Stupid things
 

shanejj,

Another one of the stupid things I did as a younger person was to be an avid weight lifter.

SkyHigh

Why would you start off with a dream so young just to have this negative image on it?
Sure aviation isn't what it used to be back then....whenever that was....but it's still aviation...

Stupid perhaps 'cause you never made it to competition levels:D

Don't Believe me
 

I know that you don't believe me but for most it is an awful choice. If I were you I would study carefully all the facts and evaluate yourself and who you really are as a person. If you hold dreams of having a family I would have strong reservations.

SkyHigh

Weight Lifting
 

I made it far enough to know that I was damaging body. Keep in mind that I have known a few body builders who had to quit flying because they had so much bulk they couldn't operate in a smaller flight deck.

They also had to pass a urine test for steroids.


SkyHigh

It is only awfull if you see it that way....
I'm getting a degree in computer programming....but I would NEVER want to do anything in that field....even if someone guarantees me big big paychecks everyweek...
I'm 19. NINETEEN!...single.....going to be sitting in the cockpit of an airliner....with actual passengers behind me....how can I NOT be psyched.....:D :D

I wold have to be an as$ to give that up because the industry is going down....
I have been discouraged in the past about CFIing.....about how it sucks and it's the worst job ever....Main reason I never got my CFI ticket....
I'm getting the chance to sit in the cockpit of an airliner now...
I'm not letting anyone take that away from me....
Not even safe vehicles, or nice homes....like u stated life is all about...

Were you juicin'?

Do they really check for roids?
That's a seperate test than your standard drug test.....

not that I take any...

Go then
 

I would go for it if I were you. If you have a girlfriend dump her. If you don't have one, stay away. Get use to shedding everything else in your life that you currently enjoy. The weight lifting has to stop as well. For the most part pilots are skinny pillow handed geeks. You must strive to fit in.

You have all my best wishes and I you can rely on me to help in any way.

SkyHigh

Roids
 

I wasn't juicin. It was in the early 1980's. We didn't have that stuff then. I can't say if they test for that stuff but as a pilot you will take all kinds of drug tests some are employer sponsored and most likely check for everything. Wouldn't it suck to watch your efforts and sacrifices go up in smoke over a little cup of urine though?

SkyHigh

Are you joking?
Roids were alive and well in the 80's...especially A-bomb...
How do u think Arnold got that big??:D

But you're right....It would DEF. suck...a career in bodybuilding is not what I want....I had a hard time as it is climbing over people in a 335...
Juicing is not bad...but...not for me...not at my age at least...

In any case
 

In any case, if you are big it is difficult to fit into a Cessna 152, Learjet, ect....

SkyHigh

yeah, I couldn't fit in a 152 :confused:
At least not with my instructor...
At least I can stand up straight in an RJ

Test
 

The test is if you can reach the circuit breaker panel behind you or pump handle on the floor without leaving your seat. The bigger guys have extreme difficulty sometimes.

Skyhigh

Well...I'm big as in big and athletic...
not big and plumpy, my friend :D

And sky...I just went through your profile....
You flew a lot of airplanes I would love to fly...
Seriously....
what happend that made you turn your back on aviation...:confused:

Arms
 

Thick arms and stiff tendons are the problem. There are plenty of skinny limbed fatties and they do fine.

SkyHigh

Well...
I'm no Ronnie Coleman...
Plus I fit fine in the sim...
Hopefully I won't gain any weight...
as you stated that life as a pilot, I wont have time to workout and I'll end
up like the F/A....:p

Aviation
 

Aviation killed or ruined most of my best friends and kicked me to the curb to many times. I spent 20 years watching and studying aviation and have concluded for myself that there really is little hope for a better future.

It is easy to put ones head in the sand and hope things were different but as a father and man who wishes life success over all else I had to take off the rose colored glasses and see my career for what it is.

I do not wish to be a part of something that is on the death spiral. Adapt or die.

SkyHigh

Well...
If aviation is going down, is already down, or went down yestarday, I still would love to fly...in the airlines...despite, like all of you said, management screwing you after you've been screwed.
I'm not trying to be the good boy soldier here....but...I believe that no one can just walk away from something they've been in for over 20 years...or have always dreamed of doing...
If it's bad....like you said...you adapt....you overcome....you improvise;)

i believe it was improvise, adapt and overcome...but neway. Shane, i'd get yourself through training before you make the "glorious days" spiel, the job isn't bad, but it's not the same dream you were probably dreaming...this you'll probably understand once the "wow, i'm flying a jet" wears off.

Skyhigh, we all know that this industry destroyed you, and your brothers...or, you could look at it a different way. This industry made you, made you into what you are. Now, that could either be a man who's ecstatic about controlling his own destiny and his current/future earning potential, or...a man who's broken because he dreams nightly of flying, and hasn't been able to quench that yet.

Dreams and responsibilities are two separate things. It isn't however, impossible for a person to live their dream and do so responsibly. In the two income families of today, a person doesn't need to make $150k to be successful. If a person was content at the regional levels 90% of them will allow you to max at 100k+ or at least very close to it. And for a person who got into that in their early 20's, that would put them there by the time they're forty, and still have 20(25) years left of it, and at the most crucial times (college for your kids).

