The Day AirAsia Called: Why I Chose Flying Over Real Estate
Not many people know this, but when AirAsia finally called me to report for duty, my first reaction wasn’t to scream for joy. It was disbelief. In fact, I actually told the Flight Ops admin, “Let me call you back.”
At that exact moment, I had just finished an appointment with a property customer. I was about to seal a deal that would have netted me a five-figure commission. I was doing well. For the first time in years, the “money stress” was gone. I even asked if I could defer my joining date because, honestly, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go back to flying. And I did told her I’d defer my joining date into AirAsia.
The Logic of Regret
I was at a crossroads. On one side, I had a booming real estate career where I was my own boss and the money was good. On the other side, I had my dream, but the starting pay for a junior pilot isn’t exactly “five-figure commission” level. I was worried about the pay cut and the shift in lifestyle. Well on the other hand, my lifestyle did not really inflate that much so it was still doable.
I talked to a lot of people, but it was my business partner who gave me the best advice. He said: “Either way, you’ll regret it. So choose the path you’ll regret the least.”
That was the “Aha!” moment. I realized that if I stayed in real estate, I’d spend the rest of my life looking at every plane in the sky wondering “What if?” Aaaaaaand here I am, in AirAsia, flying planes.
Stable vs. Survival
In real estate, every day is a hunt. If you don’t seal the deal, you don’t eat. It’s a “ricebowl” business driven by uncertainty. Flying is different. Especially in an established airline like AirAsia, there is a sense of stability.
But it’s not “boring” stability, it’s stably fun. Whether I land perfectly or have a bumpy one, I’m still an aviator. I’m still doing what I was trained to do. The “high” of a property closing is great for the wallet, but the “high” of a flight is great for the soul. It’s different altogether.
Brushing Off the Rust
People asked if I was scared of being “rusty” after being away from the cockpit for so long. Honestly? Not at all. Walking into the A320 simulator for the first time was just surreal. I was excited.
I knew my skills were rusty—that’s a fact after years on the ground—but the training was there to brush me up to standard. I wasn’t afraid to learn again; I was just happy to be back in a seat that didn’t involve a viewing appointment.
The Homefront
When I finally made the decision, my mother was the most relieved. Like any Malaysian parent, she just wanted me to have a stable, professional career. My real estate bosses and colleagues were sad to see me go, but they were happy for me.
Even now, whenever I go back to see them, they welcome me with open arms like I never left. I still have that “real estate family,” but my home is now at 35,000 feet.
I chose the path I’d regret the least. Looking out the cockpit window today, I can safely say I have still have regrets, but minimal.