simple question
 

Here's the question -
How many of you started this career path knowing the realities and how many of you jumped into this based on pie in the sky notions ?
And no I,m not going to the other side , just curious about this is all.



Fred

Honestly
 

USMCFLYR,

My friend, I think you misunderstand what my message is. I am not trying to tear down pilots. I am one too. I am trying to alert people to the addictive nature of our personalities and to the self created and self destructive delusions that serve to make us tools of the company.

In the recent past pilots had more control. Through the union they told the company how it was going to be. Their jobs complemented their lives. Now the job tells us where we are going to live, how much we will earn, and when we will work.

It is the nature of our profession that we have to give up a lot of control over our day. However in trade they use to plan for our retirement and provide an upper middle class income. All that s fading away. As pilots we are only worth what our seniority number are. It is an uncomfortable situation to be in and we are doing it to ourselves.

My aim is to bring to light these issues. To some my points resonate with concepts that they too have been struggling with. Others will not identify with me at all. I am not comfortable placing my financial future, lifestyle and family situation into the hands of a corporate culture that has turned hostile to its workers.

And lastly I live on a small ranch in a house that I designed and built myself. I grow grass fed free range cattle and have a garden. My water comes out of a well. In the past we have had rabbits, chickens and turkeys. I do have a portfolio of rental homes and am at the mercy of market forces just like everyone else (except for government workers that is ;) ) however the decisions on how to react to changes are in my hands (for better or for worse). My family and I am the benefactor of my efforts.

My goal has always been to achieve a high level of financial independence and control over my life. In the past when I was growing up in a neighborhood of airline pilots I saw in them the power of choice and the ability to commonly achieve those things. Not anymore. Thin wages, shaky future and a black hole for a retirement plan.

People (pilots) need to take a close look at where this life is taking them. In my estimation a postman has a better deal right now.

Skyhigh

In my case.
 

Fred,

In my case I grew up in a town where many of my friends fathers were airline pilots. They were rich playboys. In college they told us that getting there was not "half the fun but all of the fun". My observation spans from the trail end of when things were still good until now. I can take measure of how far the profession has fallen.

I do not think the "realities" are being accurately presented to new pilots. Most wash out at the regional level to a mountain of debt and to an outside work world that does not care for pilots.


Skyhigh

Different times now. When I started this career 20 yrs ago, it was a different ball game. Airline careers were still highly regarded, and the pay was on par with other professionals (doctor/lawyer/engineer) to a point. It wasn't a "pie in the sky" 20 years ago. Besides the quick recession in the early 90's, there were jobs to be had. It isn't like it is now.

I never got into airlines precisely because of APC. The career sounded like a risky long haul to anything decent, with risks being the salient factor. I had a better option available to me which was aircraft engineering, and I turned that into the closest thing to a flying job I could manage. I got into flight testing in 2008 working on business jets. It's a fairly satisfying gig, but I am not going to pretend that I fly very much. However when I fly it is high quality action in terms of the things that make flying worthwhile. So I feel I struck a fairly good deal considering the options. The only way I would consider regrouping for the airlines at this point would be if a heck of an internal recommendation materialized, but that is not very likely.

Apc
 

Another life saved. :) Thanks Cubdriver !

Skyhigh

If our mutual friend was still on this forum, and actively posting, he would provide AMPLE evidence of your real feelings towards professional pilots by reminding us of the MANY insults you have hurdle towards them through the years.

How are gov't workers not at the mercy of market forces? You must shre your secret with me because I am obviously missing out on some gem. :rolleyes:

USMCFLYR

I agree and getting the big picture up front helps avoid the angst that may or may not come later in a pilots career .

Misunderstood
 

USMCFLYR,

Our mutual friend also wanted to misunderstand what I write about. It is easier to be cross with me than with the truth. I get that. I am the bad person not aviation, but it is not true. I am trying to make things better for people. To save lives through conversation and an exchange of ideas. I am sorry that you don't want to get it yet. Hate the message not the messenger.

Even our friend had to back away from the obvious self evident truth. Professional aviation is changing and not for the better. I have faith that you will come around and believe that even now you privately see the light or else you too would be in line at a legacy right now. Its OK. :)

Skyhigh

Sky's just trying to show the other side of the coin so to speak .