The Career Span Of A Pilot (story)
12-21-2008, 06:07 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: 1986 LeBaron Convertable
Posts: 439
The Career Span Of A Pilot (story)
I know this is somewhat lengthy, but it's worth the read. I found it to be 100% true thus far in my career. Enjoy...I think.
Stage one- Dreamer
During this stage, the future pilot yearns to get out of the office and into the sky. On airline flights, he admires the uniformed pilots marching confidently to their sleek, shiny jets about to zip off to who knows where on who knows what adventure. During stage one, our pilot-in-embryo may frequently refer to himself as 'Goose,' or 'Iceman.' He looks up every time an airplane flies overhead and says "I wish I were him!" He subscribes to AOPA, maybe gets the Sportys and King Schools catalogs. At some point, he'll buy the study at home DVD courses to learn the ground knowledge needed for his pilot certificate. The more he learns about aviation, the more his excitement builds, and he begins to search for flight schools.
Stage two- Student Pilot
Our future pilot finds a flight school, makes a plan, takes out a loan, and gets started with an instructor. He absolutely loves his first flight. He feels the aviation drug kick in and he's absolutely hooked. He accomplishes all of his homework assignments and eagerly awaits the next flight lesson. He makes some friends down at the local FBO and quickly becomes an airport junkie. He tells all his friends about how he soloed an airplane on his own. The student pilot stage continues well after he earns his private pilot certificate, which fuels his passion for aviation, and through his instrument rating.
Stage three-Commercial Naivete
This is about the time when the pilot begins to search the internet for pilot job listings. He looks at the corporate jobs, unfortunately they all require thousands of hours of multi-engine turbine time as pilot-in-command before they'll even look at his resume. The regional airlines, however, require a modest 1,000 total hours with about 100 multi-engine hours. No problem! He thinks, I'll get those hours by getting my commercial single and multi engine certificates, and all my CFI certificates. Then I'll hour build until I can send in my resume. He also begins to read forum threads from disgruntled airline pilots complaining of such things that he has never heard of before during his pilot training like furlough, scab, union dues, and upgrade time. The blinders slowly begin to come off his eyes and for the first time he gets exposed to some of the real-life hardships that airline pilots face on a daily basis. 'Gosh', he thinks, 'airline pilots are all so negative! Nothing could ever get me to not want to fly. These guys are all just a bunch of whiners, I'll never be like them.'
Stage four- Indentured ServitudeThe pilot is now a fully rated CFI working on that thousand-hour mark. He's filled up his first logbook and purchased a thick professional pilot logbook with his name in gold letters on the cover. He's over fifty thousand dollars in debt to some woman he's never met named Sallie Mae, and after burning through all that cash, he's landed himself a not so lucrative job at the FBO earning $15 an hour. His wife works part time to make ends meet and now she's beginning to wonder why she agreed to support his plans to get into this business in the first place. The "get hired" date that they set as a goal has come and gone, and he's still working at the local airport. At this point, he's spent so much time and money getting his ratings, that there is no honorable way out but forward. In a sense, he's reached the point of no return. How could he justify quitting and going back to school for a different field when so much has been invested into what was once his dream? At this point in their careers, some pilots throw in the towel while others press on into the muck and hope for their lucky break.
Stage five- Hired
He sweated through the interviews, the sim rides, the written exams, and he's finally made it- he's a first officer. His paychecks are about the same or less than they were as a CFI back at the FBO, but hes so dazzled by the glint of the sunlight streaking off his jet that he doesn't care. Back home, his wife who celebrated his graduation to the big boys with him only months before, now realizes that not only are they making less, but they see eachother less as well.
Stage six- Furloughed
Things didn't go too well for the economy and management had to make some cuts. He's back on the street looking for another CFI gig to keep the bread coming while he waits for an undetermined period of time, akin to limbo, to go back to work at his airline.
Stage seven- Upgrade
He's flying left seat now and enjoying the pay raise that only seniority can offer. At this point, he's just happy to bring in a paycheck- the majesty of the clouds racing by the cockpit doesn't capture his awe like it used to. It's just a job now, nothing more. His thoughts turn mostly to the poor decisions of the MBA's at corporate that will most likely cost him his job again if they can't get things together soon. It seems to him that the executives feel around in the dark. If only they saw things with the same clarity as the rank and file line holders below them. He chuckles to himself- they must have encountered some IMC on top.
