Crisis of Confidence...

[NWade]

Hi All,

This is only somewhat relevant to EZ's, in terms of my future ownership - but I respect the knowledge and experience on this board so much that I'd love to hear your comments. (My apologies for the length of this post; but its somewhat complex...)

I'm trying to decide what future direction my career and flying should go...  I've been in the computer industry for over 10 years now.  Unfortunately, I've had the bad luck to be working for the wrong companies at the wrong time - being laid-off or having my employer go bankrupt many times over the last few years.  I've been in a good employment situation for the last year or so - but I've very skittish about my future...  I'm a total generalist / jack-of-all-trades who does lots of various programming/IT work - but because I don't have a single "expert" skill to hang my hat on, its been tough to progress in my career.  And as a college drop-out, my ability to become a senior programmer or move up into management has been limited.  All this means that I feel somewhat "stuck" and burned-out in my career (mostly programming dynamic websites).

Aviation is my first love - before I dropped out of college (in '95), I was majoring in Aerospace Engineering.  Last year I decided to go back to college and major in Aviation Operations, as a way to get back to my first love.  I recently started on my Private license - and after only 2 hours in my logbook I'm already making landings unassisted in DA-20's, so I know I can be a pilot if I go that route.  I've been going to school full-time while also working full-time - all in preparation for attending a 4-year college with an aviation program.

That college has recently raised its rates and I'm looking at 3 years of college that will rack up nearly $50k in loans (on top of working 30 hours a week).  I'll come out of the program with my CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings - but that kind of debt scares me, given starting pilot/instructor pay rates.  It works out to about $500/month to keep up with the loan payments...  (Not to mention trying to afford an EZ someday)

Now, I must make it clear that I have no ambitions of flying for the Airlines.  I know several pilots that fly for Alaska and United - and all seem somewhat bored with their work.  I need challenges in my work - I love trouble-shooting or having to learn and adapt at my job.  So I'd much rather fly corporate jets, maybe do ATC work (although by the time I graduate college, I will be 1 year too old under present regulations), or work in a field involving aviation and computers.

If I'm not going to fly 737's or big jets for a living - is it worth going through and getting all of my licenses at this expensive school?  I know I will *LOVE* to be a CFI - and I wish I could make a paying career out of that; but it just doesn't seem possible from everyone I've talked to...

I'm just really concerned about being able to keep up with the loans and making a decent living if I go with one of those careers...  I don't have a high standard of living (and am willing to sacrifice a lot to fly and/or own a plane) - but I need enough to afford my own apartment, a reliable car, and a few bucks for flight-time or another hobby (I like to stay busy and learn new stuff all the time).

I've thought about trying to blend my two skills - but I don't know exactly what my prospects are.  For example, King Schools is hiring for a Webmaster right now.  Scaled Composites is also hiring aggressively for fabricators - stating that they'll take novices...perhaps I could get my foot in the door there (I've done a little bit of glass-work while crewing for some SCCA race-car teams), and try to move into some kind of junior engineering or programming role?  I would enjoy the hands-on work of fabrication - but getting "stuck" doing that at a low wage for many years would sap my will...

My "safe" option is to maybe go back to a normal college, finish my degree in computers, and just keep flying a hobby.  At my current salary level, I could probably buy into 1/2 of an EZ before the end of the summer - and I could definitely build my own.  The "instant gratification" aspect of this is quite tempting - but I worry about having a true career in computers, both in terms of stability and in terms of burnout/motivation.

Concerned, and still praying for an EZ someday,

--Noel
noel.wade@gmail.com
Seattle, WA

[Dave in Eugene]

Noel,

I have struggled with the same questions... I haven't seen a flying job worth the sacrifice to get there for myself. I like to make $ other ways and enjoy flying rather than work at it.

I ask you: What do you want your movie to look like when it is over...then make it happen. If you want to fly commercially and you are sure of it... do what ever it takes.

Clear vision seems to be the most important ingredient to create a result.

Best wishes.


Dave

[Radioflyer]

Oh, Noel,

Very heavy issues you raise. It is often is a life long goal to find "convergeance" in one's situation, interests and responsibilities. Also, it is a bad habit of the more intelligent people that knowing they can do almost anything that it becomes hard to pin their lives on any one thing.  Frankly, I would rather hire a smart generalist who could be trusted to learn specialized skills on the job than a specialist who often fails at the other flexible and varied task requirements of a good job.

More education is good, go for it. Don't worry about the future bills. Unless you self destruct, you'll be able to figure out reasonable payment terms. However, education, I'm afraid, is not the sole nor necessary solution and may simply put you in a holding pattern.

The thing I've often grappled with is the circumstance of turning a passion into a job. Consider yourself lucky to have passion for aviation. At the moment, you can enjoy any aspect of it. Combine it with work politics, having to earn a living, fighting for a promotion, and low pilot wages....you might loose your passion.

