Best Age to a Major
09-16-2010 | 10:07 PM
#63
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: 737n/FO
...and so if you read the above, you can gather some very good advice:
1) Stay healthy, and stay happy for the long term. It's not a sprint, but a marathon.
2) You certainly can be ambitious: create (and take) any opportunity to get a seniority number at an airline that you value. Paddle hard early, then ride the first hiring wave in the set.
3) Once you get to where you were going, stay there. Don't make a bunch of lateral moves trying to second-guess the future of any given company.
4) Don't worry about things you can't control. Like your age.
Good luck!
1) Stay healthy, and stay happy for the long term. It's not a sprint, but a marathon.
2) You certainly can be ambitious: create (and take) any opportunity to get a seniority number at an airline that you value. Paddle hard early, then ride the first hiring wave in the set.
3) Once you get to where you were going, stay there. Don't make a bunch of lateral moves trying to second-guess the future of any given company.
4) Don't worry about things you can't control. Like your age.
Good luck!
09-16-2010 | 10:16 PM
#64
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: In front of my computer
09-16-2010 | 10:23 PM
#65
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: In front of my computer
09-17-2010 | 05:30 AM
#66
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: B-757/767 Capt.
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This aspiring airline pilot specifically asked for no negative comments (I'm sure he or she has heard them all) but you just couldn't resist. I'll bet you're fun to fly with!
PSpence, if it's your dream, go for it with all you've got, the sooner the better For every class you are ahead of the next you will be rewarded for your entire career! If it turns out that its not for you, you'll be smart enough to know and make your own life changes I'm sure. The worst thing one can do is to stay in a career where they are miserable in their work making all their coworkers suffer their cynycism and negativity. Some woul rather complain than fix.
It may not be the job right now that it once was but neither are the rest of the careers in corporate America, and I, for the first time in many many years am optimistic about the future of our profession. Many things are on the horizon (improving economy, changing rest requirements, 1500 hr rule for 121 etc) that may finally and truly create a pilot shortage improving our bargaining position tremendously enableing us to recover much that was taken.
There will be frustration in any career that you choose but I can assure you, weather your passion is fixing cars, coaching sports, cutting hair or flying airplanes, if you do for a living what you enjoy you will never have to work.
CG
<
This aspiring airline pilot specifically asked for no negative comments (I'm sure he or she has heard them all) but you just couldn't resist. I'll bet you're fun to fly with!
PSpence, if it's your dream, go for it with all you've got, the sooner the better For every class you are ahead of the next you will be rewarded for your entire career! If it turns out that its not for you, you'll be smart enough to know and make your own life changes I'm sure. The worst thing one can do is to stay in a career where they are miserable in their work making all their coworkers suffer their cynycism and negativity. Some woul rather complain than fix.
It may not be the job right now that it once was but neither are the rest of the careers in corporate America, and I, for the first time in many many years am optimistic about the future of our profession. Many things are on the horizon (improving economy, changing rest requirements, 1500 hr rule for 121 etc) that may finally and truly create a pilot shortage improving our bargaining position tremendously enableing us to recover much that was taken.
There will be frustration in any career that you choose but I can assure you, weather your passion is fixing cars, coaching sports, cutting hair or flying airplanes, if you do for a living what you enjoy you will never have to work.
CG
Last edited by cubguy; 09-17-2010 at 05:45 AM.
09-17-2010 | 06:30 AM
#67
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
AA at 26 going on 27, now 38. Scheduled to retire at #22.
It has been a wild ride, I still enjoy the flying, and would not change anything. Flying for the airlines is more than just a job, it is a lifestyle. Look at all the people on this forum, many with days off talking about.......Flying.
You may see many people *****, but they are still here.. Why?
I would like to see many improvements in our contract, however I recently sat down with an old childhood friend who is a Pediatrician. I grossed slightly more than him, and worked half the hours. We talked about our jobs, and he said he was a little envious. Primarily because he said I and another airline pilot he knows has such a passion and love for aviation. That is lacking in some many people doing so many different jobs.
You will ALWAYS find someone that makes more than you, even in some of the most peculiar jobs... However do what you enjoy in life, do what fulfills you. Money does not make the man (or women) nor does it buy happiness.
Tailwinds,
AA
It has been a wild ride, I still enjoy the flying, and would not change anything. Flying for the airlines is more than just a job, it is a lifestyle. Look at all the people on this forum, many with days off talking about.......Flying.
You may see many people *****, but they are still here.. Why?
I would like to see many improvements in our contract, however I recently sat down with an old childhood friend who is a Pediatrician. I grossed slightly more than him, and worked half the hours. We talked about our jobs, and he said he was a little envious. Primarily because he said I and another airline pilot he knows has such a passion and love for aviation. That is lacking in some many people doing so many different jobs.
You will ALWAYS find someone that makes more than you, even in some of the most peculiar jobs... However do what you enjoy in life, do what fulfills you. Money does not make the man (or women) nor does it buy happiness.
Tailwinds,
AA
09-17-2010 | 06:38 AM
#68
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
The job
It seems to me that in the past flying was a means to an end. Now it must encompass the main focus of your life to remain happily in the saddle. I was always about the stuff that happens between trips when you are at home.
Every year it seems that the airlines want more TAFB and offer less in wages. I want a life more than a career. In ten years the airlines will be made up mostly of young single studio apartment living aviation monks. If it isn't there already.
Skyhigh
Every year it seems that the airlines want more TAFB and offer less in wages. I want a life more than a career. In ten years the airlines will be made up mostly of young single studio apartment living aviation monks. If it isn't there already.
Skyhigh
09-17-2010 | 06:52 AM
#69
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
It seems to me that in the past flying was a means to an end. Now it must encompass the main focus of your life to remain happily in the saddle. I was always about the stuff that happens between trips when you are at home.
Every year it seems that the airlines want more TAFB and offer less in wages. I want a life more than a career. In ten years the airlines will be made up mostly of young single studio apartment living aviation monks. If it isn't there already.
Skyhigh
Every year it seems that the airlines want more TAFB and offer less in wages. I want a life more than a career. In ten years the airlines will be made up mostly of young single studio apartment living aviation monks. If it isn't there already.
Skyhigh
Sorry it did not work out for you, however I personally would not change anything. Out the door to enjoy one of my days off. Enjoy your day off complaining about what you never achieved.
The AAflyer
09-17-2010 | 07:11 AM
#70
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
I can understand
I live in a beautiful home in upstate NY near the Finger Lakes. I still have 15+ days off a month, and enjoy teaching in J-3s on my days off as GA is still a passion for me. There is plenty of money to live very well and do the things I want to do.
Sorry it did not work out for you, however I personally would not change anything. Out the door to enjoy one of my days off. Enjoy your day off complaining about what you never achieved.
The AAflyer
Sorry it did not work out for you, however I personally would not change anything. Out the door to enjoy one of my days off. Enjoy your day off complaining about what you never achieved.
The AAflyer
We are all very happy for you however it is not an accurate representation of what the pilots of the future will experience. New pilots need to know that your level of success is not commonly available anymore.
Skyhigh
P.S. I also enjoy living in a nice home in the country and get most of the year to do with what I please. I am home every night and own a Cessna 150 to fly for fun. I freelance instruct a bit when I feel like it. However none of the lifestyle that I enjoy today came from my airline career though I wish it did. It would have been much easier to have gotten a good flying job early on.
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