Is loving it enough? If not, what else is there?
01-26-2009, 11:05 AM
#21
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 101
This is probably one of the most depressing threads ever, they should put that first post on a brochure and hand them out to potential flight school students. Unfortunately most of the points that have been made are completly true. This career in my opinion is complete luck, I guess were all a bunch of gamblers.
01-26-2009, 11:08 AM
#22
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: CRJ FO
Posts: 313
Originally Posted by rickB
You don't like it and complain so much then quit. This is the coolest job in the world I went to Shanghai China for $14 round trip. I don't think I have met a single 21 year old who can say he has done the same besides another pilot. This job is the bomb diggity! I am sick of hearing people come on this forum and cry and moan about every little thing some people need to suck it up and grow a pair.
Chalk it up to the unbridled optimism of youth. I would've been right there with you 11 years ago. Family, life, economic concerns all wear on a person, and soon, very soon, reality sets in and overtakes optimism and replaces it with realism.
01-26-2009, 11:11 AM
#23
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: CRJ FO
Posts: 313
Originally Posted by Purpleanga
The notion that someone is not true to their profession because they seek financial rewards is not true. You can't pay the bills by looking outside your window as you break out of a cloud deck. It's still very cool.... but that's not going to get anything done. Even though you're flying a jet, you're still making less than some low level government workers and janitors. And once you make it to CA, you can have a little more just to call you're self a middle class "white" collar worker, who hasn't been home for most of the month. I tell people to seriously reconsider flying pro because it is not what it used to be and most likely never will be.
A very good post though - a middle class white collar worker who hasn't been home for most the month just about sums it up completely!
01-26-2009, 11:19 AM
#24
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Position: CRJ-200 Furlough
Posts: 96
Originally Posted by arizonastpilot
This is probably one of the most depressing threads ever, they should put that first post on a brochure and hand them out to potential flight school students. Unfortunately most of the points that have been made are completly true. This career in my opinion is complete luck, I guess were all a bunch of gamblers.
01-26-2009, 11:36 AM
#25
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Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by arizonastpilot
This is probably one of the most depressing threads ever, they should put that first post on a brochure and hand them out to potential flight school students. Unfortunately most of the points that have been made are completly true. This career in my opinion is complete luck, I guess were all a bunch of gamblers.
01-26-2009, 11:56 AM
#27
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Posts: 61
What does "loving it" mean, exactly?
It seems to me that there are a LOT of pilots who have spent a full career working for the major airlines (that cosmoKramer describes as his dream job in the initial post)...who are bitter and cynical...and who make a lot of money.
What gives you satisfaction as a pilot? For a while, it is the allure of the bigger shinier airplane. Trade up from the 152 that you trained in, and the 182 seems like a ton of fun...for a while. Trade that up to a seminole and it once again seems awesome for a while until you start yearning for something bigger and better. The baron or king air that you get to fly while "time building" seems to be awesome until you again get the itch for something bigger and faster. Thus the baron becomes an RJ, which will eventually turn into a narrowbody, and finally a widebody.
What happens then?
Payscales follow a similar scale. It is human nature so yearn for the next big raise, and then upon getting it, to want the next bigger one. Read the major forums on this site and you will of read pilots wanting more.
Talk to just about anyone in eany industry and they will tell you that they are underpaid, and that <fill in the bank> other profession has things so much better.
While i'm not denying that the QOL of a regional FO or flight instructor has a lot to be desired I'm just saying that every pilot (or any career for that matter) must define for themselves what "loving it" means FOR THEM?
If salary and QOL is more important to you than flying, and you have a better chance of getting what you want (salary and QOL) outside aviation...then the choise seems clear to me.
It seems to me that there are a LOT of pilots who have spent a full career working for the major airlines (that cosmoKramer describes as his dream job in the initial post)...who are bitter and cynical...and who make a lot of money.
What gives you satisfaction as a pilot? For a while, it is the allure of the bigger shinier airplane. Trade up from the 152 that you trained in, and the 182 seems like a ton of fun...for a while. Trade that up to a seminole and it once again seems awesome for a while until you start yearning for something bigger and better. The baron or king air that you get to fly while "time building" seems to be awesome until you again get the itch for something bigger and faster. Thus the baron becomes an RJ, which will eventually turn into a narrowbody, and finally a widebody.
What happens then?
Payscales follow a similar scale. It is human nature so yearn for the next big raise, and then upon getting it, to want the next bigger one. Read the major forums on this site and you will of read pilots wanting more.
Talk to just about anyone in eany industry and they will tell you that they are underpaid, and that <fill in the bank> other profession has things so much better.
While i'm not denying that the QOL of a regional FO or flight instructor has a lot to be desired I'm just saying that every pilot (or any career for that matter) must define for themselves what "loving it" means FOR THEM?
If salary and QOL is more important to you than flying, and you have a better chance of getting what you want (salary and QOL) outside aviation...then the choise seems clear to me.
01-26-2009, 11:59 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,530
Originally Posted by wwings
If salary and QOL is more important to you than flying, and you have a better chance of getting what you want (salary and QOL) outside aviation...then the choise seems clear to me.
01-26-2009, 12:08 PM
#29
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2008
Posts: 61
Originally Posted by Purpleanga
Yep, yep. The problem is that this job should not become on par with driving a city bus. Have some dignity.
Or get out of aviation and make money in some other "dignified" ocupation.
