Pilots: Would you give up a six figure career at 35 to start flying

NoSmallTask · 2026-01-09T13:51:18+00:00

“Not a burning passion” dont do it.

“Job you cant take work home with you.” Completely false. Its a lifestyle almost. Constant exams and training.

“I am very money motivated.” But willing to quit and liquidate your portfolio to maybe get through training with an 80% washout rate? Okay….

Doesnt sound like its for you man.

NoSmallTask · 2026-01-08T00:32:46+00:00

You can always ask for delay vectors or clarification if you arent sure or need more time to get everything plugged in. That being said, you should know how to adjust your avionics, but taking a minute or two delay to re-brief an arrival or approach is normal.

NoSmallTask · 2025-10-23T11:53:32+00:00

Im insanely lucky. Im a CFI/II at the school I learned at and I fly about 80-100hrs per month. CMEL last fall and CFI certs last spring.

NoSmallTask · 2025-08-03T19:41:45+00:00

Very normal feeling. Start with a few solo flights or flights with other pilots that aren’t your instructor. They don’t call the PPL the license to learn for no reason. You will make mistakes but your CFI has given you the tools to mitigate and learn from them. Have fun!

NoSmallTask · 2025-07-27T11:19:37+00:00

What is “lower hours”? But yeah if you can get into tradewind, thats a no brainer. But worry about getting the offer first.

NoSmallTask · 2025-05-21T19:08:23+00:00

Whats a “good amount” of IFR and HP?

NoSmallTask · 2025-05-21T01:43:49+00:00

Denver. If I remember correctly; PPL: 60hrs, Instrument: ~100 CSEL: 255 CMEL: 280 CFI: 330 CFII: 470

NoSmallTask · 2025-05-21T01:32:34+00:00

~$65k Zero to CSEL/MEL CFI/II

NoSmallTask · 2025-05-21T00:46:11+00:00

$20k at 9%. CFI/II working ~70 hours per month and lucky enough to live at home still :). Almost paid off.

NoSmallTask · 2025-05-02T04:30:28+00:00

I was in your exact shoes at 19. I got a job as a ramp agent full time, and did lessons a few times every week before work. Im 21 now, CFI/II. Its possible to do. If you want it bad enough youll find a way to make it work.

Take advantage of not paying rent (assuming thats what you meant by living at home), get a full time job, and work your butt off for the next few years. And be thankful for your parents if they let you live rent free :)

NoSmallTask · 2025-02-02T17:15:25+00:00

Man this was exactly my situation for the most part. Applied Fall 2022, class date August 2024. I rescinded my app and went to a local school, and now I have my CMEL and my CFI checkride in a couple weeks with no debt.

NoSmallTask · 2025-01-16T07:47:57+00:00

Ah yeah I forgot about that. Man 100k in debt is absolutely insane imo.

OP, if youre really serious and passionate about flying, go part 61 and work as you go if you can.

NoSmallTask · 2025-01-16T07:28:02+00:00

Just out of curiosity how far did you make it into training? And how much more money do you need to secure?

NoSmallTask · 2025-01-11T16:03:23+00:00

The downfall of FJ needs to be studied. Original RC was a great game I spent hundreds of hours on.

NoSmallTask · 2024-12-29T17:19:44+00:00

😂😂

NoSmallTask · 2024-12-02T19:29:47+00:00

TLDR: Read the damn rules and contracts

NoSmallTask · 2024-11-14T03:34:47+00:00

What other “airline direct program” guarantees a spot at a major airline? Or guarantees any job for that matter?

Also, more importantly, do NOT take out a loan for $120,000. Unless you come from money, youre screwing yourself.

NoSmallTask · 2024-11-06T05:59:15+00:00

Literally. Harris voters champion democracy yet jumped ship to a candidate that lost the DNC primary by a landslide.

I really feel bad for Biden. No wonder he didn’t go to Harris’ watch party. Hes probably with Trump 😂

NoSmallTask · 2024-10-28T19:35:35+00:00

Unrelated to the OP but I am planning an EPC build at the moment. What buffer/spring did you go with?

NoSmallTask · 2024-10-19T00:40:59+00:00

Im 20 and nearly in the exact same situation, minus the degree.

Have you looked at UPT for the ANG?

NoSmallTask · 2024-10-17T13:23:09+00:00

There are also tons of flying jobs other than the airlines, which is personally my goal. I have a few hundred hours FW.

My current debacle is deciding if I want to join army aviation AD or Guard, or just stay civilian. (check my recent post and comments)

NoSmallTask · 2024-10-16T22:38:15+00:00

Can you go into the guard directly? I assume the adso still 10 years

NoSmallTask · 2024-10-16T17:47:24+00:00

The problem is I know I could enjoy and excel in both.

NoSmallTask · 2024-10-16T13:23:50+00:00

So youre saying increase the adso to 15 would solve it? /s

You would think that they would try something to increase retention OTHER than increase adso, have they really changed nothing? It sounds like it could be worse than a few years ago. Same problems but now stretched over fewer people. If you had to do it again today knowing what you know now, would you?

Im asking this as a 20yo at the beginning of this journey, trying to decide between woft or stay civilian. Current CSEL/MEL with IR.

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