Day 101 and Beyond - The Adventure Continues

It is now February 2013 and I have yet to receive a paycheck for services rendered in the air.  How can that be, I am a Commercial rated Multi-Engine Pilot and Flight Instructor?

What happened to the story of becoming a career pilot?

THE STORY IS NOT FINISHED!

Nine days after I took my CFI checkride, my wife submitted her dissertation and received her Masters Degree.  These were huge milestones in both of our lives and a time of great transition; our formal schooling was complete and we were both ready to launch ourselves into the career market.

Shortly after my return home, I began searching for jobs that could render my services.  I did not limit my applications to pilot-only positions. I applied for openings (and some non-openings) at aerospace/aviation companies as well; office positions, programming/IT related positions, and e-learning development positions to name a few.  The search went on with little to no bites, it was discouraging.  Due to minimal income at the time, I was unable to justify flying for leisure either.  My buddy who was flying freight in a 310 invited me on one of his scheduled routes, that was nice.  It was a long winter. 

In February 2010, my friend's father mentioned that one of his business associates was looking for professional assistance in his computer repair shop.  I bit the lead and landed some part time work. I had been doing computer/networking/consulting as a side job for nearly 6 years.  I incorporated my business as an LLC and started taking on more work.  The flying gig was on hold.

In the summer of 2010, I landed a full-time 3 month IT contract with a medium sized (300+ employees) company.  A week before the contract was up, they offered me a full-time position.  I am still working for the company today and loving it.

In the spring of 2011, my wife and I bought our first house.  The home underwent a summer of renovations and remodeling.  We were living with her parents at the time, which allowed us to save up a considerable amount of money to assist in the home preparation   We moved into our new home the beginning of August 2011 a couple weeks before our first child was born.

Why have I not pursued a career in aviation?

A combination of a few things: 

• Landing the IT job when I did.

• Starting a new family when I did.

THE IT JOB

My two passions in life (prior to my wife and children), were aviation and computers.  Both passions date back to my childhood.  My father instilled a love for aviation in me.  He was also responsible for introducing me to my first computer, a Commodore 64 when I was 6.  Long before I started the journey of becoming a pilot, I knew there was a chance I would end up in IT.

Prior to my entry into flight school, I was 90% sure that I wanted to fly for a living.  The other 10% was relaxed knowing I had something to fall back on, my Aviation Management Degree and knowledge in IT.  Some may ask why I made such a financial commitment to something I was not 100% sure about.  Well, this was the prime time to do it. I had just finished my undergraduate, my brain and attitude were primed for higher education. I also had the option to finance the entire ATP program.  A burst of complexity would offer many benefits in the future. My wife and I were not waiting much longer before creating offspring either.

Through my undergraduate studies and flight training I would continually tell myself that my ultimate job would include a combination of the two.  Working for the Aces Studio at Microsoft would have been a dream job.  They are the guys responsible for all of the Microsoft Flight Simulators, they were closed in 2009.

Schedule:
My current IT position provides a steady and predictable schedule.  I currently work from 7-3:30 M-F.  This schedule is extremely family friendly.  I enjoy dinner with my wife and children ever night.

Compensation:
IT pays.  My starting wage is 3-4 time more than that of an entry level flight instructor in the MN area or a common regional pilot.  I still wonder how I would have been able to afford my ATP loan payments and support a family with an entry-level flying job.  The stress levels on my wife and me would have been through the roof.

Opportunity:
My current position is only the beginning of my adventures in IT.  The opportunity in this industry is so broad and diverse.  I have no worries that my schedule, compensation, and opportunities will only better over time.

STARTING THE FAMILY

My wife and I had expectations of bringing our first child into the world shortly after landing full-time career jobs.  So, a couple of months after I landed my full-time IT job, she got pregnant.  I had been working the IT job for a little over a year when our daughter, Skylar, was brought into this world.  Had I landed a flying job, we may have considered pushing the kid thing back a couple more years.

My father-in-law is a retired doctor that now operates as an Aviation Medical Examiner.  He owned his own practice for a number of years as well as 9 airplanes.  Of all the people I know in aviation he has more exposure to a wider variety of pilots than any one, he also loves to talk.  I love asking him about the current buzz in the flying portion of the aviation industry.  The talk is usually grim.  From what I have gathered, a small percentage of professional pilots flying for airlines have maintained a healthy, happy family, and a career.  Furthermore, the entry level positions at regionals leave pilots struggling to make a living. Divorce rates are high, schedules offer many challenges, and union structures can have you working the tough positions for a long time.  On a positive note, there are a number of pilots that are very happy with their career choice, many of them are reported as being bachelors or people that are on the top of the union ladder, with comfy schedules.  My first flight instructor and good friend recently took a position as a corporate pilot flying a nice private jet.  At one time he told me he had not been home in 30 days.  He loves it.  He is a bachelor.

Shortly after I landed my full-time IT position I made the decision that my aviation career was officially on hold. People have asked me if I regret going to school for aviation.  Absolutely not!  I have achieved something that can not be taken away.  I have expanded my knowledge and human experience. By committing my time when I did, I have broadened my opportunities for future endeavors. 

When I look back at the past couple of years I can not say anything other than, I am blessed!  The fact that I achieved my dreams of becoming a Pilot with numerous certificates and ratings as well as landing a career as an IT professional supports the claim.  I have a happy, healthy family that I support through monetary, physical, and emotional needs.  I personally believe the first 8-10 years of a child's life are the most important in terms of development.  The next 8-10 years of my life will have a heavy focus on just that and my current situation supports this strategy.

What did I gain from my experience at ATP?

Certificates and Ratings. 

The obvious.

Multi-Engine time. 

This would have been hard to accomplish in such a short period of time had I not attended ATP.

Increased confidence. 

I can tell people I am a multi-engine commercially rated pilot and flight instructor, even if I am not getting paid.  The little piece of plastic the FAA granted me says so.

Respect. 

Any pilot knows, most people look at you differently when they know you can drive airplanes.

The opportunity to share my love of aviation with my children on a rich level.  

If my children show any interest in aviation, I will be more than prepare to nurture that interest.

A nice addition to my resume. 

On my IT specific resume, I like to slip this into Experiences and Certifications.

Unforgettable experiences.  

I love reminiscing about the memories I have created during my experiences in airplanes.

A future opportunity.  

This may all lead to new and exciting experiences in the future.

Debt.  

This would have been a lot more challenging without financing as an option.

Future plans for aviation?

I will continue to renew my CFI every other October.  

I will continually look for that dream job that will bring my passion for aviation and IT together, it is out there somewhere.

My children will be not be strangers to my love of aviation.  I have intentions of taking them flying for the first time between the ages of 8-10.  I foresee the budget allowing for more leisure flying at this point in my life.

I will continue to have my eyes turned skyward!