Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Any Commercial Pilots here?

That is sort of what prompted the change.

I recognize that I'm now at the point where I'm either gonna decide to do this till the end, or if I'm switching it's time to do it now. Before I have too many good things to walk away from. But not really be happy doing it.

-Jake

Why don't you join the airwing of your pd/sheriff?

Fly and keep that pension going...

Ymmv

I was just thinking the same thing.... every local sheriff and some of the larger PD's have their own helicopters. The CHP runs airplanes to bust speeders on the highway.

Son is making the same change. Going to spend $80K to get all the licenses.

He has a guaranteed spot with a carrier when he is finished.

Think it's a good idea for him?

I'm worried that he is taking on a lot of debt, but my brother just retired from American and has directed him through some of it.

That could be an option. Not at my current department, but there are other departments nearby that do.

I really hadn't considered that. I would need to look in to it more. Not worth the investment at my current salary, other than for fun. But I would assume that would come with a pay increase.

-Jake

The town I live in has an excellent commercial training program. In addition they have an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner(DPE) and conducts check rides onsite at Sanders Aviation. Very few schools can say that.

https://sandersaviation.com/

Debt is bad. But I suppose if it opens up a career that you can make good money in I suppose it'll balance out.

We'd be doing it with very minimal and possibly no debt.

But it'll take most of our savings.

Actually I would possibly take the deferred loan and get through the training. Then pay it off when I'm back working again and avoid as much of that interest as possible.

I drive a 2008 truck with 170k on it and a 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan with close to 90k. I don't like debt.

-Jake

I will have to take a closer look at that tomorrow.

I'm informationed-out for tonight.

One of the schools I'm looking at offers those things. But it's twice as long and three times the cost. It's close to home though.

But for that price and a much shorter time frame it may be worth spending a few months there.

Thank you

*Edited

I wasn't looking at the full course. Only a section of it.. That school looks very similar to one near me. Time/cost/and what they're offering.

Lots of my friends in Naval Aviation got out after one or two tours and went commercial, with three to four thousand hours of multi-engine jet time under their belts. If you're going from "cold iron civilian" to an ATP, figure on close to 100 large and you still won't have anywhere near the experience military pilots bring to the table.

That said, there IS a huge pilot shortage so standards are becoming less, almost like in the mid-60s, where a couple of hundred hours in a Cessna would get you in the door of a major airline and they would train you. Good luck

I spent 32 years as a LEO. But, I spent 20 years in the National Guard as a helicopter mechanic with 12.5 as a Huey crew chief. That is as close to my dream as I could get. Good luck on your dream.

kwg

While the pilot shortage is real, it also seems that what people are willing to pay for a pilot isn't what it should be.

I know I didn't have the hours to get serious consideration at any position I felt would pay benefits from all the training hours and certifications... And I had 1500 hours single, multi, and instrument.

We used to joke that you could land a job flying a 6 million dollar aircraft and make $40k a year doing it.

I seriously considered going deep, but the more I hung around FBO's and became close with many commercial pilots, I realized the money incentive just wasn't equaling the cost. You have to really just want to fly... that seemed to be the reward in a career of aviation.

Take some flying lessons before you commit and jump ship from your current career. A few thousand bucks will tell you if you like flying - or are cut out for it at all. In my years as a jet instructor, I learned that there are some people who are just naturals at flying, and others who could never manage to do it no matter how much they wanted it. It would be like me burning to be a concert violinist or pro basketball star. Never ever gonna happen.

There are going to be serious issues regarding pilots and the mandatory clot shot. See the thread on that for particulars. If you've had the shots, you might be SOL as far as getting aboard with an airline after all this shakes out.

Edit: that thread is HERE

Get an EKG before you bail out of your LEO job.

kwg

This advice is sound no matter the career choice. It has been my advice to nieces and nephews. I also tell them to get summer jobs in that field. Even an entry level job exposes you to the workplace and people in it . Enough to help you decide if you really want to commit to it .

Bocajnala. My son was a police oficer for nearly 20 years. He got his private pilots license in 1999. He quit flying up until 3 years or so back. Then he bought his own plane and began getting his ratings. He met several airline pilots in the process that helped him. He got his instrument rating and his multi engine rating. He applied to American Airlines last year and was hired. They got him his Airline Transport Rating. He then quit the active PD but stayed on as reserve. Monday, he starts work for Spirit. He is really excited about it.

There is a great demand for Pilots now and it doesn't look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. As young as you are I would say go for it. I love flying although I have not gone any further than my Private License.

Jim

Yes a good idea. I've got a call in and a meeting scheduled next week with a local school. Says I can get in the air a few times to see how I like it.

-Jake

Thanks Jim that's encouraging.


I'll stay on as a reserve at least as well. Don't want to give up my certifications or qualifications and my department makes it easy to stay part time with very little required time.


Seems like my next step is meeting with a school and getting the medical stuff started to make sure I qualify.
-Jake

Easy for you to say not dealing with the scum of the earth every day, murdered people, abused children and being ostracized by regular folks. NOT worth it. I made it 8 years. Life is too short.