Hello,
I have been considering making a career change and wanted to get some feedback from some people in the industry, here is my story.
I started my aviation training back in 2004 at Eastern Michigan University and finished all my academics for my BS in Aviation Flight Technology in 2007; however because of financial issues my flight training has been very slowly progressing. I still have not received my degree because I have not yet finished all my ratings. I have 275 hours, PPL with an instrument rating and I am ready to take my commercial check ride (if I had the money). My goal when I started was to fly for Fedex one day via the old flight instructing, small cargo operation then regional route and I have been working for Fedex for the past 5 years part time to get my foot in the door and make a good impression as well as pay for school. Now because of life events (marriage, house, wife in grad school and newborn son), I can’t afford another student loan to take my commercial check ride yet alone get my ME and CFI. I have passed on full time positions many times to drive a truck for Fedex for a starting salary of $55,000-$75,000, depending if I drive city or road, because I don’t want to give up my dream of flying. The thing is that it is getting hard and very discouraging to only be able to fly once or twice a month because that’s all I can afford to do and at that rate it will take years to finish my ratings not to mention I am already 28 years old. The question is should I finally take the full time driver position and give up flying as a career just because I need the money?
Thank you in advance for any feedback.
I have been considering making a career change and wanted to get some feedback from some people in the industry, here is my story.
I started my aviation training back in 2004 at Eastern Michigan University and finished all my academics for my BS in Aviation Flight Technology in 2007; however because of financial issues my flight training has been very slowly progressing. I still have not received my degree because I have not yet finished all my ratings. I have 275 hours, PPL with an instrument rating and I am ready to take my commercial check ride (if I had the money). My goal when I started was to fly for Fedex one day via the old flight instructing, small cargo operation then regional route and I have been working for Fedex for the past 5 years part time to get my foot in the door and make a good impression as well as pay for school. Now because of life events (marriage, house, wife in grad school and newborn son), I can’t afford another student loan to take my commercial check ride yet alone get my ME and CFI. I have passed on full time positions many times to drive a truck for Fedex for a starting salary of $55,000-$75,000, depending if I drive city or road, because I don’t want to give up my dream of flying. The thing is that it is getting hard and very discouraging to only be able to fly once or twice a month because that’s all I can afford to do and at that rate it will take years to finish my ratings not to mention I am already 28 years old. The question is should I finally take the full time driver position and give up flying as a career just because I need the money?
Thank you in advance for any feedback.