From software engineering to heli pilot
28yo career change
Moved to Switzerland in January 2025 for work, spent all the money I made in the first year to clear out my open debts (car payment) which I had open in Italy.
Now I make about 95k/year, live in canton Nidwalden, work in the aerospace industry as an aerospace software engineer (flight simulators) and I've been working in this field for 4 years now; before coming in Switzerland I was on helicopters sims, now on fighter aircrafts.
I'm thinking about this for a year now, my heart is still on helicopters and I'm thinking of leaving software and take a CPL-H to start working as a Pilot.
Financially I've been told that I would be able to take the training (120-150k range, with proper type rating and MOU) without a loan, keeping the corrent job and training part time.
But I was also told that it will take 4-7 years to get back to this paycheck, that it will be very hard to have a stable job, and some other "demoralizing" stuff...
I could never reach this dream in another country without getting into quite a big debt, so.. yeah, any feedback or opinion is greatly appreciated :)