Dilemma
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Dilemma
Don't know if this is the best place to post this but here goes..
Imagine the scene....
You are 32, fATPL, plenty of SEP/MEP time from several yrs p/t instructing / examining etc. IR/MCC etc etc.
You passed selection for a major regional 18 months ago, but due to market conditions have only just been offered position on TP. As first commercial jobs go, it's a good un (I think).
Sounds good so far ? Great...
Whilst slowly but inexorably making your way to this point over the last few years, your "other" career (the one that makes the money the other absorbs) has progressed. A few years ago the decision would have been a no-brainer, as you enjoy flying more than the core skills required for your other career. However now you look up and find the salary gap has widened significantly (not helped by the reduction in many starting salaries over the last few years). That wouldn’t be so bad in isolation, but if you commit another three years to this particular company you gain a directorship and acquire share options which could pay off your mortgage.
If you commit these three/four years, you re-enter the aviation job market in your mid thirties, and back at the start of the application process. You really don't want to miss the recruitment boat (in case it's the only one leaving!), but find it difficult to ignore the prospect of a major financial leg-up in life.
Whad’ya do ? Or in other words, is the financial benefit from one job worth the postponement of a career and the subsequent narrowing of your options as you try to get that elusive first job ?
Imagine the scene....
You are 32, fATPL, plenty of SEP/MEP time from several yrs p/t instructing / examining etc. IR/MCC etc etc.
You passed selection for a major regional 18 months ago, but due to market conditions have only just been offered position on TP. As first commercial jobs go, it's a good un (I think).
Sounds good so far ? Great...
Whilst slowly but inexorably making your way to this point over the last few years, your "other" career (the one that makes the money the other absorbs) has progressed. A few years ago the decision would have been a no-brainer, as you enjoy flying more than the core skills required for your other career. However now you look up and find the salary gap has widened significantly (not helped by the reduction in many starting salaries over the last few years). That wouldn’t be so bad in isolation, but if you commit another three years to this particular company you gain a directorship and acquire share options which could pay off your mortgage.
If you commit these three/four years, you re-enter the aviation job market in your mid thirties, and back at the start of the application process. You really don't want to miss the recruitment boat (in case it's the only one leaving!), but find it difficult to ignore the prospect of a major financial leg-up in life.
Whad’ya do ? Or in other words, is the financial benefit from one job worth the postponement of a career and the subsequent narrowing of your options as you try to get that elusive first job ?
Last edited by Mack Buffet; 2nd May 2004 at 21:56.
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I would definately go for the money gig. It'll make you happier in the end.
You want to keep scrambling to pay your bills every month for a long time, BUt be able to fly that airplane? I would get the better paying job and buy my own airplane. Airplane ownership really isn't THAt expensive. Crunch some numbers, it's very possible to own your own airplane, the flying will laso be a lot more fun too, besides being the button pusher
You want to keep scrambling to pay your bills every month for a long time, BUt be able to fly that airplane? I would get the better paying job and buy my own airplane. Airplane ownership really isn't THAt expensive. Crunch some numbers, it's very possible to own your own airplane, the flying will laso be a lot more fun too, besides being the button pusher
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A no brainer!
working for an airline on a TP you will be bottom of the food chain, working 6 days on 2 off finninshing on a late and starting on an early all for little more than £20k a year you will be bottom of the senority list and probably be moved more than once against your will for very little or no relocation money. The golden days of avaition are well and truely over. Thesedays you either work shorthaul and work to the max and are home at night or you fly long-haul and hardly touch the aeroplane and spend about 12 days a month away. Either way you can expect very little rewards for at least the first 2 to 5 years while you gain experience. You will need at least 3000 to 5000 hours to be considered for a good job and every year the conditions get worse and worse...
