I don't know if it is a good idea to continue this thread; I apologize up front. I'm not sure where else to post. Let me state for the record that I'm not, nor ever have been, an airline pilot, I'm a wannabe. I agree that rickrb has no place giving us a perspective on the industry. I read this forum to hear from people who are actually working as 121 pilots (no disrespect to the 135 guys, single pilot IFR, you guys rock). I need some help from those that work or have worked this job. I'm considering applying to a couple of regional carriers and am getting close to mins to apply (currently working as a CFII). I'm a career changer. After reading this thread and others like it, I come away feeling like I should run for my life away from flying airplanes for a living. I hear some of you when you say that you love your job, but sometimes it seems like its a token statement in light of the pile of reasons that many of you have for not liking it. I'm wondering, and really am humbly asking for honest responses, Should I run for my life from being a pilot? I'm not too far down this road yet. After reading the well crafted post about how many hours one pilot was actually TAFB and the 91 hours of unproductive time, I got a little depressed about my new choice of career, or should I say "rollover car crash"

Separately, let me just say that I wholeheartedly agree with the other posts that pilots should support in word and deed the idea that we are worth a good living. I think we should stand amoung other professionals expecting and commanding respect (without too much ego . I know that in the real world the almighty dollar drives things, but if we each made a decision to be as qualified as we can possibly be, and take the best jobs for which we are each qualified, we might just move it in a new direction. I know that each of us has a unique situation and reasons for doing what we are doing (in other words, no disrespect for those of you who are being abused by a crappy employer just to get more experience). This is probably just dream talk and not worth the time it took you to read it, but thanks for listening if you did.