fireman0174

I loved being a pilot. One month short of 37 years for one airline. But the job changed after 9/11 and from what I hear, it has gone down hill even more. I retired 16 months early and it's been almost three years since I last set the parking brake on a B-777.

However, it's important to remember that an airline career is a lot like a pendulum - it goes one way but it will swing back.

I saw it in my career, several times actually, and my dad saw in his life time and he goes back to the open cockpit days.

I think the career, from a pilot's perspective, will get better, but it will take time to recover, definitely more so than in the past.

There are lots of pilots out there who want the job, but it's important to understand that many will never get hired at an airline, simply because they don't meet the requirements for the specific airline - whatever that criteria is.

So give it your best shot - but get yourself an education that will allow yourself to support a family in the event your aviation goals cannot be met.

Art

RedeyeAV8r

Now I know your not an airline Pilot by your lack of knowledge and misinformation.

First I fly an MD11 (not a 747). I fly both long haul international and short haul domestic. I get way more than 3 landings in a month.......

My Dispatch........(Purple/orange Freight carrrier) will send me anywhere anytime., doesn't matter what the weather is....as long as I have a legal alternate.............They do it on a daily (nightly in my case) basis. Ever flown into a 3rd world country?? Controllers speak marginal english and airports and nav equipment are unreliable.

Those situations I mentioned happen on every trip..............not all at once but individually. It is just routine( loss of engines is an exception) We consistenly are flying in and around typhoons throught out Asia..............Gusty crosswinds are the norm everywhere. It is just routine.

Cat 3 approaches..................try SEA/TAC at 400am or anywhere in the San Jacquine valley in the winter. again just routine
I am not tooting my own horn.............it is what we (ALL) professional pilots do on a daily basis. Yes it becomes common place for us...................................by the way, a apindectomy or open heart surgery is routine.......for a qualified surgeon.

Punkpilot48

Yhe only other thing ive everwanted to do is race stock cars but thats pretty much a lot of uncertanty as well

Punkpilot48

Im going to my very first big time low paying shinny jet job on wednesday! Can you please let them know that I fit into the category of everybody?

calcapt

I am new to this forum and originally signed on to experience like minded peers sharing items of interest. I am in awe of guys like SKY HIGH who have nothing better to do than talk (600 plus posts) about things they are completely ignorant about. My dad used to say that "the people who know the least talk the most" - and it certainly seems to be the case in Sky High's case. Get a life and quit insulting those of us that have done something with our lives. I can assure you that my 400 carrier landings and 16 years of flying into some of the worst weather imaginable had very little to do with anything other than skill, training and a lot of damned hard work. Your dismissive attitude about this industry and the professional pilots that make it work says a lot more about you than any one of us. Perhaps it is time to move on to the "people who need a life" forum.

RedeyeAV8r

Amen Brother! Redeye

dckozak

If you plan not to think or use your feet while flying than, yes, you are part of everybody

Punkpilot48

Hey I dont want conditions!!!!!....Dont you remember Im one of those 20 somethin' xbox punks. dont you remember I want what I want and I want it right now obviously.

dckozak

Based on what you say, I think you may be dumb enough to fly airplanes

Punkpilot48

Well according to some of the other threads I was dumb enough to start out with the goal of bein an airline pilot