DALSkyking

Exactly.. I don't understand why this has to be brought up. This whole section in the forum is ridiculous. Should be job postings not downing the aviation career as a whole... give it a break

Grumble

So flying wasn't within your grasp, I'd agree with that. Sounds like you just didn't realize it early enough.

SkyHigh

I get that many here suffer from beaten airline pilot syndrome. You are going to hold on no matter what and good for you. The airlines are counting on that segment of the pilot group to support their profit margin. Others however are negotiating with life to win. Those are the people whom I am writing too.

Increasingly it is obvious that the profession lacks the elements needed to build a full and successful life. If one sticks with aviation long enough it is possible to become the captain of a turboprop but at what expense? Mike Rowe is talking about strategies to build a successful life. A primary element of that goal is securing a profession that accommodates ones personal life along with providing an equitable financial return. Those jobs often are not glamorous or fun.

Some dream to be airlines pilots. Others here dream of enjoying a successful life.

“Staying the course” only makes sense if you’re headed in a sensible direction. Because passion and persistence – while most often associated with success – are also essential ingredients of futility. - Mike Rowe

If your dream is to earn a middle to upper middle class class living that also provides the flexibility, control, and time resources to accommodate a spouse and family then it is unlikely that an aviation career will commonly be able to provide that anymore. However if your dream is leaving the airport driving a dodge dart to a studio apartment in a strange city and clinging to a thin self funded 401K as your life preserver then you have found your nirvana. Never give up! You may be furloughed or laid off many times, start over every few years at the bottom of the seniority list, but stay the course natural selection is at work.

I still find it interesting that you are trolling the "leaving the profession" forum.

Skyhigh

Cubdriver

Mike Rowe pursued his dream to become a tv personality even though his shows are pretty much all garbage.

One-size-fits-all discouragement of dreams is not good advice. Visions for the future self and goal setting are a natural part of being human. People need to realize there are associated costs with such dreams, and you are helping spread the word about that in aviation.

There is a guy pumping jet A where I fly who seems about average in intelligence and bodily health at age 20, but dropped out of high school with no plan for a GED, smokes, gets no exercise, cannot attract a lady, thinks surfing porn is the greatest goal, exhibits poor work skills and is apparently destined for a short, brutish, miserable life. I pity him terribly and I wish he could find a dream to follow.

2StgTurbine

Actually, he tried to make it as an opera singer, but after a few years with little to show he had to get a real job in television.

JohnBurke

Let's see...successful working pilots participating in a pilot forum. Trolling?

Unsuccessful ex-pilot posting pointless drivel about non-pilot celebrities on a pilot forum. Trolling?

Yes, you do.

Beaten, whipped, and self-exiled. Just unable to stay away very long without returning to cry.

You're not many, though. Just one.

Same people. Successful pilots. It's why you don't belong here.

When I make six figures with a few months work, I read your posts and have to question whether you have a clue whence you speak. Then I remember that you don't.

How's that living like a king thing coming for you?

Bilsch

Maybe the point is that if your destiny and passion is to get to the top of the really tall ladder...Then you should ensure the ladder is leaning against something that you really want to reach?

I agree with USMCFLYR's and others posts here.

As for Mike Rowe and other celebrity truth teller's...meh.

HeavyDriver

Go after your dreams...Period!

bedrock

No one should be offended or otherwise upset by this thread. You should be thankful that someone has the temerity to inject a hard cold dose of reality into the occupation we all call the "Dream".

If your beliefs are rattled by what this person states, then that indicates something about the strength of your own convictions.

JohnBurke

After several decades of dreaming, it's nice to have someone who never went anywhere in the industry, never amounted to anything, and who achieved nothing come along to tell us how it really is. Thank heaven skyhigh came along.

Here we thought six figure salaries, great schedules, quality family time, and an enjoyable life and job were signs of having it "made." We're fortunate that skyhigh is here to tell us that we're not really making what we're making, that we're not really flying what we're flying, that we're not really enjoying that quality time that we thought we were. I'll think really hard about that while I'm out on a date with my wife tonight.

Perhaps during a lull in the conversation I'll tell her about skyhigh. She can enjoy a quiet laugh at his expense.

We should be thankful for skyhigh. Just not for the reasons he thinks.