I took the time to read your jetcareers post from top to bottom. I think you did a great job conveying the current situation with your updates. It is a sad thing that the industry has turned into this.

I, like you, have always dreamed to fly. It sounds cliche' amongst the circles we walk in, but it is just a disease we cannot shed. My story is similar to yours, although not nearly as progressed. The journals that I kept as an elementary school student are filled with the sloppy handwritings of a child who wanted to be an airline pilot. I too built model airplanes, and still do, actually. I soloed at 16, PPL at 17, instrument at 18, commercial by 20, up the line to my CFI, II, MEI. I did it part 61 the whole way, and do not owe a dime to anyone for my training. 100% debt free at 26 years old.

I majored in accounting, graduated and got married (no regrets at all. Best thing that ever happened to me). I worked as an accountant for a regional firm (yes, there are regional accounting firms too). It made me good money. I bought an old Jeep Wrangler as an extra fun vehicle with the extra money I was making (see my avatar), bought a house, life was good. Except, I still had this unfulfilled dream of being a professional pilot and in the back of my mind, I still knew that I would try it when the timing was right.

It seemed the timing was right 2 years ago. I got hired on with a regional after 6 months of instructing. I had 726 TT, and 36 ME. I thought I had hit the jackpot!!! I was so happy to be flying an RJ. They might be the smallest airplanes in the 121 world, but they dwarf the 172's I was used to.

I enjoyed it for a few months, but soon realized it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. My wife was lonely, I was lonely. But I was paying my dues!!! However, as you so accurately stated in your post, things aren't what they used to be. My seniority is dropping now, instead of going up, I am losing days off, and am about to be displaced, then furloughed 2 months later. The majors are still furloughing, there is little growth (save for Mesaba) anywhere right now. All the majors are just drowning in resumes from guys hugely more qualified than I am right now.

It will be this way for a good while. As a 26 year old guy, still in the "build" phase of my life, building a foundation for to-be children, etc, this industry just isn't the place to be right now.

For me, that dreamer still exists. I am not exactly sure what that kid thought it would be like - he was probably naive. But, I have experienced it in reality, outside the dreamworld, and have concluded it would take an incredible leap of faith to continue to gamble my family's and my future on this profession.

If it turns around in time, I will certainly come back aboard. The fact that you got to UPS in 7 years is AMAZING. I know guys who are still sitting as a junior reserve captain in their 7th year, with a downgrade right around the corner. UPS, Southwest, Netjets, etc are all pipe dreams for anyone who is still a relative novice (those with less than 1,000 turbine PIC RIGHT NOW) for many many years to come.

It is sad that it has gone this way. A magnificent career choice, once akin to a doctor or lawyer, reduced down to this level. If only that young kid writing in his journal would have known - he'd probably be in tears.