calcapt

Forgive me for sharing a personal analogy. I have thought alot about both sides of the argument on this forum about the pros and cons of aviation as a career. Here is my take:

I have often thought over the years about climbing Mt Everest. Don't laugh please! I honestly and sincerely believe that I have the ability and capability to do it if I would be willing to commit to making it happen. I see incredibly difficult training ahead and much loss of personal time as I prepared for such a trek. After much thought and deliberation, I have decided that the reward would not offset the incredible sacrifices to pull it off. Please understand though that I know without any question that I could do it, just choose not to.

So goes aviation in many respects. Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done, because it can. If you choose not to for any number of personal reasons, you have likely made a good decision.

It's really all about the payoff exceeding investment. As individuals, only we can determine acceptable rates of return for ourselves.

vagabond

Thanks everyone for your insightful perspective. Yes, even you SkyHigh. I started the thread because I felt the pessimism was just too pervasive, and I know aviation, or life in general, is not like that. As human beings, we need to be validated. I am not suggesting that everyone walk around with blinders and never listen to other people's opinions. I, for one, am always pushing for every person to make an informed decision. Not everyone is hit with the proverbial lightning bolt at age 10 and sustain a lifelong desire to be a pilot. Most of us will do what we need to do, make a few mistakes along the way, and move on with life. Where we end up depends on our own innate abilities and the sweat we are willing to put into it.

Please allow me a personal anecdote. Long before going to law school, I had a very successful career in medical research. The work I did back then was pioneering and groundbreaking; nobody in the world had done what we did until we did it. Today, that procedure is considered routine in pediatric otolaryngology. They were exciting days. Restless, I decided to go into the law. For me, this is just another way of service and I think I have done well. Law school was difficult and it weeded out a lot of people who were unwilling to put in the work required. I knew I wanted my ticket punched so I could get on the ride. So I spent more time at the law library than anyone else.

All along the way, I have kept a positive attitude. Perhaps it is because I am older and, I hope, a little wiser, but I always believe life is good. Life is like a plant - if you water it and take care of it, flowers will bloom. It is what I call a "Return On Investment." There will be deviations and speed bumps, but the journey is well worth it. Trust me.

Puppyz

Recently, i've gone through the same transformation. I feel like i'm on the right path here. It's good to hear some positive comments once in a while, thanks calcapt.

calcapt

As the calcapt pimp, I measure my returns a little differently. Most of my investment returns have two speed bumps and dangerous curves to boot.

favila008

There are many mountains to climb, you don't have to go for the tallest one.
http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/Dim...n%20Chart.html
Take your girls for a ride, and pimp your way up that mountain.

calcapt

It is uncharacteristic of me to shoot for SECOND highest.

vagabond

calcapt, may I attest to that?

Skygirl

I've just read the last couple of days of posts on the forums and I have to admit that this place is getting just a little bit weird to me. Maybe I was wrong, but when I first signed on to APC, I enjoyed learning about your side of the industry (basically the same industry that I now work in ) and I also enjoyed what I thought was a bit of light-hearted camaraderie. I'm going to be painfully honest with you all here. Reading some of the stuff that I've been reading strips your profession of respect, and certainly isn't what a passenger, or their travel agent, would care to hear. I've always been on the pilot and flight attendants side, because basically, you are part of my professional team - to get my clients, and your passengers, from point A to point B (and sometimes C and D...ha,ha). I'm not saying that you shouldn't have a forum where you can be honest, but some here may take their honesty especially brutal. I've met some friendly, nice people here and for that I am thankful - it's always nice to make new friends. I've learned a lot here as well! - and for that I'm thankful. But when things get weird for no apparent reason, it's probably time to give it a rest. Happy, safe flying to all!

Pilotpip

It is a very cutthroat industry Skygirl. I've worked in it for a short time (four years) but in that time I've seen the best and worst of it. This forum is just a commentary of what I've heard echoed from pilots every day. I saw a ton of bitter pilots who were once with the legacies that were flying charter in small jets, very unhappy. They blamed everything that you've heard here.

One thing they consistiently forgot was that this industry is very, very dynamic. There have been a ton of changes in the last 10 years. The internet, RJs, terrorism, fuel prices, etc. Those who survive are those that can adapt, just like in life.

One of the things that I, as a young, idealistic guy who's trying to follow his dream, is most distraught about is how fast we as pilots are willing to point the finger at the other guy. This airline is lowering the bar, that airline is a bunch of scabs and so on. My theory on this, much like anything else is simple: You're either part of the problem, or part of the solution. Speak up, fight for this once proud profession. We aren't bus drivers like so many think. We move 10 times faster, in machines that weigh 10 times more and don't kill a lot fewer people in a year than Greyhound ever will. Like it or not, it is very specialized, and not anybody can do it. Things aren't going to change until we WORK TOGETHER.

SkyHigh

Ya know, flying is just another job (and a rather poor one at that). A trade not a life quest. We shouldn't have to climb Mt Everest or sacrifice as much as we have to. To me a professional knows the difference. A hobbyist will sell their first born to be in the seat.

SkyHigh