Originally Posted by
Tink
Here's the really sad part. I spent the better part of my adult life saving money to pay for flight school. I finally do it, make it to Comair and get furloughed. Now I'm working as an armed security guard and firearms instructor, making 60k a year. Well, it is on an unnamed govt site and required an associated military background and PT test, but w/e. Next month I'm moving on to do antipiracy work and will be over 6 figures working just over half the year. I doubt I'll be back to an airline and I'll just buy my own plane if I feel the need to fly.
Sounds like a good time! Really, if anyone asks about being a pilot, I tell them to have a career outside aviation and buy a plane (or rent one) if they want to fly. Flying as a hobby is what it's all about. Remember the days when you headed for that $100 burger? Or jumped in a plane for a weekend get-away?
It seems that even if you move on to a major, corporate, or any other pilot job, the whole industry is so unstable and uncertain. One thing that I came away with from being furloughed for a year and a half at Comair was a fear of the unknown future in aviation. I got recalled, people were upbeat and looking at the future, then four months later there was the news of being furloughed again! I know corporate guys that were making six figures, until the owner decided to sell the plane, and they were out a job. I know people that moved from regionals to airlines that didn't make it and closed shop. I know people from CAL that are STILL furloughed. All of this has made me unsure of making major purchases or financing anything. I would hate to be one of the people that had their house forclosed on, or car repossessed because my employer downsizes or closes. I now find myself not only saving for retirement, but also saving for "just in case it all falls apart).