Yeah, yeah I know you guys have gotten these threads before, but it's so different when you're the one asking...

I'd bore you with my story about how I got into aviation and how much I love it and blah blah blah, but I'll just let you assume that I love it to death, and I honestly cannot see myself being happy doing anything else because that's the truth.

I'm presently a student at U Miami, but I'm wondering if I want to transfer to a place like UND or something similar. I know the deal about doing an aviation major, and I wouldn't do it. Right now, I have my PPL and IR, and I can't do anything past that cause of money and time. If I went to UND, I could pick up all my ratings.

I have heard from so many regional guys and even people at the majors how much it sucks. It hurts to have your life dream shat on like that by reality, but I guess that's, well, reality. I just want to be able to do what I love, have a relatively normal life, normal family, and hopefully a few years in, at least a normal paycheck.

Do what I love, or...?

Now, the reason I want to go to UND is because it opens up a bunch more options for me. ATC has always been in the picture, too. Maybe I could do that. Or if I decide to stick with the flying route, I could do that. Or say I decide to do neither, well, that could work too. Agree? Disagree? Comments, suggestions, opinions, thoughts? All I know right now is that I hope to do something involving aviation. I feel like it's all I'd be happy doing. So, if you'd be so kind, please take that into account, and everything else I've said too.

Try not to let me down too hard...I think I smell what's coming.

 

Aviation: Don't love her man, she will only break your heart!

 

I'll tell you what. Aviation is what it is. We complain all the time about work rules and being on the road, but the fact is that aviation is a lifestyle choice.

I love being gone. I love being home even more. I love the fact that I leave work at work. I don't complain about going on a 4 day, or 5 or 6 day now.

So i guess what I'm saying is that it is easy to love aviation. That is why everyone responds to "im a pilot" with " (I, my uncle steve, my dad, my sister, my neighbor's hairdresser's son, my UPS man) has his private pilot's license."

The lifestyle of a professional aviator is NOT easy to love.....for some. Me? I'm going to be a pilot all my life. I love the lifestyle.

 

ATC aint flying

 

?!?!

Um, thanks for the clarification??

 

Well you don't see yourself happy doing anything else correct?

Whats ATC or the program containing that at UND have to do with anything?

I know I personally will not be happy not flying. Working at ATC to me would make not flying worse.

 

Ah, I see where you're coming from now. No, ATC wouldn't be a replacement necessarily. I've also wanted to do that a lot of my life too. It's right up there with flying.

 

Ok.

Couldn't figure out initially why that was included

Flying for a living is like a breakfast of Bacon,Eggs, and Orange juice.

Chicken and the tree contributed but the PIG....well the Pig was committed.

BTW the ATC guys I know are about as miserable with the pay/working conditions as regional F/O's.

Seems the same deal as pilots...was a good deal way back when but salaries and QOL has fallen dramatically in ATC

 

But remember getting a job being a controller will probably be a lot easier then getting a job being a cfi or even a regional pilot. Lots of regional and major people got furloaded and went back to instructing that you have to compete with. And pay for being in ATC is also a lot better compared to an entry level cfi that is trying to get more students.

 

atc shotclock: 31st birthday

airline shotclock: 65th birthday

you could always work a tower then peck around in the planes on the side until something plane related came along