Run - don't walk away from aviation. As soon as a better deal comes my way, I'm gone.

Peace, OUT!!!

I'm jealous of you. 11 years in, it gets no better, even when the pay goes up. This industry is BS.

Let us know how you do.

There is nothing wrong with aviation. There seenms to be lots wrong with the airlines; but advising someone to run away from aviation seems a little over stated.

USMCFLYR

Not to sound bitter or anything, but If you're a regional pilot right now, chances are your company is furloughing but you might not be junior enough to get F'ed but would be junior enough to have a crappy QOL. I'd take a voluntary furlough. If I can guess how long it will take for a recall, I'd say a minimum of one year, up to who knows how long. Go back to your old job, at least then you will have an option to get back in the airlines when they recall in year 2023.

I envy you.

The scope of that could be opened. There are good airline jobs (relatively), and bad airline jobs for the people employed. There are good corporate jobs and bad corporate jobs for those employed. There are good fractional jobs, and not so good fractional jobs.

For those in the good category, they will probably stay where they are, and realistically they have less to really complain about.

Sadly, those in the bad/not so good category don't have many options open to them right now of getting a better job.

Agree with all of the above - and again - those are just the passenger or cargo carrying jobs. There are different types of aviation jobs out there that don't involve P121/135 also that people enjoy. then of course there is the aviation experience that doesn't even involve flying for hire.As someone else mentioned on the thread I think - fly around for fun in a Citabria or Cub. As bad as the **business** of aviation is right now. I don't think it was accurate to advise someone to run away from AVIATION.

I'll tell you what though - this site, this forum, has opened my eyes much wider. I was never really consdiering the airline route myself as a second career, but after coming to this site to learn more about the business side of aviation - commercial aviation - I'm sure that I won't be finding myself flying 121 anytime soon! I like the saying that goes - " [airline] flying is a wonderful job and a lousy career".

There are very few jobs out there I will be considering soon and if none of those opportunities bear fruit then I'll be taking the advice of many on this thread and looking for a well paying *desk* job of some sort that will aloow me to feed the flying bug with weekend trips and sight-seeing!

USMCFLYR

What is important to YOU!
 

Aviation isn't the problem. What makes you happy? That's what is really important. I love aviation, and I love flying. I make a living doing it, but I have 5 different flying jobs in order to be able to do it. I fly on-demand part 135, 2 instructing gigs, and 2 owner aircraft. I turned down an offer at a regional for QOL. I am home 95% of the time and make alot better than I would at a regional, but I still GET to fly almost every day! Flying for me also started out as a hobby, but ended up as a second career. I made 6 figures before and hated the job. I would never go back.

Go to where they are still paying good money to do the gig i say!

Did you dislike your old job? 18 yrs in the industry now and on my 2nd furlough, and my kids now know me, I would stay home if I had a second career path.

Well, that's what I was trying to say. Undesirable jobs are everywhere, not just 121/135. And usually, it's just a paycheck till something better comes along. As far as the not flying for hire goes, it's a shame the hobby is so expensive. And yes, I know there are ways to make it not so expensive, but it's not cheap.

There are plenty of us that have had those thoughts along the way I'm sure. I know I have. And often times I wonder if it's a wonderful job. It can be a fun job sometimes, and I'll go so far as most times. But like a lot of other guys, there are times at work where the LAST place I want to be in locked up in a room the size of a closet with some other dude, only to be heading to the hotel later, to get 5-6 hours of sleep after a 12-14 hour day, hungry, only to do it again the next day, to be followed by going home on my days off feeling like garbage and trying to recover. No job is perfect, and surprisingly one man's trash can be another man's treasure.

I know, sounds like whining. But that's also the reality.

Always wise advise. But I'm sure you've been around long enough to know that being able to time the cycles and be able to take advantage of the opportunities isn't always there.