Prior career before flying?
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Prior career before flying?
I was curious how many of you had a unrelated career prior to flying? I realize most on the forum might have started in this field, right from a young age, but has anyone made a major change? and why? Or do you fly with anyone that has? No real reason why i'm asking other than i have friends changing careers lately. I remember hearing about an AC pilot who was a doctor; seems there are some lawyers who have made the jump into aviation. Also heard the opposite, of an AC captain becoming a city police officer, due to always wanting to try it out.
Last edited by 172pilot on Fri Mar 23, 2012 6:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Prior career before flying?
Artillery Gunner
Framing Carpenter
Pilot
I got tired of working outside in the pouring rain. I had an epiphany one day while on a job site that there has got to be a better way to earn a living.
I was back in school about a month later.
Never looked back, and the construction skills have helped through the lean years of my aviation.
Framing Carpenter
Pilot
I got tired of working outside in the pouring rain. I had an epiphany one day while on a job site that there has got to be a better way to earn a living.
I was back in school about a month later.
Never looked back, and the construction skills have helped through the lean years of my aviation.
Re: Prior career before flying?
HR
University/Flight Training
Pilot
Back to HR and take delivery of my own plane in 3 weeks. Wouldn't have it any other way now that I get to be home every night with my growing family.
University/Flight Training
Pilot
Back to HR and take delivery of my own plane in 3 weeks. Wouldn't have it any other way now that I get to be home every night with my growing family.
Re: Prior career before flying?
Farmer
Oilfield Maintenance
Cabinetmaker
Pilot
I was a farmer/oilfield maintenance as a kid. I was a cabinetmaker for about 3-4 years. Then I followed my passion in life and I'll never look back.
Oilfield Maintenance
Cabinetmaker
Pilot
I was a farmer/oilfield maintenance as a kid. I was a cabinetmaker for about 3-4 years. Then I followed my passion in life and I'll never look back.
Re: Prior career before flying?
I hope to be able to say someday...
Community organizer (health sector), pilot.
Community organizer (health sector), pilot.
Re: Prior career before flying?
Service manager - 3yrs
Metal Fabricator - 7 1/2 yrs
Pilot/sometimes-airplane-washer-guy
It's going to take a while to get up to the pay level of fabricating but so far my bad days flying are still better than my good days fabricating. Can't say the same for that airplane washing - there's just no money in it!
Metal Fabricator - 7 1/2 yrs
Pilot/sometimes-airplane-washer-guy
It's going to take a while to get up to the pay level of fabricating but so far my bad days flying are still better than my good days fabricating. Can't say the same for that airplane washing - there's just no money in it!
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Re: Prior career before flying?
Marine Biologist, Canadian Forces reservist
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- Posts: 5869
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- Location: West Coast
Re: Prior career before flying?
Bartender
Construction
CNC programming
Project management
Bar Manager
Dispatch/hotel clerk as a ground position.......
Construction
CNC programming
Project management
Bar Manager
Dispatch/hotel clerk as a ground position.......
Re: Prior career before flying?
In no particular order:
House Painter
Mountain Bike Courier
Restaurant Bartender
Unit Crew Firefighter
Construction
Taxi Driver
Pub Bartender
Sailing Instructor
Deckhand on a yacht
First Aid Attendant
Hotel Night Manager
Limo Driver
Nightclub Bartender
PILOT.
House Painter
Mountain Bike Courier
Restaurant Bartender
Unit Crew Firefighter
Construction
Taxi Driver
Pub Bartender
Sailing Instructor
Deckhand on a yacht
First Aid Attendant
Hotel Night Manager
Limo Driver
Nightclub Bartender
PILOT.
Re: Prior career before flying?
snowboard instructor
construction
television salesman
tree planter
cook
mold removal (the worst)
construction
television salesman
tree planter
cook
mold removal (the worst)
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Re: Prior career before flying?
Gas Jockey
Olympic Gold Medal Freestyle Couch Surfer
Rampy
Pilot
unemployed
Greens Keeper (I drove the ball picker upper thing)
Pilot
unemployed
backpacker NZ/Aus
pilot
unemployed
Backpacker SE Asia
Unemployed
Pilot
Unemployed
Pilot
Olympic Gold Medal Freestyle Couch Surfer
Rampy
Pilot
unemployed
Greens Keeper (I drove the ball picker upper thing)
Pilot
unemployed
backpacker NZ/Aus
pilot
unemployed
Backpacker SE Asia
Unemployed
Pilot
Unemployed
Pilot
Re: Prior career before flying?
I like you consider backpacking a job, .!
Re: Prior career before flying?
Journeyman pressman at a daily newspaper.
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Re: Prior career before flying?
I started off as manager of a strip club,which eventually led me to become a small time pimp.This gave me the money to get my pilot licence and now I'm a CP of a small time beaver operation,so nothing much has changed.....
Re: Prior career before flying?
Painter,
Heavy Equipment Operator,
Process Control OSB Mill
Apartment Building Manager,
Pilot,
Gave up a $70,000.00 plus a year job to fly airplanes and made $12,000.00 in the first year flying....craziness.
Well worth it long time ago though!
Heavy Equipment Operator,
Process Control OSB Mill
Apartment Building Manager,
Pilot,
Gave up a $70,000.00 plus a year job to fly airplanes and made $12,000.00 in the first year flying....craziness.
Well worth it long time ago though!
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Re: Prior career before flying?
10 years in the trucking industry..
Shipper/Receiver, Parts counterman, then a parts manager. I HATED my job and dreamed every day of becoming a pilot. After a particularly horrible 4-12 shift, I came home deflated and hating my life and job. My VERY supportive wife said to me ...why dont you follow your childhood dream and learn how to fly. We sold the house to start the financing of my licences and we never looked back. It was a tough (financial) transition, but one I would gladly live through again to get the career ive loved now for almost 20 years.
Many of us started in other industries, but our love of aviation won out in the end. I wouldnt trade a single minute of my aviation career, and I have absolutely no regrets!!
Fly safe all.
Shipper/Receiver, Parts counterman, then a parts manager. I HATED my job and dreamed every day of becoming a pilot. After a particularly horrible 4-12 shift, I came home deflated and hating my life and job. My VERY supportive wife said to me ...why dont you follow your childhood dream and learn how to fly. We sold the house to start the financing of my licences and we never looked back. It was a tough (financial) transition, but one I would gladly live through again to get the career ive loved now for almost 20 years.
Many of us started in other industries, but our love of aviation won out in the end. I wouldnt trade a single minute of my aviation career, and I have absolutely no regrets!!
Fly safe all.
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Re: Prior career before flying?
Hockey School Instructor
Home Exterior Reno's
Gas Jockey
Subway Sandwich Artist
Dishwasher
Ski Patrol
Swimming Pool Installer
Core Sample Driller
Construction on a swing stage (forgot that one)
Sports Retail Manager
Industrial Sales
Car Sales
Dockhand
Float pilot
BE20 f/o
Home Exterior Reno's
Gas Jockey
Subway Sandwich Artist
Dishwasher
Ski Patrol
Swimming Pool Installer
Core Sample Driller
Construction on a swing stage (forgot that one)
Sports Retail Manager
Industrial Sales
Car Sales
Dockhand
Float pilot
BE20 f/o
Re: Prior career before flying?
A good military career before flying, and a better international public servant career after.
Re: Prior career before flying?
Bus boy
Cook
front desk clerk
flight attendant
Cook
front desk clerk
flight attendant