Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Pilot Lounge > Leaving the Career
i dont want to be a pilot anymore >

i dont want to be a pilot anymore

Notices
Leaving the Career Alternative careers for pilots

i dont want to be a pilot anymore

Old 02-26-2016, 09:16 AM
  #21  
Gets Weekends Off
 
FLY6584's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 737 right
Posts: 755
Default

Originally Posted by Adlerdriver View Post
We are our own worse enemy.
Valid point, but that is in fact what we do. I'm not trying to cheapen our profession. The reason we are considered professionals, get paid well, and should in fact be paid more is for times when things go wrong. Thats where we earn every single penny we make.
FLY6584 is offline  
Old 02-26-2016, 10:24 AM
  #22  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Adlerdriver's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 767 Captain
Posts: 3,987
Default

Originally Posted by FLY6584 View Post
Valid point, but that is in fact what we do.
I don't see much point in dignifying this with an argument. If that's what YOU do, then I guess I'll have to take that on face value.
Adlerdriver is offline  
Old 02-27-2016, 07:05 AM
  #23  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 89
Default

Originally Posted by Yow av8r View Post
You might be joking but all those things suck; plus the other problems that werent mentioned. I have trouble explaining to people why, thats part of the reason I asked this question. I have trouble really deciding on one reason. however with every reason i see people judging me.

although i have trouble explaining it i will try...

Out of those reasons one of the strongest reasons is the proficiency checks. Early into the career, I have trouble remembering all the basics, nvm all the stuff i still need to learn. Honestly I just come to terms that I cant make it in this career. I am tired of people saying things like well you should never give up on your dreams, you can do it if you keep trying.

I love flying but as a career its too stressful for me. I realize every career has stress, however this type of stress is different. I respect everyone who loves this career and can do it.

Right now I am working at a company that even if i where to continue in this career I could not work at; even if i need the hours. My parents don't understand i cant fly while in these conditions just for the hours. I understand that its part of the career to pay your dues, fly under stress, fly well not happy. however i see it as unsafe practice, especially in my case. being sad and stressed leads to distracted flying. I don't want it now and i don't want to continue in the career if i am prone to being stressed at this level.

plus a bunch of stuff... i am going crazy but i have been thinking about this for long enough, and my decision to quit/take a break is final. no one is going to convince otherwise, but know people will try.
I think I know what you mean about the stress being different. Other jobs might have a sort of sustained stress, but aviation has these singular stressful events that require you to perform, i.e. checkrides, recurrent, AQP, type rides, line checks, etc. Even aviation interviews feel more binary than in normal jobs. You go from a mostly easy, sometimes boring job to "you must perform or else". And that continues for your entire career.

Your parents probably want you to articulate an explanation, but people don't work that way. You just don't want to do it, and that's fine. Get your head straight though or you won't be able to make a decision. If you're depressed, figure that out, then everything else. Also, don't tie your situation to your happiness. If you aren't at least ok with yourself now, a change isn't going to fix it.

Do you have a degree or just your ratings? Do you like computers? Go to a (good) programming boot camp.
Jason5 is offline  
Old 02-27-2016, 02:23 PM
  #24  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 60
Default

Nice to see the pilot community is giving you lots of good advice, you have some tough decisions to make in the near future. One option that came to mind was contract flying for a DoD contractor flying multi-turbine aircraft. I recently left one of these contractors and I think this would be a good transition job for you to consider. The company I worked for had a 60 days on/60 days off work schedule making well into the six-fig salary range. A work schedule like this would allow you plenty of time to explore other industries while remaining current/utilizing the education your folks financed. In your off time you can look at other career options, travel or...well do what ever the ******* you want. If you have any questions about this career field feel free to PM me.

As for telling your folks, well there have been several Oscar winning movies about the predicament you are in now. If you know you know you are ready to move on because aviation isn't what you thought it would be, just tell them. Your angst over this decision is good sign you are pretty good kid your parents are proud of, and I have a feeling they want you to be happy at the end of the day. Good luck to you!
MarineFAC is offline  
Old 03-07-2016, 01:37 PM
  #25  
Ref +8
 
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: North by Midwest
Posts: 383
Default Decisions

It boils down to one, do you really want to leave the career? I remember when I was working on my CFI, I was working at a bank, I had grown accustomed to my high salary, I loathed the idea of being a CFI and liked very few people at my flight school. Flying had become unpleasurable.
Turned out I didn't like flying because I stopped flying for pleasure and turned into another mundane task I had to get through. A few hours in a PA-18 changed that, I realized why I got into it to begin with and it clicked again.
I am not saying you should change your mind and return to aviation, but I am saying ask yourself why do you want out, why is sales a better choice - when you have the honest answer and if you need to explain it to others or feel compelled to do so, say the truth. People change, I wanted to be a pilot since I was five accept for the summer I wanted to be a garbage truck driver (seven), no idea where it came from.
flywithjohn is offline  
Old 03-22-2016, 10:05 AM
  #26  
New Hire
 
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 8
Default

Originally Posted by Yow av8r View Post
I am in the early stages of the career but know that the career is not right for me.

I am just having trouble changing my career because it is hard to tell everyone especially my parents who paid for my training/schooling.

Part of my issue is I know that switching over to sales/business isn't going to be smooth. I sort of have a plan, but the issue is i need to stay at my parents home because i want to move back to my hometown with no money.

even without these problems i am sure people will ask why i am making the change with something i appear to be passionate about. truth is am not anymore.

any tips or personal experiences would help me out
Man, I dont blame you one bit. I love flying as well, just not for 121. I canned it back in December. For good this time....I hope.

