Career Changer

I have to travel for my job, and have the luxury of having access to a Cirrus SR20.  Most of my trips are short in distance, usually under an hour each way presently.  It prevents a 2-2.25 hours drive each way, so I can get to a client and return the same day, and still get home to put the kids to bed.

Today I had such a trip.  With the snow of late here in Ohio, and it now melting we are experience fog in the AM.  That as well as low overcasts this morning caused my flight to be filed IFR.  In most of my experiences flying IFR, it is more progressing up through the soup to a clear top, then decending back through it.  Today was different for multiple reasons.

Another year older, and putting another hour to log in the logbook.   While the logbook in young in hours, I am unfortantly not young in age.  That and wanting to change careers is something I think about just about every day.  OK, everyday I wonder if I will make it, or should I even try.

The flight usually doesn’t take long (more or less 45 mins), but instead of climbing out of the soup this morning, I was held low by ATC and never got out of it.  I have been doing alot of hand flying lately, but this morning’s flight and being bounced around I decided to let the autopilot assist.  I kept thinking of what my friends on JC (www.jetcareers.com) would say or think about me using the AP, but it did assist with the workload while I was in the mess.  I can just image some of them telling me to give it up, leave it to the young ones to start into the industry.

Maybe because of this need (or want) to use the advanced avionics on board is a reason I shouldn’t be a professional pilot.  I will have to contemplate that more later.

I arrived at my destination, found the runway and continued my day as planned.  My return in the early afternoon was better, and I decided that given the return time and conditions (still IMC) that I would shoot a few approaches at some local fields before returning to my home field.  A ILS here, a VOR there, and a LOC home.  Just like the IFR checkride I took.  While current and legal, I see some room for improvements when crossing a VOR (drift) as well as altitude on the ILS (I have always been high on approaches, even in VFR).  I will need to get with my instructor and work on that.

With still some snow and ice on the apron to the hanger, I slowly pushed the plane back into its hanger.  Another day older, another hour in the logbook.

I am an Engineer that is looking to change careers to become a professional pilot.  I received my Private Pilot’s License in 1999 and have used it to have fun flying as well as for some business trips.  I received my complex endorsement in 2000 and high performance endorcement in 2001.  I then recieved my IFR in 2005.  

I changed companies in 2003 and that company purchased a Cirrus SR20 for business use.  I have been able to use if for my business trips.  This has allowed me to slowly build my time.  I still have a full-time job as an Engineer.

In the next few months I plan to get my commerical license and hopefully Multi-Engine as well.  I will then be making the mad dash for hours to get into a position to interview with a Regional Airline.  I will be doing this while maintaining my current Engineering position.

I have set up this blog to record my continued efforts towards this goal, and show that an older person can make the change from one career to another.

 Wish me luck!