Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
Most people here are from middle class american families. They might not know it now but most will want to recreate a similar situation their parents had for themselves in the future.
As such aviation increasingly is not able to produce that life. I can understand a passionate young heart wanting to reach out for something different but most will find that life to be unsuited for their dispositions and desires as adults.
People who do not hold any desire for home, family or a need for financial security should by all means pursue aviation. When they get old they can fill their empty rented apartment with pictures of their aviation conquests that no one else cares about.
Skyhigh
Family, friends, financial security then flying.
Sky,
You do make a lot of good points about aviation, your resentment for the industry is perhaps understandable given the hand life delt you. I was reading through another forum (
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/le...9-skyhigh.html) and can say I understand more of where you're coming from now.
The picture I gather is you had a career, a company you worked for buckled and you ended your career in aviation to persue some real estate opportunity that worked out for you? I guess I'm trying to think where you would be at as a person if you were somebody who was trying to survive in the real estate industry in poverty and found yourself offered a job in aviation as a legacy airline piot. I guess the point I'm trying to make is every industry has its successes and yet all industries also have a group in poverty and famine. You just seem to me that you happen to be more successful in what you do now than you feel about how successful you were in aviation.
Just by following your line of thinking I've come to conclude that you wouldn't ever take a chance and be a CEO of a company you can start? After all, sure there are CEOs who make it big, but most of them are in failed business after failed business and only make a minimum salary while waiting to start a business that succeeds.
I also find every career field I've met and talked money with (teachers, pilots, police, servers, etc...), honestly I find that they all use the same lines. "I got into this career because I enjoy the field, but the compensation is not in line with the work/risk/responsibility/etc." I think I heard a survey once where over 95% of people in it answered that they feel they would be paid a fair sum if they made roughly 20% more for their work. The survey included people from the 10k income bracket to the 250k income bracket. Honestly I know you talk people away from this industry, but odds are 95% of people who don't go to aviation will still complained that they aren't compensated fairly for their work. I guess I just don't see why pilots think they are alone or so special in that feeling.
You have made career choices and I'm guessing they worked out for you, although it may not be the career or life you dreamed of. Others in aviation are making their career choices and paving their own path. I guess it just amazes me that you stand on the sideline yelling that the rules of the game aren't fair. You got out, you quit the game because you didn't think it could be won. Well I tell you, there are people on the field slaving every day for a reason.
I just have to ask, take money out of the equation. Say you live in a world where money is no object. Would you work at a regional airline today if you could still make the income and have the life that you have now? I mean, go back to the days at Horizon that you describe as so miserable. I have a feeling 99.5% of your entire problem with the state of the industry is strictly and solely about pay. I'd bet you'd commute, work the long days, and spend weeks away from home if you had the same benefits, house, and "quality of life" that you have now.