Getting Out?
 

Is anyone considering cutting their losses and getting out of the industry?

Obviously the industry isn't what it use to be and the future doesn't look so appealing. Thousands on the street, age 65, and no hiring in sight.

I'm considering cutting my losses and doing the 9-5 so I can live a 'normal life'.

I would never consider such a thing! :D

I wouldn't mind getting out for a while (might not have a choice soon) but not out of flying altogether. And I would hope in the future things will pick up and look brighter and then I'll be back, I really do enjoy the flying.

I bailed never to return again in June. Happier for it. Check out the changing careers section.

I'm thinking of doing the same. I know I'll miss the flying, and hanging out with crews. I will enjoy being able to actually pay my car, rent AND cell phone payments. AT&T will be happy

left 121 ..... for a 91/135 gig... but not flying for a living.

Left out
 

I miss flying and the adventures that came with it. However, I am very addicted to living a more normal life. It is good to get up at the same hour everyday after a full night of uninterrupted sleep. I like having control of my day again. It makes me happy to have my weekends and holidays back.

And, I am sure glad that I am not facing another lay off again.

SkyHigh

I'm high on the sky !!

I actually turned in my resignation last week to the CP's office :( With the onset of furloughs looming and the thought of not moving anywhere in the industry for a while had me think it was time to make a proactive move before the music really stopped. I am going to miss the flying the ERJ-145, but seeing my son for the last couple of days I know I made the right decision. I hope to come back someday in the future when the industry is back on an upswing.

But for now I wish the best to my fellow aviators who continue to struggle and survive in the industry. No matter what company you fly for we are a "band of brothers" who have done and seen things only others will dream of...

...
 

Great choice-you'll be thanking yourself a year or two from now.

So what career field would you be going into if you left aviation? Just curious.

Thats the problem. I don't really know.

I would enjoy doing Financial stuff or something related to computers... Unfortunately, my degree is not related to either.

Thanks Tony, I know my son will be thanking me for being there for him. I feel for those guys/gals still in the fight trying to get the job done day after day. Still can't help but look up at the sky when a jet fly's over and wonder what the crew is doing... or for that matter when's the last time they saw their family.

do u guys have a sim training facility nearby? I left the fracs to become an instructor. I find it enjoyable, and you don't need your cfi to be current, or need a ground instructor rating. after a while, you can probably find local contract work, etc. Just a suggestion. everyone on here feels it's either flying or a cubicle. not always the case. Oh, but I still have a cubicle but only spend about an hour a day in it. I never work in the middle of the night, and will match my qol with just about any good flying job. Sorry NJA, even you guys! Yes I miss flying sometimes, especially when talking about that flow increasing valve in ground school again, or telling a student in the sim to maintain pitch!

Same boat I'm in. I want out. I have friends in both those fields who are making superb incomes and are home every night. But, my degree is aviation, as is nearly all my work history. Doh! Honestly, it's the only reason I'm still flying - lack of direction to exit.

There's Flight Safety facility nearby, but I have no experience on the a/c they train on. Doh! again.

I understand. I left aviation in 2004. Nobody was hiring and I thought that it was the end of aviation as it was before. Continuing seemed pointless. Many of my friends and fellow instructors that stuck with it are now captains at various regionals. It appears that many individuals, such as yourself, are in the same dilema that I was in four years ago. Everyone keeps saying the same thing that I said after 9/11: "Yeah, it was bad before, but this time it's different." Well, guess what, it isn't! It's the same stuff as before only this time the problem is gas and the economy and not terrorists and the economy.

So, I took my Aeronautical Science degree and got into real estate. First in property management (managed about 6m in cash and 600+ units) and now in sales. Still making a good amount of cash even in this market. Am I happy? Not really. I stare at a computer screen for hours on end and write emails. I work about 60 to 80 hours a week.

I wish I could trade with you for a year so you could see how it is on the outside. Aviation gets in your blood. You can get out and you will probably be happy for a few years like I was. But then when things turn around and you see where you would have been had you stayed put through all of this you may regret it. If you do, you can borrow my shoe to kick yourself (assuming I'm done kicking myself).

Aviation certainly isn't for everyone, but only you can make that determination.

Just thought I would give you another angle to think about.

What if I had.....
 

