Does anybody like Being an Airline Pilot?
07-03-2007, 05:11 AM
#171
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
I love the job too, but its burns me to think of it was like Pre- 9/11. I think 12 yr CA on the DC-9 for NWA was like $191/hr, well take a look at it now, and this was 6 years ago, inflation, cost of living now a days, its shame, it really is. The sad thing is we are all just excited that the majors are starting to hire again, its a step in the right direction, but lets hope those that have the ability to make some changes come contract time do..............and those people my friends, are us, the Pilot Group.
07-03-2007, 05:28 AM
#172
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
I expected
Originally Posted by Lowtimer77
I am not an airline pilot so i have not experienced the lifestyle, but i do have some comments to make about SkyHigh. First off, I respect him because he is waaaaay more experienced in life and aviation than I am. However, I believe he has four children. With all due respect, when you decide to have 4 kids, the expectation to be "livin the good life" while working in most careers plummets. Now I realize that some single pilots commented here and still talked about it being hard to take care of themselves on a regional salary, but complaining because you couldn't support FIVE other people in your family?! There has to be some accountablity in these kind of decisions. I realize that it is a private matter how many children a couple decides to have, but when you b$tch that you cant take care of your 6-person family, one has to ask the question, "What did you expect?"
With that said, I do appreciate sky's comments because they do appear to show many of the harsh realties of the profession.
With that said, I do appreciate sky's comments because they do appear to show many of the harsh realties of the profession.
My generation expected to sacrifice a lot but also to gain much in return. To your generation it might seem like folly to have those expectations however that is exactly my point here. Why would anyone sacrifice so much and not expect to be highly compensated for it?
It never crossed my mind that as a professional airline pilot that had I stuck with it until my 40's that I wouldn't be able to support whatever I wanted. It makes no sense at all to blow a fortune on education and training to receive so little.
SkyHigh
07-03-2007, 05:32 AM
#173
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
I remember
Originally Posted by ExperimentalAB
Nothing makes me happier than getting up in the morning and getting into that Uniform (baseball caps and such LEFT at home - Pride, people)...now of course, I'm young and single - it WILL change a little with a family in the future :-)
But I've worked in so many different industries, I KNOW I can't be content anywhere else. If you Love flying the way some of us do, the Airline Life is not even an option - it's a requirement. As much as I loath the instability of our Industry, I will show for work every day until they force me into retirement!
But I've worked in so many different industries, I KNOW I can't be content anywhere else. If you Love flying the way some of us do, the Airline Life is not even an option - it's a requirement. As much as I loath the instability of our Industry, I will show for work every day until they force me into retirement!
SkyHigh
07-03-2007, 05:36 AM
#174
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Originally Posted by SkyHigh
Back when I started aviation wasn't such a low yield profession. People were able to make it to the majors while still in their 20's and the pay was akin to wealthier doctors and lawyers. Had I known that things were to deteriorate to what the guy who delivers my mail earns I would have skipped the entire experience.
My generation expected to sacrifice a lot but also to gain much in return. To your generation it might seem like folly to have those expectations however that is exactly my point here. Why would anyone sacrifice so much and not expect to be highly compensated for it?
It never crossed my mind that as a professional airline pilot that had I stuck with it until my 40's that I wouldn't be able to support whatever I wanted. It makes no sense at all to blow a fortune on education and training to receive so little.
SkyHigh
My generation expected to sacrifice a lot but also to gain much in return. To your generation it might seem like folly to have those expectations however that is exactly my point here. Why would anyone sacrifice so much and not expect to be highly compensated for it?
It never crossed my mind that as a professional airline pilot that had I stuck with it until my 40's that I wouldn't be able to support whatever I wanted. It makes no sense at all to blow a fortune on education and training to receive so little.
SkyHigh
My man's right....... theres not a day that goes by that I dont fear waking up, being 40 and not making enough money to get by, let alone having the things I want.............. Even worse I could be 40, be on first year pay at CAL, or worse yet not have a job, its risky and it looks like there is not too much to gain, especially with age 65 roaring its greedy little head. I dont know, I am in it for the long haul, I just fear this industry may just make me as bitter as Skyhigh, anyway Im off to Wegman's the girl wants me to make Key Lime pie for the Bar-B-Q and we all know she wears the pants cause she makes boat loads more money than I............
07-03-2007, 05:50 AM
#175
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Poor
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
My man's right....... theres not a day that goes by that I dont fear waking up, being 40 and not making enough money to get by, let alone having the things I want.............. Even worse I could be 40, be on first year pay at CAL, or worse yet not have a job, its risky and it looks like there is not too much to gain, especially with age 65 roaring its greedy little head. I dont know, I am in it for the long haul, I just fear this industry may just make me as bitter as Skyhigh, anyway Im off to Wegman's the girl wants me to make Key Lime pie for the Bar-B-Q and we all know she wears the pants cause she makes boat loads more money than I............
