Originally Posted by
WProp87
I have a passion for aviation and wanted to be a pilot since I can remember. Then I started to go on these forums. The amount negativity is out of control. In addition, I talk to airline pilots and they advise against the career. It leaves me wondering what I am doing. I currently have an instrument rating with about 200 hours, and I am junior at a state school, pursing a degree in business management. Even though I am getting a degree in business management, I have neither the intention nor the desire to do anything in management, law (lawyer) banking, sales, marketing, or anything along those lines. It is just a degree so I can check the box. I probably wouldn’t mind management with in the aviation industry if possible.
If you were in my shoes what would you do? Is it just the airline industry that gets a bad reputation or is it the whole aviation industry? Would pursuing a career as a corporate pilot be a better option or just forget a career in aviation? Suggestions?
Have you considered ATC or engineering (in the aviation field)? After 4 years in the industry, I am working on another career. You are right in noticing that the airline pilot career is in bad condition right now. But not only that, its getting a lot worse. With that being said, flying is a whole lot of fun. I specially love airline flying! Thats why there are so many guys willing to do it for nothing. The low pay and bad working conditions are there for one reason; supply and demand. Right now there are way too many pilots and not nearly enough pilot jobs. I ***** and moan quite a bit about RAH on here but in the end the industry is bad and going to get a lot more worse not because of RAH, Mesa, GO, Sky West, Express Jet, Comair etc etc etc.... its only because of supply and demand. The reason I believe its going to get a lot worse is because until now, we believed that bad pay and working conditions is something we all had to endure at the regionals for a time till we reach the "promised land" (the major airlines)... but now even major airline pay will be as bad as regional pay. Unions, while they do a lot of good, in the end cannot do anything about long term pay rates because once a pilot group refuses to fly for lower wages, another pilot group will do it.... and once again, its supply and demand, not because one pilot group is "better" than the other.
Remember, flying is a lot of fun but it wont help you raise a family, save for retirement and live a decent life... unless you get lucky.
6 years later, one hefty flight school loan that I will be paying for a long time and now I'm finding another career... would I do it all over again?
... Sadly yes. it was one hell of a ride.