Just about everybody kicks himself over his career choice from time to time. All it takes is attending a college reunion and seeing one classmate who appears to be doing better than you. But keep in mind that he will probably go home and kick himself too. ;)

You said it brother. My son makes all the difference in the world to me too

I think I'm just tired of the lifestyle. Relationships don't work so well with pilots and being gone all the time.

There are lots of things you can't 'enjoy' being gone so much.

Can't say I'd miss job loss possibility associated with: medical every 6 months, PC every 6 months, line check, FAA.

I like flying but, its too much stress with the unknown.

The whole seniority/union thing in the airlines is screwed up.
Example: Union workers get paid the same rate for what work they do, not by what company they work for.
Will you ever see a nurse who's been with the company 10 years working 10 days and month and a new nurse working 20 days a month? No, both will work the same amount, one will get paid more....

"A pilot should never get into a position that is totally dependent on income from an airline. Barry Schiff"

Time for me to get out..ha

All those items were a factor in my leaving. Everyone wants a job they can love and flying is that for all of us. But whats the point if you never have a social life, see your friends and family? At some point, we as people have to ask ourselves is our QOL more valuable than our view during work hours. I'd rather say I hate my job but come home to my family everynight, than say I love the view at FL370 and stare at the tv in my hotel on the overnight while my family is hundreds if not thousands of miles away. The lifestyle is obviously more suited for the single guys/gals out there.

Then again teaching in a sim and being home everynight sounds pretty pimp! :) Time to go job hunting...

Not to mention if one of those nurses finds herself changing employers for whatever reason, the experience that she's gained over the years is still worth something. She doesn't have to go back to year one, day one pay.

Also, I guarantee that if that same nurse is on duty for 12 hours in a day, she gets paid for every minute of her time. (Minus her lunch of course)

Guys, don't discount Nursing-we have Nurses at our facility that make over six figures and only work 3 days a week.

here's how FASTAFF Travel Nursing Employment Travel Nurse Job Travel Nurse Agency Traveling RN Company Nursing Positions

I've been wondering these very things for the past few months.
I've put so much effort and time and money(!) into becoming a pilot, and I feel like getting out now just sums up to giving up. But then I ask myself, is it being practical (cutting losses), or is it giving up?
The flying has never been an issue.. it's just all the other parts of the job.. frequently working 14-15 hours a day and getting paid for 6.. getting jerked around constantly by the company, the realization that I am letting this abuse happen to me instead of taking control (and getting out of it).. the commuting.. god I hate commuting.. the reality that I may work hard at a regional for years but never advance (be it to a major, a fractional, etc.)
and, like some others have mentioned above.. I ask myself how I would feel a few years down the line.. especially when I see that my current coworkers had stuck it out and advanced in their airline careers... wondering what could have been for me, too.

Hello all. I am posting for the first time because this topic is very real for me right now, and I'd like to throw in my 2 cents. I have been a pilot for 19 years and a 121 FO for nearly a year. What I thought was my dream has turned out very bad for me. Some folks adapt really well. I have become depressed and rarely sleep more than 4 hours a night. Lots to worry about. House payments, commuting, lack of good family time with my wife and son, no clear path to getting where I want to be with this career. Maybe I just started out too late at 35. I reasonably sure that this week, I'm resigning and will try to resume a normal life again.

Hey Fellas/gals,

I don't think its considered washing out/failing at all if you leave. I don't know any other industry where you get paid for 2 hours(think a really short turn) and are expected to sit ready reserve at the airport for 8? Thats all time at work away from your family or friends.

The airlines know that we as pilots are dedicated, hard working and willing to sacrifice all for the love of the flying job. Hence, they continue to abuse the crews and their willingness to go through hell and high water to get the job done.

In 20 years after your careers is over, I'm sure its great if I could've said I flew the 777. But it would be greater to have memories of my friends and family. For now I'm happy that I did get to fly the ERJ and will be content with that. Talk to enough Capts. and you'll know what a roller coaster ride an airline carrier can be.

Good luck and happy flying to anyone who sticks it out. Your a better professional aviator than me if you do. But I'll take the dad of the year award over that anyday...


