Re-Post: Stages of Pilot Career
12-24-2011, 04:10 PM
#301
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by GoPats
Nice post Cub but, "in the end we make our own destiny", is a point I have trouble with. By definition, we can't make our own destiny. That's predetermined, it it not?
But as course to all, let's all be careful that this discussion doesn't venture into areas not allowed by TOS.
USMCFLYR
12-24-2011, 04:39 PM
#302
Moderator
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
Originally Posted by GoPats
Nice post Cub but, "in the end we make our own destiny", is a point I have trouble with. By definition, we can't make our own destiny. That's predetermined, it it not?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.
Shakespeare
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
...
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
12-24-2011, 05:07 PM
#303
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by Cubdriver
You have to decide, guy. Here's what some others thought about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.
Shakespeare
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
...
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.
Shakespeare
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Road Not Taken
TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
...
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost
I've lived it many a time.
It has held true to me.
USMCFLYR
12-24-2011, 05:09 PM
#304
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Outliers
I agree, we hold our destiny however I think it is important to note that most of those who history holds dear are outliers. The natural assumption is that if they did it I can too. The problem is that people like Shakespeare, Bill Gates, and Chuck Yeager are all one in a million. The reality is that when shooting for a star most who take big risks can loose big too. There is always a downside that few seem to want to take the same measure of.
Sure you can make it to the left seat of a big jetliner but at what cost? Is it really worth all that will have to be sacrificed to get there? Are you being honest with yourself? Flying overseas sounds like fun but how will it meet your needs in the future? History is full of people who gave it all and gained notoriety but it does not mean that they were happy.
Why not take the path most traveled? A boring middle of the road life.
Skyhigh
Sure you can make it to the left seat of a big jetliner but at what cost? Is it really worth all that will have to be sacrificed to get there? Are you being honest with yourself? Flying overseas sounds like fun but how will it meet your needs in the future? History is full of people who gave it all and gained notoriety but it does not mean that they were happy.
Why not take the path most traveled? A boring middle of the road life.
Skyhigh
12-24-2011, 05:49 PM
#305
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.
Posts: 5,709
This is written originally by jungle about sky high;
Two pages latter our esteemed colleague sky high writes;
SH nice parroting there pal, did you just learn a new big word?
This is an example of a level of cognitive dissonance rarely seen in humans. Sort of like the wifebeater who proclaims: "I beat you because I love you."
Then I come along and muddy the waters of your cognitive dissonance by constantly bringing up the same things you told yourself ten years ago when you quit the airlines before.
12-24-2011, 06:52 PM
#307
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
Why not take the path most traveled? A boring middle of the road life.
"So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
12-24-2011, 07:33 PM
#309
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 64
Wow, this thread got nasty for a moment and then it was erased. It's Christmas eve. I haven't taken the time to read enough into some of these posts to see the hate but....anyone here who is tired of aviation, I completely agree with them. If you are enjoying your job, that's great. I am truly happy for you. However, after 25 years with a legacy carrier, the last 10 years being bohica, I've come to the conclusion that airline flying sucks. That's my opinion. But after spending the last few years with FO's who are so upset they are suffering mentally, I can't see how anyone can enjoy this crap anymore. I would never recommend this profession to anyone. I certainly didn't to any of my three children. Ten years of being raped by airline management wipes out all the goofy love for sunsets and great layovers (100 per year) and what other crap one can come up with. Yes, I'm lucky to have a job. So is an employee in a slaughter house.
Once again, it's Christmas Eve and I am thankful I am at home and not in the cockpit or on some sad layover. God bless and keep all you guys and gals who are at work. I have spent many, many Christmas' away from home. Get home safe and enjoy your family.
Once again, it's Christmas Eve and I am thankful I am at home and not in the cockpit or on some sad layover. God bless and keep all you guys and gals who are at work. I have spent many, many Christmas' away from home. Get home safe and enjoy your family.
12-24-2011, 07:54 PM
#310
Working weekends
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Position: Left Seat
Posts: 2,384
Originally Posted by satpak77
Just my two cents, but this thread is getting weaker and weaker. In summary
1. Attractive, stable, well-paying [airline/corporate] jobs are hard to come by, argubaly harder now than anytime in history. Insert into brackets your choice of any career in today's economic climate. American has hundreds of law school grads, with fresh law degrees (and 100K+ debt), mixing expressos at Starbucks because nobody is hiring attorneys with no experience. Sound familiar ?
2. Some folks in "the hunt" for that job described above have chose to leave aviation for their own reasons.
3. Some folks continue the hunt. Whether your do #2 or #3 is a tactical strategic decision left to the individual. Your decision may or may not impact #5 below. At some point you reach the PONR Point of No Return in other words 55 year old RJ captain can't just go to school and become an IT manager. A 38 year old can. Etc. The individual will have to assess this. Me personally I believe the PONR age is 40-45. Once past those ages, your chance at re-invention is lessened greatly.
4. There is another life and world besides the airplane cockpit. Other careers exist. Whether those careers are pursued is a personal choice left to the individual
5. Life is not "fair". Nobody that I know was given a "guarantee for fair life" certificate at birth. Just ask malnourished children born into famine in Africa. Then rebels whack their arms and legs off and leave them to bleed out and die. Ask them how life is treating them. Makes our b1tching about "SWA hasn't hired me yet" and/or "FedEx is a military good ole boys club" and/or "the check airman at ABC company has an axe to grind" seem kind of trivial, no ?
Done, end of story
1. Attractive, stable, well-paying [airline/corporate] jobs are hard to come by, argubaly harder now than anytime in history. Insert into brackets your choice of any career in today's economic climate. American has hundreds of law school grads, with fresh law degrees (and 100K+ debt), mixing expressos at Starbucks because nobody is hiring attorneys with no experience. Sound familiar ?
2. Some folks in "the hunt" for that job described above have chose to leave aviation for their own reasons.
3. Some folks continue the hunt. Whether your do #2 or #3 is a tactical strategic decision left to the individual. Your decision may or may not impact #5 below. At some point you reach the PONR Point of No Return in other words 55 year old RJ captain can't just go to school and become an IT manager. A 38 year old can. Etc. The individual will have to assess this. Me personally I believe the PONR age is 40-45. Once past those ages, your chance at re-invention is lessened greatly.
4. There is another life and world besides the airplane cockpit. Other careers exist. Whether those careers are pursued is a personal choice left to the individual
5. Life is not "fair". Nobody that I know was given a "guarantee for fair life" certificate at birth. Just ask malnourished children born into famine in Africa. Then rebels whack their arms and legs off and leave them to bleed out and die. Ask them how life is treating them. Makes our b1tching about "SWA hasn't hired me yet" and/or "FedEx is a military good ole boys club" and/or "the check airman at ABC company has an axe to grind" seem kind of trivial, no ?
Done, end of story
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