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After being in the majors for 31 years my suggestion is aimed at the bottom 25% of ANY U.S. carrier. We are all suffering from both a downturn in the business cycle which has happened many times before and a rise in fuel costs that may only get worse. For the bottom 25%, consider making max cash now and preparing for the worst ( as Bruce Springsteen said " these jobs are goin' boys, and they ain't comin' back ). None of us can imagine just how bad this will get so plan on leaving aviation and get on with your life. Don't count on a recovery. Chasing " The Dream " has ruined too many lives already.
After being in the majors for 31 years my suggestion is aimed at the bottom 25% of ANY U.S. carrier. We are all suffering from both a downturn in the business cycle which has happened many times before and a rise in fuel costs that may only get worse. For the bottom 25%, consider making max cash now and preparing for the worst ( as Bruce Springsteen said " these jobs are goin' boys, and they ain't comin' back ). None of us can imagine just how bad this will get so plan on leaving aviation and get on with your life. Don't count on a recovery. Chasing " The Dream " has ruined too many lives already.
Oddly enough, that's what many of the realtors, builders, auto dealers, truck drivers and several others out here in the People's Republic of California are saying in droves. Having been through five carriers in up/down times over the past 20 years I have learned that it's ALWAYS smart to have plans B and C, yet not panic too much. Being too (not that you are...yet) Chicken Little is what turns recessions into depressions. It's kinda female in that it's a lot about (cue music) "....feeeeelings...".
Attitude check dude....
The again you might be Sky High under an alter ego, so nevermind.
I'm sure the financial sector is taking a huge hit, but they don't make $20,000 a year. People with that background can find other well paying jobs and do not get recycled down to poverty wages. The orginal post is not a negative shot but encouragement to have a reality check and contemplate the future. The face of commercial aviation is changing, and not temporarily. The price of oil is never going back down. Less capacity, fewer airplanes, fewer pilot jobs. It is unfortunate but true. Pilots are smart people that can succeed at many different jobs given the opportunity. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
Are finance jobs, and Investment banking/hedge fund type of jobs, are those industries feeling the pain as well?
Merrill Lynch has cut about 6000 jobs in 2008, Bank of America announced 4300, CitiBank cut several thousand..
yeah finance , banking and investment are feeling the pain too.
Motorized scooter instructors/dealers are doing quite well right now I hear. Perhaps getting into the bicycle repair business would be lucrative too.
You better believe it! I've been riding my Buell X1 (50MPG)to work everyday, and those darn road hazzards are EVERYWHERE. Some pretty cute chicks on them too.
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577nitro-
Last edited by 577nitro : 06-27-2008 at 03:04 PM.
Reason: grammer
The good news about being a pilot is that most of us are use to living on little cash. If we do get tossed out on the street we don't have far to fall. And, ofter pilots make more on unemployment.
SkyHigh
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Earn a living as a pilot but have no life. Have a life but earn no living.
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People with that background can find other well paying jobs and do not get recycled down to poverty wages. The orginal post is not a negative shot but encouragement to have a reality check and contemplate the future. The face of commercial aviation is changing, and not temporarily. The price of oil is never going back down. Less capacity, fewer airplanes, fewer pilot jobs. It is unfortunate but true. Pilots are smart people that can succeed at many different jobs given the opportunity. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
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