Everyone that has posted on this thread has very valid points IMHO.
Every pilot has their own wants/needs/desires/expectations out of life and their career. And every pilot's situation is unique to them no matter how similar two pilots lives may seem. If you're single without kids you're going to have a much easier life and much more free time than one who is married with kids.
As Duvie pointed out, the benefits of flying for the airlines are amazing if you have the time to utilize them! You could travel the world and pay next to nothing.
This job has its downsides just like any other job will. The industry is extremely volatile and anything can happen almost overnight. You will work weekends, holidays, overtime, late nights, and early mornings most people would consider ludicrous. The people that are going to make it in this industry are those that truly LOVE their jobs and wouldn't trade it for anything. Those that come into this industry knowing at least something of what it requires are the ones that you won't hear complaining ever day of how much they hate their lives.
As for the whole getting your training paid for ... refer to the previous posts. I don't know enough about that subject matter to speak on it.
Hopefully my post didn't come off too doom and gloom. My point is give it a shot and you may or may not like it. Everybody knows the pay and QOL sucks at any job(especially the regionals) when you first start, but until you are there you really can't decide if its what you want to do long term. Besides priorities change over time and that may be why sediment changes on why the career is worth it or not. I never understand why people come on and just spout off about "you knew what you were getting into". We all did. Sure everybody knows they love flying, but only you'll know for sure if you want the career for the long haul.
Now flying in Asia may be a little different. I know in Oz to fly for QF you need alot of time and those are jobs people hold onto life for. Its competitive there. You'll probably be flying in the bush for a while before you even get on with an Oz commuter. But someone who has actually done it would know better. I don't know jack about NZ so no comment. Asia usually wants high time if your going to Cathay. In China you might get hired as a low timer, but your only chances are probably if you are ethnic chinese and nationalized to get those jobs.
I understand that this is the regional forum, but I want to open up some other ideas for you.
Many pilots in the US never go to the airlines, but find happiness in other sorts of work. There are jobs flying tours, bush flying, agricultural flying, flight instructing, aerial survey, pipeline patrol, piston freight, charter, air ambulance, missionary work, corporate, etc.
Keep your options open and decide what is important to you. While it is possible to get to the big cockpit making the big bucks, as others have said it may not be the lifestyle for you. All of the jobs I listed above except for charter, corporate, air survey, tend to be home every night (or day) jobs. So yes, the regional lifestyle may never be for you, but the great thing about aviation is that it is so diverse.
If I were you, (and I'm not saying its a good idea) I'd be island hopping somewhere in the South Pacific.
I knew one guy who flew in Colombia as a missionary pilot in C182s, 172s bringing medical supplies to remote villages. He did not make much money but his family was provided for by the mission organization. I can imagine it being very rewarding.
Good luck with your training. And as others have said, decide what YOUR PRIORITIES are.
I agree with Juice. This is my second career and my first required me to work 70-80 hours a week and I didn’t have a day off in over 3 years. Yes it was my choice to work that hard but if I wanted to succeed and gain some sort of job security as a solid rep then that was what it required. Those who didn’t put in the time were quickly replaced. I’d go on vacation just to spend the first few hours of every morning working. I was home every night but was I? I usually had to use that time to work on planners, reports, budgets, etc because there just wasn’t time during the day. I made more than I make now but money’s not everything. If I medical out or something else unthinkable happens then I have a solid second field to fall back on but that’s all it is to me right now…………..a backup.
Every job has its pitfalls. The question is, are these pitfalls right or wrong for you? Some can barely handle them so they spend all their time talking and thinking about the doom and gloom. This isn’t healthy and they really need to start working towards another career. For others who can handle the pitfalls, enjoy its benefits and love the job itself then flying can be extremely rewarding. My father who was a 32 year Braniff CA used to say: “There are two main parts of one’s life, Private and Personal, if you are not happen on one it will bleed over and affect the other.” Now I’m not a complainer and the main reason is that I feel the ONLY pilots who should be allow to complain and have the RIGHT to complain are Ex-Braniff pilots. NOONE has or will never BE (probably) “F’d” more than those poor men and women. ALPA, Eastern, Braniff Mgmnt, the banks, Federal government and State government all negatively played their parts in their fall from grace………………..but that’s another story.
Currently when I’m off I’m off, I fly my a/c and when I walk away I’m done. I have a long commute and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone but it won’t last forever and my goal is to be living in domicile before my girl turns 5. When I work as an FO in domicile I was home every day, only worked 12-13 days per month and only spent around 4-6 nights per month away from home. Now I commute for my Captaincy and I still average 14 days off, 12-14 nights away from home and I haven’t worked a holiday, birthday or anniversary in over 4 years. I know it won’t last and when I get to a Major/Legacy things will change but it will still be leagues better then my last career.
