Originally Posted by GauleyPilot
SkyHigh and I disagree on some things, but he gets the point out there warning people of the dangers of not considering the pifalls of aviation. People out there looking into aviation "for the big bucks" need a dose of SkyHigh. Especially before they fall for those glossy ads that tell them they can go from zero time to 777 capt. in 8 months, because they are guaranteed a job interview, and there are positions held for them, and etc.
I agree completely.
When I first began flying, I had no idea of the financial ramifications of being a flight instructor, which is a phenom particular to this country alone.All that I knew was that flying was pure magic, and that there was no other way for me.I was fortunate to have a scholarship to pay for my training, but I still had to pay the bills on my own which was hard as a single mom. I drove limos at night to fly in the day
All I ever thought about ,talked about or coveted,were airplanes ( still havent changed much!)
In The Netherlands, I made over 50,000 a year teaching,my husband made about 110,000 as a senior instructor/examinor.He also had a slot for the 747-400 with KLM and was three months from that when he was killed in a midair.
After that, I had a hard time. I still loved flying,but there was now a new element: fear.I was bound and chained by an unyielding, relentless horror that I wasnt good enough, and that I would crash, and burn, and worse cause other people the nightmarish suffering that I had seen and been through.It took me 4 years to get control of that beast, and it still rides in my back pocket every time I go up.But my love of flying overcame that fear,and even though I have lost the naaive freedom and fearlessness that I once enjoyed,
I believe that I am a better pilot now,and that I have earned myplace in this aviation world of ours.
And I make a pretty good wage to boot!
