Last trip
 

This is it. Today I start my last four day, and it is a beaut! If trips were always like this I might not have left. But they aren't. Not even close.

I live SFO, was based LAX until they closed it, now based ORD. (That's the short version of a long story.) I wasn't about to move for a regional so I commuted. I took a leave and got a law degree. I returned after three years of glorifying flying in my head and was quickly reminded why I left. Resumes flew out and I will be starting as an aviation and aerospace associate in April.

This last trip is a deadhead to LAX and a deadhead back at the end, meaning I can commute to LAX instead of ORD and I don't have to go out a day ahead and get a hotel room. Four legs total over four days, two overnights in LAX and one in DEN, all places where I have friends to visit. Done early enough to hangout.

I imagine my eyes will water a bit. It is going to be hard. But I am also excited about my next adventure. I will miss the best parts of this so much but it just was not worth it to me anymore.

The only bad part is that I am flying with a very inappropriate (read: pervy) captain who thinks my presence in the cockpit with him must be a sign of attraction. But I wasn't willing to drop such a good final trip to avoid him. And since it is my last trip, I will have no issue telling him to shove off. I really won't miss the way women are treated in this industry.

Well congrats. Don't male lawyers hit on their attractive female coworkers or has tv given me the wrong impression of the law associate profession.

Please write back in two years though to let us know how the career change has panned out as a job. Best of luck, really.

And the dress code will be a little tougher to figure out than the pilot uniform. :)

Good luck on the new job. Just because you're leaving 121 flying don't give up flying for fun! I still do... And no idiotic Capts (or FO's) to put up :D

Believe me, you won't miss Part 121 flying. Once you decompress you may find it hard to believe you actually put up with the B.S. as long as you did.

Thanks! Looking forward to that feeling. The interview process alone was eye opening. So much respect and professionalism!

Re: male lawyers flirting. People flirt everywhere. But there is a stark difference between a coworker making a pass and the down right misogyny I encounter. In most industries, even if some jackass thinks that way, he can't really vocalize it without repercussion. Plus, I won't be locked in a cockpit with some guy that does not understand boundaries where I am hesitant to speak up because of the safety of the flight.

I will literally mark my calendar to come back in two years. I am curious as well :).

I still plan on flying for fun!

I hate hate hate the women's 'uniforms', aka daddy's clothes. Looking forward to wearing a suit that is actually flattering and stylish :). Granted, I do have to learn what that means...

Good luck! Your aviation experience is invaluable in the legal field, so you'll do fine. I've been doing both flying and legal work for a few years now and haven't yet pulled the trigger to go solely to either one. Maybe soon if you keep me posted!

I will! If you send me your info, I can add you on LinkedIn or sommat.

Congrats on your next opportunity! I'm sure you'll do fantastic.

I know what you're talking about missing the good stuff, and I hope you enjoy your great last trip.

I can remember one of my last trips. I'd been hired at my new non-flying job and but was still awaiting a start date. I was flying a leg into Miami, looking down on South Beach as I rolled out base to final, the weather was gorgeous, the water was crystal clear, the winds were light, and the plane was all trimmed up and ready for landing. In that one moment, everything with the pilot life was right...and if I could guarantee that feeling on every trip, gah, i'd have stayed. I turned to the CA and said "Boy...I'm gonna miss this, right here." And 5 years later, that's about the only part of the job I miss...the rest of the BS they have you put up with, flush i, cause you won't miss that at all!