An Exhortation To All
11-28-2006, 08:31 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
Originally Posted by 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
SkyHigh
I'd rather go through life knowing I gave it all I had than wondering "what if?"
11-28-2006, 08:36 PM
#23
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Gloom?
Originally Posted by calcapt
Sky:
We knew it was only a matter of time until you made your gloom deposit here. I acknowledge that the airline environment today is different than it was yesterday: likewise, tomorrow will surely be different than today. The truth is, it is a dynamic industry that like the ocean has ebbs and tides. A sailor who sails the oceans has to accept both and be able to adapt for that is what defines a great sailor.
The environment that most of us seasoned guys were hired in was different, but not significantly easier. Had I adopted and embraced your advice back in the day when I was clawing myself through the system, I would surely be doing something else as a career. I would be gazing up at airliners as they flew over instead of flying them.
As much as I like you Sky, I am glad that you and this forum weren't around in my more impressionable days.
We knew it was only a matter of time until you made your gloom deposit here. I acknowledge that the airline environment today is different than it was yesterday: likewise, tomorrow will surely be different than today. The truth is, it is a dynamic industry that like the ocean has ebbs and tides. A sailor who sails the oceans has to accept both and be able to adapt for that is what defines a great sailor.
The environment that most of us seasoned guys were hired in was different, but not significantly easier. Had I adopted and embraced your advice back in the day when I was clawing myself through the system, I would surely be doing something else as a career. I would be gazing up at airliners as they flew over instead of flying them.
As much as I like you Sky, I am glad that you and this forum weren't around in my more impressionable days.
In life if we choose to climb mountains we can only carry ourselves to the top.
Only time will tell the price of what you have sacrificed to be where you are. We can have anything in life that we want , but not everything. There are no free lunches. I once stood at the edge myself and gazed upon the abyss, the point where had I gone further I would have begun to loose things that were very valuable to me.
I was able to gave up my dream and have gained much more in return. Often in a restaurant I catch the scent of a freshly lit cigarette and instantly my instincts draw me to wanting one myself. Reason and an interest in self preservation and happiness keep me away. The most seductive things in life are usually the most deadly.
I wouldn't call my inputs here as doom but logic and reason. Occasionally I will snap my head up when a plane passes by but then I remember and quickly return to my better senses.
SkyHigh
In addition It would be my honor to buy you a giant tanqueray and tonic, and a huge steak someday.
I enjoy our debates and have always considered you as a friend.
11-28-2006, 08:40 PM
#24
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Oh no,
Originally Posted by Pilotpip
I think that sums up your attitude. While you like flying, you're a hobbyist at best. So the flying for a living thing didn't work for you. You know what? There are tons of people that try their hand at other fields and fail miserably. Take yourself for example. You took a risk with National, and they went tits up. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you Skyhigh, but keep in mind you could be lamenting the same thing on a carpentry forum. Dreams are dashed in every trade, every field, and every country every day.
I'd rather go through life knowing I gave it all I had than wondering "what if?"
I'd rather go through life knowing I gave it all I had than wondering "what if?"
I hope you don;t give it all. It is just a job. Life has much more to offer than a boredom tube at 35000'.
SkyHigh
11-28-2006, 09:33 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,151
Originally Posted by Pilotpip
It is a very cutthroat industry Skygirl.
11-29-2006, 03:19 AM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: 737 Captain
Posts: 777
Originally Posted by Skygirl
I see that. Didn't expect it to be as pervasive as the music and movie industry, but all the same, it's here - filled with it's usual professional phonies, who proclaim to be professionals in their field, but nonetheless, have all day to hang out online, showing what they truly are. Sure wish I had that much free time!
11-29-2006, 07:30 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
I think you misinterpreted. A professional wouldn't work for free. Pilots today would. That is what makes them a hobbyist.
I hope you don;t give it all. It is just a job. Life has much more to offer than a boredom tube at 35000'.
SkyHigh
I hope you don;t give it all. It is just a job. Life has much more to offer than a boredom tube at 35000'.
SkyHigh
I don't give it my all. I take time to do the things I enjoy. It keeps life in perspective. Life has more to offer than any job, it's all in how you approach it.
Skyhigh, it's great that you enjoy life more now than when you were in the airlines. It's great that you show an alternate side to this industry. However, I know too many people (in real life, and guys like CalCapt and Tony C and others on the forum)that are very happy doing this, that have worked very hard to get where they are to believe that I'm in the minority or have something wrong with me because I'm "paying my dues" at the bottom right now. If this is the bottom, I'm in good shape because I love what I do.
11-29-2006, 08:12 PM
#28
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Don't fall in love
Originally Posted by Pilotpip
I just walked out of an instructing job becuase the owners of the flight school weren't willing to pay us what other schools in the area were willing to pay. I had 10 job offers and had the joy of picking the one that fit me best. I could have already gone to one of the "lower tier" regionals but decided to instruct for a while longer and start flying jets when I'm ready and for a company I want to work for. I like teaching and it pays the bills. I think that you would see that the Shiny Jet Syndrome is starting to fade. Mesa and TSA can't keep pilots. The enrollment at academies is starting to decline. This industry has gone through this upward and downward cycle before. Sooner or later it's going to start getting better. And besides, there's a lot more flying out there than the airlines. Who's to say that I don't go fly a Lear instead?
I don't give it my all. I take time to do the things I enjoy. It keeps life in perspective. Life has more to offer than any job, it's all in how you approach it.
Skyhigh, it's great that you enjoy life more now than when you were in the airlines. It's great that you show an alternate side to this industry. However, I know too many people (in real life, and guys like CalCapt and Tony C and others on the forum)that are very happy doing this, that have worked very hard to get where they are to believe that I'm in the minority or have something wrong with me because I'm "paying my dues" at the bottom right now. If this is the bottom, I'm in good shape because I love what I do.
I don't give it my all. I take time to do the things I enjoy. It keeps life in perspective. Life has more to offer than any job, it's all in how you approach it.
Skyhigh, it's great that you enjoy life more now than when you were in the airlines. It's great that you show an alternate side to this industry. However, I know too many people (in real life, and guys like CalCapt and Tony C and others on the forum)that are very happy doing this, that have worked very hard to get where they are to believe that I'm in the minority or have something wrong with me because I'm "paying my dues" at the bottom right now. If this is the bottom, I'm in good shape because I love what I do.
Don't fall in love too much with the bottom. You might get stuck there. The airlines have slim windows that applicants have to fit through. If you hit 3000 hours of instructing before applying for a regional job they will think that something is wrong with you.
SkyHigh