Stage eight- The Majors
Commanding tens of thousands of hours worth of experience, the lives of about a thousand passengers per day, and a highly experienced crew, our captain has finally earned some respect for himself in the aviation industry. He leads his airline's chapter of ALPA and fights to preserve his pay and benefits. Forty five years old, he finally gets to spend the holidays at home, but his kids are all grown up and gone. He wonders why he spent all those hours as a young man practicing chandelles, s-turns, and lazy-eights when he doesn't touch the controls but to taxi, and take off.
Stage nine- Retirement
Tough times again. To avoid destruction, his company reduced pay, benefits, and cancelled retirement pensions across the board. If he is prudent, our pilot started a separate IRA with a reputable bank back when he was a freshly minted CFI and has been making regular contributions. If not, he's living on social security and whatever money he had in the bank when he turned 65.
Stage ten- Retrospection
Hind sight is 20/20. If he could do it all over again, he would have gone into a field where the pay was better, the job hours more regular, and the family life less non-existent. He would have insisted on a career that allowed him to see all those little league sporting events, piano recitals, and school functions. He would have avoided the disease altogether.
Stage one- Dreamer
During this stage, the future pilot yearns to get out of the office and into the sky. On airline flights, he admires the uniformed pilots marching confidently to their sleek, shiny jets about to zip off to who knows where on who knows what adventure. During stage one, our pilot-in-embryo may frequently refer to himself as 'Goose,' or 'Iceman.' He looks up every time an airplane flies overhead and says "I wish I were him!" He subscribes to AOPA, maybe gets the Sportys and King Schools catalogs. At some point, he'll buy the study at home DVD courses to learn the ground knowledge needed for his pilot certificate. The more he learns about aviation, the more his excitement builds, and he begins to search for flight schools.
Stage two- Student Pilot
Our future pilot finds a flight school, makes a plan, takes out a loan, and gets started with an instructor. He absolutely loves his first flight. He feels the aviation drug kick in and he's absolutely hooked. He accomplishes all of his homework assignments and eagerly awaits the next flight lesson. He makes some friends down at the local FBO and quickly becomes an airport junkie. He tells all his friends about how he soloed an airplane on his own. The student pilot stage continues well after he earns his private pilot certificate, which fuels his passion for aviation, and through his instrument rating.
Stage three-Commercial Naivete
This is about the time when the pilot begins to search the internet for pilot job listings. He looks at the corporate jobs, unfortunately they all require thousands of hours of multi-engine turbine time as pilot-in-command before they'll even look at his resume. The regional airlines, however, require a modest 1,000 total hours with about 100 multi-engine hours. No problem! He thinks, I'll get those hours by getting my commercial single and multi engine certificates, and all my CFI certificates. Then I'll hour build until I can send in my resume. He also begins to read forum threads from disgruntled airline pilots complaining of such things that he has never heard of before during his pilot training like furlough, scab, union dues, and upgrade time. The blinders slowly begin to come off his eyes and for the first time he gets exposed to some of the real-life hardships that airline pilots face on a daily basis. 'Gosh', he thinks, 'airline pilots are all so negative! Nothing could ever get me to not want to fly. These guys are all just a bunch of whiners, I'll never be like them.'
Stage four- Indentured ServitudeThe pilot is now a fully rated CFI working on that thousand-hour mark. He's filled up his first logbook and purchased a thick professional pilot logbook with his name in gold letters on the cover. He's over fifty thousand dollars in debt to some woman he's never met named Sallie Mae, and after burning through all that cash, he's landed himself a not so lucrative job at the FBO earning $15 an hour. His wife works part time to make ends meet and now she's beginning to wonder why she agreed to support his plans to get into this business in the first place. The "get hired" date that they set as a goal has come and gone, and he's still working at the local airport. At this point, he's spent so much time and money getting his ratings, that there is no honorable way out but forward. In a sense, he's reached the point of no return. How could he justify quitting and going back to school for a different field when so much has been invested into what was once his dream? At this point in their careers, some pilots throw in the towel while others press on into the muck and hope for their lucky break.
