The Career Span Of A Pilot (story)
12-21-2008, 07:57 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,258
Originally Posted by CANAM
Hey don't shoot the messenger. I didn't write it. But I have been furloughed twice. Lost my first comany. And I'm only 30!
Sucks you've been furloughed twice though. You have a job now? or you still on the furloughed list?
12-21-2008, 08:44 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Right Seat... Forever
Posts: 410
That was pretty thorough, except you left out the part where he gets divorced and marries the 25 year old FA that he has been banging on the long overnights for the last year, gets divorced again and opens a crash pad that doubles as his primary residence just so he can cover the alimony.
12-21-2008, 09:04 AM
#14
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Not Easy To Quit
It is not so easy to quit flying after a career is underway. It is difficult to walk away after so much is invested. Also it is difficult to transition to another profession with the skills accumulated as a pilot. Usually it means totally starting over and that becomes much more difficult as people get older and have obligations.
It seems to me that one of the problems is that people get into this profession when they are young, idealistic and unattached. They are not able to fully comprehend what the needs of their future will be. Once the career is underway we sell ourselves on the idea that tomorrow will be better than today and after facing disappointment with every rung on the ladder have to resell ourselves that the next one will be better.
As pilots get older they begin to take a personal measure of what has been lost to date. As the deficit grows the size of the imagined prize then also must grow. As a 20 year old just flying a plane seems good enough however by their 30's the imagined future paycheck is the driving force. Eventually the career debt grows to an impossible degree.
As with gambling whenever hardship in an aviation career comes the temptation is to put in for another round. The thinking is that eventually you will hold a winning hand. However as a pilot goes deeper into life debt more must be put up in order to remain in the game. If you are a parent things like little league games are important. However as with annal fishing trips with old friends, a sense of home and seasonal holidays they are all things to be traded away to the needs of maintaining a flying career.
We all have to make choices. Not every pilot will be filled with regret upon reflecting back upon a life of hotel rooms and early get ups, however many will. This thread is an important cautionary tale to be considered at least. What do you value in life?
Skyhigh
It seems to me that one of the problems is that people get into this profession when they are young, idealistic and unattached. They are not able to fully comprehend what the needs of their future will be. Once the career is underway we sell ourselves on the idea that tomorrow will be better than today and after facing disappointment with every rung on the ladder have to resell ourselves that the next one will be better.
As pilots get older they begin to take a personal measure of what has been lost to date. As the deficit grows the size of the imagined prize then also must grow. As a 20 year old just flying a plane seems good enough however by their 30's the imagined future paycheck is the driving force. Eventually the career debt grows to an impossible degree.
As with gambling whenever hardship in an aviation career comes the temptation is to put in for another round. The thinking is that eventually you will hold a winning hand. However as a pilot goes deeper into life debt more must be put up in order to remain in the game. If you are a parent things like little league games are important. However as with annal fishing trips with old friends, a sense of home and seasonal holidays they are all things to be traded away to the needs of maintaining a flying career.
We all have to make choices. Not every pilot will be filled with regret upon reflecting back upon a life of hotel rooms and early get ups, however many will. This thread is an important cautionary tale to be considered at least. What do you value in life?
Skyhigh
12-21-2008, 09:14 AM
#15
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Real Estate
Originally Posted by Pilotpip
Saab and captain are spot on here.
You can change "aviation" to nearly every industry out there, especially right now. I'm just waiting for Skyhigh to chime in. He's always ready to do it to threads like this but hasn't said much about the real estate business that he's now involved in recently.
If you're not happy about what you're doing, find something else to do because you'll never be happy.
You can change "aviation" to nearly every industry out there, especially right now. I'm just waiting for Skyhigh to chime in. He's always ready to do it to threads like this but hasn't said much about the real estate business that he's now involved in recently.
If you're not happy about what you're doing, find something else to do because you'll never be happy.
Real Estate will come back and so will airline hiring. However in real estate for better or worse I am in charge of my own destiny.
SkyHigh
12-21-2008, 09:58 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Student Pilot
Posts: 2,276
Gotta agree with the Brooski on this one. I get so sick and tired of hearing people bashing this profession. Mind you....it doesn't have an effect on me; besides I think starting out as a "switch flipper" FO on a KA 200/350 is much better than 121 based upon what I've read and witnessed in this industry. That's just my personal take on it.
For some, 121 is the *******; for others, it isn't.
atp
For some, 121 is the *******; for others, it isn't.
atp
12-21-2008, 10:29 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: 1986 LeBaron Convertable
Posts: 439
I posted this story because it was an interesting read. Depending upon your situation, you'll either think it is total BS or you will relate to it BIG TIME! If you're a new FO at a regional, then you will have an entirely different perspective from a guy who lost his pention, took a pay cut, hasn't been off for Christmas in 17 years and makes less than what he did in 1999.
I do however have to comment on something. To those who basicly stated that we all chose this profession willingly - you are completly correct. We are here by choice. But given the prospect of starting something totally new, in a new field, it can be much harder than one thinks. I still owe ERAU a lot of money, as I consumed MUCH coolaid there. I have a BS in Aeronautical Science, which is pretty limited to flying. Its hard to get a job in marketing, finance, ect with this degree.
I guess we'll know if this story has anything truth to it when we hit age 65 and consider the past years. Until then, it's just a story from some guy.
