Originally Posted by SkyHigh

After being laid off from my flying job I switched to construction and have a much better life because of it. Every month I meet another construction worker who confesses to me that he use to be a commercial pilot of some kind and made the switch due to the shortcomings of the profession. Just last week the guy who was laying down asphalt at one of my projects told me his sad aviation story and then went on to tell me about the big fancy new house he was building for his wife and children thanks to his paving company.

Other jobs might seem outwardly to be more difficult but often pilots who are in the effort of escaping getting a real job often end up working the hardest of all. The simple act of sitting there in the seat for endless hours is not difficult in itself but the long hours, crummy hotel rooms and the rest of the job is what makes it a drudgery over time. Little things like having an FMS, APU and FA can help significantly to take some of the edge off of what really is a mind numbing daily grind.

And of course the low wages don't help either.

SkyHigh