Stage five- Hired
He sweated through the interviews, the sim rides, the written exams, and he's finally made it- he's a first officer. His paychecks are about the same or less than they were as a CFI back at the FBO, but hes so dazzled by the glint of the sunlight streaking off his jet that he doesn't care. Back home, his wife who celebrated his graduation to the big boys with him only months before, now realizes that not only are they making less, but they see eachother less as well.
Stage six- Furloughed
Things didn't go too well for the economy and management had to make some cuts. He's back on the street looking for another CFI gig to keep the bread coming while he waits for an undetermined period of time, akin to limbo, to go back to work at his airline.
Stage seven- Upgrade
He's flying left seat now and enjoying the pay raise that only seniority can offer. At this point, he's just happy to bring in a paycheck- the majesty of the clouds racing by the cockpit doesn't capture his awe like it used to. It's just a job now, nothing more. His thoughts turn mostly to the poor decisions of the MBA's at corporate that will most likely cost him his job again if they can't get things together soon. It seems to him that the executives feel around in the dark. If only they saw things with the same clarity as the rank and file line holders below them. He chuckles to himself- they must have encountered some IMC on top.
Stage eight- The Majors
Commanding tens of thousands of hours worth of experience, the lives of about a thousand passengers per day, and a highly experienced crew, our captain has finally earned some respect for himself in the aviation industry. He leads his airline's chapter of ALPA and fights to preserve his pay and benefits. Forty five years old, he finally gets to spend the holidays at home, but his kids are all grown up and gone. He wonders why he spent all those hours as a young man practicing chandelles, s-turns, and lazy-eights when he doesn't touch the controls but to taxi, and take off.
Stage nine- Retirement
Tough times again. To avoid destruction, his company reduced pay, benefits, and cancelled retirement pensions across the board. If he is prudent, our pilot started a separate IRA with a reputable bank back when he was a freshly minted CFI and has been making regular contributions. If not, he's living on social security and whatever money he had in the bank when he turned 65.
Stage ten- Retrospection
Hind sight is 20/20. If he could do it all over again, he would have gone into a field where the pay was better, the job hours more regular, and the family life less non-existent. He would have insisted on a career that allowed him to see all those little league sporting events, piano recitals, and school functions. He would have avoided the disease altogether.
12-21-2008, 06:29 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 116
Sounds like he got into it for the wrong reasons. I could show you similar stories in medicine, law enforcement, and legal practice. I have flown with plenty of people who have 20-25 years in the industry, are on their fifth airline, and are far from that profile... They're happy.
12-21-2008, 06:38 AM
#4
ULTP-Ultra Low Tier Pilot
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,228
A lof of this rang true up until the negative. I love how pilots whine so much about a job that they are free to leave if it is so miserable. I wish these crusty old 60+ CA's who complain so much would retire, get upgrades and movement going again.
12-21-2008, 06:54 AM
#5
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
God some of yous guys need to man up and stop with the crying. Do you think flying for the airlines is the only career with downturns? Yeah we start off agian and pathetic wages, but do something on the side when your a first year F/O at an airline, don't have the time? Don't apply, Dont want to commute, move, don't like the pay, dont work there. I am so sick of everyone bashing this career. For all the broke pilots I know, I also know plenty of folks over at CAL that make $190,000.00 a yera as a 73 CA, yea the pay isnt what it used to be, but believe me its like that with many industries, even the GREEDY SCUM on Wall Street won't be getting their multi-million dollar bonuses, or at least not to the exorbitant amount that they did years past. Work hard, save your money and don't let the Airline dictate your life, invest (wisely if there is such a thing), start your own business, but don't sit there and complain how the airlines "let you down"......sickening
12-21-2008, 07:00 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,258
This was a great post up until it went down the negative end and never came back. Yeah, this industry is brutal, no question about that. Quite possibly the most brutal industry in the world. We all know that going in to it, we're all warned about it and what the possibilities are. After all is said and done though ... some stick with it because they truly love it and can't imagine doing anything else. Others, choose to leave because to them, it's just a job and a paycheck, and they could easily find another job that pays more and keeps them home more often.
