Originally Posted by insanelyradical (Post 501588)

I can't speak for the airline side of things because I haven't been able to break into the airline world. After my experiences as a flight instructor and becoming more educated and informed about the multitude of aviation jobs out there I am not even sure whether I am interested in flying for a regional. But the one thing I have realized is that my job is incredible. I still love the feeling of lifting off the ground and the satisfaction of safely returning. I have worked a myriad of jobs from test driving cars (which was really fun, but VERY unstable) to selling cell phones (which was not so much fun). I don't think most of the whiners of this thread have REALLY worked before if they are complaining about a flying job. I am still instructing and have been doing so for nearly 2 years. For 13 months of those 2 years I had no scheduled days off, worked from 8-20 hour days, sat inside poorly vented 1970's 172s in the Phoenix 110-120 degree summer and inoperative janitrol Seminoles in the winter, made right around 20 thousand dollars, and loved nearly every second of it. There are days when you dread climbing into the cockpit for that third or fourth flight of the day, but they are FAR outweighed by the days when it is a blast. There is so much knowledge to be learned and so many challenges to overcome in aviation that I don't ever think that it will ever become mundane. EVERY industry has its pros and cons, but this one has offered an overwhelmingly lopsided winner.

Most of the whiners of this thread in my opinion also have families. This is NOT a job/career that makes having a family easy. It requires selfishness and the ability to be away from home for extended periods of time. This should be understood BEFORE committing to aviation. In fact I consider it to be irresponsible for someone who has a family to try and break into aviation if they are needed at home or want to be home more often than not.

This is the end of my rant, but it makes me very upset when people complain about something but take no action to improve the situation.

To each his own, but if this industry is not for you, get out. I'm sick of
hearing how crappy our jobs are. A positive attitude works wonders.

Originally Posted by freezingflyboy (Post 17060)

I have to agree rick. I currently fly about 25-28 days a month flight instructing and can't imagine going back to IT or the restaurant industry. To be fair, my days are usually 7am-2pm and I am home every night, but I still have to remind myself to take days off. When I get to the regionals, I'm not sure what I am going to do with those extra 8-10 days off per month. Ill probably get a job flight instructing on the side or a boat or something:p

Originally Posted by insanelyradical (Post 501588)

I can't speak for the airline side of things because I haven't been able to break into the airline world. After my experiences as a flight instructor and becoming more educated and informed about the multitude of aviation jobs out there I am not even sure whether I am interested in flying for a regional. But the one thing I have realized is that my job is incredible. I still love the feeling of lifting off the ground and the satisfaction of safely returning. I have worked a myriad of jobs from test driving cars (which was really fun, but VERY unstable) to selling cell phones (which was not so much fun). I don't think most of the whiners of this thread have REALLY worked before if they are complaining about a flying job. I am still instructing and have been doing so for nearly 2 years. For 13 months of those 2 years I had no scheduled days off, worked from 8-20 hour days, sat inside poorly vented 1970's 172s in the Phoenix 110-120 degree summer and inoperative janitrol Seminoles in the winter, made right around 20 thousand dollars, and loved nearly every second of it. There are days when you dread climbing into the cockpit for that third or fourth flight of the day, but they are FAR outweighed by the days when it is a blast. There is so much knowledge to be learned and so many challenges to overcome in aviation that I don't ever think that it will ever become mundane. EVERY industry has its pros and cons, but this one has offered an overwhelmingly lopsided winner.

Most of the whiners of this thread in my opinion also have families. This is NOT a job/career that makes having a family easy. It requires selfishness and the ability to be away from home for extended periods of time. This should be understood BEFORE committing to aviation. In fact I consider it to be irresponsible for someone who has a family to try and break into aviation if they are needed at home or want to be home more often than not.

This is the end of my rant, but it makes me very upset when people complain about something but take no action to improve the situation.

To each his own, but if this industry is not for you, get out. I'm sick of hearing how crappy our jobs are. A positive attitude works wonders.

Originally Posted by ctd57 (Post 501661)

Your aviatar says that you are a right seat ERJ pilot but what you said above contradicts that. Anyway, all of the regionals that I know off, mine for sure, won't allow you to flight instruct on the side.

Originally Posted by bryris (Post 501692)

Again, you've never done it, so its tough to imagine. I too, flight instructed, and recently signed back up with a flight school to stay current after the airlines. I loved flight instructing, disliked the airlines.

Flying a 172 with no autopilot down low, with varying students, in different levels of training, etc is cool. It makes you think to sit there and explain some element of the curriculum to a student.

Once you are through training in the airlines (which is difficult), you won't think about flying again until your next recurrent. Its just a program you run every flight. It goes something like this:

PF: Set thrust, gear up, flaps up, climb power, 10,000 feet, 29.92's, direct XXX, 1,000 to go, 100 to go, cruise power, cross XXX at FL240, brief landing, in range check, flaps 9, flaps 22, gear down, yaw damper off, land.

or PNF: Cleared to go, contact dep, climb to 15,000, climb to FL230, contact the next guy, the next guy, the next guy, the next guy, the next guy, the next guy, the next guy, descend to FL190, cross XXX at 11,000 at 250knots, contact approach, "we've got Juliet", turn here, turn there, contact tower, cleared to land.

Done! Just repeat a few thousand times and enjoy the hotels.

Originally Posted by AirWillie (Post 501612)

Anyone who is considering getting into not only a paying airline job but into flying right now should have their heads examined. If they have any kids, child protectives services should be called. There is NOTHING cool about this job unless you're only listening to the voices in your head. You like the feeling of getting off the ground?? Fine, who is going to pay the mortgage bills? As someone said, it's a selfish non rewarding profession. Your family ONLY puts up with it for the money and the last 5 years that has been taken away and it looks like it will NEVER be given back. Most of my buddies have been divorced and spend their days chasing FAs, not that I dont' condone that, but come on. It's a life style. Think long and hard if you have even a dog to look after if you really want to get into one of the worst industries to have a life in.

Back in the day, when you found a nice military wife who was FAA approved, you flew a 737 or 747 for 300K per year. Life was good no one cared that you were gone 60% of the year just as long as they used your travel beneftis or your boat.

Now the same guy is flying 737 for 60k per year and gone all the time. No benefits no nothing. Why would you even expect to keep your wife and family intact gone 70% of the year?

I'd go to your local DMV and get a truck drivers perimt or school bus driving school. You will make more than at a regional, have better benefits, be home all the time, and if yo udon't like your cubicle life you will also get change of scenery as a bus or truck driver as well. Weather, people, roads, same as a pilot reasoning it's just you're on the ground. When you get done with the day and you see a shiny 737 or CRJ takeoff or a contrail in the sky, wishing you were up there, don't be fooled. I guarantee you up there, there are 2 guys complaining about life, and if not their life, then their job. Move along, nothing to see here.....

Originally Posted by johnso29 (Post 501711)

This industry can be tough, no doubt. But it's not all bad Johnny Raincloud. You're right. There are guys flying 737s around making $60K a year. But, they're 1st year Southwest FOs that will make well over $90K the next year. DAL has 1st year guys on the 767ER who are making $50 bucks an hour. When they hit 2nd year pay, they'll be making over $85 bucks an hour. 2nd year A320 FOs will make $75+ an hour, and the 737 drivers will make a little more.
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