Pilot Oppos, Can I Ask You A Question?

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
05/15/2018 at 19:02 • Filed to: Planelopnik

I’ve been having a sort of silent existential crisis. Starman and I have had a very long conversation about dreams, goals, careers, and where we’d like to be later in life. At the end of it, I had a realization: I’m going through the motions of moving up in my career without really thinking about if it’s even something I want to do.

I’m currently an IT Analyst. I guess it pays well, and I’m reasonably happy with my work. However, I don’t want to be here forever. I want to move further and further.

Well, my options don’t sound that fun. I could:

A) Become a programmer.

B) Take a supervisory IT role.

I hate hate hate hate programming, and so far no amount of cheerleading and learning is changing that. There’s nothing I find enjoyable about it.

And while I do often see myself as a leader (and many seem to agree), to enter the supervisory side of tech, I will need a degree. So then I have to ask myself the question: “Do I want to be a supervisor so much that I’d be willing to get an IT oriented business degree?”

And the answer is...If I had to choose between running an IT department and just completely leaving tech behind to do something else, I’d rather be a pilot.

Don’t get me wrong, I love IT. There’s little I love more than taking a crushed phone and making it better than new. The gratification and euphoria of solving difficult computer and application problems is awesome.

See, that’s the thing. If I could get a career rebuilding/customizing/troubleshooting phones and computers for like $25-$30 hour, I’d do it. That’s the tech I love so much...it’s basically like IT LEGO...But I’ve yet to find any position like such that would pay that much.

That leaves me seriously questioning if I should really stay in IT, or if I should pursue another passion and just keep IT as a hobby.

Before getting into an IT career, I was seriously considering becoming a pilot. I decided not to because my family looked down at such a career path. They wanted a doctor or lawyer. And as my interest in aviation continues to grow, it has actually overtaken IT as the passion that makes me the happiest.

One of my coworkers decided to chase his dream to be someone important at Disney. He quit his job here, got a “ground floor” job at Disney in a different industry (food service), and he’s going to work his way up.

And that got me even further thinking. If that kid could change his career at 25, why can’t I? If my career path seems dismal to me, maybe I don’t have to stick with it?

So this is an extremely long way of asking this question, but how do I become a commercial pilot? I understand seniority means everything. I understand that I’ll be starting out life as a flight instructor, then grinding my way through regional carriers, and so on...that all seems like a challenge I could handle.

But...how do I do it? How do I get from my cushy desk job to being in the skies? How do I maintain a full time job while I’m learning?

And I guess the biggest question, should I do it? I know that I want to do it and I’d probably be much happier in aviation, but am I crazy for wanting to change my career and get into this one?

DISCUSSION (43)

Shamoononon drives like a farmer > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:09

Maybe IT for aerospace? perhaps aerospace programmer? If you’re looking at being a pilot make sure you have darn good eye-site before even going down that road. I’m sure it’s doable but it’s going to take a while.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:15

Aren’t there too many engines on that Tri-Star?

Mercedes Streeter > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/15/2018 at 19:16

It’s ferrying an engine lol

For Sweden > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:17

For flying, more airlines are realizing that if they want more pilots, they need to pay for training. Contact Women in Aviation for more details.

For another aviation related job, look into becoming a controller . You’re still young enough to start, you can retire with a pension by 55, if you’re good you can easily make six figures, and the FAA pays for training.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:27

US Air Force and US Navy needs pilots. Make sure you understand the qualifications before you talk to any recruiter. But if you can qualify it is a great way to get the training and you’ll be commercial pilot ready when you get out; after your commitment.

Oh, and there’s that whole serving your country honorably thing that goes along with it.

... and that is a great photo. I have plenty of reason to know a lot about the L1011 and I never knew any were configured to ferry an engine.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:31

Expect years of poverty and questionable working conditions if you do. I have a friend that’s doing OK now as a second officer at FedEx on the 757, but she toiled for years flying CRJs for what can be equated to fast-food wages. She had numerous financial advantages, such as being married as well as living rent-free in a converted basement in her mother’s home for a number of years, advantages that most people in her chosen career path don’t have.

