Who Here is Actively looking to get out?
04-14-2010, 05:03 AM
#61
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: seated beer curl
Posts: 406
Originally Posted by JoeyMeatballs
What really bothers me is seeing some guys move on to the majors with such little time at the regional, ............
04-14-2010, 05:11 AM
#62
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
^
I was not referring to military pilots. I should have clarified. I would see some guys get hired spend 6 months in an RJ (their first "real job") then off to CAL, or guys that got hired at the perfect time, upgarde in less then 2 years then off to a major. I am happy for them, glad it worked out the way it did, however it is sometimes a hard pill to swallow knowing your timing/luck is not going to work out that way, and in the industry, timing & luck is what gets you places more then personality and skill (IMO)
I was not referring to military pilots. I should have clarified. I would see some guys get hired spend 6 months in an RJ (their first "real job") then off to CAL, or guys that got hired at the perfect time, upgarde in less then 2 years then off to a major. I am happy for them, glad it worked out the way it did, however it is sometimes a hard pill to swallow knowing your timing/luck is not going to work out that way, and in the industry, timing & luck is what gets you places more then personality and skill (IMO)
04-14-2010, 06:06 AM
#66
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 456
Wow, depressing thread.
Be warned the cubicle isn't any better. We face layoff's, corporate BS, politics, abuse from the powers that be, and all of that on a 5 day a week basis, every week. Yesterday I worked 14.5 hours and my only meal was breakfast. When I finally got out, I had the pleasure of getting to sit in a train station for 55 minutes before the train even arrived, then I had to sit on the train itself for another 35-40 minutes. This happens 1 or 2 times per week. And where am I now not more than 10 hours later? In my cubicle making myself even more depressed by reading this thread. Careful what you choose... especially if you are already (relatively) far along into the career. Something will have to give within the next year or 2... these are unprecedented times. I might even be in the unemployment line standing right next to you.
And being home every night isn't worth anything if you are ****ed off and tired. Especially when you only get 3 - 4 hours to begin with before you gotta sleep. Being a pilot is NOT a selfish job. You chose to do a job you enjoyed, and that should never be viewed as selfish. You thought it would make you happy, and how can anyone in your family or circle of friends be happy if you aren't happy yourself? I see myself becoming as miserable and unpleasant as my father more and more every day, and that's why I either won't have kids (or a wife), or will change careers before even thinking about those things.
Be warned the cubicle isn't any better. We face layoff's, corporate BS, politics, abuse from the powers that be, and all of that on a 5 day a week basis, every week. Yesterday I worked 14.5 hours and my only meal was breakfast. When I finally got out, I had the pleasure of getting to sit in a train station for 55 minutes before the train even arrived, then I had to sit on the train itself for another 35-40 minutes. This happens 1 or 2 times per week. And where am I now not more than 10 hours later? In my cubicle making myself even more depressed by reading this thread. Careful what you choose... especially if you are already (relatively) far along into the career. Something will have to give within the next year or 2... these are unprecedented times. I might even be in the unemployment line standing right next to you.
And being home every night isn't worth anything if you are ****ed off and tired. Especially when you only get 3 - 4 hours to begin with before you gotta sleep. Being a pilot is NOT a selfish job. You chose to do a job you enjoyed, and that should never be viewed as selfish. You thought it would make you happy, and how can anyone in your family or circle of friends be happy if you aren't happy yourself? I see myself becoming as miserable and unpleasant as my father more and more every day, and that's why I either won't have kids (or a wife), or will change careers before even thinking about those things.
04-14-2010, 06:25 AM
#67
Moderator
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: B757/767
Posts: 13,088
Originally Posted by JoeyMeatballs
The powers that be banned my old screename 
. I can hold very productive day trips (at least for this month), so I am going to drop as much as I can and venture out to really put my mind to seeing what else is out there. I ultimately would like to be my own boss. My wife makes good money and does have the option for working for her family business which is currently doing well also. (Don't want to work for the in laws though, lol). What scares me is my schedule is decent, the pay is as high as it can go for a regional F/O, our work rules are good and I still hate the thought of going to work, thats a scary thought. Honestly, money may not be everything but life sure as hell is no fun without it..........
