johnso29

Well geez. Count me OUT. Not only do I get to have a life being an airline pilot, but I LOVE my job. Looks like I'm a double winner.

SkyHigh

You are a winner John and everyone knows that. You got into the regionals at a fantastic time, upgraded quickly and were able to move onto a good legacy airline while still young enough to hopefully have it mean something. You are the guy who everyone expects to be but falls far short due to events beyond our control. You are a poster boy lottery winner who is promoting gambling to everyone else. The humble thing to do is to realize how lucky and rare you are and to politely abstain from such arrogant comments and encouraging future generations from marching into the grist mill.

Parting comments: The rest of us have been kicked to the curb by aviation repeatedly. It is possible that your turn has not come yet. The longer you spend in comfort and affluence the harder it will be when the bad times hit. The older I get the more appreciative I am for the hardships I struggled with early on. It diversified my skills set and motivated me to get out sooner and start over while I was still young enough to have a life to salvage. There is nothing more sad than an unemployed middle-aged legacy airline pilot who is on the street after a decade or two of seniority stagnation and holds the realization that there is no way for them to save themselves.

Skyhigh

johnso29

Sky.......man.......I guess I should've put a face on the end of that post as well. I was attempting to make a joke.

We have had plenty of conversations in the past. I was just having some fun. Clearly I touched a nerve. Sorry.

PS-I hope your family is well. How is your youngest doing?

SkyHigh

John,

Thank you and I am sorry if I over reacted. We all are fine. Business is good as a result I have not had much time to visit APC in a while. As always I hope you are well.

Skyhigh

johnso29

No worries. I should've been a little more obvious with my attempt at humor. Great to hear you're all doing well. My family and I are great too. Glad business is going well.

Take care.

bonesbrigade

When you were working as an expat, did they make you feel like hired help? Or generally appreciate you?

Pilotpip

Different strokes for different folks. I got out but I don't fault anyone who likes where they are. The life of an airline pilot is not for me. Your mileage may vary.

bugy

Sorry for my late...

as an expat, they treated me well.
well... I would say, they treated pilots like a chess game.

The most difficult persons that treated us badly were the mechanics. They told us many times "get out of the cockpit ! " badly... the felt superiority.
As young, I was quite surprised about this reaction as I always thought that mechanics and pilots work hand in hand. Seeems that was not the case.
But I guess this behaviour was mostly because we were expat.



now, as I am better, I consider to fly again, but just to save money.

My parents are into a real estate, and I was thinking to do the same.

so, I have been thinking these days, to fly again if i can, in my airline (if they agree) and take it as if it was a "cool summer job" .
I save money and be in real estate.

I will let you know when I take the decision. It's just a thought, honestly I am not fully ready yet. All what happened to me, have consequences on my health... just be careful guys. It could happen to anybody. I never thought that it would happen to me.

cheers

Turboprop

he states this on his facebook



this is some serious dude to admire!

bugy

Long time I open my thread...here some good news since.

I am a lot better, actually I recovered.
When I came back I was sick and did not have choice, that is why I hesitate by then to fly again as a professionnal...

So, now I made my mind up and deciced to change career.

I am very happy, actually personnally, I don't miss flying, just sometimes in a smal plane, but I do not miss the low cost spirit (to remind, I was FO in a LCC in asia).

What happened to me has been a real revelation for me.
Before I thought That I could only live if I fly and now, I am aware that I live even better.
I still keep my licence of course. I did not fly in a flying club yet, but soon I should. I have a friend who owns a tailwheel a/c and he told me, that when I want, I contact for a flight.

Today I study again, sciences, and found my career choice . I would like to become an audiologist (after met some of them) as I love sciences and human being care.

I am still young, so no problem for that change.

Other thing, I met a new g/f and really in love with her and we plan for commitment.

Well, only good news. I feel more relaxed and in peace with myself.
I do more sports too which is good for being cool.

Will I fly again (as pro) in the futur ? Maybe or not...I don't ask myself more questions. Life brings surprises.

But for sure, I will never ever sell my soul to the devil. Meaning I would fly again only if the Ts and Cs are good enough for me and my g/f.

Each case is different though.
Personnally I was really passionnate and I know that I dreamed too much. Maybe a lack of maturity.... Then I had a big dellusion.
And I was not aware about the lifestyle too. It made me very stressed and tired.

For some people it is ok for others not. It is just about being honest with ourself and accept it.

When I got my burnout, I felt guilty and always asked myself, why me ? why me ?
I conclude that simply, the lifestyle was not necessary for me. The most difficult part is to accept it and to know our own limits.

Funny because actually, as I said my g/f, if I had not burnout, never we would have met
And today I discovered others passions.

Good luck to all.
Just listen to yourself. And do not compare yourself with others. That's your life.