Well I can say with honesty that I am glad my flying career did not work out like I wanted it to. I know a lot of people that "made it" and the profession leaves them dissapointed. What does it profit a man to fly a 737 and lose everything else in life that gives him joy and happiness? It was my boyhood dream to be an airline pilot but that was back when it was still a worthy goal. The guy I went to Flight Safety with was a captain on a reigonal jet for years, but now he is not too healthy and suffers panic attacks, lost his medical, all done. He was very good looking when we were in our 20's but now he looks terrible, I feel bad for him. I am grateful today at 40 for what did not work out. I am now in the construction industry and I can't say that I love it but it is a job. My long commute to work is 7 miles and I get weekends off. A guy called me in the fall that wants me to work for him in the spring teaching at the local airport part time with the possibility of right seat time in a twin. I am excited about this opportunity but if it does not work out I will be enjoying life anyway.

 

I suspect that you're glad the bad aspects of the job "didn't work out". Of course, there may always be that lucky relative few who spent a lifetime at a stable carrier, at good pay, and with good work rules. It's the dream that keeps people buying lottery tickets and getting commercial licenses.

Sounds like puttering around in somebody else's twin (and you're not even responsible in the right seat) might be better than a multi-year reserve regional FO who doesn't live in base.

 

You never know, that puttering around might get me to be the guy in the left seat. I would love to fly a jet again but the lifestyle that always seems to marry itself to that has no appeal anymore. you are exactly right though, I am glad that the bad aspects did not work out because most of the jet captains that I know say that the thrill of the job does not last forever but the headaches do, and I believe them.

 

I myself have been out of professional part 135 flying, just celebrated my 1 year anniversary! I was laid off Feb 09. I miss the flying, some cool FBO people I met, and having real responsibility, BUT hated the schedule, erratic pay, having to use my own credit card for expenses and then chase the admin at the office to get paid, unable to hold a girlfriend since I was never home(and hearing "pilots have girls in every city they hook up with"..Oh yeah that's true! LOL), and only having 5 days off a month.

Today my first class med lapsed, and my currency in the Citation(I was a CE550 capt 4700 TT). Very hard to get a job out of currency, and I don't have the $5-7K to pay on my own for FlightSafety or SimuFlite to renew it. Since I have not sat in a jet now for a year, I'd prob need some work for sure.

After I was laid off flying the Citation, I did the car sales thing, worked at a new and used car lot. Everybody I worked with was amazed and dumbfounded that I was a pilot and now I was working with them. I was fired at the car lot after 6 mos working there, my 24 year old know it all general sales manager boss told me I was'nt pushy enough with customers to get them to buy.. BTW I'm 35 and it was hard working for a narcissistic 24 year old BS artist boss...So I'm back on unemployment stuck with the dilemma what I want to do. I don't want to waste my time, I need something decent.

I am considering a new job in counseling/social work, photography/video production or graphic design. I am considering going to school for one of these professions, hopefully under WIA beneifts. I look up and get sad when I see a jet fly over, but I remind myself we all have to do what is right for us. And the crap economy and greedy business people who run these aviation companies have ruined the profession. The love for flying is there, but the body, mind heart, and business climate can't fulfill the dream.

Stay strong, and go with what is good for you and supports your life. We only have one life and one body, no need on wasting it and giving it away to some entity that takes it from you.

Good luck, safe flying for those who still are

G

(laid off CE550 Capt Feb 2009)

 

I'm happy for you. Sounds like you've established a good lifestyle. However, I know plenty of regional captains in their 30s making upwards of $90,000 a year who still love their job. I left 121 for a Government flying job, but really can't look back and see the misery you mentioned. Sure, there's lots of BS, but was it awful? Not any worse than any other job out there.


I think problems arise when people chase a dream and not reality.

 

This is absolutely the best quote i've seen on APC. We need to start sharing that wisdom with all the young aspiring pilots out there. This is a job, a fun one at times but a job nonetheless. When people enter this industry eyes wide open they tend to be less disallusioned

 

But that's the thing. People don't enter this industry because they heard the grounded version of reality that most people scoff on this site. The only people who enter this industry with a grounded sense of reality is the career changers or the mil retiree crowd, both which do not rely on the industry lack-luster compensation to survive day to day. In eseence they are hobby pilots. For the rest of the peanut gallery, you better bet your bottom dollars they're coming in with the optimism-bias version of the industry of rapid left seat upgrade, major for 20+ years and six figure wide-body CA position with plenty of days off. That's why they keep lining up at Purdue/ER/UND et al or the allATPs of the world.

So I agree with you that we need to continue pushing forth the truth, but disagree this will lead to less disillusioned-prone people entering the profession. No, if the truth was better received you would simply have less people entering the field outright. No matter how much in love somebody is with aviation, only those who are not worried about paying the rent with this job pursue the industry without abandon. The rest simply delude themselves into thinking sour grapes stories of economic hardship will be an exception to their reality. If they actually internalized the statistically factual version of this industry they would not set foot at all I bet you that. So nothing has changed.

 

ALPA and other associations need to hit these young guys hard when they're still in school. The average ERAU student probably has no idea that they can make $48,000 their second year at one regional flying a CRJ versus $24,000 at another (those are real figures). All regionals are not created equally, and you're going to be at one for a LONNGGG time despite what the Kit Darbys of the world say.

You say nothing has changed - I'm not so sure about that. Enrollment is low at several schools you mentioned, and financing for flight training is nearly impossible to get these days. I frequently go back to my alma mater, and have seen more pre-ATC types than pilot types recently. You're absolutely right in the respect that there will ALWAYS be delusional youngsters, but I think the secret is out.

Will it get better? Probably not, unless supply and demand change. However, my time at a regional was very similar to my underclass years at every private sector place I've ever worked - you're underpaid and under appreciated. Unless you're with Uncle Sugar, there are no free lunches any more (I can't believe how much I make now for the amount I fly compared to the 121 world). I even have a lot of RN friends that aren't even allotted time to do ADMIN work while on the clock anymore. And to my friends working in Manhattan: I love you dearly, but 8am-8pm + BlackBerry + $120,000/year = not for me.

 

So because I am a military retiree and want to work as a professional aviator you consider me a hobbie pilot? Are you applying this term to only those wishing to pursue a airline career and not every aspect of commercial aviation?
I agree with the education aspect of your post and think that the reality of the situation ought to be pushed forward so that people of all rank and file can make a truly informed decision. But to call me, or my peers, a "hobby pilot" is inaccurate and insulting to my past experience and hopeful future professionalism.

USMCFLYR

 

USMCFLYR said it much more tactfully than I would have. Insulting, absolutely. Moreover, it is a BAD practice to start labeling any part of aviation with kitchy little terms that the ignorant talking heads can get a hold of. Soon the ignorants will be arguing to make laws restricting "hobby pilots."

Getting back to the topic of this thread, any career can be a soul breaker. It's just a matter of what flavor of BS you can tolerate. Perfect example being N5139's regional acquaintences vs skidoomike's friend.

My perspective test is trying to imagine myself at 75 reflecting on my life. Will I have regrets over the things I'm doing now.

N5139, very nicely said.