In summary:

If you are into flying as some sort of life quest then go for it. There are pilot geeks who live alone, go to airshows and play FS2004 on days off.

Some of us love flying but have a life and goals that are outside of the flight deck. A career should be the rock upon which a bountiful life is built upon. It is the engine that powers dreams of family, home, future and hobbies. A good career is somewhat stable, will provide for your future retirement needs and pay for your past in regards to student loans. As you move through the years a good career will grow with you and your value, respect and abilities will increase.

I believe that compared to most other careers aviation is out of balance by a huge margin. By comparison I have a friend who just started as a high school biology teacher last year. As a new teacher he is being paid 42K, Works a 7 to 3:30 shift, will have all his student loans paid off by the school district after five years, will get a full retirement after 20 years and has every weekend, holiday, two weeks in December, one week in the spring and the entire summer off. Pilots like to focus on the salary numbers and like to forget about the details but it is the small things that make a life.

My friend was in the flight program but backed out and switched to teaching. It will take his flight buddies almost ten years to get to pass the 40K mark. Along the way a pilot usually moves several times and is afraid to put down roots for fear of another move. No pets few friends some boxes and a futon in a shared two bedroom apartment.

Aviation is not in balance with the needs of a happy, growing and well balanced life. A pilot is out of sync with the world around them. In my estimation if one is going to have a normal life outside of flying then they need to earn enough and have the stability to build a life upon. Horizon Air might be able to provide the stability but the money isn't there. It is a suckers bet. The company dangles a carrot of earning 75K in 10 to 20 years of flying the line, and little else, but by the time you get there an enlisted person in the Army would be receiving a retirement check.


SKyHigh