A career in aviation...

Last thing I'll add, if your current job pays well, use it to pay for all your flight training, being a greenhorn CPL and debt free will put you ahead of guys with far more time and debt.
 
Do both. Let your current career pay for ratings, then get part time jobs flying and engineering.... and yes, as James said, being debt free will be a big help in making career choices.
 
I'm also a mechanical engineer. I'm working for my third large company. Some have cubicles, some have offices. Sometimes the work is more fun, sometimes it's more stress. Right now, I really enjoy it.

I've been in manufacturing since my first job, 25+ years ago. Mostly manufacturing support, but some new product development and some R&D. To be a good designer, you need some experience under your belt. It's easy to "design" a good looking "something" that is a real hard to try to make, or even that can't be made. So right now, learn about that. Then when you get into design / modeling, keep those lessons in mind.

Can't second Denver's money advice any more. Wish I'd started at a big company, the little place I started had no retirement or 401(k), so I didn't start saving until joining the Fortune 100 just after turning 30. What wouldn't I give for those ten years' interest! I might have been looking at retirement in 3-4 years instead of hoping for 15 more.

Stuff your retirement as much as you can. Ten percent is a good start, then every year add half of your raise. If you change jobs, start your retirement at the new place with the same percentage you had at the old, and keep pushing it up half of your raise every year. Half of a promotion can make a big difference, too.

Fly on the side. Pay for your lessons as you go. I got 10% off by paying for ten hours at a time, then my credit card gave me another 1+% cash back (yes, I paid it off every month!). See how well you like flying, get your Commercial ticket and make a few side runs. See how that compares. Talk to some full-time pilots, see what it's like. Then choose--more time in Engineering or take a mid-life career change. This is when your savings account will come in handy (NOT your retirement, never touch that money!), as well as your paid off cars. I've never bought a new car (one year old from the dealer generally saves 25% of the new car price), never had a car loan more than 48 months, and never took the whole time to pay one off. Then drive it for at least eight years, making car payments into your savings account. Ten years is better. So buy a quality car!

You will have the freedom to choose what you want, choose what you like, and do what you want. Just hang tough for a little while and feed your bank account, not the bank's account.

Feel free to PM if you want. Us flying engineers need to stick together!
 
CC268 said:
I make 65k which is about the average for most engineers out of college. I know time is on my side, but I get a little nervous about waiting too long...but I do understand what you are saying.
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Boy I'm in the wrong field. I'm about your age and make less than half that! (and dislike my job to boot!) :)
 
I'm not an engineer or a professional pilot, I'm in IT, so I can't really say that much about either profession, but there is one thing I've noticed. There are many engineers who gladly pay $150 an hour to go flying in their spare time. I've yet to meet an airline pilot who does any engineering at all in his spare time, let alone be willing to pay to do so.

However, if you have potential health issues that could cause you to lose your medical, you should forget about a flying career.
 
Stearman said:
Boy I'm in the wrong field. I'm about your age and make less than half that! (and dislike my job to boot!) :)
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Well, do you have any aptitude for engineering? There's some pretty heavy math in the engineering curriculum at most schools that tends to weed out rather a lot of guys who thought they wanted to go into engineering.
 
evapilotaz said:
Engineering at any level sounds boring. Math sucks.
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Sorry, dude. But it sure is fun playing with big, fancy equipment at work and making things! :D When I can escape from the paperwork and meetings, that is.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Someone's gotta build the airplanes you fly... A whole lot of math in that! ;)
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I am a bit suprised someone would say "engineering at any level sounds boring" - did you not just see SpaceX land a rocket??? That is insane - I just wish I was smart enough to work something like that! If people only knew half of what goes into the car you drive, the plane you fly, etc...people take it all for granted now a days.

Not all engineering is math by the way and I actually was never a huge fan of the math classes in college - actually applying it to something made it a lot more interesting though.
 
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Hank S said:
I'm also a mechanical engineer. I'm working for my third large company. Some have cubicles, some have offices. Sometimes the work is more fun, sometimes it's more stress. Right now, I really enjoy it.

I've been in manufacturing since my first job, 25+ years ago. Mostly manufacturing support, but some new product development and some R&D. To be a good designer, you need some experience under your belt. It's easy to "design" a good looking "something" that is a real hard to try to make, or even that can't be made. So right now, learn about that. Then when you get into design / modeling, keep those lessons in mind.

Can't second Denver's money advice any more. Wish I'd started at a big company, the little place I started had no retirement or 401(k), so I didn't start saving until joining the Fortune 100 just after turning 30. What wouldn't I give for those ten years' interest! I might have been looking at retirement in 3-4 years instead of hoping for 15 more.

Stuff your retirement as much as you can. Ten percent is a good start, then every year add half of your raise. If you change jobs, start your retirement at the new place with the same percentage you had at the old, and keep pushing it up half of your raise every year. Half of a promotion can make a big difference, too.

