Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
You are suggesting that since I was not having the time of my life as a bush pilot that perhaps I was not meant to fly? My reply is that I did not want to be a bush pilot. I did not ever want to be a regional pilot either. I wanted to be a respected major airline pilot who was well taken care of by my employer and was I willing to climb the ladder to get there.
Flying to me was a profession and not a vision quest. I loved it just as much as anyone else here but my main focus was in making a good living and not in adventure seeking. I am not alone either. Everyone in my college graduating class expected to get a better life out of their flying career as well. In the late 1980's the term "regional airline" did not exist. Horizon air was just a dead end fledgling airline that most of us were hoping to avoid.
Flying is for me. Poverty, long hours, constant moving and decreased financial security is not. Professional aviation has changed considerably since I took my first lesson. Had I known what the future held I certainly would have dropped the yoke long ago as most of my classmates did years prior.
I don't know much about you however given your attitude it would not surprise me if you were not a single guy who was married to the job. To that I say you are in good company. The path to success in aviation today seems lie in the maintenance of low expectations. Don't get married. Don't expect to have much of a home life. Don't plan on anything other than mailman wages and a life of managements choosing. If you are comfortable with that then you are in the right place. I however have a family to support and a life to live.
In answer to your question "why I can't just walk away" :
Just like you flying has been my dream since I was a kid. After spending most of my life trying to make that dream come true those urges don't just go away overnight. The best analogy I can offer is that I quit smoking over 20 years ago and still occasionally want to light up. I am sure that my aviation dreams will perpetually haunt me. After more than 20 years of effort you guys are all that I have left of my flying dreams.
Skyhigh
Well said Sky...well said.
On another note...I think pilots are going to pay a HEAVY price for demeaning our own jobs. We have degraded ourselves and jets by flying them at the regional level. I personally, as a pilot don't have a respect for this industry as a whole. Everyone accepts that a 250 hour rookie with an RJ course is ready to fly 50+ passengers around. I think the ATP PIC min should be raised to 1,000 PIC in airplanes.
And I am sorry if you disagree, but this is why we are seeing "regional" jets getting bigger and bigger. I fear we have opened a door that can never be closed...the RJs are here and they will soon be carrying 150 seats for mediocre pay. Regionals and majors will merge...and that will be the end to any quality of life with an airline.