johnso29

Because of all your fellow RJ FOs that are walking around with backpacks on and Ipods in their ears?

Sorry, couldn't resist. Just kidding anyway.

gintasr

I came over from PSA to Comair just in time for the sh*t to hit the fan. I was all worried about losing my job, etc.

Honestly, as crazy as it may sounds, I can't wait to get furloughed!

Why?

Pretty much, no matter what job I take, I can make considerably more money than a pilot - and sleep in my own bed every night.

Don't get me wronge, being an airline pilot has always been a dream of mine and I do love the flying... but when your dream job cannot support other dreams you might have (house, family, etc).. if it really worth it?

Been there, done that, got the postcard.

SomedayRJ

There is some fact in that. At 21 and not yet with a commercial I've seen pilots my age or younger strapped to a CRJ or ERJ—and even younger to the EMB-120. (I get the impression it's a passing fad.)

johnso29

That is a question that only you can answer for yourself. Good Luck in whatever choice you make.

johnso29

In regards to my personal careers goals Saab, I have. When I decided to get into this career, my goal was to get to a Legacy. If I didn't like it, or it wasn't for me, I'd leave. So far, it's good and I'm happy. It's true that the merger brings the potential for rocky roads ahead, but look at the history of this industry, and tell me it hasn't always had that potential.

cgdaddy1

I'd like to add my two bits.

I fly for a major, probably a bottom barrel major but major none the less. I've been flying 17 years and I'm quitting to buy a business. I've been here 10 years and just missed upgrade. Now we're furloughing and it will be years more. I will make in the $80's this year and that's the most ever. Certainly enough to live on but not get rich money. I fly an Airbus, neat plane, highlight of my day.

I've read both pro and cons here and I actually get both arguments. But I've made a list of what I like and what I don't like and what I truly hate and the bad side is much larger than the good anymore.

So why am I quitting?

My stomach hurts when I continue after so many years to say goodbye every week of my life to my 2 kids and my wife, I miss them terribly. I'm missing almost 1/2 of these precious years of them growing up as I sit in hotels.

I missed my son's first baseball game of his life and missed his whole tournament this weekend. You never get those back. Flying an ILS means less to me than him smiling when he gets a hit and being there to see it. Or being able to coach his team and make a difference in some kid's lives.

I worry about my wife and kids at home if someone breaks in the house, or gets sick. I want to be there when things go wrong.

I want to have time to get involved with charities, or adopt a foster child. Things that really matter in life.

I worry that one of my kids or wife gets really ill and I'm in a hotel in Cleveland and can't go help.

I look in the mirror and see bags under my eyes from years of all night flights, or 2 AM wake up calls and long long days. I literally think the poor sleep is shedding years off my life. I looked at a picture when I started this airline and am horrified and embarrassed to see how I've aged disproportionately to other people my age.

I think that one blood pressure blip, stick in my eye, anything medical related and now I have no income to support my family if I lose my medical.

I can't stand the thought of any more instruction from type A pilots. I've flown a long time, it's tough to still be an FO. Don't discount the comfort the left seat can bring in the frustration realm of day to day flying. Being locked in a cockpit with over controlling types has led to a huge bit of frustration. It's good to be king.

I don't want to miss my son's cub scout events, church music programs.

I want to sleep 10:30-6:30 and feel good again. I want to exercise daily. I want to eat healthy meals at home.

I want to be more involved in charity, my church, my friends. I want a normal schedule. I want to know I have weekends off and plan my life. I want to buy season tickets to the college football team and know I'll be home to go to them.

I want to make some more money, I'd actually like to get ahead. I do fine now but certainly not rich. Nicer hotels on vacation, a better car, nicer restaurant. I'd like to have nicer things, buy some toys.

I get more excited thinking of the business than I do planes. Flying is all I remember as an adult. There is more to life than aviation, variety is the spice of life. We don't live long, I'd like to learn and explore something new. This is a new challenge, new venture and I feel like I did when I was learning to fly, full of enthusiasm. It's really fun!

Crew scheduling, delayed flights, grumpy pilots, packed planes and airports and F/A's, reroutes, etc. Not fun anymore.

Checkrides, FAA, simulators, won't miss them one bit.

