Originally Posted by
JamesNoBrakes
See my post in the "Open Letter" thread. Too much of time time we thing aviation=airline pilot. This is why there is no shortage of pilots and why it's a "buyers market" for the airlines as far as pilots. There are so many ways to be in aviation and experience it, and we shoot ourselves in the foot when we limit it to one thing. Being a pilot is awesome, there's nothing like it. That doesn't mean I have to be an airline pilot, or transport pilot, or military pilot, or any one of these specialties. Being a pilot is a general thing.
+10! JNB you hit it right on the money.
A guy can fly for fun and during a lifetime can explore many different aspects: soaring, aerobatics, taildraggers, racing, floats, fixed wing, rotary wing, etc. And a guy can fly for a living and explore many different aspects: military, passenger, cargo, dusting, floats, wheels, bush, guiding, instructing, corporate, fractionals, ferrying, surveying, patroling, etc. There are lots and lots of ways to scratch the flying itch. There are folks who find tremendous satisfaction in all of these areas, and some even make a very good living at it. But what's right for one person isn't necessarily right for another, so you want your child to know that aviation has myriad aspects.
Whatever you do, don't PUSH (your term) your child toward aviation. The passion needs to come from within.