Take it work what its worth and your experience will not be the same as mine. I was lucky and hit the last hiring boom at the right time and with the right airline. Just remember that you can plan and educate yourself as much as humanly possible but as a labor group that has very very little control over our company’s future, it’s all just dumb luck in the end.
And I wish you and everyone the best of luck in whatever you choose to do.
ps. sorry for any errors, I pounded this out rather quickly.
Great post. I couldn't agree more
Don't let the romance of flying influence your decision any more than all people who whine on this forum. Flying is a job...just like some careers it has its highs and lows. Some days you hate it and question your sanity for choosing it, and other days things go right and it is all worth it again.
Your happiness in life goes far beyond your job, although the job certainly has a lot to do with it. Don't let being a pilot define who you are as a person.
Don't let the romance of flying influence your decision any more than all people who whine on this forum. Flying is a job...just like some careers it has its highs and lows. Some days you hate it and question your sanity for choosing it, and other days things go right and it is all worth it again.
Your happiness in life goes far beyond your job, although the job certainly has a lot to do with it. Don't let being a pilot define who you are as a person.
Thanx, I truly enjoy what I do and for my life it's a perfect fit. I knew what to expect when I got in and to date my career has exceeded by expectations. More money would be very nice but it's still much better than the alternative. And over time I'll make more and if along the way I get furloughed, which I expect at least once, my wife makes twice what I do so I'll have no problem spending some time at home as Mr. Mom until I get the call back.
RIP Braniff.
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Thanx, I truly enjoy what I do and for my life it's a perfect fit. I knew what to expect when I got in and to date my career has exceeded by expectations. More money would be very nice but it's still much better than the alternative. And over time I'll make more and if along the way I get furloughed, which I expect at least once, my wife makes twice what I do so I'll have no problem spending some time at home as Mr. Mom until I get the call back.
RIP Braniff.
A Sugar Mama! Sweet! I need one of those!!! I got furloughed last week and my girlfriend is a F/A and will probably be furloughed in April.
Remember, flying is a job. You do it to make money, to pay bills, to buy food, etc. It's all nice to drive around at 600mph, but when you get your paycheck (at a US regional) it is the two days of the month that you may want to cry. The pay in the US airline industry is pitiful, airlines in other countries pay way better. Hopefully you do not want to work in the US.
Living in domicile sounds all nice and easy, but try living in your domicile if you are based in an expensive area, such as New York City or Los Angeles. I am (read "was) based in JFK and the cheapest apartment that I found that was in a decent neighborhood was $1000 a month plus utilities (a 500 square foot studio apartment), which is tough if you only bring home $1500 a month. I love NYC and strangely I love JFK, my only other choice for a domicile was Cincinnati. I actaully moved there and commuted to JFK for 8 months. CVG may be ok for some, but I found it to be a horrible place (for me, if you like it that's fine). Now I live in FL and the living is cheaper, but I had to commute to NY, which was ok as a line holder. On reserve it would suck, plus you would have to spend $200-$250 a month for a crash pad.
From searching around for other airline positions around the world, it appears that any "good" paying jobs are in countries other than the US.
Well here is what you can expect to make and how much time will be spent at work. Enjoy, if you can bear ouch. clearedtodream.org
"Airline pilots, because of FAA regulations, cannot fly more than 100 hours a month or more than a total of 1000 hours per year. Most airline pilots average around 75 hours of flying a month. Pilots spend several hours each day between flights waiting for their aircraft or waiting for flight delays to clear. These duty hours are not paid. A 75-hour flight month may also have about 140 duty hours and approximately 360 hours away from base."
" • The average ALPA legacy captain is 52 years old with 21 years of service and earns about $155,000 annually.
• The average ALPA non-legacy captain is 49 years old with 16 years of service and earns about $144,000 annually.
• The average ALPA regional captain is 40 years old with 10 years of service and earns about $70,000 annually.
• The average ALPA cargo captain is 51 years old with 17 years of service and earns about $200,000 annually."
"• The average ALPA legacy first officer is 45 years old with 12 years of service and a yearly salary of about $105,000.
• The average ALPA non-legacy first officer is 42 years old with 6 years of service and a yearly salary of about $83,000.
• The average ALPA regional first officer is 32 years old with 3 years of service and a yearly salary of about $33,000.
• The average ALPA cargo first officer is 45 years old with 7 years of service and a yearly salary of about $121,000."
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