I’m perhaps not the best person to ask for career advice. I’ve never really wanted to work, and looked forward to the day I could retire when I started my first job at age 16, lo those many decades ago. All I ever wanted to do was fly professionally, and I really didn’t have any second choice in careers, but a combination of horrendous vision and epilepsy keep me off the flight deck. I’ve tried various careers over the years (running a chain of photo stores, managing the import/export department for the western US for a freight forwarder, network engineer/analyst for aerospace and entertainment companies (including a six-figure income at one point with the flashy cars that go along with that), manpower and resource planning for airline ground handlers and now paratransit dispatcher for a municipal transit agency), and find that I bounce from career to career as necessary to survive. I’ve learned that if I have goals I get disappointed and depressed when those goals don’t get accomplished, so I stopped making those goals and just go with the flow. Life seems happier when living in the moment, although I will admit to having some concern about financial stability in my retirement years.

Steve in Manhattan > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:33

Well, the IT starring Tim Curry had issues, and the remake also suffers from too many storylines, but ... wait, did I miss something?

OPPOsaurus WRX > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:33

All I can hear is Peter Griffin singing ‘im a tumor, I’m a tumor’

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:34

A good friend of mine started doing flight lessons while working IT with me and now flies for skywest.

You should be able to make $25-30/hr on helpdesk in any reasonable job market by the way. My company is based in Texas and that is what we pay senior helpdesk people (3-5 years experience).

For Sweden > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
05/15/2018 at 19:34

Also all that sweet PX swag and vacations at the Air Force Inn

f86sabre > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:39

Hi. Mid level leader at a major Atlanta airline here. So, you ask an interesting question. Getting an air transport certificate takes time and money. The typical path is private pilot, instrument pilot, instructor pilot and finally commercial pilot. There may be some variations in there as well. At each step you need instruction, both classroom and flight, as well as seat time. The money requirement is substantial. There are a number of universities that also offer pilot training programs that get you there. Purdue has one as well as Emory-Riddle.

Kinja'd!!!

What is interesting right now is that a number of major carriers, Delta and American included, are ramping up programs to help people get their certificate. Why? A huge part of the pilot population is of the baby boomer generation and will be retiring soon. Military aviation will no longer be able to provide enough pilots either. The airlines are starting to look at the grass roots level for potential pilots.

If you feel that is your passion then go for it. Aviation is challenging, but it is also lovely and huge fun. Another thing to ponder is if you really want to fly or just get involved with the biz. Our little Atlanta based operation is hiring all kinds of IT folks, doing all kinds of interesting, cutting edge things if you want to get involved in the business that way.

http://www.deltajobs.net/career_destinations.htm

Hit me up if you have additional questions.

f86sabre > For Sweden
05/15/2018 at 19:41

Dispatcher is a good way to go as well.

E92M3 > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:45

Forget IT. Unless you become a software engineer it just doesn’t pay enough. I spent many years doing desktop support and being a systems administrator. The amount of knowledge you have to constantly learn is draining. Nothing can be done to production servers during business hours. Lots of late nights and weekends.

Then consider what you have to know vs what a physicians assistant has to know, and the fact that they make AT LEAST double what you do.

I would not look down on any pilot. Many commercial pilots are making over $250k these days. If you’re willing to work for a foreign airline, you can make over $300k pretty easy. You will need a couple decades of experience to get to that point though. My cousin started working at a small airfield fueling planes. He was able to get flight lessons for hours worked. Eventually he was giving lessons. 20 years later and he now flies for Amazon.

Consider healthcare also. Many positions are in demand and pay very well. You’ll never have to worry about being outsourced, and you can find a job in almost any city you shall desire.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 19:55

But no Frisbee fairing.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 20:06

I can’t speak to the pilot thing, but I can speak to being stuck in a career that you may not enjoy. If my 25 yo self asked my 39 yo self if it’s too late to make a change, I’d say nope. But once you get to a point where you’re making a good living, not killing your self physically and then add in the family aspect and it’s too tough to start over at this point, unless I had to. But to do it because I don’t like what I’m doing or feel unfulfilled, then that’s just being selfish at this point. But for you, I’d say go for it, you won’t ever have less people depending on you later than you do now, so you can be more selfish and do what makes you happy. Don’t wait till you have a family to support to try and make the change. Just my experience. And I found a calling to help through a church group working on cars. So I get my car fix and my job pays the bills. I don’t have to look to my job to fulfill me, I just need it to keep the bills paid. I found fulfillment with my family and my car group. So you can go that route too, but it will only get harder to make a change. Good luck.

