Perhaps I'm an outcast anymore.
Just typing for myself here.
I'm the little kid who grew up on a farm, lived, ate, slept and dreamed nothing but flying. The kid whose eyes popped out of his sockets when he saw his first Boeing up close.
So far, my aviation career (small as it is) of 20yrs, has seen many pro's and con's. I've had to fly with moron's who had no business in a cockpit, and I've flown with individuals that were far better than I will ever attain. Individuals that I can only pray to aspire to half of their talent.
I've taken massive pay cuts, and yet find that when I take 2 steps back, I always end up (in time) 5 steps forward.
I've lost very dear friends, who's lives ended far too soon.
I've also made friends that changed my life forever.
But, I'm still that little kid who is standing at the fence of a corn field, watching the crop duster in absolute awe.
Recently, I noticed a grandpa and his grandson standing at that fence.
I was able to allow them on board and I watched that 5 yr old kid with his eyes so wide, they almost popped out of his sockets.
You must possess a die hard love for this profession, otherwise your going to end up very bitter, crotchedy and crabby.
Did I think of telling that 5yr old little boy to forget this and go do something else? Never even crossed my mind.
We all have our own paths to follow in this business, but I think we have to take a hard look at ourselves and see if that undieing passion is there.
For SkyHigh, my hopes are that you share this passion and that you won't allow a tough time to change your thoughts permanently.
If you plan to go your seperate way, then I think we all wish you the best of luck in your future.
However, my forum friend, if you need a charge to relight that passion, might I suggest a little vacation to Durango, Colorado. Hop in a glider, and spend an hour soaring over the rockies. Whenever I get down, that spools me right back into my seat!
My views of the sunsets from FL410 do a pretty good job as well.

God speed and good luck to you.

 

That's well said FMI...regardless of whatever happens to the industry there's always something intrinsic, personal, and magical to what we do. Perhaps we are a privileged few?

 

I live near Durango Colorado and the glider rides really are fun. They also have alot of great breweries in Durango.

 

For some reason I thought he was living in a larger area than a town of just 15,000.

 

you can afford a vacation and glider rides...must be nice

 

Disagree. It is entirely possible to deal with this occupation purely as a job; a way of paying bills. Not a lifelong love, but merely an activity to put food on the table and keep a roof over my head.

If your outside interests include aviation, more power to you. Personally if I never see an airplane or airport while I'm on days off or vacation it's better. My job will never define me.

Maybe I went wrong somewhere (Military, Airlines), but this became a chore pretty rapidly. I'm too old, too stupid, and not interested or motivated to do anything else.

 

Wow - 10 pages! I normally don't spend the time reading page after page of the same thread, but this one's got me hooked. I'm an ATC'er and a lot of what's been posted on here, is similar to the varying sentiments we non-flyers have.

• I used to love my job, but now I can't stand it - all thanks to management. I have a countdown clock that says I only have 2541 more days until I can retire - never too early to start thinking about it...
• There are many controllers who have always viewed our job as just a job and nothing more.
• There are people like me, bordering on geek, that grew up in or around aviation, and have or had a lot of passion about it.
• Management has decided safety can be marginalized and economized, so their big focus is no longer about maintaining the world's best atc system. Rather, it is "how cheap can we make it, and if we make it cheap enough, we can sell it to a private company and then go work for them afterwards."
• New recruits in OKC are being told not to apply for financial assistance while they are in training, despite only being payed $8/hr with little or no per diem, because the state of OK is going after the FAA for all of the applications for $ assistance that they're having to pay. I went through in 1989 and was paid enough to live on, so I could spend all of my time studying and passing the course, like these kids should be doing, and not standing in a welfare line. That my folks, is a crime.
• If they pass, they will be paid at least 1/3 less than a person hired one or two years ago. This ought to make the Republicans REAL happy. (insert "you get what you pay for" here)
• The public has no real concept of what our career is like. Lousy hours, lousy bosses, decrepit workplaces, no recognition you're even an employee, save for the paycheck that comes every 2 weeks - that's it. Sure, I get to go home every night, after my wife and kids have gone to bed. Then I'm back at work the next day, before my kids are up. Might be days before I see them. Rinse, Repeat for 18 years now. Forget vacations with "normal" people like your family. Your kids are off in July, but you won't be. (big ax to grind here, sorry)
• Despite all of the gloom above, the actual job is fun. But it's buried so deep in all of the bs, it's hard to see it anymore. If only it weren't for all of the idiots

 

It is the love of flying that hold many in difficult situations.

To those who value life, home, family, success and financial security I would not recommend aviation, often it is a sirens song to loss and hardship.

Most dreams are not in our overall best interest. There is a better life out there. A better investment of our resources and time.


Skyhigh

 

Yes, but it hasn't always been the case.
It has taken a lot of time and dedication.. not without its price.

 

Have you ever considered that your dream to never leave Seattle and only work for Alaska is what's holding you back?