a full-time permanent job that pays more than enough that I can fund my training. I decided a while back that I will go all the way to fATPL regardless of whether I can get a job flying on not because it is really what I want to do. If I can't get a job flying I already have a cosy alternative.
Good luck whatever you decide. I can see either of your options working out quite nicely.
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Option 2 is looking awfully good! By doing this you should be able to have your cake and if everything goes tits up, you'll still have an income. But maybe you should also spend a little time playing about with women? Anybody with spare cash can't have a woman in tow.
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haha indeed I should probably invest a bit more cash in chasing some layyydies 
. I have a lady friend at the moment but shes not too much of a racing variety requiring lots of maintenance which is quite lucky, plus she knows if you gets on my case too much i'll bugger off flying and doing my hobbies all the more lol. Flying and women are a close run thing... somedays flying wins... someday women but one way or another flying definitely rocks! 
Thank you for your replies so far folks, they are much appreciated. I think option two is good also, and ultimately would provide the greatest range of opportunities both in terms of career, variety and life style. I guess if I played it right I could eventually be a part-time business consultant / part time charter pilot or something maybe, which in terms of variety and life interest would be awsome.
Anymore opinions.... keep them coming! 2 - 0 in favour of option two by the looks of things so far.
Grouse
. I have a lady friend at the moment but shes not too much of a racing variety requiring lots of maintenance which is quite lucky, plus she knows if you gets on my case too much i'll bugger off flying and doing my hobbies all the more lol. Flying and women are a close run thing... somedays flying wins... someday women but one way or another flying definitely rocks! Thank you for your replies so far folks, they are much appreciated. I think option two is good also, and ultimately would provide the greatest range of opportunities both in terms of career, variety and life style. I guess if I played it right I could eventually be a part-time business consultant / part time charter pilot or something maybe, which in terms of variety and life interest would be awsome.
Anymore opinions.... keep them coming! 2 - 0 in favour of option two by the looks of things so far.
Grouse
I'm with RYR and I believe the industry is finally turning a corner. Give it a few more years and I think they'll be a shortage of pilots worldwide again, so finishing when you are 28/29 could be ideal.
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IMHO and my experience flying and laydees are not a good mix. Although they say they are fully supportive of your career change deep down they are not. They lay the guilt trip on you when you are away training and you can~t manage home for their birthday or their friends wedding, they constantly cast it up "well I haven~t been in America for three months", "I havent spent 5,000 quid flying stupid aeroplanes around the sky", "I'VE BEEN STUCK HERE ON MY OWN WHILE YOU"VE BEEN OFF SUNNING YOURSELF".
And as it gets closer to you qualifying, the jealous streak kicks in and they hate the thought of you being locked in a metal tube with the hosties. I went through so much strife from the femmes while I was training it set me back big time and really my training stalled. I drop-kick them whenever the whining starts now.
Unless you seriously are in love with your partner or are really insecure, my advice is ask to take a break. There is so much, heartbreak, upset, recrimination, casting up and jealousy involved and you can not focus entirely on your training when you have a neurotic girlfriend crying down the phone to you everynight. Get Out Now!!!! As I say, they all say they are fine with it, but underneath they most certainly are NOT!!!!
And as it gets closer to you qualifying, the jealous streak kicks in and they hate the thought of you being locked in a metal tube with the hosties. I went through so much strife from the femmes while I was training it set me back big time and really my training stalled. I drop-kick them whenever the whining starts now.
Unless you seriously are in love with your partner or are really insecure, my advice is ask to take a break. There is so much, heartbreak, upset, recrimination, casting up and jealousy involved and you can not focus entirely on your training when you have a neurotic girlfriend crying down the phone to you everynight. Get Out Now!!!! As I say, they all say they are fine with it, but underneath they most certainly are NOT!!!!
Speaking as 38 year old contractor with a PhD and about to start my CPL and ME/IR guess which option I'd recommend?
Not sure which university you're thinking of doing the PhD at, but in my experience it opens doors and is very useful when it comes to a back up career/one that pays for flying. In my experience having a PhD makes interviews (only non-aviation so far) a breeze, so your back up career should be fairly straightforward. No doubt the PhD will count for a lot less when it comes to securing that first flying job but it's a help with the back-up/regular work.
Perhaps I'm too old to seriously try this flying for a living lark but I'm going to give it a damned good go. You're only approaching middle age once and I reckon I've got at least 3 or 4 mid-life crises to enjoy! You're a mere youngster, get stuck in!
Go for option 2 and if the girl's got any sense she'll stick with you.
...and if she doesn't, can I have her phone number?
Not sure which university you're thinking of doing the PhD at, but in my experience it opens doors and is very useful when it comes to a back up career/one that pays for flying. In my experience having a PhD makes interviews (only non-aviation so far) a breeze, so your back up career should be fairly straightforward. No doubt the PhD will count for a lot less when it comes to securing that first flying job but it's a help with the back-up/regular work.
Perhaps I'm too old to seriously try this flying for a living lark but I'm going to give it a damned good go. You're only approaching middle age once and I reckon I've got at least 3 or 4 mid-life crises to enjoy! You're a mere youngster, get stuck in!
Go for option 2 and if the girl's got any sense she'll stick with you.
...and if she doesn't, can I have her phone number?
Last edited by Mr Grimsdale; 29th Nov 2010 at 13:04.
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Thanks for the replies folks. Typically for Pprune i'm not only getting good opinions / advice but a damned good laugh at the same time! I particularly like Johnny's bit about being stuck in a metal can with the hosties... to be honest i'm not particularly insecure and feel I might be doing myself an injustice if i managed to get a job as a pilot and didn't at least establish one or two of the hosties on my ILS ! If i'm lucky they might even use full flap ! Why are there sooo many dodgy jokes associated with flying planes lol
And as for Mr Grimsdale, of course you can have her number! However it will cost you all of the ATPL pass credits and enough dollar to get me through CPL MEIR... sound like a good deal ?
Many thanks folks... the feedback has been great. Best press on with sorting out this PhD proposal and finding a new bit of contract work to fill in for 5 or 6 months in the meantime!
One thing if I may Mr Grimsdale, as you seem to have experience of PhDs and consulting work... If I get onto the PhD I was thinking of doing it in an hot topic area that is relevant to the needs of the NHS or some other public service. Combine this with making contacts over the three years and do you think this will help me get my foot in the door somewhere as a consultant or something?
Grouse
Why are there sooo many dodgy jokes associated with flying planes lolAnd as for Mr Grimsdale, of course you can have her number! However it will cost you all of the ATPL pass credits and enough dollar to get me through CPL MEIR... sound like a good deal ?
Many thanks folks... the feedback has been great. Best press on with sorting out this PhD proposal and finding a new bit of contract work to fill in for 5 or 6 months in the meantime!
One thing if I may Mr Grimsdale, as you seem to have experience of PhDs and consulting work... If I get onto the PhD I was thinking of doing it in an hot topic area that is relevant to the needs of the NHS or some other public service. Combine this with making contacts over the three years and do you think this will help me get my foot in the door somewhere as a consultant or something?
Grouse
One thing if I may Mr Grimsdale, as you seem to have experience of PhDs and consulting work... If I get onto the PhD I was thinking of doing it in an hot topic area that is relevant to the needs of the NHS or some other public service. Combine this with making contacts over the three years and do you think this will help me get my foot in the door somewhere as a consultant or something?
