Fly for a living or fun?
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Join Date: May 2002
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Fly for a living or fun?
Hello All!
I'm faced with a dilemma. I've two options which seem fesiable:
1) I can go and get a IR/ATPL and enter the job market. Awake each morning for "another" flight. Drink coffee during cruise at 37,000ft over the Alps, have a laugh, and do it for 30 years.
2) I can work in my reasonably well paid IT job (does anyone not work in IT!!) and purchase a plane with weather radar and de-icing some time down the road (5-8 years of saving). Drink coffee in a grey office, maybe then cruise at FL100 to exotic islands where and when I wish. I awake each morning, look outside and decide if I wish to go flying. Afterwards, return to a job thats doesn't bother me too much.
I'm hooked on flying but am unsure which I'd enjoy more - any opinions from both sides?
Cheers
VT
I'm faced with a dilemma. I've two options which seem fesiable:
1) I can go and get a IR/ATPL and enter the job market. Awake each morning for "another" flight. Drink coffee during cruise at 37,000ft over the Alps, have a laugh, and do it for 30 years.
2) I can work in my reasonably well paid IT job (does anyone not work in IT!!) and purchase a plane with weather radar and de-icing some time down the road (5-8 years of saving). Drink coffee in a grey office, maybe then cruise at FL100 to exotic islands where and when I wish. I awake each morning, look outside and decide if I wish to go flying. Afterwards, return to a job thats doesn't bother me too much.
I'm hooked on flying but am unsure which I'd enjoy more - any opinions from both sides?
Cheers
VT
Join Date: Mar 2001
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If this were a serious question, and you felt you needed the expert advice of somebody on pprune, then my answer would be "Don't do either - as you are clearly not the kind of person who is capable of command"
<<edit: typo>>
<<edit: typo>>
Thread Starter
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It would be ignorant not to consider the options fully when considering at you wish to do for the rest of your life. With regard to being in command, are you not supposed to consider opinions of others? Remember that cap in the US who didn't listen to his FO complain about lack of fuel and then crashed in a wooded area? Err..if only he'd considered others opinions...
VT
VT
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Both have its advantages.. remember, the second option is flying for *fun*... it's purely fun.. the other is work.. it's a pretty cool work.. still it's work..
I'm sticking with the fun part for now.. but am more than open for the other option
We'll see how it works out.. I'm not in the position to just drop my IT job quite yet...
Paying off mortgage (instead of buying the plane you mentioned).. and then living off of S.O's salary while you go through advanced training can be an option.
(btw.. whatever that "you're not capable of being in command" comment was all about..)
I'm sticking with the fun part for now.. but am more than open for the other option
We'll see how it works out.. I'm not in the position to just drop my IT job quite yet...Paying off mortgage (instead of buying the plane you mentioned).. and then living off of S.O's salary while you go through advanced training can be an option.
(btw.. whatever that "you're not capable of being in command" comment was all about..)
A CPL is an expensive way of destroying a great hobby. As it is said.
Nobody can answer your question. However, it is a valid one to ask. Many many people enter professional aviation and spend a lot of money to not make it or to do OK and then leave after a few years bitter that they never got a big break.
For them the love of flight led to expense, stress and personal failure.
For others they make it to the pointy end of an airliner and finf that they dislike the demands imposed on their life by the job. Working odd hours, few weekends off and the constant pressure of sim rides and medicals can lead even the most enthusiastic to be a little jaundiced against aviating from time to time.
Just wait until you have some friends who earn twice as much as you for doing a no risk jon in a comfy office 9.30 - 4.30 Mon - Fri. Just wait until you miss another stag-do/birthday-bash/anniversary because your roster says you have to be up at 4a.m. on a Saturda morning.
The sad fact is that some Wannabes don't have a clue what the lifestyle is going to be like if and when they make it into an airline.
For most - me inclued - I wouldn't swap the job for any other. But you are correct to pause and think before letting the enthusiasm of a great hobby change your life so dramatically.
Good luck,
WWW ( on Standby and thus awake and pacing the house at 8.30 on a Saturday morning! )
Nobody can answer your question. However, it is a valid one to ask. Many many people enter professional aviation and spend a lot of money to not make it or to do OK and then leave after a few years bitter that they never got a big break.
For them the love of flight led to expense, stress and personal failure.
