Originally Posted by Flying Ninja
I don't work for any airlines. I've read enough on the messgae boards and have gone through a high price tag flight training program to form my own opinion. My stand is to advise people to avoid these flight training programs and look for alternatives and give suggestions based on the mistakes I've made and the cost involved with those mistakes.
I don't have any problems with AOPA's magazine. Like I said, I like the pretty pictures.
I've done everything I possibly can to get into the aviation industry. Unfortunately, people who encouraged me to chase this flying dream of mine are indirectly responsible for my poor broke ass as I have spent everything I earned to chase the dream. Have I done everything? I don't know. You tell me. Have I spent all my money chasing the dream? Absolutely! So your generalization, while appreciated, doesn't apply to people like me. What can you do when you have no more money and you're over $100K in debt with no way of paying it back and jobless? I'm open to your suggestions so that I can answer your question, "what have I done to improve this situation?" because right now, I'm asking, "what have I done that got me into this situation?" Of course, I'm being sarcastic. I know what I did. I listend to people who said, "go for your dream...so many people don't chase their dreams...flying is great, you'll get a job...oh, you're going to Embry-Riddle's CAPT program? oh...Riddle has a great reputation..." Yeah, all that bullsh!t landed my ass broke with no job and no options left but to go back to the desk job I had.
Dream chasing can be deadly and expensive.
Flying Ninja:
Whatever you do, don't give up. We all have to make some tough decisions when it comes down to a career and I can truly identify with you. My decision came in the area of airport management. Although my situation then is different from yours, I had to make a decision as to whether or not I was going to continue to invest my time, effort, money and most of all PASSION AND DESIRE into something that wasn't showing any sign of getting better. Between 2001 and 2004, I applied to for at least 40 positions in airport mgmt. Alot of those positions were entry-level and I have a Riddle education. Riddle these days as far as I'm concern means nothing. I'm grateful for my education, but the name Riddle has lost its mystique, if you will.
Even though I was turned down for all of those positions I just redirected my efforts. I have turned my desire and passion toward flying. I always wanted to become an airline pilot. I wanted to fly for either Eastern or National Airlines. (i'm sure there are some out there who remember those two companies
). Like I've said before, I'm not looking to become Senior Chief Pilot of Airline ABC. I just want to fly for a living and that means flying as a CA or FO for a major or regional, given the time I have left, or doing the corporate, charter thing, or some other aspect of Part 135 or 141 flying. Either way, I don't believe that all of my or (your )time, effort, faith, passion and desire will go unfulfilled.
Continue to perservere my friend.