I tried to make the career change. Picked a really bad upstart program (called CAPT) and never made it into the industry because CAPT hung me out to dry, the industry wanted a lot more hours than I have, the industry pays like crap, and it wasn't until I graduated did I learn all the truth about the aviation industry and all its ugly sides. Do I enjoy flying? Not so much anymore. It's like driving a car for me these days. It's just another mode of (very expensive) transportation.

You're still in La-La-Land with your idealistic views. I'm not saying this to p!ss you off. I was there too! Then reality hits you when your program ignores your plea for assistance, you're stuck with a huge debt, the airlines want a crap load of hours, and they want to pay you sh!t for the quality of life you're giving up. I can go on and on, but you can see I'm not the only one that think something is fundamentally FUBAR about this career path. So you got views from those who are in it, and those that tried and didn't make it. And we're all saying the same thing. Makes you think huh, meatbomb?

 

meatbomb, what you should do is print out this thread so five years down the road you can look at it when the leak in your studio apartment keeps dripping on your black and white t.v. while you are simultaniously bitting into a square of ramens like its a candy bar. Not trying to discourage you, because i was you back in the 90's. some guy told me back in 92' that i should never get into this stuff, i figured he was a bitter looser that wasnt up to my caliber...hehe. yeah he was right, and i was a turd. In retrospect he was probably way smarter, harder working, and better at flying than i will ever be, but did i listen. well its 2006 and here i sit.

 

hey ninja, sorry to hear. that 100 multi is really the hard part to get when your just starting out, if you still feel like flying then a couple hundred total single engine should make you pretty marketable. That won't be that hard to get.

 

Time isn't hard to get if you have the money FNFAL. Money is, unfortunatley, my problem. If I had all the money in the world, I'd fly forever and wait forever for a job. Unfortunately, reality bites you in the a$$ at the end and you realize it's not going to work out.

 

There are a lot of positive people here about career change. I would positively not do it if you are considering switching to flying. The reason peoples attitudes change at 1000 hours is because by then the dreamy state wears off and you are left with the shocking reality that you will be stuck with the results that are really not that great. Earning a living is a very important part of happiness and most wouldn't call 20K per year much of a life. Even if you are financially independent the long hours will wipe the grin off your face real fast. Like FNFAL says keep copies of these posts in your log book and re-read them at 1000 hours then kick yourself real hard.

SKyhigh

 

Skyhigh is right...MY CFI crossed the 1,000 hour point when I was with him. He had been at it for 6 years. He's now a cop. He gave up because he couldn't take the abuse and low wages anymore. The loan repayments crushed him. If had just spent the money on a real degree vice aero science he could have had a career with a future.

I think he now wants to be a helo pilot in law enforcement. I don't see it happening for him. I didn't have the heart to tell him. I wish I had - I think he's setting himself up for another fall...

 

Well dude if i hear anything or see anything at your time i will PM you. How do you feel about freight?

 

Hi,

Ok point taken, its crap pay and its crap lifestyle as you spend a lot of time away from home. Im sat in a dropzone office where im a skydiving instructor ( i actually own the school ) . This job is the same for most , crap money and crap hours... however theres one reason they keep doing ( as I did for years before opening my own school )... we love the job. I am fortunate I suppose to have some life behind me and dont have to flog the family silver or sell beg a bank to give me the dough ... I do take warning though from the thought that nobody here seems to talk about flying a plane.. i guess its just not fun.

Im in Europe where people do seem also to be a lot more optimistic about aviation though. IF airlines were the end goal theres 100 slots coming up in the next 6 months for low timers across Europe.. Also several LCC pilots have learned to skydive with us in the last six months and all of them loved their job. Three pilots who have flown for me in the last 3 years are now in regionals and 1 is flying 737´s.

 

You have to consider the source. I doubt that many grown men with families would be happy about conditions at Ryan Air. Young 20 somethings are easy to impress with any flying job but once you have some real responsibilities it taints the airline life quite a bit. In the end it is just another way to call yourself employed but most likely will not provide much of a living or life. I would stick with skydiving if I were you. The guy in the jump plane gets more satisfaction and joy out of a single jump run than an airline pilot gets in a year.

SkyHigh

I use to fly smokejumpers in Alaska and in the rest of the country. Now that was fun !!!

 

Hi,

The source is a friend of mine who attended a recent fair with them, also given they are expecting another 15 aircraft in the next few months alone ( they being Rynair ) as party of the 100 or so they ordered and they are just one carrier. As for the pay and conditions , no they are not the best..very hard on a family... so im selfish.. i think anybody who wants to pursue this at any point in time has to be... its part of belief.


I have 3500 jumps , the current pilot has 800 hours ( PC 6 ) and loves the job. The last one who left a few days ago is from Monday on training for the RHS of a Beech 200 dragging rich people around. I realised as we looked at our own pilot needs for the coming season were one down. A full day of phone calls and I could not find a PC6 pilot anywhere in Europe that was interested ( i mean not already contracted for at least six months ) ... the pay of a PC6 pilot is about 2,200 US per month for 5 days a week.

I assume you skydived as much as you used to fly. I get great satisfaction from the jumping but then i didnt spend most of my childhood wanting to be a skydiver though.... ITs more that im beyond the skydiving and want something else. I have 50 hours probably a lot more in fact ( unnoficial stick time ) on the PC6 and I have to tell you , the real satisfaction with the plane is when they get out as I get to put it on its nose... I have for what its worth taken off, managed the climb, GPS drop descent and approach... i dont have the balls ( or permission from the guy with his hand on the stick also ) to put it on the numbers...

Im sorry Skyhigh while I appreciate you seem bitter with the industry it surprises me you seem to be the main stay of the forum ,or this thread...

I have begun networking now and I dont think i have found somebody as negative as you are about it, certainly not from people who are flying / involved in flying. Many people in my position in Europe spend tens of thousands on going back to college... me .. im gonna learn to fly ... realise a dream ...and take my chances.

dont get me wrong , I do think you have made me aware I aint gonna be headhunted by an airline... but I do know how to sell myself , i have never not worked.