DD89 I, like you, cannot stand the thought of flying for an airline. I do, however, love to fly and plan to make a career out of it. There are lots of opportunities out there besides the airlines. As soon as I'm out of college I'm looking into crop dusting with hopes of flying bush planes someday when I've aquired enough hours and ratings (float plane). Its said often enough that one does not want excitement while flying, and for the airlines this is true. You are responsible for other peoples lives. I, for one, am a member of what seems to be a dying breed of pilots that love the excitement and the risk that comes with flying. I love having my skills tested. Look into competition aerobatics. As for jobs crop-dusting and bush flying are both very "seat of the pants" occupations. There are jobs out there that don't entail being a glorified bus driver.

You're just not watching the right videos.
YouTube - People like us - pilots - part 2/3

Correct, there are many other opportunities out there other than airline flying like cargo, skydivers, crop dusting, traffic watch, aerobatics, banner towing and many more. Everyone of us got into this business for different reasons.
Good luck to all.

I've got to agree.....to a point. Although I hope to secure a job flying in the fractional, corporate, or 135 charter world, I still from time to time think about being that F/O who does the walk around visual inspection of his 738, 75, or 76. Given the state of the economy right now, chances are that I probably won't see that part of my career come true. Am I disappointed? Yeah....somewhat :(. But just as others have pointed out.......there's a whole lot of other flying out there.

Besides in addition to becoming a professional pilot, I'm in the pre-discernment process of ordination; first as a Deacon, then eventually a Priest in the Episcopal Church. I have a passion for both.:cool:





atp

Flying for an airline, charter, etc. is a lifestyle much like being a doctor and any other occupation. If you don't enjoy it there isn't much sense in doing it. It has strange hours and long days but then again, what job doesn't.

If you were a sales person and had to cold call on prospects you will get hung-up on more than make the sale.

If you are a doctor, you are dealing with long hours and sometimes dead people. No thank you!

If you are a manager, you deal with office politics and a 9-to-5 schedule.

What I do is interesting to me! I enjoy the process. I enjoy the scenery. I enjoy the people. I enjoy my schedule because when I'm off, I am off.

Sure there are a lot of things I don't particularly like, but hey, you are going find that EVERYWHERE!

I hope you find what you like!

Jeffrey