PS. Sorry in advance if this post seems negative in tone. I know happy aviator's don't like hearing anything negative about the pilot profession <sarcasm>

777
 

In a few years after leaving the profession maybe you could treat yourself to a 777 type? :)

Personally I think it would be fun to get a new type rating every two years instead of a BFR. And, it would be a great way to stay professionally proficient. It also could satisfy a bit of the big jet bug at the same time.

Just a thought...

Years ago I took my baby sons to a free fly-in demonstrator show of new planes. I saw a bunch of guys who were in their low 30's and all had their brand new planes on display. I asked each one what they did for a living and got many surprising responses. At the same time I was working as a full time 757 FO and could hardly afford to buy lunch for my family and these guys were blowing off a Saturday morning in their 300K toys. On that day I knew I was in the wrong profession.

SkyHigh

You guys are missing the point-we didn't fail in this career, the career failed us. Stop beating yourself up over it, make a command decision to guide your own future-and press on in that new, and better direction. You and your families will be much better off for it.

That's a very good point Tony. Too bad this industry does that after all the hard work we've all put into building our hours, training and sacrifice. Your right it let us down, we succeeded in conditions that most(and many have) even failed to achieve.

That's a great point. My goal was to be an airline pilot. I did what I had to do to get here. I was successful in my goal. The goal just isn't what I thought it would be.

I like how you put it. We didn't fail in our career, the career failed us.

Hey sky high, do you live in the Northwest? Just curious because of your Horizon air time

Rnav, Hey bro all the best to you. I feel your pain and am also ready to call FUBAR on this entire career choice. May have already cost me my marriage. Too high a price. All the best to my winged brothers and sisters.

Pacific Northwest
 

Yes I do live in the northwest and love it. :)

Skyhigh

"You guys are missing the point-we didn't fail in this career, the career failed us"

Whatever makes you feel better...

Some will stick it out through the hard times without the doom and gloom presented here. Someone said not everyone was made for this career. Yeah, I'd buy that. Too bad there isn't a way to figure that out before spending the big bucks on ATP or Riddle. In the end, though, even in these tough times, people are finding jobs outside the airlines, or are happy with the job they have. No reason to rain on their parade.

Not everyone is cut out for, or needs to, "leave the career", To each his own.

Tough times tend to weed out those who can't stick with it for one reason or another. It's always been that way. Nothing wrong with that and no reason to feel bad about it. Best of luck to those who feel the need to walk away.

Hey Easy,

Sorry to hear about your marriage. Things like that are the real cost of this career that people don't like to hear about. And yes, to all those peeps out there that say it happens in any career that is true. But at least in those careers your not on the phone in a hotel trying to talk to your family(in my case my wife and kid) and you can be there when its needed. Hell, I still haven't unpacked my toiletry kit(I'm a very well trained gearmonkey) and am still living out of it at home!

With all that being said I am proud I made it and did fly 121 ops. I still think about what I accomplished with fondness. With that said, I never thought I'd be one of those guys posting about how I left the airlines last week to get my life back :rolleyes: Good luck to my brothers and sister's going through the same dilemma...


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I'm not seeing the doom and gloom, unless your talking about people who are discussing their marriages dissolving and issues with family life. Then yes, if your a normal person with priorities that is doom and gloom. I'm sure to others its not as important as it is to the person its happening too... Haven't seen to much talk about the this or that carrier tanking in these post.

The only rain I see is raining on my parade and anyone that wants to read/post in the "leaving the career" thread. If its raining on yours DE727UPS I'm sorry, it my true life story...

Don't you have a 757/767 to go fly or something DE727UPS? Although, I do appreciate someone of your stature(Capt. UPS) has the time to hang out and comment on people talking about leaving aviation as a career...See Ya'

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"Don't you have a 757/767 to go fly or something DE727UPS?"

Well....actually I do. But it doesn't happen much as I fly about 3 days a month on reserve. I'm one of those seemingly nonexistant guys who has found happiness in the aviation career.

"Although, I do appreciate someone of your stature(Capt. UPS) has the time to hang out and comment on people talking about leaving aviation as a career."

I'm simply here to refute what I believe is an overly negative picture being portrayed about the future of being a pilot. If you all would like me to leave your pity party alone, it's no problem. I can do that. But I'd suggest that anyone who reads the thread needs to understand that only one side of the story is being told here. I read all the forums at this site and I see that the fracs are doing well and others in the biz seem content with sticking it out, in spite of todays challenges.

