Originally Posted by freezingflyboy
I have to agree HSLD aviation experience being equal, Id take the guy with life experience and maturity too. But my point is a 40 year old guy who is independently wealthy (meaning doesn't care about pay or bennies), bored with his desk job and thinks flying a jet with passengers in the back would be a "cool hobby" is no different from the 20 year old guy with a blank check from mommy and daddy. Both are not going to be good for those of us trying to feed and shelter ourselves as we start out on this odysey in the aviation industry. Yes, the life experience is going to be different and the 40 year old guy will probably have more maturity but that is no indicator of how someone will react in a clutch situation.
The 40 year old will have the maturity which is good in many, many ways, but you're right that there is really no way to predict how someone will react when the **** hits the fan. You have to do it for real once to find out.
I'm a career changer myself...I do have financial resources apart from airline pay, but I EARNED them. I am by no means content to slave away at a regional job and write it off as a "cool hobby". I don't like spending my hard earned savings to make up the gap between regional pay and financial reality. Like many others, I looked at the pay scales when I entered the industry, but did not fully understand the work rules. However I have the experience, judgement, and energy to help force some change, which I am agressively pursuing. The 20 something PFT slackers are the ones whose apathy overwelms what little economic sense they might have.
