Plenty of valid perspectives here, including SkyHigh...you, yes YOU, could easily grow up to be the next SkyHigh. Or you might get into a purple or brown airplane, who knows?

For the younger folks, I'll throw a few thoughts out...

I was a career changer. Pre 9/11 it looked like the airlines would compensate as much as I could make in corporate america, with more time off. This assumed that I did not fully dedicate myself to corporate upward mobility...80 hour weeks did not really appeal, since I have a family and a variety of outside interests.

Post 9/11 everthing changed of course. I was barely flying professionally, but decided to stick it out and see what would happen since I had come that far already. This decision was made easier by a high demand on the military, which ensured I could make all the money I needed in the reserves.

While all of this was going on, some of my outside activities started to really pay off. Long story short, I have more financial flexibility than most regional pilots...I'm am not obligated to take the first job offer I get on the other side of the country, just to make a couple extra bucks per hour. The loss in opportunity on the airline side was compensated by gains elsewhere...but I'd be hosed if those outside gains had not materialized.

I like flying, and my schedule is largely under my control, so I'm happy with what I'm doing. My situation is the result of hard work, and a certain amount of luck and timing. But in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, I'm going to throw out a few negatives...

1. In TODAYS environment, I would never have been able to justify the career change. It would be at best irresponsible (family) and at worst idiotic.

2. For a young person, this career is risky...you normally incur large debt and the payoff is not guaranteed. Hard to say exactly what the odds are, but the entitlement generation seems to have a "faith-based" optimism that it will all work out for them...there is little attention to reality among this crowd. Of course they will be the most bitter and unhappy when they top out as an RJ CA...

3. The regional compensation system WILL NOT fund your retirement...this is the biggest self-delusional fantasy going. If you get stuck at a regional, you WILL need a plan B...unless you want to spend your twilight years in a trailer park eating top-ramen while waiting anxiously for the social security check.

4. If I were young and wanted to fly (which was the case at one point), knowing what I know now, I would bust my tail to make some money in the real world first. Fly on the side (CFI or whatever), then try to enter the airlines with no debt and a good chunk in the IRA. Keep your non-avaition options alive, just in case you need supplemental income. This actually describes my path, although I didn't originally plan it that way.