PipeMan

I am curious why your parents think being a pilot is a lousy career choice. Do they know anything about it other than what they hear on the news? Do they know you’re enjoying it and what else do they suggest you do for a living?

dckozak

Your bedside manner is…………… well, lacking. 😳

Brit43

They think it's a lousy career choice because of the uncertainty and instability in the airline industry, but i have aspirations of being a cargo pilot.

TOGALOCK

I don’t want to burst your bubble on the cargo front, but cargo isn’t any more certain or stable than passenger flying. It gets hit just as bad during hard economic times. The success of the cargo carriers during covid was a circumstantial fluke. The new upcoming generation of pilots saw that and the misconception that cargo is infallible began to spread. Unfortunately, that is most certainly not the case.

JohnBurke

Standby. Presently adding that to the list of things about which I couldn't give a ****.

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PipeMan

Like the other poster said, get the idea that cargo is impenetrable to economic problems out of your head. Your parents are correct that aviation will have ups and downs, but what do they suggest you do instead?

Very few professions out there that are recession proof. I am in construction and you’re too young to remember, but 2008-2009 or so was a scary time for us, just like it was for airlines. Being a professional pilot is a career, not some fly by night job. So it will take a lot of hard work and dedication to get it done and get to the top level.

What do YOU want to do? If piloting is what you want, then go for it! Try to think long term. This will be a decades long career for you with a lot of the payoff coming in the second half. Most people can only look a few days ahead of them so they can’t fully appreciate the long view.

TiredSoul

Well…JB is just not sugar coating it.
But there is somewhat of a whine distinguishable in the background of the original post.
The airline industry is not a kind industry and you need some gravel in your gut to make it.

hydrostream

18 year old Hydrostream had wanted to be a pilot his whole life.

He started his flight training, got a job at the FBO, got a scholarship, studied at the community college, and planned on using the standard formula to get to the airlines.

20 year old Hydrostream was out of money, had failed a check ride, was failing out of community college, and in the middle of the recession.

So he took a break. He had a better job at a bigger FBO so he just stuck with that for a year. He took some vacations, picked up some extra hours, and just enjoyed being young and living in a neat city.

Then he made some contacts that showed him a path to flying he didn't know about. He committed himself to following that path not knowing where it led. 15 years later Hydrostream is sitting in the seat he originally wanted.

One thing that was never on his mind was quitting.

dckozak

Oh I get it. 35 years with one merger, I came out smelling like a rose. The ten years getting there, not so much. There are dozens of posts from wanna be's that read like the OP of this thread. Often the poster's native tongue is not english, they disclose too much personal information not related to the question, and appear to not have done much homework on this site to see if there are threads with answers that might give them what their looking for. The ones that make me squirm, usually involve an older 20 something (admitting) he lives with his mother and somehow that's relevant to the discussion.

I chucked at JB's response but through his over the top, not PC response, warrented a (humorist) push back. And he responded in kind.

Harder to read and take are the whining on the airline boards. Contract whines, meager whines, I'm so glad the AA vs USair vs AW whine finally played out. Some the threads would make you depressed even though you don't have a stake in the fight. Better having a chuckle over a wanna be snowflake than a pouting 50 year old with a jet job. JMHO

QRH Bingo

All these young kids panicking about "missing the wave" need to calm down. I don't know why there are so many Chicken Littles out there or why all these kids keep believing it but chill out. You got 40ish years to fly. You should be more concerned about jet fuel being banned than never getting hired. Sure, hiring will slow down at some point, maybe cause a little seniority stagnation, and even go through a downturn, but that's called life and it's difficult to avoid.

If you are struggling with completing training, then give it an honest reevaluation. Nothing wrong with starting a career in a different field, getting established, making good money. Be frugal with your finances and you can easily start back up with training at a later date. It's okay to work full-time, training part-time, and spend a few years obtaining your ratings along the way. In fact, being a bit older with some life experience is a good thing when you hit that Regional Airline training class.