AestheticsInMotion > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 20:10

I know nothing about piloting, but I’ve been having similar thoughts for a while. A new job has put that all on the back burner temporarily, but long term I’ll definitely want something else.

That said... I’ve had two successful businesses I started from the ground up, and the most recent one just sold two weeks ago. The experience gained from those business ventures got me into a new job that required a four year business degree. Actually it let me choose between THREE different positions that all required different degrees. Don’t write something off just because you don’t have the corrosponding slip of paper from a university.

Biggest takeaway from recent dealings... Familiarize yourself with Google adsense and adwords if you haven’t already. Utilizing online advertisements and working on my overall online presence has been insanely lucrative for my business ventures. I’m 100% confident that when I end up starting a third business (something I’m passionate about, not just for the money), the online advertising side will be what really makes it possible.

Make a fake business. Make a Google page, a FB page, etc. Pay a small amount for advertising, try to get “your company” good reviews and lots of content across all pages. Understand the relationship between money spent on advertising, page views, ratings, etc. Practice using the Q&A sections, familiarize yourself with all the formats across all platforms... Just get your company name out there and make your fake service something desirable. That practice will translate directly into hard sales if you start a legitimate business of your own (like cell phone repair). When I first started using online advertising for windows I spent roughly $150 a month, and an hour or two designing ads. Another few hours a week to double check everything, and take in all the data that Google collects for your business. That $150 a month brought in an addition $4000-8000 revenue, just from online sales. Thus spreading the word-of-mouth net even further too! Utilizing an app that automatically requested reviews after each job was another huge step in boosting online presence.

It’s all fairly easy to learn, and the best part? Spend a few weeks working on the above and you’ll already be so far beyond your average marketing graduate that it’s almost sad. (also, I wish you were local so I could use you for phone repair!!!)

Mercedes Streeter > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
05/15/2018 at 20:32

While a fantastic suggestion, I’d not advise anyone like myself to enter the military. Even if I do somehow pass the physical qualifications there’d be no guarantee in how long I’d be able to serve.

Side note: It’s one of my favourite L-1011 photos!

Mercedes Streeter > E92M3
05/15/2018 at 20:44

Then consider what you have to know vs what a physicians assistant has to know, and the fact that they make AT LEAST double what you do.

Shoot, all the writers at the former Gawker Media (and I mean all of them ) made at bare minimum $10k more than I do, with most of them making significantly more than that. Which sure, most GM writers lived in NYC where living expenses are stupid, but it’s not like they really had to. David Tracy and Torch are proof. That sort of helped put it into perspective for me. I constantly have to learn so much (I’m learning Java right now) for less money than a guy that gets paid to buy and restore rusty Jeeps.

Healthcare is the last thing I’d want to do, same with anything sales oriented. I have massive respect for those in those fields, but they aren’t for me.

Mercedes Streeter > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
05/15/2018 at 20:47

All the helpdesk positions in my area that pay anything like that require an unreasonable amount of college experience for the job. Heck, the job I’m in now requires a Bachelor’s in IT. I got my foot in the door by entering in as a contractor.

Mercedes Streeter > Shamoononon drives like a farmer
05/15/2018 at 20:48

IT for aerospace sounds cool, so long as programming isn’t involved lol.

My eyesight is not that great, but it’s easily corrected to 20/20, so that’s not an issue. :)

Mercedes Streeter > For Sweden
05/15/2018 at 20:53

Oh! That’s a great idea! I’ve been looking at flight schools and it looks like you can’t pay with them using FAFSA? If true, funding would be a lot harder for me as my credit is absolutely wrecked (we all know who did that). However, if airlines are more open to such nowadays, holy crap!

