Family Life
11-03-2008, 11:37 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: S2c Backseat
Posts: 175
....
Originally Posted by bryris
I typically dismiss what SH has to say, but I am in agreement on this point. I think the effect on GA isn't as notable as the effect on the airline industry. But, the airline industry will be just fine as there is something about it that attracts a continual surplus of applicants willing to bend over *edited for appropriateness* to fly an airplane.
I have decided to pull from my endeavors as an airline pilot for a while - not necessarily forever - to go back to school to finish my CPA. I have already been accepted back to school, paperwork is either finished or in progress, and life just feels a whole lot better, and I am looking forward to being home for the upcoming holidays.
My respect for this profession has fallen dramatically - not my respect for the pilots. The most significant concern I have, among many others, is the rat race that exists right now (and most of the time) and the ramifications this brings. The wages we accept, the QOL we accept, and the lack of any probable career advancement just scares me off. Pilots are not treated like professionals, especially at my company. Of course, there is the flip side of the coin - many pilots don't ACT like professionals - porn in the cockpit is an example.
Living life under the seniority system, IMHO, has more disadvantages than advantages. As a pilot, there is no way to excel above your co-workers. You'll NEVER be known as "the" guy that can get it done - we'll always be seat meat, instantly interchangeable for the other guy. Upgrade and increasing QOL is based entirely on how quickly the line moves and has nothing to do with how hard you work or what value you bring to the company. How can you control your own destiny when the factors affecting your life (and your family's life) are inevitably beyond your control? And as the conga-line moves, the company's grip on you becomes tighter. I know a plethora of folks that loathe this industry and company, get treated like dirt, and yet are stuck due to the seniority status gained over their tenure. Starting over at the bottom would be horrible when you've got family relying on you. A pilot with 25 years of left seat experience is all of sudden junior to the 300 hr FO should he decide to change companies - its just SICK!. I am drawing a blank in trying to think of another profession where you cannot bring your unique resume with you and have it instantly pay appropriate dividends. When I was in accounting, we'd occasionally get a new CPA into the office, and he/she would instantly get their own office, pay and respect according to the value he/she was bringing into the firm. Pilots - not so much.
I am tired of the cattle call. "Cattle call", its the best way I can describe this profession.
Again, I am speaking of the structure of the profession, not in anyway speaking against fellow pilots. I will always be a pilot first, just don't need to make a living doing it. I'd rather be in control of my own life.
I have decided to pull from my endeavors as an airline pilot for a while - not necessarily forever - to go back to school to finish my CPA. I have already been accepted back to school, paperwork is either finished or in progress, and life just feels a whole lot better, and I am looking forward to being home for the upcoming holidays.
My respect for this profession has fallen dramatically - not my respect for the pilots. The most significant concern I have, among many others, is the rat race that exists right now (and most of the time) and the ramifications this brings. The wages we accept, the QOL we accept, and the lack of any probable career advancement just scares me off. Pilots are not treated like professionals, especially at my company. Of course, there is the flip side of the coin - many pilots don't ACT like professionals - porn in the cockpit is an example.
Living life under the seniority system, IMHO, has more disadvantages than advantages. As a pilot, there is no way to excel above your co-workers. You'll NEVER be known as "the" guy that can get it done - we'll always be seat meat, instantly interchangeable for the other guy. Upgrade and increasing QOL is based entirely on how quickly the line moves and has nothing to do with how hard you work or what value you bring to the company. How can you control your own destiny when the factors affecting your life (and your family's life) are inevitably beyond your control? And as the conga-line moves, the company's grip on you becomes tighter. I know a plethora of folks that loathe this industry and company, get treated like dirt, and yet are stuck due to the seniority status gained over their tenure. Starting over at the bottom would be horrible when you've got family relying on you. A pilot with 25 years of left seat experience is all of sudden junior to the 300 hr FO should he decide to change companies - its just SICK!. I am drawing a blank in trying to think of another profession where you cannot bring your unique resume with you and have it instantly pay appropriate dividends. When I was in accounting, we'd occasionally get a new CPA into the office, and he/she would instantly get their own office, pay and respect according to the value he/she was bringing into the firm. Pilots - not so much.
I am tired of the cattle call. "Cattle call", its the best way I can describe this profession.
Again, I am speaking of the structure of the profession, not in anyway speaking against fellow pilots. I will always be a pilot first, just don't need to make a living doing it. I'd rather be in control of my own life.
