Wow, so much negativity!

I started training to fly full time when I was 27. I left a lucrative engineering career at 30, and have been flying as a professional pilot for 7 years. I've been able to experience a lot of different areas of the industry, including instructing, flying charter, single pilot 135, and corporate. I've had some real luck, and some bad luck. It's quite the roller coaster, which was what I was told to expect!

Like Bzzt, I also went to a regional in 2011. But it has worked out well for me, and I've enjoyed the company I work for (SkyWest). I live in base so I don't commute, which helps a lot with quality of life.

DreamToFlyy, one thing about this career is you'll come across a lot of whiners and people that feel sorry for themselves... This is particularly true for the Internet forums (it seems to attract them). Some of the complaints have some shades of truth, but I can personally attest that almost all careers have their frustrations! Fortunately complainers outside the forums and in the cockpit are rare, at least where I've worked.

I'm still happy with my decision to leave engineering, and I really love this crazy career despite the ups and downs! If you have any questions other than your basing issues (I'm not that familiar with east coast based regionals), send me a PM. Good luck!