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Pilot considering a career change (Fireman)

Mach .78

Mach .78

Registered User
So I've been around airplanes since before I could walk. My Father has been in Aviation for over 40 years and he taught me how to fly. We fly for a family down here is S. Florida and I make a decent living at it but.......there is something missing, appreciation. These people who we fly for live on a trust set up by their Father who has since passed away. The Jet similiar to the one in my avatar is getting up in years and I don't know for sure if they will be trading it out for a new one in the future. At the same time, my father will probably be retiring in the next 5 years(so he says, ALL THE TIME).
Here is my dilemma. I have NO schedule right now. I am almost guaranteed to fly on or around every holiday. (Had Christmas off last year somehow) We are basically a vacation shuttle whenever they want to go anywhere. It does not matter that we have a life also. (But I get alot of time off, I just don't know about it beforehand)

First of all, am I crazy for wanting to go a different route here?
Second, Who here knows anything about becoming a Fireman? I understand there are risks involved but there are risks in my current job so that is not a factor here. I like the fact that Fireman get a schedule that they can plan their life around.
What I'm basically asking here is What would you do?
Everybody always says, oh you're a pilot, that's so cool and it is for the most part but I can't plan anything as far as my life is concerned. Come on guys, and girls too. Help a brother out. Talk me out of it if you want to, or tell me why I should go for it.
I can pass any physical test they throw at me so that's not an issue either. I appreciate your opinions on this.
 
I can understand the trouble with a schedule like that, but rather then changing careers completely, have you ever thought of just changing who you fly for? Maybe a commercial pilot? I would think that would give you a schedule you could plan around.
 
All my friends who flew for ATA recently lost their jobs when it went under. The idea of the Airlines being the best place for a pilot used to hold true but the landscape is changing as more airlines will see the end of the road here soon. I'll keep weighing out my options. Thankyou for the input
 
1 - as you probably already have - look for alternatives in your current career - the pay is probably a lot better in the long run and i don't think I could give up flying to ride on a truck, but that's just me.

2- my roomate has been trying to become a firefighter for almost 4 years now. Make sure the depts. around you are hiring, go talk to the chief about when and how many new firefighters they are hiring, most places hire Medics, not emt's first as that is one qualifications many require but not all. Many require that you have your associates in firefighting basics as well, so all in all it's not super easy to just switch over - I have thought of it as well but it takes a little schooling around my area and you are required to be on the ambulance for the first year so you have to have interest in that too - I think your best bet is to go talk to the local chief and/or just stop by the local fire house and talk to the guys - they will lead you in the best direction, also it shows initiative and the more they see your face the more they are likely to keep helping you out.
 
Look to fly for the military charters that fly soldiers back and forth from deployments. You want to talk abotu job stabilaty there you have it.
 
Ironically, That's what ATA was doing before they went under. My one friend was talking about flying an L10-11 full of troops over to Afghanistan. How do you describe that one at the Bar? So we were on short fiinal and started hearing this Tick, tick, tick, like little stones were hitting the cockpit. We then realized they were actually bullets, no biggie. Guys get shot at for real going into Guantanamo Bay from the Cubans. Not me man. I better have a GE mini gun strapped to my ass if I'm going to do that. If anyone doesn't know what a GE mini gun is, I'll describe it. It spins rounds out real fast and can level a frame house in a couple minutes. Sounds like a fart, one mean fart.
 
How about going the route of a Firefighter, but flying the tankers that drop the retardant on the large forest fires, or spotter plane for the tankers? They make a very good living and are always in demand. A lot of times it's seasonal contract work. Another route you could look at is flying for law enforcement. There are plenty of job ops where you could fly for a state LE agency. Maybe just use the tools of what you already have and just apply a twist to them.

Just a couple of suggestions.
 
Actually I forgot, the Feds are highering for pilots I can't remember who it was. Give me a day and I will get you some leads. But cuffs had a great idea.
 
Thanks guys, good ideas flying around here. Some guy at my gym said that if I was lucky enough to know someone in the Palm Beach Fire Dept. they make around 75 the first year. Yea G's. 24 on 48 off I believe. I valeted down here with a guy who was getting his EMT licence awhile back, he lifeguarded for Palm Beach but I think he was getting in there. I may have to stop by the old Fire House here pretty soon.
 
Dude, that's some righteous bucks. I'm sure there is some overtime/on-call time figuered in there as well. I say, if that's where your heart is, go for it. You may want to look into becoming a reserve firefighter first. That way you can find out first hand what it's like, and if it's for you or not.

Best of luck. :thumbsup:
 
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