Originally Posted by
69chevyshortt
whats wrong with management in aviation do they not realize without pilots, planes dont fly. i was considering this line of work because i thought it would be a cool job. but suddenly it doesnt sound so cool ,or is it my imagination? ive noticed that the pay is a topic that comes up pretty frequently. how much better was the pay before 9-11? it seems as though the aviation industry has suffered quite a bit, i always thought pilots had it made ,but it sounds like things are different than i thought. as i stated before im an automotive painter looking for a second career to go after. this is due to my pay getting harder and harder to make every year, we used to make between 90k and 130k a year . now its down to 70k to 90k a year and getting lower each year.due to crappy insurance companies. seems like every industry is suffering these days, is there any hint of things getting better ?
The big issue why so many become disillusioned is because at the time they make the decision to become a commercial pilot they take a snapshot. That snapshot contains real or imagined pay and working conditions of a pilot career. Satisfied with the reward they set out on their quest. Eventually they will come to realize they will never come close to what reward was in the picture because they are chasing a moving target that keeps getting smaller until finally they give up or run out of time, 60 (now 65).
Since 1978 the career has been in decline. Yes, it has been cyclical. But each down period has wiped out any long term gains then some only to be followed by another cycle. Often pilots early will just assume "It'll come back". Eventually they realized it never will.
If you are considering getting in right now do the following: Take a snapshot of the current reward package for becoming a commercial pilot. Cut it in half. If at the end of your career you are making the half amount and you are happy with that, press on. If you think it's going to get better you are betting against a well established 30 year trend line.
http://www.landings.com/_landings/st...ainicarus.html
I didn't happen all by itself. It had help.
http://aircon.org