2nd choice
 

Ok, boys and girls. The year is almost over and it's time to reassess our lives. I know how most of you (except Skyhigh) love your flying careers, but what do you think you would have done with your life if you had to do it all over again, and you couldn't be an aviator? This should be fun and interesting (I HOPE) !! :D

I would be a musician, a guitar player. My dream job would be playing with the E srteet band. Flying for Fedex or UPS seems easy now...

Bank robber...Like the character DeNero plays in Heat.

-LAFF

Law enforcement...still may go that way in a flying capacity.

Aerospace Engineer. Got a degree. Had a job offer at Adam aircraft for $52k right out of college. Still probably could get a similar job at several companies. I could be working 9-5, M-F, be home everynight, have weekends off, make decent money, and not have to worry about the unpredictability of the airline industry.

But I chose to become a CFI and become an airline pilot!! WHY??
1. I cannot stand sitting at a desk/cubicle/office all day. I would much rather be in a moving office at 35,000ft.
2. Getting a job in engineering requires way too much work and effort. I don't want to work 40+ hours a week. Flying is such a better way to spend my day. Even though you spend more time "on duty", I don't consider sitting in an airport or hotel room as working. I agree that pilots should be paid for this (so companies will not waste your time when away from base).
3. While everyone complains about low 1st year FO pay at regional airlines (and I agree it is way too low), after a few years you make more than the average american. 65k a year at age 26,27 is a good living. Aerospace engineering is/was recently one of the top 10 salaried professions. But you can make way more as an airline pilot.


I can go on and on. Being a pilot is a pretty damn good job. I support all your efforts to better your pay, QOL, and work rules, but every now and again most of you need to sit back and think, "Man, I have it good!"

I'm still young and probably should not be replying to this (6 years into my career)...but. If I lost my medical for some reason:

1) Own and manage a small FBO with flight training and caravan cargo ops. Drink lots of coffee and bs with the old guys. Give aerobatic instruction.
2) Vet - Small Animals/Pets
3) Lawyer - My fiance says I would be great at it, I love to argue :rolleyes:
4) Actually use my degree and be an IT/Computer guy

Number 4 scares me, number 1 is still a dream of mine. If only you could make money in aviation ;)

Quagmire: Number one can't be a choice, she said that being an aviator was out.



I used to be a cop, but I really did not like it. It was like working for the Jerry Springer show full time without the big paycheck.

I went to seminary, so maybe a full time ministry of some sort. I guess missionary pilot is out, since I can't choose a flying job.

I've been flying since age 15, so I'd hate to think of life without flying. Air Marshall would be a good fit for me, but it sounds so boring.

I can't imagine not flying, but if I had to think about it I'd go for aerospace engineering at maybe NASA. Something like that.

In order of preference:

1) Meteorologist
2) Elementary Schoolteacher
3) Farmer
4) Priest

Kind of a weird list, I know...but that's the truth!

Meteorologist would be alright. Don't know about te other three though!

I would be an engineer either in the Coast Guard, or on the Alaska Marine Highway System:D

WOW -- Those are are some interesting and surprising 2nd choices! Thanks guys and keep 'em coming...... :) :cool:

#1 is exactly what i am going to do if i ever lose my 1st class medical. FBO in some whole in the wall mountain airport in Colorado.:D

I think my oldest son has jammed with Clarence Clemons. Funny you should mention the E Street Band as I was listening and dancing around my office to Bruce's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" at work today. Both of my son's are talented professional musicians and it is awesome to see them perform onstage, in both large and small venues, but it can be a hard life too. The traveling, the all night recording sessions in the studio, the instability of their lives and income - but I guess the chicks dancing in front of them, and more so than that, those couple of hours onstage, make it all worth while to them. :) It sure makes mama proud when people come up to me and ask me how I raised two talented young men. I usually answer, "It wasn't easy"...:)

They've turned out to be good people, and that is what I feel a parent's job is - to raise good people. What they decide is their passion, or what to do for an occupation, should be their own choice.

MadDogDriver, don't ever put down your guitar if that is your passion. Play and practice away, and when you're laying over in some city where there is live music, ask the band if you can sit in for a number. Playing music does fill your life with joy. I used to be a musician as well...Sure beats sitting at the bar getting hammered while listening to someone's ex-wife war stories.

Otto, I know you're from the Bay Area. Did you go to a seminary around here? My main pad in Marin has a view of a beautiful Seminary. Just wondering if you went to that one. :)

If a career in aviation did not work out, I have only three words: California Highway Patrol.

By the way Otto, where did you work as a police officer? I hear that the bigger the department, the better the pay/benefits/quality of life.

