Originally Posted by
cornerpocket
Thanks for sharing your experience. I left the regionals a few years back and am actually contemplating going back to the airlines. It's not a matter I'm taking lightly. I know the downsides of the pilot lifestyle. I am currently in an office job and I am no longer feeling "into it". A couple of key reason for my own personal disengagement are: having to work within the confines of Sr. Management's business decisions no matter how much those choices undercut efforts to reach goals [like willfully choosing to under-staff], hitting the glass ceiling, "Meh" pay & benefits [most regional CA's have better pay], and as I get older, I ask myself where do I go if my position is eliminated when I am in my 50's? My company eliminated quite a few positions for "older" people during COVID. Outside of flying, I don't have any hard skill sets like engineering, software/IT, Chemistry, etc. But maybe most of those problems could be "solved" by running your own company? YMMV.
Yes, being laid of in your 50s is a very real possibility. It often depends on what you're doing and whether or not you can build the rare and valuable skills that would result in you being kept around or being able to branch out on your own. When leaving flying, people are already getting a late start. They then have to believe that, if they're going to be an employee, by the time they hit their 50s they've built up the skills/career capital to continue to be successful. Personally, I'm not certain I have the ability to do that. I meet some high achieving people who are pilots. They could really do anything and be successful. Most of us, though, are just average people trying to make a living.