Mercedes Streeter > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
05/15/2018 at 21:00

It looks like starting first officer wages on regionals have changed in the past 5-10 years. What used to be $16k salaries are now $40k and up, or about what I make now. I can work with that. Of course, there will be lots of time being a flight instructor before that, but at least things are on the upswing.

My main issue would be paying for school. Since it seems flight schools don’t get FAFSA, I’m not sure how paying for it would work.

For Sweden > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 21:03

Only higher education with flight departments can take FAFSA. But definitely check out Women in Aviation; they will know all the opportunities.

For Sweden > f86sabre
05/15/2018 at 21:03

Dispatch

My God 0_o

Mercedes Streeter > f86sabre
05/15/2018 at 21:06

Thanks for the suggestions! :)

I mean, I’m always open to exciting ways to get into aviation. My boyfriend suggested I become an air stewardess while I learn to fly. And honestly, anything in aviation that has a more interesting career path than where I am now is worth consideration. Though, I’d love to be in the cockpit!

The grass roots thing does give me hope. I feel my biggest hurdle would be funding. Thanks to events outside of my control (family and ITT Tech), my credit is terrible, so funding outside of stuff like FAFSA may be awfully hard.

f86sabre > For Sweden
05/15/2018 at 21:11

They seem to make ok cash, there isn’t a huge supply of them and it it is a way in.

Mercedes Streeter > AestheticsInMotion
05/15/2018 at 21:11

Holy smokes, you sound like one of those YouTubers that do ads at the beginning/ends of their videos! Wow, you make it easier than it seems. If I ever do choose to open a shop, I think I’ll take your advice on how to launch off the ground.

At the very least, my boyfriend and I may soon be starting a joint YouTube channel together and perhaps I could use your tips to get him the views and exposure he deserves! His dream career is acting, directing, editing, producing...basically being one of those in control of the whole process. :) And seeing his work, he’s pretty good at it so far!

Mercedes Streeter > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
05/15/2018 at 21:13

That’s another one of my considerations. There will come a point where there isn’t any turning back due to age, family, how far I’ve come in a current career, or whatever. Then I’d have to ride it out until I retire like my older work colleagues have. Or...I can take the chance now and go for the gold!

nermal > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 21:24

“Most people overestimate what they can do in the short term, and underestimate what they can do in the long term.”

That’s a concept that has stuck with me for a while. I have no feedback on the pilot aspect, but did make a significant career change. It was rough going for a while, but in hindsight I wish I did it sooner. Don’t get stuck in a rut doing a job that you don’t have a passion for, or that doesn’t enable your passions outside of work. At the same time, a significant change won’t happen over night, but a little bit can happen every day.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 21:29

The salaries had to go up to correspond with the 1,500+ hours you need before you can even get hired at even a commuter airline nowadays. It’s not like the old days where a few hundred hours got you into the right seat, and for that I’m grateful. So instead of toiling away for pitiful wages at an airline, you now toil away at a flight school or such, if you can find such a position, for the same crap wages that entry-level first officers used to make, but now you have to work two jobs instead of one to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. The more things change the more they remain the same...

Kinja'd!!!

Back in October 1989 I was on vacation in Maui with my family. I decided to zip over to Honolulu for the day and grab some pictures at the airport, so I hopped on Aloha IslandAir for a little day trip, flying on a DHC-6 registered N707PV. About a week later that same aircraft was euphemistically damaged beyond repair, according to the NTSB, when it slammed into the side of a mountain in IFR conditions whilst on a VFR flight (yeah - it became a 20 person pancake on the side of a cliff - kind of hard to repair that). Flight crew inexperience was a major factor, and part of the reason I’m glad that the requirements are much more strict these days.

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19891028-0

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
05/15/2018 at 21:37

Nah, they just took the number one engine off of the other wing to balance the weight. Damn thing keeps flying in circles, however. Everybody sit on the left side...

Mercedes Streeter > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
05/15/2018 at 22:00

Yeah, that flight instructor bit would probably slow me down. I’d probably be a flight instructor part/half time so I can keep something resembling my current income. Otherwise I’ll have to cut basically *everything*, which is sort of impossible without moving back home (not possible, I just can’t take that trauma). Idk, maybe if/when that day comes I’ll be able to figure out how to be full time.

