Interesting thread
Let's bend the talk in a different direction. There are many jobs in aviation flying planes. Maybe it's the RJ FO thing? Think Charter, crop dusting, Corporate or fractional. Not everybody is cut out or satisfied flying the same old thing. Maybe it's just time to hang up the aviation dream for a new one.
Years ago an aviation dealer told me that if I liked general aviation, I was in the wrong business. He told me the people buying the nice planes weren't airline pilots, but doctors, lawers, and business owners.
The sad thing is asking how many airline captains truely like flying, or are they in it for the bucks. It's a common problem I've seem among my military trained collegues. The one thing to give the civilian trained (and to be honest, I'm speaking of those who have been though a airline BK or two) pilots is that we are doing it because we like it. I hold nothing against my friends that have left the industry. The interesting thing to keep in mind is that most miss it dearly after they leave. I can relate to Sky High.
In closing, burn out can happen to anyone. Aviation is a fickel. Do the best you can for you and yours. Jonnyjetprop out
Originally Posted by
JJSmooth
So.... I have been doing the regional FO gear slinger thing for coming up on one year now. I am in my 30's, so I have had a life before aviation. I have been persuing ”The Dream" for the last 6 years. I had a bumpy road getting to where I am now. I like my job for the most part. My problem is I feel like my life is all about waiting now. I am waiting to get off reserve, waiting for 2nd year pay, waiting for upgrade, waiting for the Legacy carriers to call ect. ect.
Prior to aviation I ran my own small business. Every day I thought of things I could do to advance my business. I was free to act on my ideas and suffer the consequences if I failed or reap the bennies is I succeeded. These days I can only wait for my seniority number to go up. I can study all I want and do everything I can to be the best pilot I can be, however I won't receive a penny for it til the next year of my service begins or til enough people move on ahead of me and I can upgrade.
I am not whining about my job. Again, I do enjoy what I do. I feel as though I am wasting away waiting for the next big thing to happen and feel I have nothing to say about it.
I want to start another business and take back control of my life again. I can't wait until I save up some money so I can get out of this business. It isn't what I thought it would be. I know I can't live like this for another 30 years.
Anybody else feel this way?