Very sorry to burst the bubble but unfortunatley true...
working for an airline on a TP you will be bottom of the food chain, working 6 days on 2 off finninshing on a late and starting on an early all for little more than £20k a year you will be bottom of the senority list and probably be moved more than once against your will for very little or no relocation money. The golden days of avaition are well and truely over. Thesedays you either work shorthaul and work to the max and are home at night or you fly long-haul and hardly touch the aeroplane and spend about 12 days a month away. Either way you can expect very little rewards for at least the first 2 to 5 years while you gain experience. You will need at least 3000 to 5000 hours to be considered for a good job and every year the conditions get worse and worse...
Very sorry to burst the bubble but unfortunatley true...
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Don't take any notice of the above two guys. Go with what you enjoy. I was in a well paid job for years but was miserable. Against all advice I got my licenses, flew TPs, got into debt but had a great time doing so! I'm now flying something bigger and am still happy.
Think forward by forty years. Wouldn't you wish you'd even tried to become a pilot? Problem is you are over seventy and it's too late!
Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. Go for it!!!
Think forward by forty years. Wouldn't you wish you'd even tried to become a pilot? Problem is you are over seventy and it's too late!
Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. Go for it!!!
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I wish I'd paid off my mortgage when I was in a position to do so rather than spending it on an ATPL. As Sanchez 56 said, the golden days of aviation are well and truly over.
I'd rather be in your position than mine!
Take the money!!
I'd rather be in your position than mine!
Take the money!!
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Thanks for the the replies so far.
I'm not wanting to give up on the idea of that RHS one day, it's just timing. Does anyone have any particular views on whether I'll be comitting (aviation) career suicide by waiting until the age of, say 35 ?
I'm not wanting to give up on the idea of that RHS one day, it's just timing. Does anyone have any particular views on whether I'll be comitting (aviation) career suicide by waiting until the age of, say 35 ?
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As srjumbo said, you have to go with what will make you happy. If you enjoy your current job, stick with it. Aviation looks cool from the outside, but when you get junior manned on Christmas morning to repo a turbo-prop in -20C freezing drizzle and sit five hours making 20/hr, the glamour starts to wear off. Also, you will likely have to move closer to your base as commuting is getting increasingly unpopular. There is also the chance, God forbid, that you are no longer legal to fly for any number of reasons, now what?
Not that big of a dillema,
BBB
Not that big of a dillema,
BBB
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I'd join sooner rather than later. A BIRD IN THE HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH.
I knew of someone who was offered a BA sponsorship ten or so years ago when BA was good with final salary pensions etc. His parents advised against it and made him continue with another Uni degree. He got the degree and still wanted to fly so his parents ended up paying for his CPL!!
There aren't thet many opportunities out there for new hire pilots. Also if it's you (35) against another (25) who would 'the company' think is easier to train?
I knew of someone who was offered a BA sponsorship ten or so years ago when BA was good with final salary pensions etc. His parents advised against it and made him continue with another Uni degree. He got the degree and still wanted to fly so his parents ended up paying for his CPL!!
There aren't thet many opportunities out there for new hire pilots. Also if it's you (35) against another (25) who would 'the company' think is easier to train?
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Take a TP position now, and in a few years time you'll be able to move onto something bigger, or change seats on the TP. It's not always about the money.
Is your current job something that you could do part time as well - freelance, contract etc?
Is your current job something that you could do part time as well - freelance, contract etc?
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It is something I could do p/t, and could always instruct/examine if the company permitted it.
It's short term vs long term really - go TP now aiming for where you want to be in 10 years, or take the short term risk of postponing career in the hope that in a few years you'll be able to pursue what you want to do free of many financial worries.
In other words, spend the next 25yrs working and paying the mortgage, or get rid of it in three then do what you want .... if you still can.
Anyone got a time machine they can lend me ???
It's short term vs long term really - go TP now aiming for where you want to be in 10 years, or take the short term risk of postponing career in the hope that in a few years you'll be able to pursue what you want to do free of many financial worries.
In other words, spend the next 25yrs working and paying the mortgage, or get rid of it in three then do what you want .... if you still can.
Anyone got a time machine they can lend me ???