I made extra money in college by being a stage hand at concerts. I paid for my CFI by being stage manager for a promotional tour for This Old House. I'd probably be doing that.

If not that, I'd probably be a firefighter/paramedic.

I can't believe some of these answers. What would I do if I couldn't fly?? Porn star baby!

Fortune 500 CEO.

No, not in California.

Lake County, CA

I was hired by the CHP in the early 90's, but they didn't run any academies for over two years due to State budget problems, so I expired off the list. They sent me a letter saying I could re-apply. I threw it away. The CHP is a great job. You can fly too. Of course, you must work on the ground for at least two years, have thousands of hours of tailwheel time, and pass some of the most difficult pilot selection testing you can imagine. I took the easy way out and became an airline pilot. :D

I would hit the "reset" button and do it all again, except that I`d probably get out of the Marine Corps a couple of years sooner. I spent 8 1/2 years there, was gonna be a lifer, didn`t much like living in a tent though.....If I couldn`t fly for a living?...don`t know..I`ll get back to you on that one...

Yeah, I've always been obsessed with the weather, but aren't we all! The farmer thing is what my family does, so it's what I grew up with, and it would probably be relatively easy to jump into.

I almost did meteorology as a major until I looked at the course work. Boring!! They sucked all the fun out of the weather. School has a way of doing that.

How do you think I paid for my college and flight training. :D

Slice, you are TOO cute!! BTW, I thought I saw you in one of "those" films. Don't quit your day job!! JK :p

So you DID see one of my works. :( Like Broadway, my live performances are much better.;)

Ok
 

OK, dear. I'll take your word for it. :p

Hey Slice, we begin shooting out newest production January 17th titled "Girls Gone wild do a United reserve pilot". I am still casting for the part of a new hire United first officer who shows up at his crash pad to find 27 young college girls who have mistaken his crashpad for the Girls Gone Wild casting office. He is smart enough to tell them that he is indeed the producer and begins the tryouts right there in his crashpad. Anyway, you get the jest of the story....Question is, will you have a week to ten days to fill this part for me? You won't get much rest and I will need 12 to 14 hour days out of you. I can pay you $25 per day but the benefits are out of this world if you get my drift. Let me know if you can do it. If not, I am going to ask ToiletDuck or maybe Tony C if they are interested. If Wild4theuniform has seen some of your work and can vouch for your skills, have her fax me a letter of recommendation for you so I can attach it to your resume.

Vouch
 

Sorry Captain, you'll just have to take my word for it, my fax machine is down. I have an honest face, don't I?
Hey, you haven't said what your "2nd choice" would be. Do tell.. (and you can't say Pimp!) Sorry, this is MY thread and rules are rules.....:p

There is Calcapt, always looking out for his wingman. :) 12-14 hour days? You're going to go over your production budget with overtime, unless Slice isn't a SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) union member. Better have plenty of Vitamin V (and I ain't talking Vodka) on hand for your wingman. I have film industry experience so where do I fit in to this production...key grip? ;) :D

I'm in! BUT, only if I get to pick the fluffers...(Sky and Wild, of course). I can pay them each $12.50 per day, but their benefits too would be top notch! :)

Army. Infantry.

Fluffers!!! :eek: Now Slice baby, if I were going to resort to such a life, I'd at least go for the starring role!! :eek:

I think I'm more suited to being the executive producer type.

Fluffers?!
 

What's a fluffer?:confused: Why am I already sorry I asked that question? :p Is my mind in the gutter yet AGAIN?! :D

Signed,
Confused

1. Director of Airport Operations
2. Meteorologist
3. Ordained Minister
4. Planner


atp

Umm, how to define a "fluffer". Wild, in the adult film industry, a "fluffer" is a man or woman, usually a woman I'm sure, who shall we say, gets the star "ready" for his or her scene. :eek:

Sorry Slice. I'm executive producing if I become involved in this debaucherous production. :p

(Skygirl who wants Santa to bring APC more emoticons so I don't have to remove Wild's little faces to post mine)

If I were not into aviation, I would like to do in order of preference:

1. Radiologist
2. Buy and sell rare high dollar autos
3. College professor
4. Hostage negotiator

I am not really into the 8 to 5 thing.

I've always thought the best "job" would to inherit a large city parking garage (paid for, of course). Now that's some easy money! I think I would manage mine from my chateau in Sun Valley.

$12.50 a DAY for a "fluffer?!" Now that my suspicions have been confirmed, you MUST have MEANT $12.50 a minute, RIGHT??!! If you want to negotiate this wage, contact my business agent, Skygirl..:p