Originally Posted by
BoxDawg
Dude, the older I get the more I realize how I dont want to be that pair of guys at the table next to mine talking yada yada yada, about boring business stuff. If flying makes you happy then jump in and be happy doing it, but dont expect it will be a cakewalk either. Keeps your ears (and contacts) open for lateral or upwards moves in the business. Good advice to keep a side skill to augment or fall back upon for income. Love the one your with!
For the Pilots who have been around the block more than a few times.
Do you remember the "Regulated" Industry in 1973 when the 1st Oil shock occured and Gas prices doubled to .50 cents a gallon? We had to drive around town to find a gas station that had gas and wait in line for an hour. Many of the Legacy Airlines (the largest of which didn't have more than 2000 Pilots) furloughed. The economy was terrible, the Vietnam war had torn the country apart. It was the end of the world.
In 1979 after deregulation, the second Oil shock occured. (you remember, deregulation was going to save the industry by offering competition). The 3 Mile Island nuclear accident scared everyone.
Oil spikes to new levels and Gas went to 75 cents a gallon. We saw double digit inflation and Mortgage and interest rates were 14%. TWA, American, United, Western and Pan Am all had Pilots on Furlough. Many smaller start up Airlines failed. Everyone traded in their BIG American gas guzzling cars for gas stingy Japanese imports. It is a BIG Election Year. It was the end of the world, sound familiar?
1991 Sadam invaded Kuwait and Oil spiked again because of Fear.
USair, NWA, AA, Continental furlughed.
2001 9/11 and Sars Airlines Furloughed the economy slowed.
2008. Oil spikes to new record levels, the Economy sinks. Everyone is trading in the BIG Gas guzzlers for Japanese Imports, although now many are Built in China and Mexico as well as the US. Many Airlines are Furloughling. The Iraq War has divided the country. It is a BIG election Year. It is once again the End of the World.
We are in terrible economic times. Everyone is in fear of their jobs. The future seems uncertain, but if you believe that history repeats itself and look back over 35 years., the more things change the more similar they look.
Things will get better, but the road will be bumpy for a while longer.