airwillie.....im sorry i dont share your point of view.nothing personal.

 

Notice that the ones in this thread with the positive attitudes are the ones on the outside of the profession. Wonder why?


I'll give my two cents. If you're young, single, don't need to support a family, can deal with the BS regional scene for a decade, don't mind moving to the other side of the country, or commuting to it, and can live on 40K or less for the first five years, by all means jump on into the world of 121 flying. It'll probably be OK, years down the road. In 10-15 years, with all of the retirements, you'll probably be sitting pretty at a Legacy carrier.

If you are 40+, with a wife and kids, and are currently making a decent living, I woundn't recommend it. Several years of low pay and being gone all of the time is the perfect recipe for divorce. A wife that isn't use to you being gone for 3-4 nights at a time may not adjust very well. Being an airline pilot isn't worth losing the family.

 

Yep they do and sorry but you are too old.

 

I like Rickair's post. If you're looking at FAA flying, start with a job you're qualified for now to get your foot in the door then see what flying positions within the FAA that you may be interested in.

 

I hope you understand that you are getting real world advise from pilots who have made large sacrifices to make this career work. I think that you will find that a majority of those who have spent a few years working for peanuts at a regional or POS 135 operator will sell you the same advise. Likeways, those who are still trying to break into the industry, those who are still in the "honeymoon" stage of getting their licenses would tell you to pin your ears back and go for it. I would not get upset at the advise you are getting, it is hard to hear but you better think long and hard about how the next 10 years of your life are going to play out.... Maybe you can fly turbo props in the right seat for a 135? But even then, be prepared to have a pager stapled to your hips and having virtually every plan you try to make broken in the last minute.

 

Not every 121 operator has a seniority system. I used to work at a 121 operation that had nothing but piston equipment based in BFE. Perhaps Jonathan works for a turbine Convair or something like that.

 

Because he wants to accrue experience at a better rate than 700 hours per year?

 

Why are you confused? Some 121 outfits are better than others. Perhaps he's flying with a dirt bag supplemental.

 

I appreciate what you are saying Excel, but I tend to disagree. I have retired Delta Captain friends, current FedEx caotian friends, UPS CPT and an array of major and regional friends that keep it positive.

One of the reasons Istopped visiting APC was becaus of all the negativity I read on here. It wasnt matching up with what I was being told by people I actually know.

SO I am not mad at the advise I am just curious why if these folks say its so bad, then why do they stay in it? WHy have they stayed in it so long? Imean honestly if youread the threads on this website a good 80% is negative about the airline industry. I just never understood that. WHy are they in it if they dont like it?

I started this thread cause I was feeling low about the industry and about al that I had invested. But my stress isnt the industry itself. My stress is my age. I appreciate all the motivation I have gotten onthis board. i also appreciate all the "real" advice abotu the down side of being an airline pilot. I want it all the good bad and the ugly. But what ireally wanted to know were other options like flying for the FAA or the Fed law enforcement. thats what I was looking for, not a dissertation of why the airline pilot job sucks,. I think I know why many pilots on here have the feelings they do and many of my associates dont. Many of my associates got to the airline industry through the military. SOthey never went the regional route. They went from flying C-5's to flying 767's. SO their outlook is probably different from the guy that flies a CRJ for a regional. I am not sire that is just what I believe.

 

I had a nice long response but wont wast the time. Your mind is made up.

FAA...very tough nut to crack. Thousands and thousands of applications.... for very few jobs.

Oh hell its a crap shoot.... if you must stay in the business I would be looking for a nice 91 job or livable 135 job.