You should think about starting a cryo therapy business. Its huge out here in SoCal and starting to grow all over the country now. The ops for the biz are cake and easy to manage. With two cryo machines, you can make some good money every month. Winter may slow down but if you gather some athletes and approach your local university sports teams, you will have year round business. A friend of mine out here is making 15k a month with his cryo biz and he only shows up when he needs to. Easy cash! I am strongly considering this myself.
Something to consider...
UncleDookie is offline  
Old 04-09-2016, 09:14 PM
  #27  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
Default

Been at this game a long long time.......many decades...

Do I still get the thrill like I did 30+ years ago... no... but I can tell you that the best pilots I know.. thrive on the stress... the challenge... etc....

Yes there are lots of crappy things about this business... I have flown military, 121, 91, 91K...135... very one of those segments of aviation had crappy things about them.... The job and type of flying I do know fits me.. fits my family (married 31 years)..... and as someone said above.. frankly professional aviation is NOT for everyone...and it shouldn't be...

Stress... makes the blood pump.. makes me feel alive... example just did a trip to asia... unforecast low vis in the terminal area... had to get it down in cat III mins..... I'm telling ya thats good stuff... or a hundred other things just like that.

I want guys in my cockpit who are passionate about flying.... enjoy it.. who WANT to click the AP off and fly the whale. AT 50.. its okay if its more of just a job.... but even then.. if you hate it.. are stressed out... etc.. eventually you are going to do something stupid.. bend metal.. get violated.. etc.. or worse...

Get out now.. before you feel like you can't....
HercDriver130 is offline  
Old 04-10-2016, 06:55 AM
  #28  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: retired 767(dl)
Posts: 5,719
Default

They ruined the whole gig when they took the top wing off.
badflaps is offline  
Old 04-10-2016, 08:36 AM
  #29  
whatever
 
Vital Signs's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Posts: 421
Default

Herc i agree with you but the problem is with so many pilots....
Years ago was at a non aviation career placement class, I tell the lady all of my education and experience, and her reply.." So you are qualified for nothing"

Excellent reason to major in something other than prof aviation degree.
Vital Signs is offline  
Old 04-10-2016, 09:16 AM
  #30  
Line Holder
 
Joined APC: Jul 2015
Position: First Officer
Posts: 37
Default

Originally Posted by Yow av8r View Post
You might be joking but all those things suck; plus the other problems that werent mentioned. I have trouble explaining to people why, thats part of the reason I asked this question. I have trouble really deciding on one reason. however with every reason i see people judging me.

although i have trouble explaining it i will try...

Out of those reasons one of the strongest reasons is the proficiency checks. Early into the career, I have trouble remembering all the basics, nvm all the stuff i still need to learn. Honestly I just come to terms that I cant make it in this career. I am tired of people saying things like well you should never give up on your dreams, you can do it if you keep trying.

I love flying but as a career its too stressful for me. I realize every career has stress, however this type of stress is different. I respect everyone who loves this career and can do it.

Right now I am working at a company that even if i where to continue in this career I could not work at; even if i need the hours. My parents don't understand i cant fly while in these conditions just for the hours. I understand that its part of the career to pay your dues, fly under stress, fly well not happy. however i see it as unsafe practice, especially in my case. being sad and stressed leads to distracted flying. I don't want it now and i don't want to continue in the career if i am prone to being stressed at this level.

plus a bunch of stuff... i am going crazy but i have been thinking about this for long enough, and my decision to quit/take a break is final. no one is going to convince otherwise, but know people will try.
I'm not sure if you are still monitoring this discussion or not, but I'll reply for those that read this and are in the same predicament as you.

I went to school to be a professional pilot. I received a 4 year degree in Aviation Studies and graduated in 2008 right as the economy decided it wasn't a good time to be a new and upcoming pilot. Regardless I did non aviation stuff until I landed an arial photography gig. I did that for a few years and decided the sporadic income wasn't good enough to start a family on. I exited aviation and thought I'd never look back. I in fact began working for AT&T in sales and worked my way up to a Sales manager, managing my own store. I made a great living and was very successful at it. I was promoted to a Store manager much faster than any of my piers. Eventually I realized I was not happy with it and decided to get back into aviation. I now work for PDT and just completed training.

What I'm trying to get at is I understand you want to get away from that stress. Trust me you are trading one for another. Sales isn't all sunshine and roses. In fact one of the things I hated about sales was the goals and stresses that came from that. My old career, liked to put goals out there that were very unattainable and then force call after call to explain why you or your store did not reach those goals. Not to mention I had to punish people for things I didn't personally feel they should have been punished for. Regardless you need to do what makes you happy but trust me the grass is not always greener. I had this employee that wanted to quit so bad and he would threaten to quit on a weekly basis. At first I always tried to talk him out of it, I thought he had great potential, but after awhile I stopped. He hated the stress from the job and thought that that would fix things when he quit. Problem is stress is in every profession, especially those that are of a professional manner.

Anyway, my biggest piece of advice is to learn stress dealing techniques. Balance is key in anything you do. Good luck with your future endeavors and be happy with what you do. Live with no regrets!
rbsjr22 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
C-17driver
Cargo
22
04-29-2007 08:11 AM
Window_Seat
Regional
75
02-12-2007 11:36 PM
jdr7225
Regional
100
11-25-2006 09:44 PM
RockBottom
Major
0
09-15-2006 09:50 AM
Topper
Major
7
09-06-2006 10:12 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices