I told you I flew that thing under the Vantage bridge, didn't I?

You can bash JC, and I see your point, and I honestly don't spend much time there myself for similar reasons. But if you really want to educate the masses with your message, that would be the place. If you want to debate whether walking away from a flying career is a good move or not, then that's different, but your stated goal I often requote for you was different. Sorry for the confusion.

"What APC offers is metered and mature discussion between experienced adults"

I agree. The mods here do try and make this the sort of place where all opinions can be shared. Thank God for that.

Even though I'm still on reserve after a year, a commuter, and not flying much I'm still happy. I can see things look grim with this economy but I am and always will be hopeful. No one every told me life was gonna be easy, just gotta enjoy the little things life throws your way.

Discussion
 

I believe that newbies who read discussions between experienced individuals on APC are left with a better understanding of the issue from all sides.

Are you on for lunch ???

SkyHigh

i also feel like guys with the opposite experience as you are under represented here as well as they are too busy playing with their toys and enjoying their lives.

Good Thread.

So far, my worst day in two years of instructing is still better than my best day wasting away in a cubicle at the cable company or working IT under a micro manager.

As far as the corporate cubicle world goes, Office Space really nailed it on the head.

Fly safe.

happiness according to Maslow
 

From your flight instructor training you may remember that being happy means fulfilling the Maslow heirarchy of needs. Maslow was a social psychologist who came up with this pyramid where each level of need supports the next. You have to satisfy the low levels of the pyramid to get to a higher level. It's sort of general, but I thought I would throw it out here.

The lowest level of the pyramid includes physical needs, food, rest and the like. Second level is safety and security. If those two are satisfied, social needs may be fulfilled. These are things like having friends, giving & receiving love (lots of love in the case of APC). If those are satisfied then egoistic needs are fulfilled. Ego is subtle and includes developing self-confidence, striving for personal acheivement, receiving recognition from others, being competent in what one does for a living, and in obtaining status. I think airline flying attracts people for this. At the top of the ladder are the self-actualization needs, including realizing ones total potential, continuing your education, developing a creative side, etc.

That raises an interesting question: once one has "made it" (CA at a major, SR-71 pilot, walked on the moon) does one's happiness wane since we pilots are continuously seeking greater challenges?

Can we be happy and maintain that happiness?

(wow, I am taking this thread WAY off into left field)

If you acheive all of your career goals then this could be the case. Some people are able to go on totally different careers after exhausting all the goals and rewards of the first one. I suppose there is some disappoinment when you realize that you have tapped out a field you once loved. One would hope to choose a field that has enough depth to it that a lifetime could be invested without doing everything there is to do.

I am one of those that has been fortunate enough to achieve the goal that I set for myself and I haven't yet reached the brick wall (even the dreaded instructor burnout). People often ask me whether I want to be an astronaut or a test pilot - and the answer is truly no. I never have wanted that (also never thought I could) so I'm very happy where I am and would like to continue to do it for another decade - but that isn't possible. I now need to find that next job that I can attack with as much zeal as I have my current.

USMCFLYR

If you make all your career decisions very carefully, it is possible to be happy in this profession. As for myself, sure, I'm in debt from flight school/college loans and making 1st year regional FO pay...but I'm happy. I'm even thankful for my "bad days" on the job. When I'm doing the walk around in 40 knot winds and blowing snow, mtx issues, getting reassigned, etc...I'm always learning from it, and I actually enjoy testing my limits a bit. That makes the good days seem even better. For the new guys getting into the business though I still consider myself one), there are somethings you can do along the way to make the job more enjoyable. Here are some things I'm learning by experience...with more to come in the future I'm sure.

First of all, VERY IMPORTANT...I chose my spouse very carefully (I'm just lucky to have met her in the first place!)...she's an ex flight attendant, knows the airline schedule, is very independent and wants to work to help pay the bills, and is not that into material things...all of these help getting through that financially tough first year. My wife and I have been scrounging for money for 3 years now...but we live with it. I explained to her before we were married how this was going to work...and so far things have gone exactly according to the plan, we dont make much, but we are happy.

Second, choose your company wisely...of course this varies from day to day. Lots of research before diving in...use this forum and others, talk to current pilots that work there, look at the stability, contract, pay, benefits, bases, etc. Just by using these resources I narrowed it down to my current company and one other.

Third, always have a backup in this business.I instructed at my alma mater while earning my MBA, before I even thought about moving on to a regional. I'm not constantly worried if furloughs begin, and as much as I'd dislike a desk job, I could get by if it came to that. If not that, I'd become a newspaper reporter and set some things straight about aviation in the media:)

Fourth, don't commute if you're not anchored somewhere due to family, etc. Being a native Floridian, the idea of moving to the midwest did not excite me much, but after commuting my first month and never being home my perspective changed a bit. We bit the bullet and moved to just south of my base here at CVG, and we've had a good time exploring the area. And it practically doubles your time at home.

I've had fun so far, and hopefully things will only go up from here...that second year pay sure will be nice. As far as what to do once final career goals are attained....that's so far away I can't even contemplate that right now:)