Quitting
07-15-2008, 08:36 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: ERJ 145
Posts: 363
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
Thank god my future wife makes a lot of money
And yes, I'm getting out too...the slim chance for a good job someday just isn't worth the crappy pay and nights away.
07-16-2008, 07:23 AM
#24
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Why I became a Pilot
I became a pilot because I loved flying. It struck me at my core and I knew I did not want to do anything else. I took my first lessons at the age of 14, private pilot ground school at 16 and got my license at 17.
It was a difficult road. I had to earn the money for my training as a went. Flying while going to college was difficult to manage along with two jobs but I made it through. It was important to me and I knew that my sacrifices would be well compensated for as a professional pilot.
A big part of my motivation was that I was getting into a profession that demanded a steep entry fee but had a solid return as well. It was very important to me to be able to provide for a future life that included a family and at least a middle class or upper middle class lifestyle. Flying required college, flight training plus a few years of low wage experience building before reaching your employment goal.
I was working towards a better life than if I hadn't made the effort. I was striving for a profession that I loved and that also permitted me to be a good provider, husband and father. I also liked that the industry permitted extra time at home to be with the family. All the efforts required to get there were worth while because of the return.
I couldn't have predicted how far things would fall. The gold ring just isn't there anymore. The end of the road for most is an empty bag. Is it possible to make it to a UPS or SWA but the odds are getting longer everyday and sacrifices open ended. And, the price of falling short is huge. For some it appears that the mere joy of flying a plane is enough. I however have a life to live. To me it just isn't worth the effort, sacrifices and risk.
SkyHigh
It was a difficult road. I had to earn the money for my training as a went. Flying while going to college was difficult to manage along with two jobs but I made it through. It was important to me and I knew that my sacrifices would be well compensated for as a professional pilot.
A big part of my motivation was that I was getting into a profession that demanded a steep entry fee but had a solid return as well. It was very important to me to be able to provide for a future life that included a family and at least a middle class or upper middle class lifestyle. Flying required college, flight training plus a few years of low wage experience building before reaching your employment goal.
I was working towards a better life than if I hadn't made the effort. I was striving for a profession that I loved and that also permitted me to be a good provider, husband and father. I also liked that the industry permitted extra time at home to be with the family. All the efforts required to get there were worth while because of the return.
I couldn't have predicted how far things would fall. The gold ring just isn't there anymore. The end of the road for most is an empty bag. Is it possible to make it to a UPS or SWA but the odds are getting longer everyday and sacrifices open ended. And, the price of falling short is huge. For some it appears that the mere joy of flying a plane is enough. I however have a life to live. To me it just isn't worth the effort, sacrifices and risk.
SkyHigh
07-16-2008, 03:16 PM
#26
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Hey that's cool
Originally Posted by cfii2007
Just being able to fly for a living is the reward....as many of us won't ever make it to a legacy.
A good strategy though. Expect nothing and you will never be dissatisfied. Strive for nothing and forever shall you reach your goals. Rely on the rest of the world to provide for your future needs. Live for today and tomorrow will take care of itself.
SkyHigh
07-16-2008, 03:36 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
My wife as always kept me in the life I have come accustomed to... 
Seriously, this is something I can speak to. The short of it is after 7 years flying hercs in the AF I left the military smack dab in the 1991-1995 airline slowdown.... talk about timing... I spent the next 33 months flying ATR-42's for Flagship Airlines ( Nashville Eagle and Command Airways )... problem was I was in the bottom 40 of the seniority list the entire time... and on reserve all but a few months.... and commuted most of it on top of that.... it was all I could take ...so I just flat quit!!! The first couple years were okay... didnt miss it much because at that point I had flown flor a living for nearly 10 years already!!!.. But as the years went by I knew... I knew I was lying to myself. People always asked me if "i missed it.... " HELL yes I missed it.. but denied it. It took great personal tragedy in my life to realize you only go around once.... this is what I was meant to do.... and THANKFULLY my wife and I are in the financial position ( due to 12 years of running and selling my personal business and her IT position with a very big computer company... ) for me to pursue my flying again.. WITH her blessing. That said I recently left my 121 gig for a 91/135 gig flying citations with much better QOL. I freely admit without the financial position my wife and I are in, I could NOT have done this... but thats me. Everyones situation is different and I certainly am in a unique position ... but for me this was the right choice.
Seriously, this is something I can speak to. The short of it is after 7 years flying hercs in the AF I left the military smack dab in the 1991-1995 airline slowdown.... talk about timing... I spent the next 33 months flying ATR-42's for Flagship Airlines ( Nashville Eagle and Command Airways )... problem was I was in the bottom 40 of the seniority list the entire time... and on reserve all but a few months.... and commuted most of it on top of that.... it was all I could take ...so I just flat quit!!! The first couple years were okay... didnt miss it much because at that point I had flown flor a living for nearly 10 years already!!!.. But as the years went by I knew... I knew I was lying to myself. People always asked me if "i missed it.... " HELL yes I missed it.. but denied it. It took great personal tragedy in my life to realize you only go around once.... this is what I was meant to do.... and THANKFULLY my wife and I are in the financial position ( due to 12 years of running and selling my personal business and her IT position with a very big computer company... ) for me to pursue my flying again.. WITH her blessing. That said I recently left my 121 gig for a 91/135 gig flying citations with much better QOL. I freely admit without the financial position my wife and I are in, I could NOT have done this... but thats me. Everyones situation is different and I certainly am in a unique position ... but for me this was the right choice.
07-16-2008, 10:16 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: 777, sofa
Posts: 1,183
Wow, no personal disrespect to anyone here, but did anybody else notice all the positive guys have a bread winning spouse, while all the cranky guys are trying to feed a family?
Moral of the story: to be happy as a pilot you must be a parasite to your loved ones.
Moral of the story: to be happy as a pilot you must be a parasite to your loved ones.
07-16-2008, 11:54 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Student Pilot
Posts: 849
Originally Posted by robthree
Wow, no personal disrespect to anyone here, but did anybody else notice all the positive guys have a bread winning spouse, while all the cranky guys are trying to feed a family?
Moral of the story: to be happy as a pilot you must be a parasite to your loved ones.
Moral of the story: to be happy as a pilot you must be a parasite to your loved ones.
07-17-2008, 02:43 AM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: S2c Backseat
Posts: 175
Originally Posted by robthree
Wow, no personal disrespect to anyone here, but did anybody else notice all the positive guys have a bread winning spouse, while all the cranky guys are trying to feed a family?
Moral of the story: to be happy as a pilot you must be a parasite to your loved ones.
Moral of the story: to be happy as a pilot you must be a parasite to your loved ones.
I think you're on to somethin' here.
Careful tho-you'll get lumped in with the realists here, and banished to the bottom of the forum, like Sky, me, and a few others.
