Any Tips? 1

[CE525]

I am a professional pilot with three soon to be four children. I want to be at home more, so I am considering a undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering. With a family, I know I am looking at a lot of challenges i.e. housing, insurance, tuition etc. Has anyone made this switch, and do you have any tips? I am 33 years old......Another challenge.

 

[IRstuff]

Reality check: My wife is finishing her Family Practice residency at 40+, so 33 is a young whippersnapper.

Your biggest obstacle appears to be your attitude.

TTFN

Eng-Tips Policies FAQ731-376

 

[edmeister]

I fell off my chair in surprise at the insinuation that Engineering is a low stress 9-4 Banker hours: lots of home time – type of Career. I look at our Airline Pilots with their double overtime pay & their “paid to stay at home – be on call” union negotiated clause. How many times we had to fly in replacement crews because the original crew over-extended their “work-hours” in the hotel waiting for the aircraft to get fixed. May I remind individuals that 40 hours to a pilot is a month’s flying – to me its mid week! Anytime the Chief pilot discovers a new “object of desire” from coffee cup holder; sheepskin seat cover to HUD system – I immediately receive the notice to investigate ASAP!

If I had a second chance – I would ensure I came back as a pilot!

Try stress management when the President asks why the $10 Million in-flight Entertainment system keeps crashing or the 2 o’clock morning phone call demanding a ferry permit!

Our latest engineering office buzz-word is “AIDS” … “Aviation induced Divorce Syndrome” I make good money – (much less then a Pilot) & work on weekends & evenings. I have a company Laptop that allows me to work at home & have lots of home time! My company president phones me anytime he is in a bad mood & we have no negotiated Union clause that allows us to get paid to watch TV. Every once in a while I’m allowed out on some training course.

Have you explored all the Pilots jobs out there?

 

[CE525]

I have explored many options and I have come to the conclusion that no matter how good the union, you will still lead another life away from your family, and being paid to watch TV is not as glamourous as it is seems. I would trade seven days off followed by seven days gone for seven minutes in the morning and seven minutes before bed with my family anytime. I have a pasion for how airplanes work, and I thought that engineering may foster this interest. Does anyone have any thoughts on best schools (most bang for your buck)? Also, would it be better to go the mechanical engineering route, even though my ultimate goal is to work with, on, and around things that fly? It is my understanding that mechanical engineering is versitle and could be used in many areas. Would Cessna hire an aerospace engineer before a mechanical engineer with everything else being equal?

I am not protected by a union, if metal bends, I am on the street with lawyers on my tail.

 

[rb1957]

boy, i didn't expect the replies you got, and i'm usually the -ve "get a job" poster !

i can remember several guys in my class at uni. who were doing their engineering degree as a fall-back, 'cause they were going to be pilots, and were planning for when their body let them down.

my opinion is that your degree is a "ticket to a ball game", and it's not which school you go to but how you apply yourself there. airplane companies have a preferrence for Aero. Eng degrees, but not exclusively. if you wanted a stress job with a Mech. Eng degree that you'd stop you; if you wanted an aero job, i think Aero. Eng is obviously preferred. what about test pilot ? (you're already 1/2 way there) ... not necessarily the "Chuck Yeager" (sorry if i got the spelling wrong) type, production flight test would keep you at home.

Your post suggests you're ununionised, which implies to me not particularly well paid for a pilot. in any case, be ready for a pay cut. i'd look around at where you'd like to get a job, see you you'd work for, and see what the conditions would be like. remember too (as the bread-winner) you'll be looking at several years paying for school, instead of getting paid ... that's not something i'd do without tons of thought (and cash). and if you were thinking of doing it part-time or on-line, it'll take longer or look suspicious !

a last comment on your last post ..."if the metal bends", i think (as the guy in the pointy end) that you'd count yourself lucky if you had lawyer problems ... given the alternatives.

 

[MikeHalloran]

At least some community colleges have a two-tier setup. You can take the easier courses and get an A.S. degree. Or you can take the 'hard' courses, get the same A.S. degree, _and_ get credits that will be accepted at face value or slightly discounted at certain cooperating four year schools.

I think you typically need to make arrangements with both schools up front, and you can't take forever to do the program.

OR, for less time and money invested, you could get an MBA, boss the engineers around, make way more money, and work shorter hous.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[CE525]

rb1957/Mike,

Thanks for the info. I have considered test piloting, and this might be just my speed. I have talked to several test pilots, and most are former military and they seem to enjoy what they do. As far as the "tons of though, or cash" it seems to me you have one or the other, and for me it is going to have to be thought. I am currently looking at co-op programs as well as the two tier community college route. Both of these appear attractive. I plan on going to school full time and then some, as much as my mental capacity will allow. Do you know of any outstanding students that have made arrangements with companies, that reimburse for tuition in exchange for employment after graduation? I dont think that an MBA would satisfty my desire to contribute to the aerospace industry. Not to say that that I dislike those folks, just not my cup of tea.

Thanks Again,

CE525

 

[thruthefence]

From his screenname,can one assume CE525 works in corporate aviation? Part 91, probobly not unionized; unless he's with the fractionals. I think most of them maintain part 135 duty hours tho. Not much sitting at the hotel for part 91 pilots however. Lots of long days & bad coffee at some backwater FBO? Fly a 7 hour day, get to bed at midnight & at 5 am the boss calls & says " me & the 'boys' wanna be in Destin by noon today, and how about booking the rent car, pick up a box of Krispy Kreams, and two different newspapers on the way to the airport. Ah, the easy life of a corporate pilot! I say go for the degree, as for your age, those numbers come up any way, no matter if you improve your lot or not.You can always work as a Day Pilot while you're in school. Around here Citation captains get $300.00/day. More if they're single pilot rated.And no, I don't fly for a living.

 

[CE525]

Thruthefence,

If not a pilot, you must know a few. I am employed by a fractional, great company, love the work, but I see my children for half of my life. I would like to be more involved with them, and I cant do this from 1000 miles from home. This is only half of the equation, the other half (the better one) has her hands way past full. My father is a reserch scientist and he always told me that my job sounded repetitive and mundane. The more I learn the more I understand his perspective. I am going to try and find contract work that will be close to the school that I choose. Remaining current and going to Flight Safety on a regular basis will be the tough part. If you don't mind me asking, what is your current job? Do you like it, and do you see yourself staying there until retirement? Thanks for the encouraging words.
Thanks,
CE525