To all those at the thread who are walking: What will you do next and what are the guarantees that it will be better? Seems to me many careers are in the dumps along with the economy in general. If you can get hired as Skyhighs tile floor installer, sounds like you might have a great gig that far outweighs flying for a living. But for the rest of you.....what will YOU be doing? Maybe we should start a sub-forum about "leaving the career jobs". What do they pay? What is the QOL? How do you get hired?

This is what people want to know if they are considering walking away from the airlines.

In regards to being away from home as a pilot, there are many other professions that require it. As a result, you do miss out on important times in family life, but that is part of the job. Everyone who even contemplates becoming a pilot should know and understand this. Alot of professions, especially in the business world where I used to work, caused me to miss things that I wish I would have been able to go to. So even individuals that dont travel, and have a desk job are still away from there family a ton. Its a blessing that as pilots we have at least 14 full days off a month.

I understand and respect your point of view, but I think its misplaced in these threads. The forum is called "Leaving the career". In otherwords, pilots who left, in the process of leaving or pilots who are contemplating leaving. Not student pilots needing advice about their future as airline pilots.


Thanks for toting your awesome schedule(which we probably already figured out with all the time you spend here) to guys/gals who are just starting out or at the beginning/ending of their careers who don't have it so good.


Uh, there are plenty of guys/gals that have happy aviation careers. I know plenty of people who are happy in aviation. I'd hate to burst your high-horse "I only flew 3 days this month" bubble, but you ain't the only happy guy in aviation.

DE727UPS why don't you create a forum for "happy to be in aviation" forum? I'm being serious, that would probably be a more appropriate place for your motivational speaking than the "leaving the career" forum...
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de727
I know this thread is starting to sound like a pity party, and that's not the intent. (At least I don't think it is.) You are absolutly right, there are plenty of people that will thrive in the industry as is stands today and however it looks tomorrow. Take yourself. I think is bad @ss that you get to fly a 75. I know you've had many layovers and hotel stays and have felt the bad as well as the good. Nobody should try and take away from your accomplishments, and I can't compare my life to yours because we don't know eachother. (As far as how being away is such a struggle and if it's worth it.)

This is what I do know though. I love flying more than just about anything. You're right in saying "what else, how else and what will I be paid and for how long?" I'm looking into law enforcement personally. I'm going to miss the little things like bringing the gear up, meeting a new crew, and for some reason even commuting. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like an aviator at heart.

What I can't do anymore though is hope my job is secure when it's clearly not. I'm looking at a second furlough by the end of summer. I know I'm not unique in that fact, I'm just saying I don't want to deal with that anymore. I don't want to miss my son learning something new everyday. I don't want to feel like my skills as a pilot are being taken advantage of. I feel so lucky to be able to say I accomplished my goal of being an airline pilot. I'm also lucky to have worked with some of the most professional people I've ever come accross. I'm just simply stepping away, not because I can't hack it but because the lifestyle doesn't fit anymore. No regrets. Just another job opening

Good post. Hey, 727, did you create this section of the website to be a bully? ALL of us still love aviation. Heck, i'm still in it but a different role. I also still fly contract. "Quitter"? "Can't hack it anymore?" Do you say that to the pilots who saw the writing on the wall even a few years ago and became doctors? One guy who posts on FI is in law school as we speak. Yes, the fracs are a good option. I'd like to see you try that schedule. I've done it at flops for 6 years.

I love aviation and being a pilot. I am still a pilot even though I am no longer driving a crj around the country. I will always be a pilot, even though my monkey suit and stripes are now in the closet and will remain there. It'll make a nice gift for my son someday. For me, there were many reasons to stay in and many reasons to get out of being an airline pilot. In the end, it wasn't the $, I knew what I'd be earning before I got in. I knew about the lifestyle and time away from home, too. I think we all do. One thing that I hate, though, is how aviation doesn't reward hard work/being a good person/all that jazz. Yes I knew about that, too, but in just about any other profession, if you work harder and do more than the next guy, you'll surpass him in status, earnings, benefits, everything. Not so in flying. Now my hard work is rewarded with income, real dollars that I can spend buzzing around in a rented 172 or in a 737 sim if I need to crank up a turbine! Everyone is different. I have respect for all pilots--I'm still one myself.