For others they make it to the pointy end of an airliner and finf that they dislike the demands imposed on their life by the job. Working odd hours, few weekends off and the constant pressure of sim rides and medicals can lead even the most enthusiastic to be a little jaundiced against aviating from time to time.
Just wait until you have some friends who earn twice as much as you for doing a no risk jon in a comfy office 9.30 - 4.30 Mon - Fri. Just wait until you miss another stag-do/birthday-bash/anniversary because your roster says you have to be up at 4a.m. on a Saturda morning.
The sad fact is that some Wannabes don't have a clue what the lifestyle is going to be like if and when they make it into an airline.
For most - me inclued - I wouldn't swap the job for any other. But you are correct to pause and think before letting the enthusiasm of a great hobby change your life so dramatically.
Good luck,
WWW ( on Standby and thus awake and pacing the house at 8.30 on a Saturday morning! )
The Original Whirly
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VORTIME,
There is another option. It's called keeping both options open.
Carry on training, do the ATPL ground exams, IR, etc. Do it in your spare time and holiday time and time off if you can take any, but carry on with the day job. It's tough, but many people do it that way. Once you have your frozen ATPL, you'll need to get some hours anyway, so get an instructing job, still part time if you're still not sure what you want to do.
You'll then have various options open: carry on with IT and start saving again for that nice aircraft you always wanted, try and get an airline job now, or possibly work part time in IT and do some part time instructing or other flying related work.
Yes, you could have ended up wasting 30 grand or so, but nothing's ever wasted; you'll have a lot of useful experience you might not have got otherwise. You could end up looking for an airline job a few years later and older than you otherwise would. But hey, nothing in life is ever perfect! And this way, you have time, and no pressure, to decide what you really want.
There is another option. It's called keeping both options open.
Carry on training, do the ATPL ground exams, IR, etc. Do it in your spare time and holiday time and time off if you can take any, but carry on with the day job. It's tough, but many people do it that way. Once you have your frozen ATPL, you'll need to get some hours anyway, so get an instructing job, still part time if you're still not sure what you want to do.
You'll then have various options open: carry on with IT and start saving again for that nice aircraft you always wanted, try and get an airline job now, or possibly work part time in IT and do some part time instructing or other flying related work.
Yes, you could have ended up wasting 30 grand or so, but nothing's ever wasted; you'll have a lot of useful experience you might not have got otherwise. You could end up looking for an airline job a few years later and older than you otherwise would. But hey, nothing in life is ever perfect! And this way, you have time, and no pressure, to decide what you really want.
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or better yet...
Find a FUN flying job ... i don't know why everybody is so locked on the airlines when searching for a flying job.
There's different possibilities out there ! They might not pay so well but if the fun factor is important to you, the added life quality might weight up against the lower income
Cheers
Phil
Find a FUN flying job ... i don't know why everybody is so locked on the airlines when searching for a flying job.
There's different possibilities out there ! They might not pay so well but if the fun factor is important to you, the added life quality might weight up against the lower income
Cheers
Phil
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I was in a similar position. I have my own business and I’m very comfortable with life at the moment. I love flying and do as many trips as I can. But something was still missing so I called Bristol GS.......
I’ve just completed the first module and got my results. Better than I’d expected considering.
Although it would be great, I have no ambitions of flying the big jets. Assuming someone will take me on I’ll be happy to fly turbo props for the regional co’ or air taxi. I’m 40 and I think I’m the right sort for them. They’ll never be able to pay me what I earn now but to get paid to fly appeals to me.
My advice is start going down the route. Your research will tell you what to do first. If you really want to do it you will. If not your subconscious will sort of keep putting it off. Trust me to do the distance learning thing you have got to be committed.
Let us know what you decide
Oh and BTW I’m not in IT
GMT
I’ve just completed the first module and got my results. Better than I’d expected considering.
Although it would be great, I have no ambitions of flying the big jets. Assuming someone will take me on I’ll be happy to fly turbo props for the regional co’ or air taxi. I’m 40 and I think I’m the right sort for them. They’ll never be able to pay me what I earn now but to get paid to fly appeals to me.
My advice is start going down the route. Your research will tell you what to do first. If you really want to do it you will. If not your subconscious will sort of keep putting it off. Trust me to do the distance learning thing you have got to be committed.
Let us know what you decide
Oh and BTW I’m not in IT
GMT
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My tuppence worth...
My heart was in it 100% up until last summer (note... long time before 9-11). I spent the summer hauling gliders, which was OK. Allowed me to put a load of valuable hours in my logbook, get some free instruction with good people and do some (excellent fun!) gliding.
