Thanks Brian
 

Thanks Brian. ;) Looking forward to our next debate.

Skyhigh

This might have been your experience. It was/is certainly not mine.

USMCFLYR

Originally posted by Skyhigh:
Sir please explain why you are keeping your credentials current? I thought you were out for good?:rolleyes:

http://neoavatara.com/blog/wp-conten...ootinmouth.jpg

I'd say it's "just in case" that brass ring happens to magically drop out of the sky at the major airlines again.

Sky has always said that he'd be back if the circumstances were right. He'd be a fool to not be prepared if that ever happens.

If conditions change
 

You never know what fate will bring your way. I have over 20 years invested into aviation but can not work for 20K anymore. If circumstances change I will be there but I will not commute half way across the nation to make less than a mailman.

At least it is an excuse to stay flying. :)

Skyhigh

Regionals
 

USMCFLYR,

You always made a good living flying the best of the best with ample benefits to take care of you. Try flying for the regionals at $492 of take home pay every two weeks. Nine leg 16 hour days and a crummy hotel at the end of it all. :mad:

No good !! Boring. No job satisfaction as you punch out approach after approach all day long.

"Gear down" "Flaps 15" "Landing checklist" over and over and over again.

Airplane swap!! "Origination checklist" "before start checklist" "after start checklist" "Before taxi Check list" "After taxi checklist to the line" You get the picture.

Skyhigh

Waiting
 

I am waiting for you or DE727UPS to pull me into the big time. :) I have to fly at least 50 hours a year to maintain currency. ;) However I can not afford to waste another year at new hire wages for another regional or dead end start up.

Also I am not going to fly overseas. I need to be home more than once every two months. I have a family to support. They are happy where and how we live. I can not mess that up for just anything.

Skyhigh

Sky:
I read your post again and I didn't see where you quantified your comment that is was solely expressing views of Regional Airline flying. Your first post seem to lump ALL flying careers into your singular view of doom and desperation.
I pointed out a different experience of aviation. As you always say Sky - my view is just as pertinent as yours. I'm new to professional aviation, but even since leaving my easy life where everything was 'given' to me as you have pointed out before, things are still not approaching the end of the world. I know that you don't believe there can a balance in a career in aviation, but I think you are wrong. Maybe the key word in your last post above was job satisfaction. Maybe you were never going to find job satisfaction in aviation :( I'm sorry for that.

USMCFLYR

Jobs
 

USMCFLYR,

I took the jobs that were offered. Most were on the poor side of the equation. You have enjoyed better situations. All I can say is that you should consider a mile in my shoes before you make judgments.

You have only exchanged one government job for another. I can assure you that the private sector is not nearly as financially rewarding or secure however I bet you already know that since you did not pursue an airline career.

It is possible that you will never know what a true sweat shop job in aviation is really like. All the better for you. I can tell you that a legacy airline job is much better than that of a regional. Longer legs, more money and better conditions all around.

I liked my job well enough to endure hardships and sacrifices that a plumber would not. My last job was the best. One leg a day usually and a good hotel at the end. Too bad.

Heaven and hell in the airlines is a measure of only a few degrees. We wear the same uniforms fly similar craft on the same routes. However one goes home to a nice upper middle class neighborhood the other to a bunk in a crash pad with six other pilots.

Aviation is becoming more turbulent every year. Mergers, shutdowns, layoffs. A 25 year old pilot could have as many as 40 years in the industry. That is plenty long enough to be tossed out and have to start over many times. It is unlikely that modern careers can go unscathed.

A hero one day could be someones FO tomorrow and the guy on the street the chief pilot at the next great start up next week. It is unlikely that I will ever find my place in the sun however fortunes can change in an instant. I still have reason for hope in that.

In any case I can not afford to waste any more years on dead ends. I have seen the results of that in my past co-workers and for the sake of my family have taken a different course.

Skyhigh