I do however have to comment on something. To those who basicly stated that we all chose this profession willingly - you are completly correct. We are here by choice. But given the prospect of starting something totally new, in a new field, it can be much harder than one thinks. I still owe ERAU a lot of money, as I consumed MUCH coolaid there. I have a BS in Aeronautical Science, which is pretty limited to flying. Its hard to get a job in marketing, finance, ect with this degree.
I guess we'll know if this story has anything truth to it when we hit age 65 and consider the past years. Until then, it's just a story from some guy.
12-21-2008, 10:34 AM
#18
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
SkyHigh,
I respect your opinion, but it really isnt that hard to leave the airlines. I was able to get an offer making more money then I make now in this job market, so I know when the time comes and I have to make a move, I can. It may not be easy, but it can be done. Like I said (you may not think) but being an airline pilot proves you handle stressful situations well, can accomplish difficult tasks, are able to work together with others, (in my interview they were blown away that pilots can show up to the gate meet someone for the first time and work together with a complete stranger in an enclosed space for hours, they were impressed). Look like I said if you cant sell yourself on being qualified for a job after spending some time at an airline, then you have some issues. We are so specialized in what we do that yes we limit ourselves when it comes to FLYING AN AIRPLANE, but connections and personality go farther then what degree you have..........
Come on guys if you can deal with being a pilots and are willing to put up with the garbage when you get here, there isn't a job in the world that we can't get, or do, we give ourselves less credit
I respect your opinion, but it really isnt that hard to leave the airlines. I was able to get an offer making more money then I make now in this job market, so I know when the time comes and I have to make a move, I can. It may not be easy, but it can be done. Like I said (you may not think) but being an airline pilot proves you handle stressful situations well, can accomplish difficult tasks, are able to work together with others, (in my interview they were blown away that pilots can show up to the gate meet someone for the first time and work together with a complete stranger in an enclosed space for hours, they were impressed). Look like I said if you cant sell yourself on being qualified for a job after spending some time at an airline, then you have some issues. We are so specialized in what we do that yes we limit ourselves when it comes to FLYING AN AIRPLANE, but connections and personality go farther then what degree you have..........
Come on guys if you can deal with being a pilots and are willing to put up with the garbage when you get here, there isn't a job in the world that we can't get, or do, we give ourselves less credit
12-21-2008, 11:01 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,258
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
SkyHigh,
I respect your opinion, but it really isnt that hard to leave the airlines. I was able to get an offer making more money then I make now in this job market, so I know when the time comes and I have to make a move, I can. It may not be easy, but it can be done. Like I said (you may not think) but being an airline pilot proves you handle stressful situations well, can accomplish difficult tasks, are able to work together with others, (in my interview they were blown away that pilots can show up to the gate meet someone for the first time and work together with a complete stranger in an enclosed space for hours, they were impressed). Look like I said if you cant sell yourself on being qualified for a job after spending some time at an airline, then you have some issues. We are so specialized in what we do that yes we limit ourselves when it comes to FLYING AN AIRPLANE, but connections and personality go farther then what degree you have..........
Come on guys if you can deal with being a pilots and are willing to put up with the garbage when you get here, there isn't a job in the world that we can't get, or do, we give ourselves less credit
I respect your opinion, but it really isnt that hard to leave the airlines. I was able to get an offer making more money then I make now in this job market, so I know when the time comes and I have to make a move, I can. It may not be easy, but it can be done. Like I said (you may not think) but being an airline pilot proves you handle stressful situations well, can accomplish difficult tasks, are able to work together with others, (in my interview they were blown away that pilots can show up to the gate meet someone for the first time and work together with a complete stranger in an enclosed space for hours, they were impressed). Look like I said if you cant sell yourself on being qualified for a job after spending some time at an airline, then you have some issues. We are so specialized in what we do that yes we limit ourselves when it comes to FLYING AN AIRPLANE, but connections and personality go farther then what degree you have..........
Come on guys if you can deal with being a pilots and are willing to put up with the garbage when you get here, there isn't a job in the world that we can't get, or do, we give ourselves less credit
I'm siding with you on this one. As I mentioned before, and agree with what you said, we all had to put in a LOT of hard work and dedication to make it to where we are now. If you put that hard work and dedication to finding another job out there, you would find one. It may not be easy, but you could definitely find one.
There aren't many professions out there where one is required to work in closed quarters with someone they've never met before making difficult decisions in some of the worst weather possible that affect the lives of so many behind them. If you can put those skills to use with a different profession and different company, you'd blow people away in interviews proving how diligently you can work together with others.
So, it may not be easy to leave an industry that you hate, but it can be done and has been done many times before.
12-21-2008, 11:13 AM
#20
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Know what you are getting into
It has been said that "everyone knows what they were getting into". However that is not true. Pilots who enter the profession are measuring their potential future by todays yardstick. Back when I started I remember reading that UAL pilots had something like 55 hour minimums a month. At the time I thought that it was horrible that UAL pilots could only fly 55 hours each month.
Back when I started legacy pilots made a fortune and hardly had to go to work. By the time pilots reach their goals the landscape has totally changed. It is impossible to know what you are getting into unless you have a crystal ball.
SkyHigh
Back when I started legacy pilots made a fortune and hardly had to go to work. By the time pilots reach their goals the landscape has totally changed. It is impossible to know what you are getting into unless you have a crystal ball.
SkyHigh
Last edited by SkyHigh; 12-21-2008 at 11:25 AM.
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