Originally Posted by
JohnBurke
Martyrdom all the way. "Have to go down with the ship."
There you go again with "lured" into the business (it wasn't remotely close to six figures if you learned to fly when you say you did). Your entire family working pilots, and yet you were "lured," as a lamb to the slaughter? Hardly.
It's a damn career. It's not a slaughter.
I know a lot of pilots, being a career one, myself. I don't know any, personally, that had a "safety net" or a "sponsorship." You often speak of these "trust fund kids" as though they're a common thing. I recall meeting one person when I instructed full time who said he had money from a trust. One. Such as most decidedly NOT the makeup of the industry, and represents a fringe sliver of those who have sought flight training or a career.
You didn't "go down with the ship." The ship never went down. You jumped overboard. Big, BIG difference.
Youthful views?
No.
Truthful.
Perhaps that's why your'e confused.
I am the only guy who was a professional pilot. The rest of my family held real jobs.
"Go down with the ship"; indeed, it is difficult to start over in a different career. There is a point of no return in aviation. Pilot experience does not easily transfer to other professions. Once one becomes branded as a pilot they become unemployable in outside careers. As soon as the wife and kids come most must ride it out for better or worse.
Skyhigh