fecav8r

Actually, you won't know until you die. You could retire and still lose everything.

CaptainMark

hired at fedex 12 years ago...i am 37 and have been a widebody captain for 2 years..flown around the world and loved every minute of it...have not experienced the bad part of the business (knock on wood)...great career..go for it!!!

Widow's Son

I left a great regional for a better major.
Every job step in my career has been an initial pay cut, but they always paid off. From a strictly enjoyment level I have found the smaller the airplane and/or airport the more fun they are, but after 25 years in the biz, a gorgeous view is still that and at its worst, it still beats working for living.

For the same money I would go back to Cessnas and dirt strips, but if you are going to be away from your family you might as well get all you can for your time. Nevertheless, all things being equal I would choose long term security over short term hourly pay.

I work 15-16 days a month and haven't made less than 200k for several years. The hotel rooms are getting old, but flying the airplane is still a kick. I worked very hard to get to this point, but I have also been lucky and blessed. My instructor who finished my private was furloughed from Western Airlines at the time and tried to talk me out of my dream. The industry was bleak in the 70's when I was starting out and many said I had no chance. I am glad I didn't listen to them.

SkyHigh

My advice is not to ask working major airline pilots if they like their jobs. It is like asking multi-million dollar lottery winners what they think of gambling. Of course a 37 year old FedEx Captain is going to be happy. That is the dream that has launched a thousand failed careers.

A better tactic is to survey the losers and regional bums of what they think. Most likely that is where you will end up. The odds are strongly against making it to the big time and if you do we all already know how you will feel about it.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

Perhaps we should ask the latest winner of American Idol what they think about the music business?


SKyHigh

POPA

...or ask furloughed regional pilots what they think of the unemployment office.

bubblemonkey

SkyHigh, I have not been on this forum very long, but it seems that you have a dismal view of making a career in aviation. Why are all your posts so negative?

Indy refugee

So let's say this guy decides to get his real estate license instead. On day one he sees two groups of agents in the office. The first group is standing around the water cooler. They're whining about rising interest rates, the glut on the market, the sellers who want too much for their houses, the buyers are all looking for a deal. "I wish I'd never gotten into te stupid business, you can't make a living here"

On the other side of the room, another group of agents are working the phones. They've got relocation referrals going on and they're all selling houses and making money.

Question, who should our new agent ask for advice? The water cooler gang looks easy. Just stand around and *itch. Those other guys are working hard, but they are 'liviin' the dream'!!

Life is a choice, choose well!!

CVG767A

A better tactic would be to ask both. You have to know the upside and the downside to make a good decision. In the end, though, its not about the money. Even when we were making the big bucks, I flew with guys who hated coming to work. Life's too short for that.

SkyHigh

Your premise is that success in aviation relies solely upon effort. I say that luck and timing play a larger roll. Even a dedicated and talented real estate agent realises when it is time to hang it up. If the market is sour no amount of phone calls will make a difference. At some point it becomes sheer stupidity to carry on. In addition a Real Estate agent only has a 30 day training program on the line. A pilot has much more to loose.

SkyHigh