Looking back I think that my biggest career complication was the nagging thought that I could do better. After more than a decade of daily dedicated effort, a perfect career record and four years gaining an aviation degree the best I could do was $492 every two weeks as a "respected" regional first officer.

Some seem content to accept whatever aviation wants to dish out. They aimlessly devote themselves to an unfair system and seem unconcerned with letting their lives blow around to wherever corner of aviation fate wishes to take them. I could not become comfortable with that. My future belongs in my hands. As an average line pilot the most we can do is to keep a clean record and continue to show up for work. Upgrade and advancement is at the whim of management, the economy and the system.

There is little we can do to effect where we end up as pilots. I did not like being limited by circumstances that were out of my control.

Skyhigh