Statistically speaking
 

75% of all experts think so.

Ok I think that skyhigh may be a bit obsessive in his quest to dissuade potential pilots from getting on with the airlines.

But, what I have seen is a group pilots almost willing to give there lives for a shot at the airlines, with no regard for a logical return on their investment.
People seem so he//bent on flying for an airline that they become borderline delusional.

If aviation is your passion/dream there are smarter ways to go about achieving your dream in today’s industry.

If I had invested all the time and money starting up my own business I KNOW I would be able to buy my own plane by now and fly on Christmas with my family, not be stuck in a hotel.

To all the guys/gals looking at aviation as a career, you can do anything you put your mind to. If you cant imagine anything but flying a 737 back and forth across the country for the rest of your life then take your chances with the airlines. To anyone else who just loves to fly, plan out a way to make yourself finance free, so you can fly when you want with those you love.
If you are still set on an airline, DO NOT go to a flight school and get into debt for this. Join the military! The flight schools are just after your money, and with 7-10 years at a regional your life will be a finance disaster.
Lucky for me I was able to use government subsidized loans and consolidate them with 1.5% interest. Not sure how others are making it with huge student loan payments.
Just my 2 cents, but what do I know I fly for a regional, and don’t deserve a career for at least another 5 years, and just looking for instand gratification.:o

Ok, I agree with the first part of your post, ya I do think a lot of people out there sell themselves short because they want to fly so bad and end up in a crappy financial and career situation. But I think you start to make some generalizations later in your post.
First off, you mentioned flying a 737 back and forth across the country for the rest of your life like it was a montonous experience for every pilot that does it. There are a lot of folks who feel gifted that they get to sit in the cockpit of an airliner like the 737 and fly across the US for a living everyday. Yeah, I think some people might get tired of it, but there are plenty of pilots out there who are really thankful and appreciative they got where they were, it sounds thrilling to me.
In regards to those that just love to fly, it's getting harder and harder for those of us who fly private to afford it. Buying a plane and maintaining it properly is a huge investment I don't care if it's a 150 or a G-V and renting a plane is not cheap either. It costs about as much as a ticket from LAX-JFK to rent a 172 and go on a long x-country flight and back. Sure you could rent a much faster nicer plane but they get pretty pricey. You could always fly around the local area and save money, but lets face it, that gets boring after a while, I want to travel and see the world, and I am not going to get too far in a 172 without the bill skyrocketing and several fuelstops.
In regards to the military vs. flight schools I have no personal experience in the military, but I think there are plenty of flight schools out there that are affordable if you apply yourself and set yourself up with a good schedule to get it done. Not all flight schools charge outrageous rates and put every student in debt. Obviously ya they're businesses and they want your money, is that supposed to be a shock?
I have no desire at all to go in the military. I want to be an individual and have freedom of choice. Putting my life on the line and sacrificing a huge portion of my life to something I don't want to get involved with so I can get a job with the regionals by the time I get out, what a joke. Maybe if I had lost all hope, had no money and was on the virge of a complete break down would I consider it. I have dreams, I have passions, and I have goals that I want to achieve and the military factors into none of it. Other people are in different situations than I am and so the military depending on their circumstances, might work out great for them, but it's just not for me.

This is quite evident!


Your dreams, passions, and goals made possible by the sailors, soldiers, airmen, and Marines that were protecting your freedoms as you slept soundly last night.

speaking as a Marine,currently a civilian,who loved his time in the service, it isn't for everybody, and it it isn't a sin for somebody to not want to take up arms, that being said everybody,and I mean everybody,ought to give something back to the society that has nurtured them, it may be military service, or volunteering at a hospital, whatever, but please,give something back to the nation at large,end of rave.

Again we have choices(FREEDOM) and thanks to those who serve. A generation ago least we forget, they didn't have choices and served so that today you have.
There will always be those who try and achieve and those who try and don't. Some who don't look for reasons why they didn't and the easiest answer is because of someone or something else.
Every person who achieved anything worth while had to work for it and it really if ever comes easy.
Just be thankful you have choices and protect that privilege.
As for those who choose not to serve, don't you ever forget who won that privilege for you.

Cwu1919
 

Since Skywriting, 727C47, and SWACapt have diplomacy, I'm going to cut to the chase--YOU ARE A TYPICAL GEN X PIECE OF SH_T!

I consider you that because of your words, "I have no desire at all to go in the military. I want to be an individual and have freedom of choice. Putting my life on the line and sacrificing a huge portion of my life to something I don't want to get involved with so I can get a job with the regionals by the time I get out, what a joke."

How convenient that you want freedom of choice...What have you done besides pay taxes to preserve that want???

Most of the civilian types that sit FO I meet are very respectful and proud of the US mil and those that served. But every once in a while I come across selfish, spoiled, whimps that only care about themselves.

I'm being harsh because I know your type. Sure Skywriting's post was dead on and presented diplomatically, but I know that your point of view is pretty much hard wired from your up-bringing and you probably rolled your eyes after reading it . I can tell from your tone that you have a disdain for the military!

Go volunteer somewhere! I'm glad you never served in the USAF, your the type that would go DNIF about the time we deploy!

Cargobob I think you were being too harsh... The military is indeed not for everyone. I myself have no military background but am thankful every day for the people who put their @$$ on the line so I can sleep well at night, in both Australia and the US (I am a dual citizen).

That being said I can see why you would have taken exception to bla bla bla's post. His choice of words that he used "what a joke" can easily be taken to mean that he thought that people who take the military route to aviation are a joke?? That's definately not the case. IMHO anybody who wants to be a pilot and is prepared to sacrifice some of their younger years in defense of a nation in order to achieve that goal should be admired and respected.

Cargobob are you of the viewpoint that EVERYBODY should serve in the armed forces? That's the way it works in Israel and a few other countries.
You have to remember that at the moment at least, being in the military is a personal choice, and someone not wanting to serve is not necessarily unpatriotic or even ungrateful.

Just for clarification, I never said "what a joke" that was our friend cwu1919.

Wish I would have joined the military, infact I talked to a recruter when I was 29, for the air national guard. I only had 2 months untill my 30th birthday not enough time to prepare for the tests. I have a good friend who is flying the a-10 up in boise, he loves it.

In my opnion the military is the only way to go these days. Check out the air national guard.

pay
 

''I know of doctors who wish they had not become doctors, and would like to get out of medicine. Like the poster above who stated their friend is as intern, and wants out. The average salary of a doctor is $216K per year. That is after 10 years of medical school, long, long hours, working as an intern, making very little, and paying tons in malpractice.''

i can't say i know too many doctors who dont enjoy a lavish lifestyle. malpractice payments really arent so bad, the hours are long sure..especially at first..but so are pilots on reserve. (atleast we dont fly halfway around the world so far away from our families) medical school is not 10 yrs long, it took me about 7 yrs after graduating high school to become a doctor. and as far as making very little, during residency pay goes up fast, i was makin about 80 grand in a few months of residency. as far as job stability goes, people will always need us, always in demand. after pullin in 480k last year, i'm definately not complaining about money. of course not every doctor lucks out..but on average, we do, unlike the average pilot..atleast on here it seems majority live paycheck to paycheck.