Fly on the side. Pay for your lessons as you go. I got 10% off by paying for ten hours at a time, then my credit card gave me another 1+% cash back (yes, I paid it off every month!). See how well you like flying, get your Commercial ticket and make a few side runs. See how that compares. Talk to some full-time pilots, see what it's like. Then choose--more time in Engineering or take a mid-life career change. This is when your savings account will come in handy (NOT your retirement, never touch that money!), as well as your paid off cars. I've never bought a new car (one year old from the dealer generally saves 25% of the new car price), never had a car loan more than 48 months, and never took the whole time to pay one off. Then drive it for at least eight years, making car payments into your savings account. Ten years is better. So buy a quality car!

You will have the freedom to choose what you want, choose what you like, and do what you want. Just hang tough for a little while and feed your bank account, not the bank's account.

Feel free to PM if you want. Us flying engineers need to stick together!
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot to both you and Denver for the replies - very helpful and informative. I hope that in the next few years my path will be a little clearer. For now I will continue to gain engineering experience and pay for my flight training. We will see where it takes me!
 
Although I can't respond to everyone individually - thanks to everyone who has responded, your feedback has been appreciated.
 
DenverPilot and others pretty much nailed it, but I'll add a few words.

Single engineer at 22? Sounds like me 20 years ago (as it turns out, those cubicle years go by quickly). You have no idea how much excess time and money you have on your hands right now. Pay off any debt you might have, max your 401k and you'll be a millionaire by 50. You should be able to get your ratings and/or A&P by 30. If you're going to have kids, don't wait too long. Don't buy too much house or too much car. Avoid restaurants and going out, nuke your cable and phone bills; those expenses add up to a whole lot of money over 20 years.
 
GeorgeC said:
DenverPilot and others pretty much nailed it, but I'll add a few words.

Single engineer at 22? Sounds like me 20 years ago (as it turns out, those cubicle years go by quickly). You have no idea how much excess time and money you have on your hands right now. Pay off any debt you might have, max your 401k and you'll be a millionaire by 50. You should be able to get your ratings and/or A&P by 30. If you're going to have kids, don't wait too long. Don't buy too much house or too much car. Avoid restaurants and going out, nuke your cable and phone bills; those expenses add up to a whole lot of money over 20 years.
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Good thing is I have no student debt...I have 10% going towards 401K...trying to be frugal - although that is tough when your getting your PPL haha. A good portion of my money is going to that currently.
 
CC268 said:
Good thing is I have no student debt...I have 10% going towards 401K...trying to be frugal - although that is tough when your getting your PPL haha. A good portion of my money is going to that currently.
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The good news is that the costs go down after you get your ticket.
Let's see, 65k minus 18k for a maxed 401k leaves 47k.. say 1/3 of that goes to housing and another 1/3 goes to taxes, leaving you with 15k. You can fly on 5k/year, leaving 10k/year for everything else, almost $200 a week... not too shabby...
 
GeorgeC said:
The good news is that the costs go down after you get your ticket.
Let's see, 65k minus 18k for a maxed 401k leaves 47k.. say 1/3 of that goes to housing and another 1/3 goes to taxes, leaving you with 15k. You can fly on 5k/year, leaving 10k/year for everything else, almost $200 a week... not too shabby...
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And I should get a raise in the next year :cool:

I am going to get my instrument rating not longer after getting my PPL too...
 
Walboy said:
Maybe you should consider combining the best of both worlds and start building an experimental once you finish you PPL. Seems like the builders who stick with the project get A LOT of satisfaction out of it.
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This is kind of in the plans...my dad wants to build an RV9-A - might be a few years down the road though
 
Saving money is a fantastic idea. Planning to be financially secure is the responsible thing to do. However, don't forget to "live" while you are at it. There are many who wished they had lived a little more earlier in life. Im not saying to throw caution to the wind, but experience life too.
 
mikeinbama said:
Saving money is a fantastic idea. Planning to be financially secure is the responsible thing to do. However, don't forget to "live" while you are at it. There are many who wished they had lived a little more earlier in life. Im not saying to throw caution to the wind, but experience life too.
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What he means is a little hookers and blow here and there is okay but don't go full Charlie Sheen.
 
mikeinbama said:
Saving money is a fantastic idea. Planning to be financially secure is the responsible thing to do. However, don't forget to "live" while you are at it. There are many who wished they had lived a little more earlier in life. Im not saying to throw caution to the wind, but experience life too.
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There is a good percentage of people who will be crippled and unable to retire in comfort the way they thought they would. Some of it is environmental factors. Some are inherited genetics. One of my friends was adopted and had no idea she would be living through the challenges she is now as she has no family medical history to look at.
 
mikeinbama said:
BTW, you heard from Henning?
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Just on facebook

Today he is discussing socialism being perceived as a welfare model and using the commercial fishing industry to link it to communism.
It was a lot of words.
 
