Hello to all. I have been reading this forum for a while now. I have seen both positive thinking and negative thinking expressed here. While I respect all opinions, I myself have a question. I am a college student with 2 more semesters left at the university of houston. I am in a never ending battle with myself. My problem is this: Is it better to be happy or right?
Happy means selecting to be an airline (cargo) pilot, while being right would be getting a regular nine to five (in my case being a lawyer). I know that there are unhappy people in ALL kinds of jobs in the world, but what the heck is the best decision?? My next question would be is it a better choice to have a full time job and earn my certificates flying part time as much as possible in oder to reduce my debt, or should I just go to one of those expensive flight schools that promises you an "interview" (I know nothing is garuanteed).
And my last question is, I have always wondered, who prepares the meals for cargo pilots in an overseas trip? I don't see the first officer getting up and getting lunch or coffe ready in the middle of the flight, or am I wrong??
I know that this is a lot to process, but if anyone feels that they have an answer to anyone of my questions then please respond.
thanks

 

By all means it's better to be Happy. I know some neighbors who make a lot of money, but hate their jobs. They tell me they envy my lifestyle.

My advice would be to follow your gut. If money was no object, what do you see yourself doing? Chase money and you'll wind up miserable.

I would never go to an expensive flying school. Since you live in the HOU area, find a busy flight school that has lots of business jet activity on the airport. There you'll find lots of networking opportunities, and you'll save boucoup bucks over the Embry's and American Flyers.

Correct me if I'm wrong, boxheads, but the crew prepare their own meals. It's probably as simple as flipping on a switch and throwing in a meal... Which is much nicer than what we get at SWA, peanuts and pretzels.

 

I would suggest that you look around and try to find a ANG or USAFR unit that will send you to flight school. You may even consider a USAR or a ARNG but that would be probably be R/W.

You say the other option is a 9-5 job as a lawyer??? I have a daughter that is a new lawyer, graduated in May. My guess is that she works 60-80 hours a week. Some nights she is at her home working to 2:00am finishing her work. BTW she did her undergad work at Penn State, finished in two years, did not go to summer school the first summer, took 28 credits for a number of semesters, graduated with a 3.9 GPA only because the first college semester brought her average down. Then got a free ride at Law School. Says everyone that she works with hates their job. She complains that pilots are the only ones that love the job.

Good luck in what you choose.

 

Not to put you the defensive, but do you think four questions (in one thread) is a lot to process??
Anyway, most of your questions have been adequately answered. I would add this. Are you a people person?? Do you relate better to people or things?? The reason I ask is that flying (cargo for sure, passenger ops possibility, depending on the operator) is a solitary lifestyle. Sure there are moments of great social interaction, whether with colleges or "new friends", but much more time is spent alone, in ones own world, than debating or advocating a position or stretching ones mind. That's not to say flying is not cerebral, far from it. You need lots of smarts to get where your at and continue to use them (to maintain proficiency, and deal with the problems of the day). That said, you will find long hours (in long haul intl ops) where you are "in neutral" waiting for the next mental exersize (app and landing).
Something to keep in mind. Law and flying are to vastly different disciplines, consider that as you decide which way to go.

 

I second what SWAjet said.

BTW, why do you say that the "right" thing is becoming a lawyer?

 

"I have always wondered, who prepares the meals for cargo pilots in an overseas trip"

Whoever feels the need to eat first will get up and slap the meals in the oven. If you don't want to eat yet, you get up later and slap your meal in the oven on your own.

 

Why would anyone "want" to fly cargo? I do it b/c I wanted to fly airplanes, joined the AF and did, and then flying cargo is kind of what happened as an end result of wanting to fly period. I'm happy to have my job and I know I'm lucky to have it, but I have to be honest, I didn't wake up in the mornings when I was 20 and think how much I wanted to fly rubber dogsh*t out of Hong Kong. Why is it that you think flying cargo would make you happy? I'm more inclined to go with Foxhunter on this one. Drive over to the TANG and see what they've got going on first... We just had a young lawyer for the Justice Dept join our reserve unit as a pilot. Pretty good deal all around for him.

 

Lets not forget the best fourth things about flying cargo.

1. Don't have to worry about flight attendants showing up in the hotel lobby when it's time to got the jet
2. No drunken passengers to have thrown off your jet.
3. Generally no flying on weekends.
4. You don't have to go through the terminal with the other creatures of travel.
Oh... did I mention 1 and 2 above?
There is a fifth depending on how altuistic you may be, which can be included to points 1 and 2 as you may deem appropriate. You don't have flight attendants whining to you that they don't have money to eat... would you lend them $ which you won't ever see again.

Oh did I mention points 1, 2 and 4 above

 

1. Flight crew are sometimes late too.
2. True
3. False
4. Not as often but still false.
5. Fo's don't whine, but generally don't smell nice enough to want to lend them anything!

 

My question is why WOULDN'T you want to fly cargo?