Not sure about your background skyhigh..but why could you not still attempt to get a job with a major carrier? Or did you just decide to throw in the towel? I am curious.. :p

Towel
 

Mostly I had to throw in the towel. The only company that I am really interested in working for is Alaska Airlines and I don't meet their minimums anymore since I haven't been flying much in the last two years. The efforts required are huge and odds of success are just to slim. I have to salvage what is left of my life.

SkyHigh

I guess there comes a time when we all have to make that decision: salvage whatever is left or continue on in this miserable nightmare we call aviation.

Sometimes when you come to a crossroad...You need to make a turn...Now the question is do you have a map or not?

Salvage
 

Sooner would be better than later.

SkyHigh

Well why not try another airline? Horizon although regional, seems to pay pretty well. Curious why Alaska is your all or nothing airline?

I have several friends that work airport operations/safety. It's a pseudo-government job since it's usually for an airport authority so the benefits and schedule are nice and the pay isn't too bad once you get your time in there. I also have friends that are in airport consulting which is a LOT more lucrative, but the work is a lot more demanding. I have a friend whose an airport manager for a Class C airport and he makes more than most major airline pilots and they all did it with aviation degrees. I personally would try to use the airport planning/design portion of my degree if I couldn't fly anymore...

As
 

I grew up in the northwest and spent most of my 20's as an Alaskan bush pilot. To those who grew up in the shadow of the Eskimo and have seen the wonders of Alaska there are no substitutes. Alaska Airlines has bases and flies to places that I am excited about. Alaska Airlines has a mostly new fleet with cutting edge technology that is used to accommodate the most challenging airports and approaches. Rotting away over the ocean at 35,000 feet in the right seat of a 30 year old DC-10 for 8 hours just doesn't hold the same magic. I already flew for Horizon Air and not only did it blow but it almost assures that you will never be hired by Alaska Airlines.

SkyHigh

Jobs
 

A guy I know a guy who changes the lightbulbs at an airport and earns 85K. To me even though these jobs are associated with aviation they really are not in the same insustry. An airport manager could also manage a factory or Dairy Queen. A maintenence tech could work at a dam or for the highway department. Just because a persons place of work is at the airport I don't think puts them in aviation.

Skyhigh

I guess it's only aviation if your flying or working for an airline then, huh? I would hope I would be a little more versatile than that...