I do way more research than I should on events like those. It’s amazing how many crashes in even more recent years were caused by inexperience. Heck, even experienced pilots make catastrophic screw ups that draw 100+ people pancakes on the ground. :(

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 22:09

That is nuts. My wife works at a big fancy schmancy law firm where they have that, but I don’t (I think 3 of my 23 people have college degrees) and none of my competitors do (except for one ass who tells everybody about his MBA, but his business has been pretty stalled out, wonder why....)

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 22:15

I, too, have researched and read about numerous crashes over the years, and a good chunk of the several hundred volumes in my aviation library are specifically about airline accidents. Regardless of what business I’m in I use examples from aircraft crashes to explain how even the smallest single item or lack of focus can cause disaster, and use those examples as teaching moments. Same thing when I was Aerospace Education officer for my local Civil Air Patrol squadron.

One of my favorite series is by Macarthur Job; well worth the purchase if you don’t already have them.

Kinja'd!!!

I also have a book called All Four Engines Have Failed , something I picked up 25-30 years ago. For some reason, that tome is now worth close to $100. Sometimes I don’t understand.

One of the other favorites in my book collection is actually a bound collection of 4x5 proof prints of promo/marketing pictures by Douglas Aircraft featuring Pan Am’s DC-8s prior to their delivery. They didn’t keep these aircraft long, unlike their 707 fleet, making this collection that much more rare.

Kinja'd!!!

PS9 > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 22:55

Starman?

Grindintosecond > Mercedes Streeter
05/15/2018 at 23:01

I dont know where you live. Im a former 13yr regional pilot now with a major. Regional pay now is different than it was just 5 yeats ago. The pilot shortage is hitting them hard and they are offering signing bonusses 10-20k on top of first year pay off 40+. Soon they are going to offer student loan payments. At themoment there is no downside to regional flying where 5 years ago I’d tell you to never consider it. It was absolutely that bad and i was a senior captain flying somewhat better schedules...gone 4 solid days a week commuting it.

If you want to do this, look at flight schools with regimented schedules that can offer decent financing. Youll be picking up a student loan for this. i can recommend all ATPs, as they have a decent value proposition being a place you can get flight hours fast and ratings quickly. I caNNOT recommend embry riddle unless you want 200k+ debt. The cheapest 4 year college degreed flight program will still run you $100k + room and board. ATPs has several locations and will cost you that or just under, but your job prospects will be there sooner and involve hard work to reach each step along the way. Private (fly for fun), instrument (fun in clouds), multi engine, commercial (paid to fly people in clouds for money), flight instructor (teach your former self and log lots of hours fast), ATP rating...... Talk to an atp rep and get the real scoop, look at regional sites and see min requirements...skywest, envoy, compass, republic, the big regionals will offer more and survive (if not buy up smaller ones) if any hiring shortages continue to exist.

Theres also corporate flying and the education side may be your speed after a while. Ive got friends teaching at FlightSafety who love the job. They do simulators and training for lots of corporate and regional airlines.

Its become a great job now that pays bank but i had to stick with it for 20 years through an economy crash in 01 and 08 to get here. Ive learned lots about myself and people along the way. Its great but work. Its not a cool easy job. Its a cool job that gets its share of tough challenges and times you cant wait to just climb in your own bed but at this level im working with amazing people whove done amazing things and i feel so average or less sometimes when i find out im working with a former u2/blackbird/shuttle pilot.....yeah.

Good luck. If you decide against it, at least learn to fly. Renting a plane here and there is just a great time. Calming and contemplative. Take some lessons and find out about you.

Mercedes Streeter > PS9
05/16/2018 at 00:06

Breaking from my norm of referring to my partners as miss/mister [car they drive/love], for my first ever boyfriend I decided to do something different. At first I called him “Mister GMC”, however I learned that he does actually read my posts a lot. He likes being called “Starman” more, so Starman it is!

WilliamsSW > Mercedes Streeter
05/16/2018 at 00:11

There is a lot of great advice here, but I would just add that you seem very passionate about aviation, and it sounds to me like you have to give it your best shot now -it’s never going to get any easier as you get older.

