USMCFLYR,

Asking me to produce some positives about aviation is like asking an EX in divorce court to say a few nice things about their spouse who is suing you for divorce so that they can take your assents and run away with someone else.

I don't have anything nice to say right now. I spent 25 years in this marriage to my career and am sure that at one time I was brimming with love for it but after being abused and disappointed continuously for over two decades is it kind of hard to conjure up some positives.

I was faithful and gave it everything I had. I passed every check ride, written test and always scored in the top of the class. I was a good employee. Rarely called in sick. Always gave significant notice whenever I left for another job. I have a stack of old letters of recommendation from nearly every place I worked at. I never quit nor gave up my faith.

In return it killed my friends, impoverished and humiliated me and never failed to let me down at the moments when I needed my career to pull through the most. I never made much more than 20K per year and was constantly shown by my employers that I was worthless through abusive treatment, a general lack of personal respect and cruel low wages. I have endured periods of homelessness due to my career. I watched my friends go through the same things to similar results. Most quit long ago.

Of the few peers of mine who are still doing it and have accomplished something they all have had to give considerable concessions from their personal lives. Many have forgone spouses, avoided accumulation of an estate and have denied themselves a personal life to satisfy the demands of aviation. Others have given up their homeland and everyone and everything they knew to remain in the saddle.

If I have learned one thing it is a that aviation eventually gives up all to those who ardently pursue it. It usually comes six months after you really don't want the job anymore. I have been able to eventually get every single job I ever wanted in aviation but one. The one that really mattered. The job that I made all the previous sacrifices for. I am sure that once I have completely moved on sold my plane and boxed up all my aviation stuff my EX will come knocking again offering a once dream job that by then will hold little value.


Skyhigh

In reference to your comment regarding fate and personal control. I do not think that aviation and most everything else are the same. As pilots our career progression lies in the hands of others. You could be the best pilot on the line or the worse and you will be eligible for promotion when and only when your number comes up. If the company goes under everyone has to start completely over again.

In business you have much more control over your fate and your professional value is transportable. My success or failure largely rests in my hands. Sure a bad economy or a change in interest rates can have a negative result however I have the ability to respond. My efforts can and do make a difference in my outcome. In business when changing jobs often it is to a better position with more wages and not back to the mail room as with the airlines.

Pilots have little control or influence over their fate.

Peace !