If you don't like your job, then quit. Seriously, there are plenty of other pilots out there who actually love to fly and would love to get a job in your place. I'm sick and tired of hearing people whine and complain about how crappy things are ... WE ALL KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS!! Either from forums, friends, or family that are pilots, we all heard what it was going to be like and chose to pursue it anyway ... Life as a regional pilot SUCKS!!! I think the only people it doesn't suck for are those that have been at a regional 8+ years with massive amounts of seniority, decent pay, and awesome lines ... and those are the guys that would have to take a massive paycut to upgrade to the majors.
I completely agree that regional airline pilots should be paid more, and I'm not trying to discredit that. I'm simply saying that I'm tried to always hearing about how crappy someone's life is because they chose to be a pilot. If it's really that crappy then go do something else and leave your job for someone who actually enjoys what they do!
Rant over.. I await the verbal bashing
If you don't like your job, then quit. Seriously, there are plenty of other pilots out there who actually love to fly and would love to get a job in your place. I'm sick and tired of hearing people whine and complain about how crappy things are ... WE ALL KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THIS!! Either from forums, friends, or family that are pilots, we all heard what it was going to be like and chose to pursue it anyway ... Life as a regional pilot SUCKS!!! I think the only people it doesn't suck for are those that have been at a regional 8+ years with massive amounts of seniority, decent pay, and awesome lines ... and those are the guys that would have to take a massive paycut to upgrade to the majors.
I completely agree that regional airline pilots should be paid more, and I'm not trying to discredit that. I'm simply saying that I'm tried to always hearing about how crappy someone's life is because they chose to be a pilot. If it's really that crappy then go do something else and leave your job for someone who actually enjoys what they do!
Rant over.. I await the verbal bashing
12-21-2008, 07:01 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,258
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
God some of yous guys need to man up and stop with the crying. Do you think flying for the airlines is the only career with downturns? Yeah we start off agian and pathetic wages, but do something on the side when your a first year F/O at an airline, don't have the time? Don't apply, Dont want to commute, move, don't like the pay, dont work there. I am so sick of everyone bashing this career. For all the broke pilots I know, I also know plenty of folks over at CAL that make $190,000.00 a yera as a 73 CA, yea the pay isnt what it used to be, but believe me its like that with many industries, even the GREEDY SCUM on Wall Street won't be getting their multi-million dollar bonuses, or at least not to the exorbitant amount that they did years past. Work hard, save your money and don't let the Airline dictate your life, invest (wisely if there is such a thing), start your own business, but don't sit there and complain how the airlines "let you down"......sickening
12-21-2008, 07:05 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
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.
12-21-2008, 07:07 AM
#9
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
I would also like to add
I ***** and moan all the time but I am still here, I even complained about Colgan non-stop but I had some amazing memories, my time at Expressjet has been great as well. The pay could be better but the schedule is great, (I dont commute), When I blow through a layer, after sitting in line for takeoff, and nothing but blue skies above, yeah I may have seen that before but it beats the Rat race anyday. Poor airline guys don't have any other skills
, BULLS*T, working for an airline makes you more qualified for most jobs then 90% of the people that apply. Working under stress, dealing with all kinds of unusual situations, the determination it takes to get an airline job, believe me its shows up in an interview, the reason I know? When I thought I had enough of this job and the furlough numbers were not out yet at xjt,I went on many interviews, for jobs that I thought I would need a degree in the field to get, but I got called right away,this particular interviews was for a Pharmaceutical company to do sales, anyway, in the interview the people were non stop asking ME QUESTIONS about being an airline pilot, they were so impressed by it, they had no doubt I would succeed in some bullsh*t selling Drugs to Dr's job because in their mind, and in their own words, "Well if you can do what it takes to get a job flying an airline and have that responsibility, this job will be a walk in the park, sir"
Obviously I didn't take the job cause Im still poor and bitter, hahaha, but the fact is I still love what we do, and the day I get tired of it, I go out and get another job, the one thing I won't do is feel sorry for myself and cry about it, YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOB, THEN GET THE ---- OUT OF IT.
