Warbird Information Exchange

Need some help guys. I've been in the financial services business for 8 years, and I have a Bachelor's in Business Management from a reputable university. Although my current job pays the bills, I'm not passionate about it and certainly don't enjoy it. In this economy however, I am thankful that I'm employed at all.

With that being said, my true passion is aviation and warbirds and I'd love more than anything to be in the aviation business. How do I shift career paths? I'd like to get involved with aviation insurance, or corporate jet management/leasing/acquisition. Really the door is wide open, but those seem to be the best opportunities based on my geographic location.

I'm realitively young (26), and I feel now's the time. Money is important, but being in aviation is more important (my fiancee is an architect, and we have the income to support my career change). I've thought about pursuing an MBA in Aviation (Embry Riddle comes to mind) Is this really worth the cost? What's the best way to get my foot into the aviation world?

Thanks,
Scott
(Mods- please move this thread if it's better suited to another forum)

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Scott Greenfield

Scott, I am sure that you will get better advise from other people here that know more about it. I will tell you this. Don't take no for an answer. People told me discouraging news time and time again about being in aviation, and I have to tell you that I never regret making airplanes my living.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

This might give you some info on the management side of a/c maintenance:
http://www.dommagazine.com/
Free subscription.

Follow your passion and your heart-If you love what you do and are immersed in it up to your ears then you will be happy with what you do. I've loved every job I've had in aviation and always operated on the premise that if I loved it, it was my job, if I didn't like it then it became work. I love all my jobs past and present but HATE to work!

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

how do you make 4 million dollars in aviation? easy...you start out with 8 million. hopefully you will get 4 million dollars worth of enjoyment out of your 8 million!

Hey Scott,

the most important thing you have to ask yourself is "Is what I'm doing making me happy?"

If you're not happy you are wasting your time and need a change. Follow your dreams.

Peace,

David

I have always thought this was funny, and true! Ha ha Still I wouldn't trade it for anything.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

You might consider being an air traffic controller. The FAA is still hiring lots of new people each year for the next few. Good chance you could stay in your area. Sounds like you meet requirements already. Most new hires will make close to hundred grand a year in 3-5 years depending on facility. You have to hired prior to your 31st birthday.

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http://silverplate1945.smugmug.com/AVIATION

Like the other guys have said. . . FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. My biggest regret in life is not following mine. I truly wish I'd pursued a career in aviation, but I didn't. Instead, I'm an electrical engineer, with 30 years of experience with the same company. Good career? Yep. Good pay and benefits? Yep. Interesting and challenging work? Yep. Do I love doing it? Nope. At age 51 with weakening eyesight and some physical limitations, a career change is not in the cards for me. For you, it sounds like now's the time. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, YOUNG MAN!

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Ive been in aviation my entire adult career starting with enlisting in the USAF right out of high school. I've been at it now for close to 25 years and I don't regret it a bit. Honestly I can't imagine doing anything else. I get to play with high tech business jets during the week and B-17's, B-26K's, C-47's/DC-3's and B-25's on the weekends.
That being said, it was a long bumpy road getting here. You have a huge advantage over me, in that you're young and already have a degree - even if it's not avaition related. I highly recommend ERAU, but also look at some other schools out there, Parks, Purdue and there are several others. Even if you don't want to fly for a career, I would encourage you to at least get a private pilot's license. It's hard to get into aviation without some sort of FAA license - not impossible, but more difficult. Not that you need it to sell insurance or lease planes, but it will give you more common ground with those people you deal with and you will build your credibility.

Corporate aviation leasing and management are both good fields to get into. The airlines are sucking wind and GA isn't exactly swimming in money either. I've been a technician in corporate aviation for about 12 years now and while it's in a slump like the rest of the world right now, it's slowly picking back up. There are a ton of used aircraft on the market and when the economy picks up (and it will) they're going to need people to sell, manage, fly and maintain them. Many corporations have either closed or cut back thier flight departments due to either financial reasons or political reasons. That too will pick up. This is a very cyclic industry and I believe we are at the bottom of the hill and starting back up towards the top. As horrible as it sounds, the "underwear bomber" on Christmas helped corporate aviation. Execs want to know who is flying the plane and who else is on it, no better way than to own or lease the plane.

As everyone else has said, follow your dreams and do what you love. To quote the Sam Adams commercial, "Do what you love and you'll never work a day the rest of your life".

Don't just listen to us on WIX, (although there are a lot of good people here) also go out and talk to people at the airport. Check out the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA), it is THE association of business aviation(in the US) and they have a lot of good resources.

You may not get rich, but you can have a hell of a time while you're going broke!!!!

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Bill Gorin
Vintage Flying Museum
http://www.vintageflyingmuseum.org
https://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=57513906106

As someone who has mostly turned wrenches without much knowledge of business practices until recently I can say that there are lots of smaller aviation businesses that are not run efficiently. I still have trouble with margin and mark up and I cringe looking at some of our older invoices riddled with mistakes. Maybe you could freelance as a troubleshooter or auditor in order to bring some operation up to snuff.

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"I can't understand it, I cut it twice and it's still too short!" Robert F. Dupre' 1923-2010 Go With God.

Thank you all for the great advice...WIXer's always seem to pull through! I am working towards my private pilot, slowly, but getting there (I have 30 hours spread over C172s, Aeronca Champs, Cherokee 140s, SR22s, gliders, and even a T-6). Would eventually like to instruct on a part time basis as well.

These are all great ideas and thoughts and I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. I've always thought the best way to learn are from the folks that've already been there!

I will chase my dreams into the aviation business, and love every minute of it!!!

-Scott

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Scott Greenfield

I find it hard to believe that you have enough perspective to decide what your future in the financial industry might be. I got into the industry when I got out of the miltary (age 27). The first 3 or 4 years wasn't very enjoyable, but then again, the entry level of anything never is. I enjoyed the Army much more as an Attack Helicopter pilot than I did as a Private.

Now, 22 years later, as a senior executive in the industry I have a collection of warbirds and am able to enjoy avaition/warbirds as a hobby. I also have a number of other interesting hobbies that I can pursue because I have the means. The industry is much more interesting from this perspective. All I am saying here is to weigh your choices very carefully and put yourself in a position that, when you do get to the top of your respective industry, you have the means to pursue whatever your interests may be at that time.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."

if you really have the burn for this doing it as a hobby just wont cut it,if you really live,eat,and breath it,well Godspeed you,i paid my dues on the DC3,nightfreight,nonsched,all weather,and learned that sometimes the reality actually exceeds the hype. there is no cut,and dried way to success in this endeavor,you must blaze your own path, but first you must make the leap of faith that will set you on your way,PM me if you have any questions,Cheers,God bless,and Good luck !

DC3R4DC47 wrote:



I guess we should define what "it" is. If, as I do, you mean flying and owning warbirds, it is almost by definition a hobby. One that is more expensive than a cocaine habit and less socially acceptable, but a hobby all the same.

If one is refering to restoration and maintenance of warbirds, then there are a select few that make a living at it. Sales of warbirds even fewer.

Just depends on what we a talking about, exactly.

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Eric

"I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and skyraiders....and the rest of it I just wasted."