Ex-pilots are everywhere. I just found out last month that the guy who owns an asphalt company and does work for me is an ex-pilot. He quit to get a real job and now does better than most major airline captains.

The guy who is my fencing contractor also is an ex-pilot who now is doing very well and is building himself a nice house on 40 acres. A good friend of mine from college left the military and became a Sheriffs Deputy and loves the job and fully expects to retire at 53 with a nice retirement. I could go on..

These people and many more have recognised the futility of an airline career. They did not like the idea of spending more than half of their lives in hotel rooms as tools of management. They wanted to earn a real living and have a secure future and they were willing to trade their flying dreams to get it.

I think most people when presented with the facts would ask "why would anyone want to do that job"? The pay is low the cost of entry is high and future not bright. They would advise pilots to get a real job with real compensation as the rest of America has. To accept anything less is to have a hobby job.

SkyHigh