Bonchie
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
- Messages
- 1,505
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Bonchie
A little over a year ago, I was a 36-year-old pilot with 390 hours. I had gotten my commercial back in 2019 but hadn't done anything with it so I decided to get my CFI.
For several months, I think I gave only five hours of dual, but in March of 2022, I got my ME commercial with an eye toward doing something more. At the same time, through a series of fortunate events, I managed to get on with a really good school that also paid well. I started really teaching mostly full-time (not 9-5, but hours per week wise) in April of 2022, though I kept my other job to help support my family.
Things picked up from there, with me making friendships and getting to do some King Air flying. I built turbine time that would ultimately become invaluable on a resume. I got my CFII in December of 2022, though I've yet to really use it aside from IPCs.
Long story short, from April of 2022 to March 2023, I flew nearly 800 hours. At that point, I started feeling like it was time to start looking at other options to take the next step in my career.
The airlines weren't hiring and you need 1500 hours anyway. I could stay and get to that point by the summer of 2023 with hopes that hiring would start again OR I could do what I wanted to do initially anyway, which is corporate flying.
One day recently, I was scrolling through one of those mostly useless Facebook aviation jobs groups and happened to see a one line ad for SICs in the city my wife is from and I also have family in. So I shot a resume on a whim. The jets are two mid-sized biz jets, so I didn't expect to get a call back with my total turbine time. A day later, though, I got a call. Five days later I went for an interview, and now I've been hired on with an excellent corporation and flight department.
The salary is on par with the airline's starting pay, full benefits, and I've also got that dream corporate schedule everyone talks about. Almost all day trips, 12 or so days a month flying between each pilot, no clock punching, and no office work. My wife even gets to go when we go to the Carribean and other vacation destinations. They'll get me my type rating in the next year so I can upgrade to the left seat.
Long story short, if you are older (not that 37 is ancient, but it's second-career territory) and want to change careers, the time is now. The jobs are out there, and even if the airlines are your goal, the hiring is going to pick back up again. I went from a recreational pilot with little time to a jet job in a year. It's doable. Yeah, it's hard work, and yeah it was a ton of early mornings and late evenings instructing, but it's doable.
Best advice I would give is to just get out there and get started. Don't delay, don't make excuses, and don't settle for anything other than reaching your goal. Beat the ground once you become a part of the flying community in your area. Make friends and explore every opportunity you come across. This is the best time in history to be a working pilot, IMO.
For several months, I think I gave only five hours of dual, but in March of 2022, I got my ME commercial with an eye toward doing something more. At the same time, through a series of fortunate events, I managed to get on with a really good school that also paid well. I started really teaching mostly full-time (not 9-5, but hours per week wise) in April of 2022, though I kept my other job to help support my family.
Things picked up from there, with me making friendships and getting to do some King Air flying. I built turbine time that would ultimately become invaluable on a resume. I got my CFII in December of 2022, though I've yet to really use it aside from IPCs.
Long story short, from April of 2022 to March 2023, I flew nearly 800 hours. At that point, I started feeling like it was time to start looking at other options to take the next step in my career.
The airlines weren't hiring and you need 1500 hours anyway. I could stay and get to that point by the summer of 2023 with hopes that hiring would start again OR I could do what I wanted to do initially anyway, which is corporate flying.
One day recently, I was scrolling through one of those mostly useless Facebook aviation jobs groups and happened to see a one line ad for SICs in the city my wife is from and I also have family in. So I shot a resume on a whim. The jets are two mid-sized biz jets, so I didn't expect to get a call back with my total turbine time. A day later, though, I got a call. Five days later I went for an interview, and now I've been hired on with an excellent corporation and flight department.
The salary is on par with the airline's starting pay, full benefits, and I've also got that dream corporate schedule everyone talks about. Almost all day trips, 12 or so days a month flying between each pilot, no clock punching, and no office work. My wife even gets to go when we go to the Carribean and other vacation destinations. They'll get me my type rating in the next year so I can upgrade to the left seat.
Long story short, if you are older (not that 37 is ancient, but it's second-career territory) and want to change careers, the time is now. The jobs are out there, and even if the airlines are your goal, the hiring is going to pick back up again. I went from a recreational pilot with little time to a jet job in a year. It's doable. Yeah, it's hard work, and yeah it was a ton of early mornings and late evenings instructing, but it's doable.
Best advice I would give is to just get out there and get started. Don't delay, don't make excuses, and don't settle for anything other than reaching your goal. Beat the ground once you become a part of the flying community in your area. Make friends and explore every opportunity you come across. This is the best time in history to be a working pilot, IMO.
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