Get back in or stay out?
 

I've been contemplating getting back into flying for a few months now, just don't know if it's worth it. I haven't driven an airplane for over 5 yrs. now. Last time was in a 727 freighter as FO, got furloughed, re-evaluted life as pilot, started my own business. I'm home every nite w/wife & kid but miss driving that jet. After reading some posts here, I see some things haven't changed: Mgmt B.S. QOL etc. I've got 2200 hrs., 1150 FO 727, 650 FE
Any insight appreciated

What is more important to you - good QOL with your family or flying?

Depending on where you live, you might be able to make professional airline flying a true part-time job, allowing you to fly while also working on your business. You might also pursue a local 135 charter job to keep you 'in the game', so to speak.

Good luck with your decision...

Boy, you came to the right place, you may get opinions that run from every end of the spectrum!

I can only speak for myself as I re-entered aviation full time after a prolonged absence. Questions I had to consider, can I afford the pay cut? Is my wife behind me? Can we handle the prolonged nights away from home? Will my wife mind moving to a new city? Would she mind, and can I handle the 2 months of intence training? I am going to miss some special moments in my kids life, but I will be home for others, will this be a problem?..... Those are a few questions I faced, and some I could not have adequate answers for unless I was in the business.....

I went for it, and believe me, I am having the time of my life. I fly for a fantastic company and am happier than ever doing what I should have been doing all the long. Yeah, there are moments, scheduling problems, management, ego's, troublemakers, cry-babies. But what the heck, they can be interesting, even fun to laugh at. And I have yet to find a job, that does not have it's share of BS anyways, so I might as well as enjoy what I am doing while dealing with the BS.

Hope that helps, and if you do go for it, get yourself current, and maybe a few extra hours. With your experience, you should have no problems...

Good Luck

OH and my wife loves it!

Four Years
 

I got out four years ago myself and have a strong business now and I too have similar moments of longing for the sky.

I also quit smoking over 18 years ago and occasionally have a desire to light up. Don't do it man. Resist the urge. Perhaps in ten years when aviation has totally imploded you and I can pick up a left seat 747 position for kicks but don't let yourself or family down.

GA is dying and airplane values are dropping like rocks. Buy a Bonanza and forget about it.

SkyHigh

That's not necessarily true...

The current pilot demand means you could get back in with no problem, but at the regional level. You would need to do some minimal GA flying to get current again.

You might look into private corporate in your home town, or maybe backup up pilot for a charter op. My corporate friends pull in $50-60K+, fly a few days a month, and have real jobs or businesses on the side.

Smoking/Flying
 

SkyHigh, you need a new analogy. There are zero documented positive side effects to smoking. There are countless aviation success stories, as well as failures.

Smoking Success
 

There are successful smokers who die from car accidents instead. Some positive effects of smoking are; weight loss, reduced stress and added coolness. Plenty of people who smoke are able to live to ripe old ages.

The same could be said for aviation. A few are able to make a go of it however for most successes in aviation are usually short lived and open to interpretation.

To me the analogy is highly comparable and valid.

SkyHigh

Please note that this is my 2000th post !!! Call me a hero if you wish.

GA is dying
 

The numbers of student pilots have plummeted over the past 20 years. In 2006 the number of student pilots was 15,000 less than AOPA's estimates. There are fewer student pilots than there are flight instructors now.

The prices of small planes are plummeting. Soon all we will have is sport pilots who are reduced to small and remote flight parks and millionaires in PC-12's. The day of the middle class private pilot is almost over.

Skyhigh

"Help The Sky is falling. the Sky is falling!"

EXACTLY,, i worked at subway while going to college and it was the same sh!t. first we got a free sandwhich for lunch, then a couple months later it turned into a discount, then it went to nothing! Also they would screw with my schedule, call me in on my days off, paid me minimum wage, made me work holidays and weekends, and i got 1 week vacation a year, . wow, am i describing an airline job? thats the point. There is BS in every Job, you either deal with it, or move on to the next bs job. Till you are your own boss, you will never be free.

oh and to answer the original post, GO FOR IT MAN. I am a lot happier dealing with b.s. in this industry than any where else i have been. and no i didn't work for subway very long!!! :)

Dude... free subway? That'd be awesome:D

Bbf
 

Thanks big guy! I knew you wouldn't leave me hangin. :)

Your Bestest Buddy,

SkyHigh

Say you haven't mentioned anything about my 2000th post milestone. Do you think you could muster a little jab or something?

People are not becoming pilots anymore because flight training is so expensive and there is really no return on the investment. Flying has become a hobby for wealthy people. These days the parking lot at most flight schools looks like a luxury car dealership. The only people that are there for anything more than private are the international students.

haha,, I never want to see another piece of bologna (had to sing the oscar meyer song to spell that) IN MY LIFE!!!

