Originally Posted by
JohnBurke
...The regional path is a tough one if a fledgling aviator intends to stay, even with ample seniority. The schedules are tougher, the pay is less, and the industry is clogged with the same cookie cutter types trying to climb up. The willingness and ability to move, even laterally, to other paths is essential, and those who feel that jumping onto the regional bandwagon, with no other experience or qualifications or background, will fast-track their careers often find themselves dammed or stymied with.
This is really good advice. I am one of the many who were sold a "regionals are the high road" bill of goods and was terribly disappointed when I finally got there only to find a morass of 5-leg turns, callous HR & training personnel, poverty-like wages, dog-eat-dog mentality among pilots and no real future to look forward to. It was almost enough to drive me out of flying altogether. So I think the thing to do here at APC is to try and discourage new people from applying to the regionals in particular. The problem is, most of the flight training industry does the opposite, selling regionals as the main thing to strive for. It's like leading lambs slaughter and certain failure.
You make some great points about flexibility and make the career sound genuinely good. I believe your resilience in the face of numerous setbacks and love of flying is what got you through. The core value love of flying is what I think separates the lifetime flyers from ladder-climbers. Flying is a demanding profession meant for patient devotees, and it has a mildly religious aura about it. You have to be willing to get smacked around to make it work. I have only been a pro pilot for a few years and have already been knocked around several times. I think most of those who try aviation have no idea what they are getting into, and when the thrill finally wears off in 10-20 years they bail out like SkyHigh did to join the many inactive ATPs in the FAA airmen database.
Still, I think they need to hear from people like SH. I have been here reading his posts for as long as I can remember, and while he adds flourishes that are insulting and he spins things the wrong way a lot, I believe he did all the stuff he said he did and only quit following a long and sincere attempt at an aviation career. I do not think he is a "quitter" any more than most people are. In his case, he apparently found peace in not being a pilot, which is indicative. He probably should never have been a pro pilot to begin with. This is not meant as an insult at all, just an observation that in a career as unstable and fickle as this, not everyone will fit in. My point in supporting his message is that despite a sincere interest in flying, even capable persons wash out and the price can be very high during such an attempt. This message in itself will not stop many people, but if it is true then it should be told.