Learflyer

In Central Florida, They are building a 13 mile stretch of highway and other infrastructure to expand the University of Central Florida's Medical Center. It's called Innovation Way. Even in this economy, they are going through with it. Supposed to create 85,000 HIGH PAYING jobs.

SkyHigh

In itself 62K per year is a good salary. If a plumbers apprentice was to make that much after their second year I would say that they were doing alright.

However after spending four years in college plus the cost of flight training to be followed by 6 to 10 years of low wage experience building in order to reach 62K is not good. An aviation career is very costly in many ways. The investment demands a much better return than what is being offered at most airlines.

Perspective is important when comparing pilot compensation. Everything from college and training costs need to the opportunity cost of the lost years in low wage positions also needs to be taken into consideration. By the time the pilot reaches 62K the plumber has been earning that and more for over a decade and the pilot is at least 100K or more in the hole. Those are some difficult numbers to overcome.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

I ran into a guy at the gas station yesterday. One of my kids was in the hospital last summer and I remembered that he was the guy who ran the cat scan machine. I asked him if he liked his job and he told me that he liked the pay, benefits and hours but hie real dream was to remodel houses. He was driving a brand new Volvo. I assume that he was doing well.

Skyhigh

FlyOrDie

Ok I'll bite...

If you think this career is so terrible and that it's a bad investment then why spend time bad mouthing it?

I know that UPS and FedEx have thousands of qualified applicants on file, we all know that. Why sit around and tell every fresh faced pilot that they will never make it?

I'm 25 and cannot picture myself wanting to do anything else for a career, sure some days I hate waking up for that 3am show time but its all part of the adventure. Sure there are a lot of negatives about my career choice but every career has negatives. The reason I go to work is for the positives and there are a hell of a lot more positives in my book for being a pilot than not.

cargo hopeful

Hey sky, obviously your current strategy of trying to dissuade young people TOTALLY away from this career is not really effective and makes you look and sound like a disgruntled former employee. So why not change up your strategy a bit? Here’s an idea: instead of discouraging people TOTALLY away from this profession why not try to help them find better ways and or better routes to this profession?

• Encourage people to not take out loans they can’t pay back
• Encourage going the mom and pop route instead of flying academies
• Tell them to start early due to seniority reasons
• Encourage military route
• Let them know the mistakes you made and how to avoid them

You have a whole lot of useful knowledge to pass on to the next generation of pilots, why not help them out? I think you might find it really fulfilling if you spent most of your time on the flight schools and flight training sections of this forum passing on very useful skills to the young and future pilots.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying sugar coat it, just try this strategy out for a bit, and if it doesn’t work out…

de727ups

"Why sit around and tell every fresh faced pilot that they will never make it?"

He's educating the masses. Don't ruin it for him....

de727ups

"not really effective and makes you look and sound like a disgruntled former employee."

I agree. The manner in which Skyhigh posts leaves him with no credibility. What could be valuable gets lost in the incessant bashing, negativity, and change of opinion.

"No one can really say what will happen" Skyhigh 5/20/08

"Unless you are an aviation obsessed loner who is also a trust fund baby this career is not for you" Skyhigh 7/31/08

"I have no issue with those of you who advance knowingly into this profession." Skyhigh 6/7/08

SkyHigh

I thought that the topic of interest in this part of the forum is for Career Changers.

Most of you dissenters have had to seek me out in a place that is intended for those who are looking for reasons and methods of departing the industry. Since this section opened I have mostly restricted my presentation of ideas here for those who are like minded. I can only assume that those who venture here are also interested in getting out.

If you are happy with your situation then why bother insulting me in a part of APC that is intended for concepts that I write about?

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

Why write about the less attractive side of aviation?

Because writing is a hobby of mine and I happen to have the same level of passion about aviation that I always have. This forum is the last outlet that I have after nearly 20 years in the pursuit of professional aviation. I still love aviation but do not believe that it is a good place to invest oneself anymore.

Because the down side to aviation needs to be addressed. Colleges, flight schools and magazines do not usually pant a full picture.

Because at one time I too was a young pilot in Alaska and I am tired of watching people over the years get destroyed by this profession.

Because I believe in what I write and hope to make a difference.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

Consequences

There are opportunity costs for every choice that we make in life. Every choice we make along the path closes a few other doors.

Emotional decisions made during the early years can effect the rest of your life. It is important to carefully evaluate everything that you enjoy and gather all your hopes and dreams to evaluate their proper place and level of importance to you. Aviation does not mesh well with many other important things in life and there is a price to be paid.

As we get older everyone begins to loose options. Often later in life it becomes clear what has been lost. It is not easy to start over. Most of the better opportunities will never return.

There is no such thing as a regret free life.

Skyhigh