Skyhigh,

I'm confused. Your post implies one thing but your signature line implies something completely different. Which is it?

That's why you gotta go with the spicy italian!:D

Hey, me too!

You may have to fly air-tours over the beach for a while though, in a beat-up 172 to build up any lack of PIC. All that SIC and FE just helps your total for the upgrade. I had about 3300 total when I got on with Colgan; 1100 PIC 150 ME and 2200 FE!! Good luck! - BCD

I walked away from it for four years, then went back. And I'm happier since doing so. This industry has a lot of negatives, no doubt, but the corporate world sucked so much more, at least for me. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!

What about the corporate gig didn't you care for Night?

Mistake
 

I meant to write BFF, or Best Friends Forever. I messed up on the title. :eek:

SkyHigh

You still didn't answer the question (unless there is some secret meaning to BFF). Is there a pilot shortage or surplus in your eyes?

Hey I love subway too!!! And free subway would even be better! We all will have our opinions on which direction GA is going, but lets get back to the point at hand here. Should Frieghtdog1 come back to the darkside or not?

When I say corporate, I didn't mean corporate flying. Sorry for the confusion. I meant the corporate non flying, ie regular "office" job route. 60-70 hour work weeks, the daily grind and commute, and on and on... Made decent money, but I hated every second of it.

That's where your wrong. Things have definitely changed. Now-a-days, cargo pilots are the highest paid! Who'd a thunk it? Salaries for the majors is down about 40% and getter worse every day (inflation) Southwest is now the highest paid pax carrier.

I sure I not breaking any news here but you need to consider; this is not your fathers industry anymore. Personally, I think this is the low water mark and things are looking up. I have to believe that cause I don't want to kill myself. Still there is evidence that the long awaited pilot shortage is happening (soon).

Well, this was posted in the majors section... It says there might be hope for us yet...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...i-business-hed

Surplus
 

I think there is a pilot surplus, but a reduction in the amount of pilots who will do the job for postman wages. I am sure that the pay will come back a little but there is an ever constant ratcheting trend downward.

There is a current shortage of carpenters right now as well, but as soon as the pay bumps up a dollar or two an hour applicants suddenly appear. Pilots however seem to adapt to lower expectations and are soon eager to get back flying at the lessor amount.

SkyHigh

I was enjoying the parade but now it is raining. Why are you raining on my parade?

Sorry
 

Sorry Mike,

It is a sad truth. I could pick up the phone today and have a dozen qualified pilots ready and eager to take a position with Alaska Airlines (or any other major airline) at the current reduced pay scale.

I also would gladly jump at the chance to put on an Alaska Airlines uniform even thought it would mean a huge pay cut and dimmed future. Flying has a fun factor that is the biggest undermining element to pilot wages and future prospects.


SkyHigh

Pilot Shortage?
 

I don't see how anyone could call our current situation a pilot "shortage". After nearly six years of furloughs, layoffs and frozen hiring it will take a decade just to get back to where we should be.

If the age 65 rule becomes reality then any talk of a pilot "shortage" will disappear and the hiring drought will continue for another 3 to 5 years.

If there is a surge in hiring it will be merely to replace those who have chosen not to come back.

In my estimation there are at least 30,000 able and qualified professional grade pilots who are sitting on the sidelines. The only shortage is of those willing to go through the harassment and depravity it takes to get there.

SkyHigh

Interestingly, I hardly wear the uniform anymore. I'm ashamed to.

REPENT!! REPENT!!


sry Sky high couldnt help it...ur the man

Next Wave
 

My latest airline hopes are that the majors pick up on hiring retired guys form other professions since they don't complain as much. I remember at Horizon they liked to hire retired military, police and fire type guys and they always seemed happy since they didn't have to worry about earning a living.

Perhaps someday I can make it in through that kind of approach?

SKyhigh

I feel bad for you, You seem so bitter becuase you are out of the industry, and you miss it tremendously :)

Thanks
 

Thank you for your condolences. I do miss it terribly however I am blessed with a family and require an occupation that offers compensation and working conditions suitable for a full middle class family life. I am very disappointed that after over 6000 hours of hard earned flight time, a college education and nearly 20 years of effort do not feel that I can afford to risk another year on a career that in my estimation has been permanently discounted and offers few real career prospects.

I have ever had only one real aviation dream and that is to fly for Alaska Airlines. Even that has lost most of its luster over the past five years. To this day it is the only Major airline I have ever applied directly to. Hopefully one day I can find my place again in the sky. Most likely it will be in an aircraft of my own.

Skyhigh