Also, i'm sure your kids (skyhigh) like having a safe car, a nice house, health insurance, etc. But i bet they don't know it. Heck, if the electricity isn't cutting out, the car doesn't break down on the way to the grocery store, and they're not dying of disease, then most kids will be very happy. Whether you're in a Bentley, or a Chevy Aveo, but would you?

Change
 

You would be surprised. It is like the flip of a switch. One day you love it and the next it is gone. One of my oldest friends shut down his plane one day, quit and never went back. He had accomplished over 5000 hours and one day decided that he had enough.

I own a plane and I can hardly get myself to go out to the hangar to even look at it anymore. I haven't flown it in years.

SkyHigh

Yeah...I know...lemme get through training first before thinking of the f/a's.....and the overnight trips...
I most likely have SJS....
Skyhigh really does love aviation....
I dont think he'll put his 20 somethin years to waste.
Besides....he's on APC all the time :D

Parents
 

I don't have any ego requirements if that is what you mean but when you close the door on a vehicle with your family inside and watch them drive off to run errands in town you want to know that you have done your best and that they are about as well protected as can be.

I don't know if you are a parent but it changes you. It is important to me that my family live in a safe house, go to good schools, enjoy the company of friends and family and in general grow up in the best situation I can provide.

20 years is a long time. Most likely whatever company you are with will not even exist anymore by then. It is foolish to bank on what the pay will be like in 20 years.

Step back and look at the facts.


SkyHigh

Aviation
 

I am here because I love aviation and you guys are all I have left of 20 years of effort.

I love to fly, but flying didn't love me back. As with a bad girlfriend, at some point you have to pull up some self respect and get on with your life.

SkyHigh

Flying is not something you F* every night as a gf
It's a passion....

and your safety vehicle points...yeah..bogus..
If you hit head on with the avg. speeds nowadays....
I dont care if it's a 20+ star rating.....your dead B* :-/

A safe house, good schools.....all that is b.s....
everything can happen anywhere....

You could have had armored trucks for your kids, underground safehouses, the whole deal, and you finally send your kids off to colllege....and guess what...
VT tech shooting happens....
hmmm...you did your best but...society didn't do its best for you :-/

What then?

sky-

I think the generalities you use to describe the workers of this industry are no better than the ones the workers use to describe you. For every one of your remarks is another success story, and for everyone of the other individuals is another failure. Of my college friends who were majoring in aviation, the majority didn't pursue the airline jobs for one reason or another. For some it was cost, for others passion, for others job security. We all still get together and hang out every now and again, the the truth, we're all happy. Yeah, as a pilot a complain to my co-workers are about things in the industry, but it isn't bad, just as my friends complain to their co-workers, and everyday we'll all get up, and go to our chosen profession. And if 10 years down the line, we choose that this job isn't right for us anymore, what difference does it make? Time to go do something different, and be "successful". Heck skyhigh, we should all be so lucky right? then we could end up like you.

We can only be so lucky....with our safe schools, and safe vehicles, and let's not forget the safehouses

Oh snap, you got served son!!!

Oh snap!
You're 100 years behind :-/

thought this thread was closed -.-

All I know is that I have a loving wife who is completely supportive of me and my ambitions to become an airline pilot, I know a lot of folks who aren't so lucky and I count my blessings daily. The time will come soon when her patience and my years of training will pay off, and I'm so fortunate that our family hasn't suffered.

Ellen-

This is a great post, and appears legit, but are you EVER going to tell us where your information comes from, or are you just going to count on us trusting you?

You'll just have to trust me I guess, or spend some of your own time verifying what I post, if you are truely that concerned. And quite frankly, you should verify things that are posted on here anyway because it's the only way one can be intelligently informed from pure fictional BS to what is actually happening in the world of aviation.

"Hot News"
"PSA just declared that it will be closing their doors as of May 7th, acting Director Vernon Kenestrick said Saturday May 5th from their corporate headquarters. "This is a sorry day in our history, but as an airline we lack the resources to continue in a profitable manner. "

All training classes are cancelled, employees are asked to remove their personal items from their lockers and pick up their final paychecks form their supervisors Wednesday May 9 through Friday May 11th, or they can expect them to be mailed.

^^^^^^^^^^

Wait a minute......

An Airline Pilot? Yep - I'm a Professional-Hobbyist. Because we don't make enough to call it a Job.

(Just made that up. I'm so smart)

Alright. I guess I just don't understand how hard it would be to include the link for the multitudes of information you provide us with, or at least the name of the publication...

Followed by this gem:

Sky...you're a mess. Just depressing. Really pitiful.

Sky: did something happen in your past that scared you away from flying Go ahead and tell the story about how you nearly bit it, and we will all finally know why you are such a cynic!;)

I have a friend that works at a Chevy dealer in Memphis as a Tech, and he makes over 100k every year. I'm a Aircraft Maintenance Tech. and make just over 80k! Whats wrong with this picture!!!!

My story
 

I have told my story many times here already. It involves loss, death and massive disappointment. If you wish I will again retell the sorry tale. I am sure however that most here would prefer to be spared the story yet again.

SkyHigh

Prozac might help?