Worked in real estate development too? ;) As with being a 777 CA at American vs furloughed for 7 years.. it's all timing! :D

Real Estate, Options and Farming. Fairly new to the first two, but enjoying acceptable success. Family Farm is always there if flying isn't.

I've got an agent and a deal as an adult film actor. If I stay in the flying business, it will be interesting if someone on the plane recognizes me as "Dong Johnson." :D

This thread is thoroughly depressing me. I have no skills, talents or even anything i enjoy that anyone would pay me to do. I have no capital to start a business. Just a gigantic aviation loan to pay off and now sizable credit card debts that were the result of not having the cash to eat and afford nessecary items to make it this far.

I am genuinely sorry brother. I won't blame you for your problem. It's a result of the mess after deregulation when bankers, bean counters and MBA's took over the running of airlines from the likes of Juan Trippe, Howard Hughes and Bob Six... Welcome to the real state of the profession today! All jobs created are sub-poverty line wages.

I swear, if I turn the page on another issue of AOPA Pilot or Flying and see another "Be an airline pilot" ad showing some 20 something year old kid with an airline captains suit on inside a 777 cockpit I'll go postal! :p

I appreciate the sympathy, but I made my bed. thats where I'll lay.

"If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your ****, then YOU DESERVE IT"
-- Frank Zappa, The Real Frank Zappa Book

As a CFI that pretty much meets the competitive minimums for whatever regional out there, I'm hanging up the towel. Going to use between now and the end of the year to explore my plan B and see how it goes. I know I could always come back...but I think the plan B needs a little furthering right now.

I am literally a week or two away from implementing my plan B. Going to work for the government in a non-flying related job. I love being an FO and flying, but the time away from home, low pay and thought of being furloughed has me looking out for my family first. Yes, I knew all this getting into the industry. I would still do it again in a heartbeat. Its just not a good time to be at the bottom of a seniority list in the industry right now(I've now helped some noobie move up a seniority number, my good deed for the year). I know the experiences I've had flying part 121 are something that will be with me for the rest of my life. The capts and FO's I've had the pleasure to fly with and know are some of the best people I've had the pleasure working with. At the same time this is a somewhat negative post about getting out of 121 flying, I think of my experiences at the airlines as a positive one.

flying on the weekends will do for now. I would still encourage anyone interested in becoming a commercial pilot to do it. Once you've done it, you will always have been and always will be an airline pilot... Good luck to all those who continue to live the dream!

Rnav,

I'm almost in the same position. I too have been offered a government job at Ramstein, in my previous career specialty. I haven't said yes but i'm reading the writing on the wall. After 3 wonderful years flying the 737-300/500/700 overseas I'm seriously I'm looking at moving another direction. I am however linked up with a carrier that may be able to allow me to fly (737-300/400) 3-5 days (weekends and perhaps a day of leave or so) per month to keep my license active and give me a taste of flying. It's a tough decision but I have had a great time, my family backs me up on this and the govt job that i may go to is also great!

Good luck to you,
Lifter

Boring and Miserable
 

There are plenty of ways to be bored and miserable. How's about poor and unemployed? There is a down side to not listening to others too. There is no logic in holding on to a loosing position.

Skyhigh