Unfortunately yes. It's easy for someone your age to write off the career concerns that my generation has. However, I am sure that many of the people who bash SkyHigh on here would be a hell of a lot more skeptical themselves if they were just starting off in this environment.

 

Prices had jumped 40 bucks an hour while I was getting my licenses and 9/11/01 was my first day on my CFI job.

There are always excuses if you want to make them.

 

That is very good. Because much like in the 1970's when getting hired at a major airline was a pipe dream worthy of only the finest psychedelics only those who are truly driven will succeed. So- less student starts means less competition.

I would have been very happy to fly WWII era aircarft around the Caribbean. In fact, that was my career goal. No military and less than 20/20 vision. No major for me! The industry changed and they started taking civilians with less than 20/20. And so, here I am. And here could anyone be.

BTW- loaded up on 5.56mm and .25-06. They were sold out of .38 shot shells.

Regards,
Clutch

 

NWDC10

Total BS. The career has been every bit as difficult in the past. I went to UPT in the Guard, lived in a studio for five years; flying Citations and ANG. Guys said, "you missed the late '70s boom, but will be first in the next wave. I was--at EAL! Wonderful, winning deal. Went back in the AF until retiring, passing on several hiring chances due to the risks. Now, at a great corporate gig at 59.

Deal with it, you can always make excuses, but at some point you have to look in the mirror.

The question is: do you want to fly airplanes or not? No excuses, no ifs, ands or buts, fly or not?

GF

 

You're calling out BS and then not even discussing/ignoring the cost of getting trained. That's the point I was trying to make a few posts ago, relative to ROI. SkyHigh is spot on with his assessment of many young people today; it's simply a hard investment to justify.

Was never trying to misrepresent your career. I can appreciate you've been through a lot and congratulations on your corporate job.

 

Before anyone else launches an attack, I am basically saying that is very expensive to enter through the civilian route and it is an issue that is definitely on current/potential students' minds.

 

What you state is absolutely nothing new at all.

 

No bucks no buck rogers

amirite??

 

lolrite!!!!

 

NWDC10

Do you think, inflation adjusted, it was cheap in 1970 when I got my Private Pilot? It wasn't, believe me. The ONLY thing I spent money on, working at an airport being a line boy, was flying. Read Ernie Gann, it wasn't easy in the 30s. Get over yourself.

A Piper Cherokee 180 was about $35 per hour in 1971, about $200 per hour today. You still needed a Comm ASMEL, CFII to be an instructor to get time to get an ATP.

There was nearly zero mainline hiring from 69-79, and no options like fractionals, regionals, overseas work. You worked at a mainline or it was check carriers, postal work, CFI or nothing. There are many options today. Corporate, because it is dear to me. When Grumman started selling G IIs, they thought, if they sold them to everyone who could buy one, they'd sell about 90. Just an example of how small the opportunities were.

Do you want to fly or not?

GF