Do we like what we do?????
 

I am a flight instructor and I've always been fascinated by flying. I look at these forums almost everyday and wonder if I got myself into the wrong career. Don't get me wrong I love flying and think to myself how lucky I am to do what I like. But some of the things I read on these forums make me want to steer away from the the business. Granted regional fo's dont make much $ but would you rather sit at Initech and make the same amount of money. I want to make it to the regionals and then to the majors or cargo. Is this a very hard thing to do nowadays? I did all of my training in northern Michigan and when i couldn't fly(winter lake effect) I didn't feel right. I'm just asking to all the regional pilots do you like your job???? :rolleyes:

As a recent hire to ExpressJet I can't tell you what it's like to be a regional FO, however flying gets in your blood and even though you might be dead tired after a long week of flying it doesn't seem to take long for you to wanna be back in the air. I am very fortunate to be debt free starting my airline career and can stomach the low pay for awhile. When i got my private I used to jumpseat with my friends father in a 737 any chance i got and I realized that I never want to do anything else.

The way I see it, find something that you love do do...then find someone that will pay you to do it.

Same here
 

I have no ide what I want to be when I grow up:)
fbh

This is the attitude we all need to have!! Good Job Washout!!!!! :D :D

I spent some time flying in Alaska. Flying small airplanes up to 3500' AGL. After Alaska, I tried a regional (Mesa uhg!). Half way through the training I knew I made a BIG mistake, so I didn't finish, call me a washout or what you will. I love flying too and being told climb to this altitude and turn to that heading didn't appeal to me too much. In Alaska, my job was "take these 5 people, the family dog and 10 boxes of fish to destination" (fill in the blank), how I got there was my choice. Sometimes it was over the water, the forest and when the weather was good I'd fly over the icefields. Everyday I saw something that was spectacular, plus I made more money than most people flying regionals and the company treated me very well. I never was required to work on my days off, stay by the phone or sleep in a dirty airplane on a 4 hour layover. In fact I never worked nights, I was home in bed everynight!

I'm not saying this is for everyone. You need to decide what kind of flying you want to do and what your long term goals are. If flying a big jet is your goal then find the best company that offers turbine time and offers the highest Quality of Life possible. Make sure it is with a company that VALUES it's employees.

Just yet another viewpoint!

P.S. Mesa Sucks and J.O. is an AzzMunkey!!

Stomaching first year FO pay is the hardest thing I've ever done.

That said, I love what I do. I've worked office jobs before, and hating your job is an awful recurring feeling to get at 8 AM every day. Do what you love.

..........

Well, Colin, IMHO at the end of the day it really is worth it. A lot of people get into this profession for the wrong reasons, and end up being the most miserable people to fly with, on top of giving all of us a bad rep. I'm a first year guy at XJT, and really love my job. Yeah, the pay kinda sucks for now, but in a few months it will get better. What I taught my aspiring airline pilot students was never to stagnate- because that's what makes it unbearable. Always have a "next step" to look forward to and plan for. From being a lowly regional FO, the next step is CA, then the majors, then CA at the majors, then other AC types. That's what makes flying fun for me.

All in all, it may not be the best paying job in the world, but it's up to us to change that. The profession's been in a downward slide for a while now, but only we can bring back wages commensurate with our responsibilites. You gotta remember- we've got a 50 million dollar machine in our hands, and countless lives in the back. Alot of airline CEOs tend to forget that, while they're counting their $550,000 dollar paychecks.

I've been on the other side, at a $hithole airline, and know it can suck bad- so when you decide to apply to the airlines, choose carefully. Don't get SJS, and pick quality of life over low hiring minimums. Trust me, it will make you SOO much happier in the long run.

Other than that, who else can say their office has a view from 36,000 feet? :D

Take care and fly safe- PM me if ya got any questions!!

Well I will say the greatest single pleasure I have ever had has been flying a Tailwheel. No radios, open door, its amazing. The most fun I ever had was fling single engine airplanes, whether instructing or heading down to Atlantic city to blow my 300$ paycheck....................but man was it fun. The most challenging flying I have done has probably been landing the Duchess in a 20kt x-wind at N07 (Lincoln Park) Man it was fun. I love "being and airline pilot", however CFI'ing and shootin holes in the sky is way more fun, not very lucrative. My family and friends bust their asses waking up at 5 getting home at 9pm every night m-f, HELL NO, ill take furloughs, Greedy CEO's Ground Delays, nasty Flight attendants anyday. The day I dont look up at airplane while I pass an airport is the day I give it up, but no sooner, now matter how frustrating. Read "Fate is the Hunter" great great book, made me proud, we do what a lot of people only dream of, few actually take the beating it takes to do it and we have done it, though we ***** and moan, we all feel a sense of brotherhood thats for sure. I wouldn't give it up, no matter how much I complain, besides chics will always dig that your an airline pilot. Its going to get better, I promise ya ;)

Lanesuzza, when did you interview there? Was it January of '04?
If you are who I think, you were unsure about the whole regional thing during the interview.