. I can hold very productive day trips (at least for this month), so I am going to drop as much as I can and venture out to really put my mind to seeing what else is out there. I ultimately would like to be my own boss. My wife makes good money and does have the option for working for her family business which is currently doing well also. (Don't want to work for the in laws though, lol). What scares me is my schedule is decent, the pay is as high as it can go for a regional F/O, our work rules are good and I still hate the thought of going to work, thats a scary thought. Honestly, money may not be everything but life sure as hell is no fun without it..........I honestly think the FO Rep thing is dragging you down. I think it's awesome that you donate your time as an FO Rep, but I think the reason you dread going to work is because you've lost the best part of being an airline pilot.....leaving the job behind as you walk off the jetway. Every FO's problems in EWR becomes your problems, and you have to deal with them all hours of the day, all days of the week. I also know that you're dealing with a whole lot of complaning about the most recent LOA, but I thought it was BS that guys would bid RFL then pick up open time to max out credit. Shady with guys on furlough, IMO.
My recommendation, finish out your FO Rep term and be done with it. I think this will increase your QOL alone. While I know that you have always wanted to work for CAL, keep in mind DAL also has a NYC base and even while on reserve you can make EWR your primary base. NYC is the junior base, and it's the fastest way to a WB if you want to do that. It does get better, and during the last hiring spree by DAL more then one RJ FO with 0 PIC turbine was hired.
Just my 2 cents, although they may be worth less to you.
04-14-2010, 06:38 AM
#68
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,414
Originally Posted by JoeyMeatballs
The powers that be banned my old screename . I can hold very productive day trips (at least for this month), so I am going to drop as much as I can and venture out to really put my mind to seeing what else is out there. I ultimately would like to be my own boss. My wife makes good money and does have the option for working for her family business which is currently doing well also. (Don't want to work for the in laws though, lol). What scares me is my schedule is decent, the pay is as high as it can go for a regional F/O, our work rules are good and I still hate the thought of going to work, thats a scary thought. Honestly, money may not be everything but life sure as hell is no fun without it..........
. I can hold very productive day trips (at least for this month), so I am going to drop as much as I can and venture out to really put my mind to seeing what else is out there. I ultimately would like to be my own boss. My wife makes good money and does have the option for working for her family business which is currently doing well also. (Don't want to work for the in laws though, lol). What scares me is my schedule is decent, the pay is as high as it can go for a regional F/O, our work rules are good and I still hate the thought of going to work, thats a scary thought. Honestly, money may not be everything but life sure as hell is no fun without it..........I know an XJET FO who creates a mini-vacation for himself every month by being creative with dropping and picking up trips. This guy is in some foreign country having a blast every month. There are very few jobs in the world that you can do that.
04-14-2010, 06:44 AM
#69
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,414
Originally Posted by GlobeTreker
Not to be a prick, but you are in the minority in the whole industry. For every guy in your position there are 10 more on short call reserve with 10 days off hating life. Aviation is a soul sucking wench.
Also not to be a prick but 60k as a captain? I am going to make around 55k as an FO and for the investment of time and money to get to this point in my career I consider it total crap. Even if i were making 100k it ain't what it used to be.
In reference to the many responses in threads like these about cubicles. There are more choices in life than an airplane seat or a cubicle. There is a crazy thing called Entrepreneurship. It is an amazing thing where you go and find a need of society and you use your knowledge and skills to fill that need. Then people pay you for it. This doesn't always involve cubicles. I built and ran my own business for 4 years and I never once sat in a cubicle. Apparently I am not as smart as I thought I was because I sold my business in August of 2001 to pursue aviation. Now I just want to get back to where I was in July of 2001.
Also not to be a prick but 60k as a captain? I am going to make around 55k as an FO and for the investment of time and money to get to this point in my career I consider it total crap. Even if i were making 100k it ain't what it used to be.
In reference to the many responses in threads like these about cubicles. There are more choices in life than an airplane seat or a cubicle. There is a crazy thing called Entrepreneurship. It is an amazing thing where you go and find a need of society and you use your knowledge and skills to fill that need. Then people pay you for it. This doesn't always involve cubicles. I built and ran my own business for 4 years and I never once sat in a cubicle. Apparently I am not as smart as I thought I was because I sold my business in August of 2001 to pursue aviation. Now I just want to get back to where I was in July of 2001.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
