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Old 11-09-2009 | 05:42 PM
  #19  
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flynavyj
Gets EVERY weekend off
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,367
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From: SIC
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I wouldn't say don't do it, cause if you do, you'll be wondering "what if" for the rest of your life, and that would be pretty sad to say the least. I did it, had some fun, learned the airplane, captained it, and had a great time. The time away from home can be therapeutic for some, different cities/towns every night, being surrounded by different people on a daily basis, not knowing your future until it's your present, etc...all of this can be the perfect lifestyle for the right individual, it can also be a living nightmare for the wrong one. You can guess at it, but you won't know if it's the right choice for you until you've tried it out. All in all, i wouldn't trade my time at the airlines, I met some great individuals, had the chance to really test my aviation knowledge in the most practical of ways, learn a complex and exciting new airplane, travel 10 miles a minute, and even get my wife and I across the pond in first class both ways for under 1k bucks for the whole trip.

As of now, im out of the business (on my accord), have a good career, good co-workers, and a stable life...I can make plans on the weekend, and guarantee that i'll keep them, I get good insurance, decent pay, 40 hr work weeks, and peace of mind. As it stands right now, i wouldn't trade this job either. But that's what happens as life changes around you, what works for you today, may not work for you tomorrow, just don't let someone else make your decisions for you. Think long and hard about it, then make up your mind.

PS- You might have plenty of time to think about it, cause at 200 hrs, you're not near a professional cockpit yet...so it'll either be doing charter work in a baron, or instructing in a 172 for quite a while until you've got the time requirements for the airlines, WHENEVER they start hiring again.
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