I dont think you undrstand Herc. I dont have this all out dream to be an airline pilot if thats what you are thinking. I want to be a professional pilot. Doesnt have to be an airline pilot

 

Most of the negative post come from guys who are from the instant gratification generation..... I am not busting on these guys just stating facts. 20 years ago you came in with your eyes wide open, it took time to even think about getting the chance to sit right seat on a king air part time. Normal progression for a civilian pilot was 3-5 years instructing then 2-3 years flying freight, checks, etc, then hope to get a regional job. After that it would be 4-10 years at the regionals before even getting an interview at a major. Now guys are upset if they have to fly a couple years at a regional as an FO.

Keep the positive attitude! I came up your route so I understand how hard it is to get time and experience. The FAA is always hiring but as with all other jobs experience helps. The trick is to love flying if you want to be in this line of work. For me going to work is awesome! I love what I do, the only part I dislike is being away from my family. But I knew this was part of the job when I started this career path. Good luck!

 

Also, remember that it is popular to bash the job. Its sort of a "group think". Most everyone I flew with complained about it, yet they kept coming back day after day.

If the job wasn't worth pursuing for a given number of reasons, then we wouldn't have this gluttony of pilots.

But you'll never escape the "honeymoon" mentality that comes with it before the job and during the first year or so. After a while, the joy of it wears off and it becomes like any other job - worse in many ways (the airlines, anyway). Once you've run the slew of checklists for the 1,102nd time, its just plain OLD.

But, then, when you get home for a while, you start to miss it. Strange addiction, this flying bug.

 

Very Good Question. For myself there are several good answers...

1. I'm already here. Most of the dues paying is done, and what remains I can do on my own schedule...ie fast upgrade to reserve, or stay a senior FO, it's my choice.

2. I am relatively senior, and have good QOL. I'm in a good place to hang out for a while.

3. I have several outside business/employment activities which have done well even as aviation has declined. My SO is also gainfully employeed and likes my schedule and flight benefits more than she likes the extra $100K I could make at a desk job.

The downside for me is that in order to move on I need a little more PIC, so I will have to take an upgrade to the bottom of the CA list, and then spend probably years at the bottom of the list at a major.


To re-iterate I'm not telling ANYONE what to do or not to do, I'm just telling you the way things are now. When I made the decision, opportunities and optimism abound. I'm an informed risk taker by nature, and back then things were so good that even if there was a downturn I still would have been in good shape in the long run. I assumed some sort of setback on the road. I did not plan on 9/11, SARS, Iraq, $250 oil, and a major economic recession. All these things have taken a toll, the sum total of which is rather large.

My advice to you does not apply to me, we are very different places. While we are about the same age, I am years ahead of you in the game. I would almost certainly not have made the career change today under these circumstances, like I said I analyzed it very carefully...my conclusion would have been much different in 2009 than in 1999.

If you want to plan a non-airline career, that would be a different story. There are some good jobs to be had, as well as many bad ones, in 91 and 135. But if you're going to go down that road, best to start from the get-go, and focus on networking as your full-time job.

 

Not me. I've been at it about ten years. My complaint, if I have one, is not how long it's taking but the fact that future opportunities seem very slim given the challenges the industry faces going forward.

But like I said before there is a big difference between me and someone who is just starting out. I'm also fortunate enough to have non-aviation financial and employment options...if those had not worked out while aviation was declining, I would not still be here.

 

The airline world is always very cyclic.... When I got to the point that a major would even consider me all were furloughing. It was another 7 years before I got an interview. Even then NWA interviewed almost 12,000 applicants to fill 400 positions (not 12000 applications but actaully called for the process). But within a couple years all the majors started adding to their work force.

This is a tough career path, some find a smooth flat trail to follow while others must climb mountains. In the end the most determined and best qualified usually succeed.

 

Because, the pilot profession is not on par with working at mcdonalds, eventhough the pay may be in many cases. You can't just walk away. You would have to think long and hard about it. For many of us it's a life long dream, we deal with it. The problem is that year after year, it's becomeing a pipe dream. Maybe we all have high expectations... It's good you say that you want the good the bad and the ugly because that's what this forum brings. It's up to you to belive it.

The military guys are different, there is not a single mlitary guy that I know that would recomend you do anything else other than fly in the military to get your experience. Not to mention all the benfeits you would get that you can only hope for in civ flying. If there could be a way of bypassing the entrly level civ flying, that includes the regionals, everybody would do it. The reality is different.

 

Guys who are senior captains at the legacies today are enjoying a lifestyle that most likely will not be there tomorrow. The industry is changing.

Skyhigh

 

Alas, this has been the case for the last 30 years not just today..... Between work rules, pay, and inflation the salaries of everybody have gone south. Couple that with the regionals flying more and the majors flying less the chances of flying the heavy iron and being well compensated are decreasing daily.

 

I didn't read anything past the first post, but Im just trying to be helpful. Ive never been a cop but I know three former cops at my airline and all three are now back to being cops. Nobody lasted more than two years and I work for one of the top regionals in terms of longevity, pay, and qol.
Food for thought.