Pilot Shortage?
05-24-2007 | 06:43 AM
#31
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 73
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From: King Air 200
If that makes you happy then good for you. Many would not make the same sacrifices. The guy who you knew cleaning carpets could have a huge happy family by now and a multi-million dollar carpet cleaning business.
Perhaps if your life was an open book and you were willing to provide for a full audit of the sacrifices you have made to get there we could determine if it was really worth it. It is easy to suggest that it was but without the full story no one will ever know except you.
SkyHigh
Perhaps if your life was an open book and you were willing to provide for a full audit of the sacrifices you have made to get there we could determine if it was really worth it. It is easy to suggest that it was but without the full story no one will ever know except you.
SkyHigh
On the other hand, if all this negativity is just to get people to drop out of flying so that we can have a real pilot shortage, then more power to you! I'm with you brother ... I can feel my seniority climbing right now
05-24-2007 | 07:46 AM
#32
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
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From: Corporate Pilot
A hobby
Maybe I've read too many posts on APC to remember, but why is it again that you hang out here so much SkyHigh? I mean, I used to work in consulting and I wasn't happy, but I don't hang outside my old office building telling my ex-coworkers that they would understand how miserable their lives were if they just took the time to reflect on their sacrifices.
On the other hand, if all this negativity is just to get people to drop out of flying so that we can have a real pilot shortage, then more power to you! I'm with you brother ... I can feel my seniority climbing right now
On the other hand, if all this negativity is just to get people to drop out of flying so that we can have a real pilot shortage, then more power to you! I'm with you brother ... I can feel my seniority climbing right now
I don't see my views as negative. To a smoker an ad campaign to reduce smoking in teens might seem to be negative. My points are not negative just in opposition to most here.
SkyHigh
05-24-2007 | 08:05 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 148
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From: 737 FO
Well said 80kts.
What I suspect with some people who are holding a very negative attitude is that they want a job within 30 minutes of where they currently live, starting at $100K a year. Your expectations have to be realistic to start with (yes, even with good time you'll have to 'start over' to some extent), however, I still don't know how with that kind of time one couldn't find a reasonable job in a city that they were happy with. I have a good job, but I keep in touch with friends flying in different places, and I keep in touch with a contract company I have a relationship with. They called me the other day to see if I was interested in a position that came up. They called me even though I am short on time on the type they had the position on; the reason being I keep up good relations and have made pretty reasonable career decisions along the way. They also do not have many other options to fill the position.
I didn't have anywhere near 11500 hours when I was hired onto a 777 mate. I worked my but off to get the job though. I'd say just keep trying but I fear any possitive statement would fall on deaf, defeated ears, which sucks 'cause with the time and the right attitude you could be doing very well in 12-18 months. But that's just my opinion.
What I suspect with some people who are holding a very negative attitude is that they want a job within 30 minutes of where they currently live, starting at $100K a year. Your expectations have to be realistic to start with (yes, even with good time you'll have to 'start over' to some extent), however, I still don't know how with that kind of time one couldn't find a reasonable job in a city that they were happy with. I have a good job, but I keep in touch with friends flying in different places, and I keep in touch with a contract company I have a relationship with. They called me the other day to see if I was interested in a position that came up. They called me even though I am short on time on the type they had the position on; the reason being I keep up good relations and have made pretty reasonable career decisions along the way. They also do not have many other options to fill the position.
I didn't have anywhere near 11500 hours when I was hired onto a 777 mate. I worked my but off to get the job though. I'd say just keep trying but I fear any possitive statement would fall on deaf, defeated ears, which sucks 'cause with the time and the right attitude you could be doing very well in 12-18 months. But that's just my opinion.
05-24-2007 | 08:23 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 148
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From: 737 FO
SkyHigh,
I didn't mean to make it sound like you shouldn't keep after Alaska. If you want back into aviation though there are other airlines out there. I made the terrible mistake of focusing on Alaska for four years and it cost me four years of seniority. Am I bitter? Of course I am.
I didn't mean to make it sound like you shouldn't keep after Alaska. If you want back into aviation though there are other airlines out there. I made the terrible mistake of focusing on Alaska for four years and it cost me four years of seniority. Am I bitter? Of course I am.
05-24-2007 | 02:51 PM
#35
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 73
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From: King Air 200
Writing on this forum is a hobby of mine. I spent so many years as a pilot that it doesn't go away overnight. This is a topic that I am passionate about and feel that I have something to add.
I don't see my views as negative. To a smoker an ad campaign to reduce smoking in teens might seem to be negative. My points are not negative just in opposition to most here.
SkyHigh
I don't see my views as negative. To a smoker an ad campaign to reduce smoking in teens might seem to be negative. My points are not negative just in opposition to most here.
SkyHigh
Amen brother! You heard it here kids. Smoking is bad for you and so is flying. Drop out before it's too late!
I think I just went up a few more seniority notches.
Just funning with you Sky
Everyone's opinion counts 
05-25-2007 | 10:05 AM
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 176
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From: Citation
Tune In
Turn On
Drop Out
(especially if you work for a major or are senior to me!)
05-25-2007 | 10:39 AM
#38
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
Yes
SkyHigh,
I didn't mean to make it sound like you shouldn't keep after Alaska. If you want back into aviation though there are other airlines out there. I made the terrible mistake of focusing on Alaska for four years and it cost me four years of seniority. Am I bitter? Of course I am.
I didn't mean to make it sound like you shouldn't keep after Alaska. If you want back into aviation though there are other airlines out there. I made the terrible mistake of focusing on Alaska for four years and it cost me four years of seniority. Am I bitter? Of course I am.
Had I known that it was going to be this hard to get hired at a po dunk northwest company I never would have taken lesson one. I have well placed friends acorss the country who have offered to help at many of the finer companies. In the last two years I have been called up for interviews at some of the flex jet operators and a few regionals, however unless I can see a way it can help me with my quest I have no interest.
Lets face it the life of an airline pilot is difficult. Pay is not what it use to be. Work rules are harsh and I don't believe that the future be any better at all. To add on top of all that having to live someplace away from everything you value in life it just isn't worth it. Flying is great but in the end it is just a job. It isn't worth throwing my or my families life away over.
SKyHigh
05-25-2007 | 07:27 PM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 145
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Lets face it the life of an airline pilot is difficult. Pay is not what it use to be. Work rules are harsh and I don't believe that the future be any better at all. To add on top of all that having to live someplace away from everything you value in life it just isn't worth it. Flying is great but in the end it is just a job. It isn't worth throwing my or my families life away over.
SKyHigh[/quote]
AMEN Who gives a flying *&%# what you fly, pay your bills, grab a birdie, love your kids, say your prayers, grab some sleep....
SKyHigh[/quote]
AMEN Who gives a flying *&%# what you fly, pay your bills, grab a birdie, love your kids, say your prayers, grab some sleep....
05-25-2007 | 08:15 PM
#40
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Sure the is a shortage and thats why guys are going to work for skybus for bread and water. And those of you that hope there will be a shortage just sounds like wishful thinking to me, the only hope alot of you got right now. Im just a long time flight instructor and the instructors that work here arent able to get jobs with only multi comm., but its a hell of a lot more easy then it used to be. im not saying people arent though but they had something special to get that interview.
I do think there is going to be a shortage in many other countries though especialy china. i instructed the chinese for a while an i can tell you i will never take a ride on a chinese airline. those guys are terrible and thats no joke.
I do think there is going to be a shortage in many other countries though especialy china. i instructed the chinese for a while an i can tell you i will never take a ride on a chinese airline. those guys are terrible and thats no joke.
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