Ark
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- Jan 31, 2009
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Earlier this year, my attempted career for the first four years of my adult life completely crashed and burned like an XR-2 hitting atmo at .99 c. I need to do something different in my life, and I'm thinking maybe I should pursue something I believe I'll enjoy more than what I was doing.
I'm wondering if we have any current commercial pilots hanging around the forums who can give some insight into what it actually takes, financially and in time, to acquire a commercial license and find a flying gig that at least pays the bills. No massive jet airliners, just smaller prop-driven charter stuff.
-How on earth do you deal with the massive upfront cost before you can even tow a banner down a beach?
-Job enjoyment aside, is it even possible to make enough money to deal with the debt you'll accumulate in flight school? Is flight training completely exempt from federal student assistance, and if not, is taking on student loans a spectacularly dumb thing to do right now? Especially after I already feel like every time I see the outstanding balance on my worthless Associates'?
-Is it smarter to spend, say, $50k chasing a Bachelors in informatics or some computer-related stuff, or $50k chasing a commercial license?
-I saw Sullenburger's rant about pay and working conditions, would I just be setting myself up for an even more miserable job? Will low pay and terrible management have me quitting to pursue a career at McDonald's in the first year?
-Is it in any way, shape, or form worth it after the work is done and the money is spent? Seems like for every person I see that's happy with their career, at least one or two are letting their licenses rot in their wallets while they finish drywall for a living.
I'm wondering if we have any current commercial pilots hanging around the forums who can give some insight into what it actually takes, financially and in time, to acquire a commercial license and find a flying gig that at least pays the bills. No massive jet airliners, just smaller prop-driven charter stuff.
-How on earth do you deal with the massive upfront cost before you can even tow a banner down a beach?
-Job enjoyment aside, is it even possible to make enough money to deal with the debt you'll accumulate in flight school? Is flight training completely exempt from federal student assistance, and if not, is taking on student loans a spectacularly dumb thing to do right now? Especially after I already feel like every time I see the outstanding balance on my worthless Associates'?
-Is it smarter to spend, say, $50k chasing a Bachelors in informatics or some computer-related stuff, or $50k chasing a commercial license?
-I saw Sullenburger's rant about pay and working conditions, would I just be setting myself up for an even more miserable job? Will low pay and terrible management have me quitting to pursue a career at McDonald's in the first year?
-Is it in any way, shape, or form worth it after the work is done and the money is spent? Seems like for every person I see that's happy with their career, at least one or two are letting their licenses rot in their wallets while they finish drywall for a living.