I was looking over my previous posts and realized that I never explained why I’m training toward my ATP.
I should start out stating that I’m happy in the IT world and enjoy the challenges it presents. There’s always a new technology to master or a new idea to try out. It provides me with near limitless entertainment, either enjoying a Plex VM chock full with video and audio or spinning up a new VM and testing a new technology to learning something new. I could spend a lifetime mastering IT and wouldn’t even scratch the surface.
So why earn an ATP? It’s an expensive endeavor and will take up a significant amount of time and money.
It’s about mastering a skill and being recognized by my peers as such. I have a commercial pilots certificate with CFI/CFII/MEI that shows that I know my stuff. It’s just that the only way up is to get an ATP. The ATP is the pinnacle of pilots certificates. I know that it won’t make me any better or smarter, and I’ll likely not learn much from earning it, but that path won’t be complete without it.
The less used reason is without the ATP, I’ll never be able to work for an airline. My long term goal is to retire early and spend my twilight days flying turbine equipment for an airline, a cargo outfit, or a local company. Without an ATP, it is highly unlike I’ll ever be in the running for one of those jobs. Getting my ATP will keep me eligible. Pipe dream? Yep. Possible? Yep 🙂