Civil engineering or commercial pilot better? Pros and Cons?

Question

I need some professional opinions.

I'm 20 and standing on a diverge road.

I love both jobs.

Becoming a civil engineer, there is no limited age to retire but about the time I'm going to spend is about 3-4 years, spending 130k of my currency (RM). Even though i graduated as master holder,

(1) getting a job it is difficult? and

(2) the salary (for newbie)?

are main concerns.

Becoming a pilot, I need one year of aviation training only according to STATA. spending 300k + (RM), even though it's more expensive compared to CE but I like this charming job and those off-duty holidays (even i know it's not continually, away from home for days or weeks)

I would like to ask,

(1) getting a job is it difficult? and

(2) salary (for someone after graduate from aviation school)

(3) girl likes pilot or engineer?

(4) if i retire from being a pilot what else i can do?

my Email address is [e-mail]

Help help help...........

Answer 1

(3) Girl likes pilot or engineer? You have got to be kidding me? Jeez.

Answer 2

f you gotta ask, don't think about becoming a pilot.  If it's not in your heart right from the get-go you won't like it or be good at it.  Stick to civil engineer; you probably wear glasses anyway.

Answer 3

Flying is a wonderful experience and it is many, including myself's dream job. But here is the problem.

Firstly, you shed out close to £100'000 to get the license.

Secondly, you start working for a European, short haul airline and for the first few years, get paid £22,000.

Thirdly, you turn up at 6:00AM and fly to Amsterdam, have a cup of tea and fly home. Fly to Rome, have lunch, then fly back. Fly to Paris, have another cup of tea, then fly back.

Get home at 5:00PM. You go to your family and say "Today, I've been all over Europe. I've been to Amsterdam, Paris and Rome.

Here is the problem. You repeat the above process 4 days a week until you become a captain with many years under your belt.

Also, here is how the flight takes place. Take off, manually fly to cruising height (if airline regs let you) then cruise for 2 hours before landing. The exciting bits were the take-off and landing, which, in total come to 20 minutes.

The result, for 3 hours in a metal tube, you've had 20 minutes of excitement. And it is the same excitement for many years.

It all becomes very repetitive after a while.

Here is the other problem. Another 11th of September and 1/3 of the industry loose their jobs.

Also, if the Euro-weanies and the Environmentalists get their way, there wont be a plane to fly because everyone will be going to france on battery powered quad bikes.

If you become an engineer, you are guaranteed a job. We will always build bridges and buildings.

We may not always fly planes.

Try out aviation as a hobby. It is very fun and you fly for 100% of the time compared to the 10% of the time you get to in an airliner before the computers take over.

With regard to getting a girl. They like ones with a pilot license, despite the fact it cost just £5000 - the cost of a couple of years golf club membership.

Answer 4

Part One:

1.  Getting an engineering job is much easier than getting a professional piloting job.

2.  The salary for an entry-level engineering position will be in the $30k range or better.  Much higher than a pilot's earnings.  If you are at all concerned about the money you will make, then go with engineering, not with piloting.

Part Two:

1.  Getting a job is difficult, and getting harder all the time.

2.  When you graduate from a civilian aviation school with a Commercial Certificate, multi-engine, instrument, and CFI. you will struggle along at $15k for five years or more.  Again, if money is an issue, go with engineering.

3.  Take some time off from all this and get to know some girls.  If you are up tight about whether you can attract a girl, you will die wondering why they never liked you.  Get out some!

4.  You'll spend your whole career working on that one.  What do you think those guys are talking about up there at 35,000 feet?  There are all sorts of ideas floating around, some good, some less so.  But right now is the time to worry about right now.  You can retire later.

Have a nice career in engineering!