SkyHigh
07-03-2007, 06:16 AM
#176
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Originally Posted by SkyHigh
It is no fun to be poor at 40 especially. I have seen plenty of financially destroyed pilots who at 40 had nearly nothing but debt and 24K per year to look forward to. I knew one guy who at 58 only had a few items in a rented room to show for a lifetime of dedicated service as a pilot. Hard times can reach anyone but this profession is unusually brutal.
SkyHigh
SkyHigh
07-03-2007, 06:20 AM
#177
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Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Yes
Originally Posted by SAABaroowski
hahaah I dunt know sounds pretty funny to me, Imagine after all of these years....this is what we all end up like hahaah We will need to start a new Group, (APA) Airline Pilots Anonymous, so we can all tell each other how pathetic our lives are and this is what the Industry has done to us haha
SkyHigh
07-03-2007, 07:43 AM
#178
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 585
Many of the kids I went to high school with, both the school where I was a frosh and the school where I graduated, are dead.
Suicide got most of 'em.
Homicide got a few, drug deals gone bad or similar.
OD on crack, meth, PCP, and whatever drug du jour got a bunch.
Car accidents, DUI mostly, got another large bunch.
Only a few were killed in military action.
Rather sobering to realize that under 1/2 of the class was still alive for the 10 year reunion.
Then I look at my older relatives, arthritis, degenerative diseases, memory loss diseases, spending their last cents at the pharmacy, hoping the new miracle drug will ease what ails them. Health insurance that doesn't. Retirement world travel plans gone, just hoping to live another day instead.
Why not live your dream when you are still capable of it?
Suicide got most of 'em.
Homicide got a few, drug deals gone bad or similar.
OD on crack, meth, PCP, and whatever drug du jour got a bunch.
Car accidents, DUI mostly, got another large bunch.
Only a few were killed in military action.
Rather sobering to realize that under 1/2 of the class was still alive for the 10 year reunion.
Then I look at my older relatives, arthritis, degenerative diseases, memory loss diseases, spending their last cents at the pharmacy, hoping the new miracle drug will ease what ails them. Health insurance that doesn't. Retirement world travel plans gone, just hoping to live another day instead.
Why not live your dream when you are still capable of it?
07-03-2007, 08:35 AM
#179
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Dreams
Originally Posted by jedinein
Many of the kids I went to high school with, both the school where I was a frosh and the school where I graduated, are dead.
Suicide got most of 'em.
Homicide got a few, drug deals gone bad or similar.
OD on crack, meth, PCP, and whatever drug du jour got a bunch.
Car accidents, DUI mostly, got another large bunch.
Only a few were killed in military action.
Rather sobering to realize that under 1/2 of the class was still alive for the 10 year reunion.
Then I look at my older relatives, arthritis, degenerative diseases, memory loss diseases, spending their last cents at the pharmacy, hoping the new miracle drug will ease what ails them. Health insurance that doesn't. Retirement world travel plans gone, just hoping to live another day instead.
Why not live your dream when you are still capable of it?
Suicide got most of 'em.
Homicide got a few, drug deals gone bad or similar.
OD on crack, meth, PCP, and whatever drug du jour got a bunch.
Car accidents, DUI mostly, got another large bunch.
Only a few were killed in military action.
Rather sobering to realize that under 1/2 of the class was still alive for the 10 year reunion.
Then I look at my older relatives, arthritis, degenerative diseases, memory loss diseases, spending their last cents at the pharmacy, hoping the new miracle drug will ease what ails them. Health insurance that doesn't. Retirement world travel plans gone, just hoping to live another day instead.
Why not live your dream when you are still capable of it?
Dreams are expensive. You can have anything that you want but not everything. If your only dream in life is to become an airline pilot then do it. However don't plan on getting married, or to be able to retire well if at all.
One day you could be spending your last penny on med's just like your relatives. I just hope it will be worth it to you.
SkyHigh
07-03-2007, 03:52 PM
#180
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 585
Originally Posted by SkyHigh
... to be able to retire well if at all.
SkyHigh
SkyHigh
But not being able to retire is just plain stupid. Put 10% of what you make aside. Put 20% to debts. Live on the rest. If you have to work a second job, so be it. If the wife has to work and you can't afford kids, so be it, get something snipped and don't have kids.
That means no big screen TV, designer $300 sneakers, new cars, IPOD, steak and lobster at dinner, or a house with picket fences until such time that one can afford them.
It goes back to what my grandparents did during the Great Depression, they lived beneath their means.
Never said it was easy.
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