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Different opinions
Sky says:
In college our professors were ex-airline guys. None of them spoke fondly about their years as an airline pilot. They always liked to talk about their glory days in the military or jobs they had prior to reaching the airlines. One profession in particular use to say that "getting there wasn't half the fun it was all the fun". In other words, don't expect to enjoy your time as an airline pilot. It is a job. At the same time - I've never met a military pilot who enjoyed the airline flying as much as their military flying (the road getting there); but NONE of them hate their jobs the way Sky describes everyone he knows as hating the job. Invest into your future. Pick a career that offers you some stability and market value when you are older. Your chosen profession should also permit you to have access to a normal life. What is the point of all this if you can not save money, buy real estate and hopefully raise a family if that is what you want? Aviation use to be able to commonly provide those things but, I don't see that as an reachable goal anymore for most. USMCFLYR |
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
(Post 600543)
Lets hope that you are not still wearing three stripes five years from now.
Skyhigh |
This career work's for some and for other's it does not and that is just the way it is and alway's will be .
Reality can be a new dawn for some when they attempt to raise the bar with unreasonable expectation's. I found this out the hard way and it's called live and learn and some fall off the horse and get back on and other's fall off and stay off . Fred |
The Wrestler
Everyone is different. Hey, it works for some and not others. Don't have unrealistic expectations.
I believe that we all have reached my point. Randy the Ram lived his life to the complete neglect of the consequences. It is true that everyone is different but I believe that everyone needs financial security and quality human relationships. The Ram lived his life in a self centered impulsive manner. He failed to do what was necessary to maintain meaningful relationships and obviously did not make financial investments in his future. I am sure that if you were to ask him when he was in his 30's if he liked his job he would have claimed that he did. Only upon reflection at the end of his career did he realize the price he paid for the life he lived. I have seen the same things in aviation. Pilots often lay down just about everything to remain in the saddle and then are shocked at the end to discover that they are broke and alone. Spouses do not like to be left alone. Children can get use to not having you around. It is difficult in an aviation career to develop compounding employer value. Every time you take a new job or get laid off you have to start over. My point is to periodically take stock of your life and of where is is going. Aviation demands a huge sacrifice and if not measured can lead to the exclusion of everything else in your life. If you are single over 30 and living in a rented apartment then maybe you should evaluate where your path in life is taking you. Some will be fine with that situation others may not. I have seen more that one 55 year old bachelor captain get married in a panic to a flight attendant because they were afraid of life after 60. Only then to get a divorce at 59 and now hit 60 broke and unemployed. Randy the Ram was not happy with where he ended up in life. He failed to make the sacrifices needed to insure that his future was what he wanted it to be. Skyhigh |
Long Conversation
Years ago I had a long conversation with a guy who was a captain on a large piston transport category plane. He was in his early 40's never married and in a remote part of the country. He was living in a rented house because he never planned to stay with his company as long as he did, but he owned a nice car and motorcycle.
He claimed that he always though of himself as a family man and can not believe that he was still single. He was distraught that the airlines did not seem interested in his resume because it was all piston time. He had not amassed any large assets and was not able to save a lot. In general he was not happy with the path that his life was taking. I told him to quit, get a job at a regional and move to the city. Make the sacrifice and start over in more fertile grounds. His response was that he could not quit. He had a good left seat job and was making enough to meet his needs. Overall in the moment he was satisfied and having fun at work, however when he took stock of where he wanted to be in the long run he knew that he was on the wrong road to getting there. In the end as far as I know he has stayed where he was flying a dead end plane in a situation that is unlikely to change his relationship status. I know a lot of guys like that, having fun in the moment but building little else. Skyhigh |
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
(Post 601030)
Years ago I had a long conversation with a guy who was a captain on a large piston transport category plane. He was in his early 40's never married and in a remote part of the country. He was living in a rented house because he never planned to stay with his company as long as he did, but he owned a nice car and motorcycle.
He claimed that he always though of himself as a family man and can not believe that he was still single. He was distraught that the airlines did not seem interested in his resume because it was all piston time. He had not amassed any large assets and was not able to save a lot. In general he was not happy with the path that his life was taking. I told him to quit, get a job at a regional and move to the city. Make the sacrifice and start over in more fertile grounds. His response was that he could not quit. He had a good left seat job and was making enough to meet his needs. Overall in the moment he was satisfied and having fun at work, however when he took stock of where he wanted to be in the long run he knew that he was on the wrong road to getting there. In the end as far as I know he has stayed where he was flying a dead end plane in a situation that is unlikely to change his relationship status. I know a lot of guys like that, having fun in the moment but building little else. Skyhigh Then I must ask, Is that no their own fault? I mean cmon! There is only so much one can blame on the industry, before taking personal accountability. The wrestler messed up. He did. The pilots that wash out their saving, dont build retirement, and chase their *dream* to the bitter end... Are they not getting what is coming? Sure, everyone deserves a shot, but there is a certain point when someone has to take *stock* and say well it didnt work, time to move on... The one that do not, then yes, they will wind up broke, alone, and old. Everyone has to be accountable for themselves. Manage your assets carefully. The story of the old Airline Captain, where he trades in his car, his wife, and his house every time he gets and upgrade or divorce... He deserved where he wound up... If you make regional pay, but live on a major budget, over extend yourself, and pinch pennies till they hit the limit, then eventually, they will break and you lose it all... So, to sum it all up for you. Set reasonable expectations, manage your assets, and do not be greedy! If you do all of those things, with a little luck, and the grace of god, you may just make it... If you dont, follow Sky's advice, have a back up plan. Mine is the Military. Doest work for everyone, but hey I enjoy it. Oh yea, and Sky, I may be young, but I have lived more in my years, than most people live in a life time. Do not assume, that every person under 30, is incapable of making decent decisions, either career or otherwise. |
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
(Post 599307)
Last night I saw the movie "The Wrestler" starring Mickey Roorke and I liked it. Mickey's character "Randy the Ram" reminded me of old washed up airline captains that I have met in my career just before they were pushed out at 60.
Watching my ex-coworkers struggle with facing the end of the rainbow only then to realize that they had no friends, family, money or anything else to return to was prophetic to me. They had given everything to aviation and in the process left behind wives, children and the ability to build a life. I will never forget when one old timer swung by the company office to hand in his stuff and blew out of town in is sole possession a 1970's corvette stingray and six months of cash to live on. It wasn't pretty. I did not want to end up like those guys. It is a good movie. Skyhigh Excellent movie nonetheless, and thanks again for the thread. |
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