Gooday
I ***** and moan all the time but I am still here, I even complained about Colgan non-stop but I had some amazing memories, my time at Expressjet has been great as well. The pay could be better but the schedule is great, (I dont commute), When I blow through a layer, after sitting in line for takeoff, and nothing but blue skies above, yeah I may have seen that before but it beats the Rat race anyday. Poor airline guys don't have any other skills
, BULLS*T, working for an airline makes you more qualified for most jobs then 90% of the people that apply. Working under stress, dealing with all kinds of unusual situations, the determination it takes to get an airline job, believe me its shows up in an interview, the reason I know? When I thought I had enough of this job and the furlough numbers were not out yet at xjt,I went on many interviews, for jobs that I thought I would need a degree in the field to get, but I got called right away,this particular interviews was for a Pharmaceutical company to do sales, anyway, in the interview the people were non stop asking ME QUESTIONS about being an airline pilot, they were so impressed by it, they had no doubt I would succeed in some bullsh*t selling Drugs to Dr's job because in their mind, and in their own words, "Well if you can do what it takes to get a job flying an airline and have that responsibility, this job will be a walk in the park, sir"Obviously I didn't take the job cause Im still poor and bitter, hahaha, but the fact is I still love what we do, and the day I get tired of it, I go out and get another job, the one thing I won't do is feel sorry for myself and cry about it, YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOB, THEN GET THE ---- OUT OF IT.
Gooday
12-21-2008, 07:18 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,258
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
I would also like to add
I ***** and moan all the time but I am still here, I even complained about Colgan non-stop but I had some amazing memories, my time at Expressjet has been great as well. The pay could be better but the schedule is great, (I dont commute), When I blow through a layer, after sitting in line for takeoff, and nothing but blue skies above, yeah I may have seen that before but it beats the Rat race anyday. Poor airline guys don't have any other skills, BULLS*T, working for an airline makes you more qualified for most jobs then 90% of the people that apply. Working under stress, dealing with all kinds of unusual situations, the determination it takes to get an airline job, believe me its shows up in an interview, the reason I know? When I thought I had enough of this job and the furlough numbers were not out yet at xjt,I went on many interviews, for jobs that I thought I would need a degree in the field to get, but I got called right away,this particular interviews was for a Pharmaceutical company to do sales, anyway, in the interview the people were non stop asking ME QUESTIONS about being an airline pilot, they were so impressed by it, they had no doubt I would succeed in some bullsh*t selling Drugs to Dr's job because in their mind, and in their own words, "Well if you can do what it takes to get a job flying an airline and have that responsibility, this job will be a walk in the park, sir"
Obviously I didn't take the job cause Im still poor and bitter, hahaha, but the fact is I still love what we do, and the day I get tired of it, I go out and get another job, the one thing I won't do is feel sorry for myself and cry about it, YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOB, THEN GET THE ----- OUT OF IT.
Gooday
I ***** and moan all the time but I am still here, I even complained about Colgan non-stop but I had some amazing memories, my time at Expressjet has been great as well. The pay could be better but the schedule is great, (I dont commute), When I blow through a layer, after sitting in line for takeoff, and nothing but blue skies above, yeah I may have seen that before but it beats the Rat race anyday. Poor airline guys don't have any other skills
, BULLS*T, working for an airline makes you more qualified for most jobs then 90% of the people that apply. Working under stress, dealing with all kinds of unusual situations, the determination it takes to get an airline job, believe me its shows up in an interview, the reason I know? When I thought I had enough of this job and the furlough numbers were not out yet at xjt,I went on many interviews, for jobs that I thought I would need a degree in the field to get, but I got called right away,this particular interviews was for a Pharmaceutical company to do sales, anyway, in the interview the people were non stop asking ME QUESTIONS about being an airline pilot, they were so impressed by it, they had no doubt I would succeed in some bullsh*t selling Drugs to Dr's job because in their mind, and in their own words, "Well if you can do what it takes to get a job flying an airline and have that responsibility, this job will be a walk in the park, sir"Obviously I didn't take the job cause Im still poor and bitter, hahaha, but the fact is I still love what we do, and the day I get tired of it, I go out and get another job, the one thing I won't do is feel sorry for myself and cry about it, YOU DON'T LIKE THE JOB, THEN GET THE ----- OUT OF IT.
Gooday
I agree with you though, it takes a LOT of time and dedication and responsibility to land a job at the airlines!
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