I wish you the best, but there are a great deal of hardheaded, stubburn, rich baby boomer children with trust funds that won't be listening to you.

 

I appreciate your condolences and understand the folly of my efforts. Perhaps in a few years I can start a Regional Airline Refugee Association (or RARA) to help with the fallout of bad decisions made in youth.



Best wishes and I hope you have a great day !!

SkyHigh

 

Wait a minute, have you actually worn the uniform or even worked for an airline. This is the potential problem here. We could all be waisting our breathe on a guy who has no real experience with anything other than Flight Sim 95 and a bitter pill that he could never make the grade.

And for going to Alaska Airlines, they along with all of the others will see right through your attitude which I firmly believe led to your failure to achieve. You need to get a Tony Robbins video and perk up a little before you go applying for quality acts like Alaska.

 

Nice Post Tom!

I wish I could of held the composure to approach it that way. Best thing I've learned yet from this thread.

 

If I recall correctly, wasn't SkyHigh furloghed from a Major or some Charter outfit? He's definately spent many-a-hour in the cockpit. And his concerns are well founded. It's actually good to have someone's point of view, whose been screwed over by an industry he dedicated so much to. It's an eye opener for me, that's for sure! Keep up the good work, SkyHigh- and if/when I lose my job, I'll buy you a nice big prime rib dinner (Plunging me even further into debt! ) and take the "I told ya so!!" graciously.

 

Sir,

if you want your posts to influence people, and...uhhhhh.....

...you can't write,

use spell check.

Your post enhances Sky's contention that the cockpit is currently inhabited by the uneducated.

 

Hey Guys,
Dont pick on SkyHigh so much, seems like he is a deer caught in apack of wolves. better to just respect his opinions out of his personal experience and try to avoid getting youtselves into that situation. We are all people here and Americans with the right to say what we like, especially if our point is to try to help others.Just because he doesnt candy coat his words is no reason to string him up.Other people can get valuble insight from his candor .

 

YEA you guys !! So there !!! Be nice to me.


Thanks Cass

SKyHigh

 

Man, how did I miss this thread! First off, I appreciate what SkyHigh is doing because I'm walking a similar path that SkyHigh is. SkyHigh has substantially more experience than I do and I value his personal experiences in the industry. I understand that some of what he has said may have offended the current working pilots but I have yet to hear any of you share YOUR positive views of WHY you do it and WHY others should do it and WHAT is so great about it (and don't give me the generic sound bites either). SkyHigh is trying to warn newbies looking to chase that flying career dream. Just as I am trying to warm people away from the CAPT program and others like it.

True, some people have to learn the hard way. But I'm quite certain the effort here is not to tell people what to do, but to ADVISE people. People make decisions for themselves, and if they don't listen to sound advise, well, it's on them! If I were to tell you that the pot of boiling water is hot and you'll get burned if you touch it, you can either:

1. take my word for it and don't touch it
2. touch it, get burned, and learn the hard way

I think the effort is to try to advise people not to learn by option 2. But, if you want to, go right ahead. It's your money and time.

As for those that are tired of reading the same thing over and over again, you have to realize the nature of forums like this. Posts age and get pushed to the back. And new people are constantly joining forums. So, the natural way to advise new people is to constantly tell the same story. It's the "ancient mariner" theory. ("Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in case those don't get my reference). Bottom line, if you're tired of reading SkyHigh, don't. I'm sure he's not targeting current working pilots but new people looking around.

I can't speak on his behalf and your feelings regarding things that may have been offensive. But I understand the passion and drive of SkyHigh. I share it. I am one of those dumb (enter choice word here) who learned by option 2. And I would have very much appreciated talking to people like SkyHigh on the realities of the life of an airline pilot. I got caught out there with the glossy ads and the inuendos and lies and marketing ploys of the CAPT program.

I think there are a lot of "real world realities" that people don't talk about. I know SkyHigh references them as "myth busting" but I prefer if you call it "real world realities". The fact is, people don't know any better. It's called ignorance and it's nobody's fault. Putting yourself out there to try to educate people and give them honesty and personal experiences is the right thing to do. What should be communicated is, this COULD happen to you, not necessarily WILL happen to you. So both sides of the fence should share the "real world realities" with people; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the amazing. Share it!

I understand that there are *many* people that don't have to worry about money. Hell, I knew people from the CAPT program that got everything paid for them. And I mean EVERYTHING and then some. These "people of privilege" don't have to worry about paying back loans. And if you worked hard to earn your money and did it the right way and have succeeded at the airlines, then I say, congratulations! Share with the rest of the world how you were able to do it, while we share with the rest of the world our mistakes and lessons learned. I for one was caught out there with a $100K loan at 8.5% (variable rate and rising) for 15 years that costs me $1000 per month in minimum payments (try that on a first year FO salary). I'm not looking for people to tell me I'm a dumb a$$ for taking a loan out, but hey, someone out there might have the same idea I did and will now reconsider because I just shared it.

So bottom line, if you have succeeded and love it, then share your point of view and your recipe for success. And let those of us who failed or have decided to move on from the industry a chance to tell our story and our opinions about what COULD happen to you: the debt, the ruined life styles, the crushed dreams, and all the things that programs like CAPT don't tell you about and you were afraid to ask. Realities people...that's what is important to share. No sensationalization.

Good day!

 

Well Written Flying Ninja !!! I also would like to add that those who have made it perhaps should display a humble and respectful attitude to those who are trying or had to quit.

SKyHigh

I had a Bagel for breakfast today!