Well said!
11-03-2008, 07:09 PM
#12
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Same things
Bryris,
I write about the exact same things as you have here. My complaints and observations are virtually identical. I don't see why you feel the need to discredit my posts other than sometimes is irritating to hear someone say out loud what your own subconscious has been bothering you with for a while but you are not ready to hear it just yet.
Good Luck,
SkyHigh
I write about the exact same things as you have here. My complaints and observations are virtually identical. I don't see why you feel the need to discredit my posts other than sometimes is irritating to hear someone say out loud what your own subconscious has been bothering you with for a while but you are not ready to hear it just yet.
Good Luck,
SkyHigh
11-03-2008, 07:51 PM
#14
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Well then
Originally Posted by de727ups
"other than sometimes is irritating to hear someone say out loud what your own subconscious has been bothering you with for a while"
HAHA....I really don't think that's it....
HAHA....I really don't think that's it....
How is what I write so different from what he just produced?SkyHigh
11-03-2008, 08:33 PM
#15
Stethoscope
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 308
That’s easy, just read the last paragraph in his post and it more than explains how extremely different your posts are compared to his. Here, I’ll even post it for you to save you the trouble.
“Again, I am speaking of the structure of the profession, not in anyway speaking against fellow pilots. I will always be a pilot first, just don't need to make a living doing it. I'd rather be in control of my own life.”
With all due respect sky, you don’t have this much respect in your posts. Huge difference.
“Again, I am speaking of the structure of the profession, not in anyway speaking against fellow pilots. I will always be a pilot first, just don't need to make a living doing it. I'd rather be in control of my own life.”
With all due respect sky, you don’t have this much respect in your posts. Huge difference.
11-03-2008, 08:42 PM
#16
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Respect
Originally Posted by cargo hopeful
That’s easy, just read the last paragraph in his post and it more than explains how extremely different your posts are compared to his. Here, I’ll even post it for you to save you the trouble.
“Again, I am speaking of the structure of the profession, not in anyway speaking against fellow pilots. I will always be a pilot first, just don't need to make a living doing it. I'd rather be in control of my own life.”
With all due respect sky, you don’t have this much respect in your posts. Huge difference.
“Again, I am speaking of the structure of the profession, not in anyway speaking against fellow pilots. I will always be a pilot first, just don't need to make a living doing it. I'd rather be in control of my own life.”
With all due respect sky, you don’t have this much respect in your posts. Huge difference.
SkyHigh
11-04-2008, 03:03 AM
#17
Moderator
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
Sky, you have a flare for drama that some people find disturbing here. Your posts are more colorful, melodramatic, and probing than some people can appreciate. It is not always obvious where fact stops and the editorial starts in your posts. This is what gets a negative reaction sometimes. Its not the factual content as you already know. Most, myself included find your musings interesting and thoughtful but you stir up a vocal minority that truly doesn't like rhetoric and argument injected into the discussion.
11-07-2008, 05:54 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 574
bryis
I could not agree with you more. Pro's and Con's I love airplanes but I hate the pay, lack of job security, lack of challenge, bloodsucking management, dangerously long work hours, dealing with TSA(being treated like a threat), 4 day trips but I love airplanes. For that reason I am done activley pursuing a flying career. My plan is to ride this out untill I can make other opportunities for myself an opportunity that woud directly address the pay, job security, challenge of the job. I don't know if its me but when I am sitting looking out the window I feel like I am wasting my life. It dosen't help that I know the 300plus hrs of per deim is my life gone, time spent in a hotel,airport,van or
bar. With 85hrs of pay. It ****es me off so much I can't type anymore..............................
I could not agree with you more. Pro's and Con's I love airplanes but I hate the pay, lack of job security, lack of challenge, bloodsucking management, dangerously long work hours, dealing with TSA(being treated like a threat), 4 day trips but I love airplanes. For that reason I am done activley pursuing a flying career. My plan is to ride this out untill I can make other opportunities for myself an opportunity that woud directly address the pay, job security, challenge of the job. I don't know if its me but when I am sitting looking out the window I feel like I am wasting my life. It dosen't help that I know the 300plus hrs of per deim is my life gone, time spent in a hotel,airport,van or
bar. With 85hrs of pay. It ****es me off so much I can't type anymore..............................
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