Realizing that we are total strangers, I nevertheless have the following thoughts for you. You need a job were your jack of all trade aptitude (actually it is a skill in its own right) is respected. Where you find this respect is infinitely more important than the particular industry. That's your job setup. Then, you can, with no rush, earn your cfi and use it to get a part time job at your convenience. That's your passion setup.

By the way, the above does not neccesarily go against the Scaled job. I have no direct knowledge, but my impression is that while they'll take everything you got, with little pay, you'll also get great job satisfaction and exposure to cutting edge aviation. It does sound like an environment where a generalist can carve out his niche...and still enjoy flying.

[Charles Davis]

"Success is doing what you want.  And eating."

I just turned 48.  Having built a business from an initital $500 investment into a $700K+ per year company.  But I realized that money doesn't make you happy; quite a revelation for a kid who grew up poor.

I finally decided, damn the consequences and the pay cut, to semi-retire, and move from San Diego back to my hometown of Louisville.   I now just work out of the house with the love of my life and best friend, Kathy.  

Now I do tech support and technical writing; two things I really enjoy and am good at.   I have never been happier.  In fact, I never dreamed I could be so content and fulfilled.

You can't believe what a massive change in life that was; how much of a risk.  It felt like I was jumping out of a building with no parachute, hoping to catch one on the way down.  But sometimes you just have to take those risks.  If you always know the outcome, then it's not a risk.

When I got out of the Marines at age 21, I felt more like 61.  I was tired, burned out, and had no idea what to do with my life.

I had one thought that stuck with me, "For 21 years, people have been telling me what to do.  From now on, I'm going to do exactly what I want to do."  I pretty much stuck with that.  Granted, most people don't WANT to work 70+ hour weeks for 15 years to build a business, but that is what I wanted to do at the time.

You don't want to be stupid, but I have found that if you just do what you want, do things that really get you pumped about life, like you can't wait to jump out of bed in the morning, the world will conspire in your favor.  

So my advice is to follow your passion and bliss.  Do what makes you most happy.  Twenty years will go by in a blink.  Don't even try to play it safe (other than while flying!) because no one gets out of this thing alive.  Live it to the hilt on your own terms and you will have no regrets.

[NWade]

Thanks, guys - keep 'em coming!

The thing for me is, I used to have a "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" attitude about my career.  That's what led me to Seattle in the first place - pursuing jobs in computer-game development.  My career went swimmingly for the first 4 years - but then when the bottom fell out in 2001 I went into a serious downward spiral.  The repeated layoffs and job difficulties meant that by the end of 2004 I was homeless (it is *HARD* to live out of a Miata!), had about $10k in unpaid debts, and my car was about to be reposessed.

Got my current job in early '05, and now i'm debt-free, have $10k in the bank, and have completed about 30 college credits over the last year...  But the echoes of that horrible experience still ring in my ears; and I live in perpetual fear of another rough time like that.  With kids fresh out of college getting hired long before I'm considered for a programming job, it makes me nervous about staying in computing (which is rewarding generalists less and less as the industry matures).

Still, I find the idea of being a jack-of-all trades at a place like Scaled or King (or some other interesting aviation company) a heck of a lot more enticing than an Airline job flying the same routes day after day...  A flying job where I'm exploring new destinations and having to do flight planning (a la a Corp. Jet job or something similar), or maybe even ATC (I dig spatial-orientation type puzzles) might be the ultimate job for me.  From everyone I've talked to, though, its hard to get into those corp. jets and you don't make much money doing it.  ATC is out right now, because I'll be 31 when I started - but I would guess that'll change here in a year or two.   Arrrghhh!  Can someone please predict the future for me(accurately)? *chuckle*

Thanks for the compliments and the comments - I'll take any more that you folks have to offer!

--Noel

[Jack]

Still, I find the idea of being a jack-of-all trades at a place like Scaled or King (or some other interesting aviation company) a heck of a lot more enticing than an Airline job flying the same routes day after day...  A flying job where I'm exploring new destinations and having to do flight planningl

The airlines ain't what they use to be.  The handwriting was on the wall in the 70s when Braniff, Pan Am and others were failing.  The current majors, AA, UAL, Delta etc.  I know more than a few that went with them in the 80s and later and now they are being laid off, taking paycuts, their retirement is probably shot etc.  Would have, should had , could had. I could had swung right into UPS or FEDX in the 80s.  

With the current fuel prices no doubt GA is going to take a serious hit also.

As a former Naval Aviator with over 3400 odd military hours in everything from single seat to 4 motors.  I like homebuilding and the less restrictive rules to have fun with.  My Dad and I got into homebuilding back in the late 70s and use to fly out of the Mecca in Mojave until the late 80s.

Being very flexible for a job in this day and age is probably the best trait you can have.