If you are a young ME, and you establish yourself technically with aircraft structures aluminum and composites you will always find work, any country. Plenty of avenues, get into DER and certifications, flight test, etc. The Masters and PhD could put you near the ground breaking projects that require a 30 lb. brain. Keep flying, and getting ratings. Doors will open and opportunities will start coming into focus as you go. No way to predict where you settle in, but you should always be in demand.
 
bnt83 said:
There is a good percentage of people who will be crippled and unable to retire in comfort the way they thought they would. Some of it is environmental factors. Some are inherited genetics. One of my friends was adopted and had no idea she would be living through the challenges she is now as she has no family medical history to look at.
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But more folks won't be crippled, better to live life instead of cowering in the corner, hoarding all your nuts in fear of life itself.

Yeah, be smart and don't live paycheck to paycheck, but have a life too

Enjoying your youth and young adulthood is far more important than enjoying your old age, if that ain't a oxymoron.
 
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evapilotaz said:
Engineering at any level sounds boring. Math sucks.
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While I am an uber math nerd, I will say that most of the engineers I work with do very little math. You have to do it in school, but once you get past that, most of the math you need to do can be performed on a four function calculator.
 
CC268 said:
I am a bit suprised someone would say "engineering at any level sounds boring" - did you not just see SpaceX land a rocket??? That is insane - I just wish I was smart enough to work something like that! If people only knew half of what goes into the car you drive, the plane you fly, etc...people take it all for granted now a days.

Not all engineering is math by the way and I actually was never a huge fan of the math classes in college - actually applying it to something made it a lot more interesting though.
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A guy that I used to work with left the company I am at now to work at Space-X. I talked to him a few years later, and I he basically related that it wasn't as cool as he though it would be. I work for a company that builds launch vehicles as well. It really isn't as exciting as you would think. Sure we do cool stuff, but it is years of work for a 10 minute flight.
 
kontiki said:
If you are a young ME, and you establish yourself technically with aircraft structures aluminum and composites you will always find work, any country. Plenty of avenues, get into DER and certifications, flight test, etc. The Masters and PhD could put you near the ground breaking projects that require a 30 lb. brain. Keep flying, and getting ratings. Doors will open and opportunities will start coming into focus as you go. No way to predict where you settle in, but you should always be in demand.
Click to expand...

I was just looking at some flight test engineer jobs at gulfstream. I don't think I'm qualified (BSME, 8 Years Thermal Power Plant testing experience (mostly gas turbines in power generation) oh and a PPL and soon to have my Inst ticket) but I may apply. I'd have to take a pay cut to get out of my niche, but my passion is aviation.
 
Somedudeintn said:
I was just looking at some flight test engineer jobs at gulfstream. I don't think I'm qualified (BSME, 8 Years Thermal Power Plant testing experience (mostly gas turbines in power generation) oh and a PPL and soon to have my Inst ticket) but I may apply. I'd have to take a pay cut to get out of my niche, but my passion is aviation.
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Flight test engineer would be awesome...
 
azpilot said:
A guy that I used to work with left the company I am at now to work at Space-X. I talked to him a few years later, and I he basically related that it wasn't as cool as he though it would be. I work for a company that builds launch vehicles as well. It really isn't as exciting as you would think. Sure we do cool stuff, but it is years of work for a 10 minute flight.
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Yea...I can understand that...we build Control Moment Gyroscopes and Reaction Wheels (attitude control for satellites) amongst many other things including electronics for programs like Orion. We have product circling Mars right now - pretty cool stuff...but I agree to some extent - it isn't as exciting as you might think. However, I know the really smart guys get to do some cool stuff.
 
CC268 said:
Yea...I can understand that...we build Control Moment Gyroscopes and Reaction Wheels (attitude control for satellites) amongst many other things including electronics for programs like Orion. We have product circling Mars right now - pretty cool stuff...but I agree to some extent - it isn't as exciting as you might think. However, I know the really smart guys get to do some cool stuff.
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Flirting with gimbal lock for a living! ;)
 
azpilot said:
While I am an uber math nerd, I will say that most of the engineers I work with do very little math. You have to do it in school, but once you get past that, most of the math you need to do can be performed on a four function calculator.
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Nah, I have to do arctan from time to time. Can't have very many molded plastic product without putting in some draft so it will come out of the mold . . .
 
denverpilot said:
Flirting with gimbal lock for a living! ;)
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We have something like over 100 million flight hours (I need to check the board up front that says how long...) - we have never had a failure on our CMGs and RWAs - no one builds them like we do!
 
CC268 said:
We have something like over 100 million flight hours (I need to check the board up front that says how long...) - we have never had a failure on our CMGs and RWAs - no one builds them like we do!
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Yeah I know. I've just been reading Apollo stuff. :)
 
evapilotaz said:
No offense to you engineers. I'm poor at math and I see engineering as starring at cad drawings days on end. Obviously I'm wrong here.
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Really depends on the type of engineering.

Field engineers usually laugh at whatever fiction they found in the drawings made by the guy or gal in the cube farm back home, while they're out fixing something.

Remember, Mechanical and Electrical engineers make weapons, Civil engineers make targets. :)
 
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