I spent my airline career at an LCC and Regional airline. I suppose that things are different at the legacies. (or at least they use to be different) Everyone starts out in aviation with expectations of becoming a Hulk Hogan but a lot of pilots end up like Randy the Ram. Flying is not like most other professions. It is closer to that of an entertainer or professional baseball player. Passion for the occupation can obscure long term damages.

I had one middle aged captain tell me that his secret was to go from start up to start up. As each one failed he worked to position himself for the next one. His life and career was a broken string of scuttled companies. I suppose that he was trying to find the next SWA. Maybe he will find it, however to me that is no way to build a life.

During my time at a regional I studied the guys who had been at the company for a long time. Each one of them had a story of their original dreams of making it to the big time. They had a job and seniority but they were not prospering. They were stuck at the regional and had developed an apathetic attitude.

To me for most this industry is a war of attrition. Every year the career wants another pound of flesh in order for you to remain in the saddle. Each setback demands that a pilot has to sell another portion of his life to the dream. Over time wives and children get left behind. Thoughs of retirement plans get washed away as each move, furlough or shutdown drains the savings account.

I can understand how a long time legacy pilot might not understand my perspective. To them the world is round. However on the outside aviation is not so comfortable. Pilots have to go through a lot to keep their dreams alive. At some point you realize that you just are not going to make it but often that realization comes too late.

There are two category's of pilots. Those who make it to the big time and the rest who are drowning in the hardships of life in the lower rungs. As time goes by it seems that there are more struggling pilots and fewer of the truly good jobs that are stable, productive and prosperous. As with Randy the Ram if a pilot is not careful and lets themselves get swept away without keeping an eye on the big picture then in end you could be left with nothing. I saw a lot of guys like that in aviation.

Skyhigh