Right now I am running convoys in Iraq and it can be beyond exciting at times.  Then with a little help from some investments I plan to have a really fast Long with some serious range.

Cheers;

Jack

[Delta Mike]

When looking for employment, firms want to see education plus experience. You already have one of the big ingredients. Engineering / science degrees are a plus, and enrollment in these fields are in significant decline in the US. This means there is an upcoming shortage of home-grown engineers and scientists.

Going back to college as a non-traditional student means not being hip with the young crowd. The age gap is exasperated by the fact that NT students are focused on learning rather than fraternizing. The instructors like having NT students just to have a higher maturity factor in the classroom. Typically, you can get twice as much out of courses due to being more focused and having interested instructors.

A $50K dollar education investment is small change in the big picture. Pick your student loans wisely. Get all subsidized loans, pell grants, Perkins loans, etc. before going to subsidized. Invest the time in scholarship applications, you’ll be surprised at what is available. Student loan interest rates were high when I graduated – 8.25%, now they are down below 4%, that makes a big difference. Also, save yourself $15K and do all the basic math, English, sociology, etc. at a good community college.

The application and development of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is cutting edge intellectual technology. It is unique in its requirement for a combination of good engineering education, physical intuition, and computer programming skill. It is being pursued aggressively (i.e. a lot of development money being spent) in industry, academia, and the government.

The University of Washington has one of the country’s best CFD departments. It is quite possible you could start graduate work while finishing your undergraduate. Graduate professors love student research assistants.

The final, and probably most important ingredient is having solid network connections. There are a few geniuses that shine so bright they don’t really need introductions to get into new opportunities. But mostly, it takes establishing good relationships with people who have been around a little longer. Once they know, like, and trust you, they can introduce you to the connections that they have earned through their hard work. This ingredient takes the most time, is the most delicate, and makes the biggest difference.

I may be looking to hire a CFDer with good references for liquid rocket engine combustion stability analysis in a couple of years (depending on contract awards).

Cheers.

[Jeffco]

Here's a thoght.  The wellness industry is exploding and there is a company in Provo Utah that has the pattented rights on a laser  that will make it the dominate leader in a Trillon dollar industry.  You could end up like my Friend Brent Bryson who was advised he needed to buy an airplane for a tax deduction.  So he bought a Pilatus.  Remeber the old saying, if you want to make a small fortune in avaition.........start out with a big one.  I have been with the Airlines for many years, don't be an airline pilot !  It is nothing like it used to be.  Long hours away from home and lately multiple pay cuts. check 800 337-7506.  Good luck.

[NWade]

Jeff - Thanks for the tip on the airline industry; I was definitely not aiming that direction, for many of the reasons you specified...  And thanks for the info on the Pilatus; but if I'm not going to school there, I'm not moving to Utah.

At this point, I've pretty much made up my mind that the nice corporate flying jobs that provide a decent salary are too few and far between to justify $50k in debts before I even get my first hours logged as a commercial pilot.

Unless someone offers me guaranteed fulltime employment as a pilot fresh out of college, I think I'm better off leveraging my decade of computer experience and trying to work my way into an avionics or flight-test kind of company - and work at a decent wage with computers in order to afford flying as a hobby (or as a part of my job responsibilities; instead of solely being a pilot).  I can go back to college here in Seattle for a fraction of the cost of moving and going to a private college or an out-of-state institution; and there's no reason to rack up the debts if I'm not depending upon a special aviation school for a special degree.

Thanks for all of the info and advice everyone!  Even though I have pretty much made my decision, I am ALWAYS open to further advice, feedback, criticism, etc.

...Much appreciated!

--Noel

[Jeffco]

Noel

Actually that was a shamless plug on my part to get you to look at Pharmanex, a businees that you can work from any city.  If you are serious about a flying job you should go after your dream.  Things run in cycles and with any luck your timing may be just right.  Get the degree and work through the ratings and you might be able to position yourself for the next hiring boom, either coporate or regional flying, and then move up to an airline job if that's what you want.  Good luck.

Jeff Gabrielson
Manager, Flight Operations
Delta Air Lines
LAX

[tonyslongez]

Jeff

Will you be in Las any time soon? I'm on the ramp at Southwest maybe we could meet up for a minute or two.

Tony

[Jeffco]

Not planning on any visits to LAS soon.  But with my other business there is always the possibility of a visit.  Just want to hangar talk or compare notes on Long ez 's ?

[eric r]

I asked a colleague who had just sold out a very large business in Canada and moved to Florida to start over; why did you walk away from all that $$$? He simply stated that one day he looked in the mirror and realized that this life is not a dress rehearsal! Whatever you want, go for it now! Time is a non-renewable resource.
Many years ago I saw an ad in trade-a-plane for a tour pilot to fly in Kenya (I believe). The ad finished with something like ..."The pilot we seek will not call or write; just show up and be ready to work"
Go for what you want and never look back.