Getting your pilots license is expensive, though- and after that, it’s instrument rating, commercial, and CFI. Up to that point, no one is paying you for it- so costs add up. After that, the pay will be lousy for a while- but if you can find a way to make ends meet /get support to that point, I think it’s a great career.

I didn’t get my license until I was 32, and felt too established in my career to make the switch, so I stopped after my instrument rating. No regrets, but I wonder if it would have been different if I had started at 22 instead.

Good luck!

Mercedes Streeter > Grindintosecond
05/16/2018 at 13:23

This is why you’re one of my favourite pilot Oppos!

Doing some research last night, it does seem like ATPs truly are a fast track. As you and others say, seniority is everything. So the sooner you can get into the seat, the better.

Indeed, I also looked at univs that offer flight programs and sure, while student loan financing is easier, holy crap the costs for those programs are absolutely stupid.

I think I’m building a sort of plan now. First I’ll contact that Women in Aviation then move on from there with looking for carrier sponsored programs and ATPs.

Thank you so so very much! This gives me some direction I didn’t have before. :)

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Mercedes Streeter
05/16/2018 at 14:19

Exactly, no better time than now to do it.

Grindintosecond > Mercedes Streeter
05/16/2018 at 16:35

ATP has partnerships with some regionals. Im guessing you’re in Chicago, and ATP operates there out of DuPage airport. So check with them, schedule a visit and a talk. Look at what regionals they partner with that have crew bases in chicago. I think Skywest fits that bill and I’d send people there first as far as a quality rregional goes.

Now don’t forget air traffic control. Very good money in that as well and its good money right away...at least you can live on it. But Chicago is a busy and fast moving area so you’d probably work a smaller market center or tower at first. However controllers are badly needed but there is an age cutoff for atc school. Something about the mind unable to learn evolving 3d puzzles without a pause button. The military pays signing bonuses to be a controller...

Something to think about on a more personal level is the medical requirements. There are questions asked for the first class and second class medical that are about admissions to hospitals and medications. Health history. Since you’ve gone through life events, you may take a big look at those questions and see what could possibly disqualify you from the necessary medical later on. Its a good idea to study this a bit so you dont screw up a chance at the sport pilot license (you dont need a medical for that one but if youve ever been turned down for a medical you cant get the sport pilot certificate...) I have met not many, but some transgender pilots flying at major airlines now so things are very possible. However there are medications that are a big no to the FAA and can be changed around to solve that problem unless theres something more serious going on. Like say depression meds or like one student of mine took something crazy that kept nerves alive...he was turned down.

WAI is a great group. I went to their annual convention in 16. It was 90% men. (Because reps from the majors were there) but also look at GALPA (definitely look there) and OBAP and see what their conventions have for you. WAI was like a huge career fair of all kinds of aviation stuff.

Ask anything. Ill try to answer what i can. But dont quit the dayjob until you have a plan!

jminer > Mercedes Streeter
06/12/2018 at 14:19

Definitely late to this reply - just cleaning up open tabs and had something to add. Not on the piloting front - but on IT.

There’s a third avenue which is infrastructure, it’s a lot like what you do now but on an enterprise scale. I’ve been a sysadmin on both *nix an Windows for about 12 years and love the interesting problems I get to solve and solutions I get to plan.

For example - design, implement and manage a solution that requires ~7000 endpoints, 250 servers and 6 PB of storage. I’m a big on-premise guy but a lot of stuff is moving to the ‘Cloud’ (I hate that term) so I’d focus on AWS, Azure and Google Cloud which both have a lot of free training out there.

I personally can’t stand coding and don’t want to manage people which leaves me in a senior engineering position that pay is great and I’m pretty sought after career-wise. My job is always a technical challenge while leaving me enough free time, vacation and money to have some fun hobbies.

SysAdmin jobs (entry level) start about $50k in most markets and mid-level/senior positions can make double that in most markets.

If you want to talk more I’m happy to - I love what I do and also love helping those who aren’t white men into the field.

Jacca > Mercedes Streeter
08/10/2018 at 13:59

I don't know how it apies to pilots but I know my brother in law got screwed out of an ATC career because of age when they changed the rules. So that could be relevant depending on your age