Does anyone here fly as a hobby?

I'm in the process of getting my PPL, but still have a bit to go. It's something I tried a few years back, but could not maintain mostly due to my work schedule. Remote work/school made it a lot more accessible, having some time off (via being an MBA student) made a big impact, I found an instructor I like, and we've been making good progress. 

That said, I will be returning to the monkey life soon enough, and I'm concerned about the prospect of putting my flying ambitions on hold once again. While I'll be an associate, the firm/team is not exactly known for its WLB. 

Mostly looking to gauge whether any associates have been able to make time for hobbies that require being unplugged for 2-3hrs once or twice per weekend. Thinking of bribing MDs/VPs with shuttle services once I get my license, if they allow me to complete and maintain it. 

 
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When I used to live in Chicago I did a discovery flight in a Cessna 172 and had a great time. I ultimately decided against getting my PPL because of the time commitment. Especially with weather in Chicago it is hard to be able to fly once or twice every weekend (my discovery flight for example got re scheduled 3 times because of weather). Also, I was in the city & the lessons were in the suburbs which were a huge pain to get to with no car. 

What type of plane are you planning on flying to provide shuttle service? I can't imagine anyone who isn't into aviation wanting to be shuttled around in a single engine plane. I don't work in IB so can't comment on the weekends, but if you really want to do flight training my advice would be to do it for yourself and not to try to do it to impress higher ups. 

 

Yeah the shuttling around was a joke, I’m training on a 172 with the hopes of getting IFR and then a multi-engine rating. 98% for myself, 1% for the positive externalities (keeping sharp/learning new things), 1% for the “cool” factor.

It’s in the burbs for me as well, but I’m not averse to taking the train. When I first did my discovery flight, I had the same concerns you did with regard to time commitment and commute. But since I’m starting a new gig, I’m hoping to get into a flow where I can disconnect for a few hours on the weekends to fly.

2020 Update: recounting my experiences in PE and sharing thoughts on recent deals at https://leverup.substack.com
 

Awesome I would go for it then. Are you thinking you would eventually buy a plane? Or just rent one once you get your PPL? Getting an IFR would be dope too. I'm sure you already know this but if you do your PPL I would get your class 3 medical soon and knock out the written portion of the PPL exam sooner rather than later so you can solely focus on flying. Good luck - reading this post is making me re consider getting a PPL. I am in Colorado now and have a car so it would be much easier - I am not sure how much I would actually fly once I get my hypothetical license though. 

 

My sister just got put on the 777 as a Captain.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Holy shit Isaiah, can you please just stop flexing on us with your life? Like, you are an ultra-Stoic/Catholic ex-Finance guy and ex-poker pro who snowboards and surfs when not seducing women half his age (okay, last one´s kinda creepy). And now your sister also flies one of the biggest commercial airplanes in the world? Like, just stop? What´s next, your best friend is called Bill Ackman and you did LSD with Steve Jobs? Man, my impostor syndrome is bad enough as it is, I don´t need that shit in my life.

...and the Truth shall set you free
 

My dad told me "the happiest day of a boat owner's life are the day you buy it and the day you sell it".  I feel like owning a plane would be 1000x this.

But hey, my dad bought a used boat when we were kids and we used the shit out of it.  Great times

 

I see where you’re coming from but disagree. A boats useful life is fairly limited. After about 30 years, the boat starts looking like absolute shit. And a large section of the buyer market will want a new one or slightly used. Untrue for planes. There are many planes built in the 70s and 80s that are running strong (albeit with brand new or overhauled engines). 
 

Buttttt if we are talking about a maintenance and operating expense perspective, planes are way worse. My buddy owns two planes. He owns two because one of them is usually in the shop being repaired lol.  

 

College Sophomore here so take it as you will. Got my PPL right before college started and am working on my instrument rating at the moment. You can definitely make flying once a week/every other week work safely but got to be extremely sharp when you are flying. Maybe considering bringing an instructor along every other time you fly since you have one you like already, and extra safety never hurts anybody.

 

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