Flying planes is fun, to me this lifestyle is horrible. I will miss the neat plane, kids coming to the cockpit, the takeoffs and landings. I will NOT miss this lifestyle in anyway. I believe I'll make more money, be healthier physically and buy tickets now when I want to travel.

Plus, I've done it. While many adults dream of flying I can say I did it, a lot. I have memories and that's better than nothing at all.

Yes, I will miss this some. Face it, pilot's have egos. I will miss kids and adults thinking 'that's cool' (don't deny it, you know it's true.) Again though, flying is fun, this lifestyle is not. I care more about getting my home paid off, college paid for, seeing my family and mostly my health than I do flying.

I will leave emphatically believing this is NOT a healthy lifestyle at all. How many 80 year old pilots do you know? Life span is short. Horrible hours, food, hotels, it's not good for you. I believe that celestial radiation is a real thing. I am sickened by the number of young (50's) pilots passing away from cancer at my airline alone.

If you fly as long as I and still have the love and romance of flying I support you 100%, do what you love. If you think there's more to life and other opportunities and directions to explore, I think that's great too. We're all different, do what fits for you. My life lies in a new destination and for the first time in years I'm actually really excited.

de727ups

When you marry the career you certainly marry a lifestyle. It's not for everybody. Did you not see that going in?

Let's say you made twice as much and were in the left seat. Would you still walk away? It wouldn't the solve majority of the issues you point out.

I hope you find what you are looking for with your new job. Can you give us some details? Might be others that are thinking the same thing and would be encouraged to go that route.

cgdaddy1

Uh, no. Did you know how your career would be 5 years ago? Fifteen years ago? Could you predict what 9-11 would do to the pilot's career and lifestyle? I was out of college and flying was fun. Took my shot, did it, it's not right for me anymore.

Funny you say 'marry.' Thing is, I 'married' my wife and kids and they will always be more important to me than the career. I know what you're saying and what you're getting at, it's just a play on words I've actually thought about before.

You are a captain with probably the best pilot's airline there is. I am happy for you. You are in charge and no doubt earn a fine living with a lot of days off. You're living the life I hoped to achieve.

I consider myself in the mid-range. Many guys are stuck at regionals, etc. I was laid off 4 times before this job but still I've not been unemployed for 10 years, I'm lucky. Many guys have and are getting laid off. Some pilot's hit the home run (you, Southwest, etc.) Some do OK like me, some never have a bit of luck their whole career. That's simply life.

I am not bitter, I am profoundly happy for those who hit it well. For me, this is how my life played out. In every aspect of life some do better, similar and worse. It's just life. I'm actually excited to do something new, it's refreshing.

And yes, even left seat I'd still walk away. Tougher decision? Somewhat. But my kids could care less if I'm a captain or FO, they want me at home and at their events mean more to me than flying. I'd walk no matter. Besides for the 20-30% extra money (reserve captain pay) my lifestlye would drop dramatically with a worse schedule so no, not worth it.

Everything in life is a give and take, rarely a perfect answer. In this case, this new direction is better for me. I'll miss part of aviation (the give) but love parts I don't have to endure anymore (the take.) God makes us all different that's why I don't judge anyone for their decision either way.

de727ups

"Uh, no. Did you know how your career would be 5 years ago? Fifteen years ago?"

Speaking for myself, I have no crystal ball. All I can say is I didn't really need one. This is what I wanted to do. If I had your career instead of mine, I'd still be happy with my choice and exceeded my career expectations going in. To each his own.

If you don't want to mention what you are going into, that's fine, but I'll ask again. What's your next career all about? I'm sure people are interested in what a guy making 80K as a pilot is walking into that's a better deal in your overall scheme of things.

SkyHigh

I keep thinking that if a guy were lucky he could make it to a major and in 10 years make between 60 and 80K as an FO. The pay really is not that great anymore.

A Washington State trooper does better. Where is the brass ring? What prize is there waiting at the end of the rainbow anymore?

To me the job has changed since I started. Pilots now work far more for way less. Years ago the job was worth the sacrifices and risk. Now it is easer to replace that kind of money with more traditional and easier to get jobs.

Skyhigh