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Which Career Are You Leaving?

Old 09-05-2008, 09:00 AM
  #11  
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If it's any consolation, I've heard SW is no longer hiring, and has canceled classes after Sept.
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Old 09-05-2008, 09:21 AM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by johnso29 View Post
The same could be said for companies in the airline industry, like Southwest and Netjets.
I hate to be a negative but Southwest and Netjets are stable currently. Will they be 5 years from now? 10 years? 20 years? I would hope so for those employed by both but do not make the assumption that either is bullet proof. No such thing.
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Old 09-05-2008, 09:48 AM
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[quote=Nightsky;429700]Good post. Several of the reasons you list are why I want to leave. This is my second career; I left a stable local gov't job. At the time, it seemed right as I was bored and ready for a change. Now, I'm bored, and paid less, and home less, and have less stability, and have less benefits, and an unhappy family. I miss stable schedules, miss my hobbies, miss my family and doing things with them on their days off - now mine never match theirs of course - and I miss the days when things were 'simpler'. So in summary, I miss the 'simple life', since becoming an airline pilot things have become stressful and complicated on so many levels. I work to live, not vice versa, and I've found that isn't very compatible with this career. I was much happier before, though I took it for granted. Now I and my family pay the price.

Very good thread.

I too chose aviation as a second career, much for the same reason. I had grown stagnant and wanted a challenge. I went to a 90 day flight school, got my ratings, and went to work with a 135 cargo outfit. I did not enjoy that experience very much but I was "lucky" to get an opportunity with a 121 carrier. I was just about finished with my training and decided I had enough. In a year and a few months, I had been away from home almost 10 months total. I was not enjoying myself, the pay was and would continue to be low for the forseeable future, and my quality of life was not what I was used to having prior to entering aviation. Add a potential furlough to that and I was certain it was time to leave. It certainly is not for everyone. Flying will always be a part of my life but I doubt I will ever again make it my career.

I have been lucky enough to have maintained some relationships from my prior life and have recently accepted a job with a past customer of mine. The compensation package I will have is far better than I could expect from an aviation career for many years to come. Typical Mon-Fri work week, all major holidays off, two weeks vacation, etc.

It has been a wild ride but I am happy that I am back at home and getting back to my normal "boring" life. I am glad I took a chance on aviation. I would have always asked myself what if otherwise. But it appears it was not for me. Good luck to all of you who continue to pursue the dream. I hope the industry rebounds again soon.
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Old 09-28-2008, 02:39 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by SkyHigh View Post
Spooled asked the question "what happens to pilots after they get tossed out of their big time airline job". What happens to the 160K captain who suddenly finds himself on the street? Their whole life is built upon an income that is not easily replaceable.

In addition pilots who have enjoyed high seniority and have flown the same equipment for the last decade can not exactly jump into a part 135 Learjet operation and be able to adapt very easily.

When I was training to get my CFI there was a crazy old man who worked the fuel pumps at the FBO. He would mumble to himself about Eastern Airlines and occasionally spout off an obscenity. It turns out he was senior captain at Eastern who got tossed out when they shut down and was never able to retain another flying job.

My parents had a guy who did the laundry at their retirement villa who was an EX-TWA pilot. It is not easy to start over as a pilot. To have to do it when you were soft, comfortable and complacent must be near impossible.

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I believe that the pilots that enjoyed the late 50's, 60's 70's and early 80's never even imagined that some of them would end up on the streets. Why would they? This country was experiencing growth in all sectors of the economy. Sure, there were long gas lines in the 70's, however by & large, we were on a roll. The DJIA was growing, technology was exploding all over the place; social reform had taken place, etc. We had it all.

We, this country...its citizens, just became too complacent. When I fail to plan, I plan to fail. That's why when making the choice to become an airline pilot these days, all bases must be covered. I mean that's evident just from some of the posts that I've read here at APC. Sure, there will be unforseen circumstances over which we have no control. This calls for resiliency or making some difficult heart wrenching decisions .

If I'm blessed and lucky enough to enjoy a 15-18 year career as a regional pilot, I must put together a plan that will hopefully stand the test of time (being as constant as Polaris ) that will make the transition from the flight deck to whatever as seemless, painless and as financially secure as possible.


atp

Last edited by atpwannabe; 09-28-2008 at 06:44 PM.
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