So I suppose I will take the first punch here

This is exactly the same thing I have heard from every pilot who went straight to a regional job rather than instructing, or who wants to take that route. Only those of us who have instructed know how intangibly valuable flight instructing is. You can't explain how well you really begin to understand flying and the very fine nuances of it as an instructor. Not to mention what it means to be a professional pilot. Atwoo, I don't have ill words for you or anyone who had the opportunity to take an airline job without "having" to get your CFI because I probably would have taken the same path if it was available to me. Your "arguments" don't quite hold water though.

Being a CFI is the very first opportunity you have to be a leader. Sure other jobs may give you the opportunity to be PIC but more than likely you are going to be sitting alone much less have someone to the right of you. The first day I was an instructor was so much different than the last day I was a student. My first day as a captain was remarkably similar. Simplifiying instructing as trying to keep people from violating or killing you is very...well, simple. The idea that you can learn how to be a good captain (read leader) from just observing what is happening on your left is obsurd. You may have an idea of what does or does not make a good captain, but will you know how to do it?

And while your friends that went ahead and instructed are still waiting for calls, is anyone getting in ahead of them? I would guess not. And who do you think are going to be the first ones to get called when they start hiring off the street again? So how much senority are they really losing right now? I imagine they are also doing more flying right now than your friends on furlough...

OnTheWayUp, I know it hurts that you lost your job and kudos for standing up for what you believe you are worth regardless of the outcome. I doubt very many here would be able to make that stand. I would like to ask though; if hindsight were 20/20 and you had the chance to instruct rather than take the 135 job, would you have done it?

I started instructing July 2, 2001. We all know what happened two months later. At the time none of us really expected to instruct more than a year (long term). In fact, flying 135 cargo was the traditional next step. The two instructors at my school that had just left for inital ground school ended up snagging instructing jobs after getting their classes postponed. Ironically, I flew more the summer of 2002 than any other time to date. Granted its not the same scenario as today, but it is something to chew on. And if I may also say, if you cared enough to conclude you would make a lousy instructor, you would have made an exceptional instructor. If you really love it as you say, don't give up because nothing else will measure up Good luck in the future!

I hope this all makes sense as I'm now two beers in,

Cheers everyone!

 

I don't think that we will ever see the likes of what transpired over the last few years again. Back in the mid to late 1960's major airlines went through a period when they hired pilots with as little as 250 hours and no degree.

Those days are gone forever. Pilots in my generation talked about those days with sad longings. My guess is that the same can be said for the regional boom of the last ten years. 20 years from now new pilots will be sharing tales of guys who got hired at the regional with only a few hundred hours.

It is not too likely that the industry will recover any time soon. After the recession of 1991-1992 it took five or six years before hiring really got going again. This time it could take twice that long.

Those of you who value being an instructor most likely will get to do it for a long time.

SkyHigh

 

Why are those days gone forever? Do you think the SkyHigh of the 1960s possibly said the same thing.....and yet years and years later the same thing happened.


Or it is likely that the industry will recover soon and that it might not take twice as long to recover. Are you just giving opinions here Sky or do you have some economic facts to base these observations on?

USMCFLYR

 

He should have clarified. In the 60's, the MAJOR/LEGACY airlines were hiring those kind of pilots. I doubt that will EVER happen at a MAJOR/LEGACY again.

At the "regionals", sure, it'll happen again.

 

TRUE. Now that I would agree with.

USMCFLYR

 

Hopefully not...I doubt any regional will see rampant growth once again; 9/11 and the then-economy was a perfect-storm allowing the RJ-revolution. I would say we will all see a more stable industry in the coming years, as even the current dingleberries in CEO chairs do not want a repeat of this last year's disaster...and don't forget - Oil will once again climb.

 

Dude i dont' even remember my 20's....
Gooooood Times. I feel sorry for all the 20 year olds doing this job. Yes they will die with more money than me but in the end we all still die.

 

Scope.............

 

Amen! I wake up every day and love going to work, but at the same time I wonder what the $*&)@ I'm doing with my life...it is literally a blur since I left college. That is three years of my life, of my twenties, flying for the man, and having nearly squat to show for it.

 

I can only offer my personal observations. (My crystal ball is in the shop.) However over the last 10 years there was a surge of RJ's and pilots created. I can't imagine seeing growth on that magnitude again anytime within the next few decades. Most likely a major and a regional or two will go under withing the next year and there will be a few thousand more airline pilots on the street.

It will take most of the next ten years before they all find a home.

SKyhigh