51driver

SkyHigh its all about the choices you make, from the start of your flight training/college to which path you take in aviation 135/121/cargo/pax. When I was in flight training and school I went a semester on and one off. When I was off I worked for a Union contruction company making 65k I paid for my college and flight training as I went in CASH! Some people simply let the debt pile on then when they get an entry level job such as the regionals or cargo or 135 they struggle. Being financially smart from the begining pays off in the end. So don't sit here and bash people for getting into this biz bc you made some bad decisions. Some of us are very happy with aviation.

Ski Patrol

Yes it does. Prior to my first "commuter job" My friend & current pilot at the company warned me about "AIDS" aviation induced divorce syndorme to which we both laughed. Now he is on the verge of suffering from the disease.... not so funny anymore.

Ski Patrol

Not management but if I recall correctly she is only at stage 3-4.

For all the skyhigh haters: It appears his message is directed to the masses ie airline pilots with a family. If you have never been the aforementioned then his message will likely not resonate.

TonyWilliams

Some are happy, like you, and some are not, like Sky. Why do you think your position should be "the one" that dictates how Sky feels?

To be honest, there's plenty of misery to go around, and probably plenty of really happy guys, presumably you. To only look at yourself, however, and wish that your view should reflect the whole industry is a bit self absorbed.

Let's let Sky freely express his angle, as he does regularly, within the rules of this forum, and you do the same, if you wish.

By the way, it doesn't matter how financially smart you are, if you got furloughed or your company went BK in a market where it's very difficult to get a new job. Chances are, it's gunna smart in the finance department (unless you're wealthy already, in which case I'd question why you're in this business).

HotMamaPilot

You are right about sky high's message being directed to those with a family. But, in the long run, it is directed toward everyone. History repeats itself: boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love and marry; boy and girl purchase home, buy dog and two years later out comes junior.
I fly with maybe one out of forty pilots that have NEVER done the above(and of those one, three quarters eventually will). Almost all are either married with children or divorced AND remarried (with children from both).
I've heard that BS from starry eyed kids before that they "aren't gonna have a family", lol as if they have ANY control over it. As the saying goes, we make plans and God laughs (or lol's for you youngins).
As for those small minority of folks who will never have a family, I would still not touch this business with a ten foot pole. I would imagine that it would be a lonely life.

HercDriver130

Then why are you still in it......

HotMamaPilot

HMP says:

I live at base (and my dad footed the training bill, back in the day).

USMCFLYR

Will you be directing a post to Sky next Tony?
What you are pointing out to 51driver is the basis of a majority of Sky's posts AND laced with general insults (to be careful of the TOS) to boot.

USMCFLYR

SWANSONG

Cudos to you for standing up to all the neggy nellies that are still so freaking brainwashed they can't see the truth as it kicks them in the ass day in and day out... that or they enjoy pain too much
All of your stages are DEAD ON! I copied this and had it framed for my office to remind me of all I am missing.
Regardless, I stopped drinking this cool-aid a few years back - now making 6 figures + and looking at buying my own plane where I still fly when and where I want. Life is good again.
To everyone else - its never too late to stop drinking the cool-aid...

TonyWilliams

I'll have to go back and read, but I don't think Sky is telling folks what they should post. My post reflects that both extremes are accurate.

I'd love to be on top of the seniority list, flying those 3 monthly trips with 3 days in some exotic local. Furlough proof, top of the pay, flying the equipment I choose, etc. Woo Hoo !!!! But, I would not be accurate to say that planning somebody else's finances would guarantee that same result.

Actually, I know several guys who would be considered airline success stories, who didn't do so well in the personal finance department !!!!

I'll add that, of course, there are plenty of pilots who are quite happy in their current positions, even with what I view as a substandard terms and conditions. And the obvious; there are too many pilots competing for too few positions that keeps those T&C's low, and will continue to do so until there truly is a "pilot shortage" (which I predict will never happen).