However, for one reason or another, which I won't go into here, I think that the summer could have been better. Basically at towards the end of the summer I was already thinking about not flying professionally at all. To be honest, for me, it took a lot of the fun out of a potentially very fun persuit. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I no longer felt challenged.
Then along came 9-11, and it really did make sense (at the time) to not fork out a load of money to do some training. So of course, I applied for other non-flying jobs. Amongst those, a career that I'd always thought about doing, but it always took second place to flying.
My application was successful, and now I've started the long route to fulfilling my other ambition. However if I can't pull this off (50% don't), then I'd look at flying again.
My heart was in it 100% up until last summer (note... long time before 9-11). I spent the summer hauling gliders, which was OK. Allowed me to put a load of valuable hours in my logbook, get some free instruction with good people and do some (excellent fun!) gliding.
However, for one reason or another, which I won't go into here, I think that the summer could have been better. Basically at towards the end of the summer I was already thinking about not flying professionally at all. To be honest, for me, it took a lot of the fun out of a potentially very fun persuit. Maybe I was doing something wrong, but I no longer felt challenged.
Then along came 9-11, and it really did make sense (at the time) to not fork out a load of money to do some training. So of course, I applied for other non-flying jobs. Amongst those, a career that I'd always thought about doing, but it always took second place to flying.
My application was successful, and now I've started the long route to fulfilling my other ambition. However if I can't pull this off (50% don't), then I'd look at flying again.
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It costs alot of money to be able to continue to fly or keep a plane.
You may not always be earning what you do now i.e. after retirement or like now, reduced IT rates/oportunities and may not be able to continue to fly for all your useful life !!
With a CPL/ATPL you can at least receive money for flying rather than having to depend on your bank balance for ever.
Being able to receive money for your flying may keep you flying for longer I think !!
You may not always be earning what you do now i.e. after retirement or like now, reduced IT rates/oportunities and may not be able to continue to fly for all your useful life !!
With a CPL/ATPL you can at least receive money for flying rather than having to depend on your bank balance for ever.
Being able to receive money for your flying may keep you flying for longer I think !!
Why do it if it's not fun?
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A wise man once said:
Toss a coin. When the coin comes up with the wrong answer, you know what you should do.
Sounds from your original post that you already know the answer, you just haven't admitted it to yourself yet...
FFF
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Toss a coin. When the coin comes up with the wrong answer, you know what you should do.
Sounds from your original post that you already know the answer, you just haven't admitted it to yourself yet...
FFF
---------------
Official PPRuNe Chaplain
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The best advice in there was "toss a coin. If you're disappointed at the result, you now know what you really wanted the answer to be."
I have a friend who loved flying, and eventually got all the way to ATPL and P1 on a 737. Then he realised he was a glorified, very highly paid bus driver. The fun had gone out of his flying, and it was "just a job".
I have another friend who is happy as could be when flying his "Boeing Bus". So - each to his own!
Me, I fly for fun. I worked at something quite different that let me retire at 53 and spend lots of time flying for fun. No regrets!
I have a friend who loved flying, and eventually got all the way to ATPL and P1 on a 737. Then he realised he was a glorified, very highly paid bus driver. The fun had gone out of his flying, and it was "just a job".
I have another friend who is happy as could be when flying his "Boeing Bus". So - each to his own!
Me, I fly for fun. I worked at something quite different that let me retire at 53 and spend lots of time flying for fun. No regrets!
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VORTIME, There is another option, have you considered military flying. In terms of flying for the challenge and fun I don't think it can be beaten. There are down sides to life in the military but if the flying is good they are unimportant. I have been flying single and 2 seat mil jets/turboprops for the last 20 odd years and still break into an uncontrollable grin every time I release the brakes. Flying performance aircraft at high speed, in formation or close to the ground is an amazing sensation, money cannot buy this kind of hands on flying (unless as a passenger once in a blue moon and what's the point in watching someone else have all the fun). I also have a full commercial (ATPL) licence and just cannot bring myself to take the option to leave and use it. Occasionally I have to fly a long range transit to get to a deployment, and that straight line high level flying sucks. If I had to make your choice I'd go mil, then IT and fly a small aerobatic aircraft for fun, and if I just needed the money then flying an airliner would do if there were no other options. No offence meant to the many happy and professional commercial pilots that may read this, just my personal experience.
