Airline Pilot Central Forums - This is going to be an ugly year

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- - This is going to be an ugly year (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/regional/9945-going-ugly-year.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Bose (Post 123234)

You're living in a fantasy world. There are a lot more hours on the job than those spent flying the plane, not to mention missed birthdays, holidays, several nights in a row spent away, etc...

In that case, you must be making a lot less than $30K now. I'll concede that's not much to walk away from for the sake of an airline career.

Those are the wrong questions. What makes you a good family man is providing for your family, being around regularly, and not risking their future on an unstable career path. Whether or not you love you job has nothing to do with it. It's also naive to think you couldn't possibly find job satisfaction anywhere else.

Yes, that's right. You can't have everything in life. Every choice you make involves sacrificing others. Once you've made the choice to start a family, you give up the choice to become a pilot. It's different if you're established in the career with some seniority and earning power and THEN choose to start a family.

No you won't. With a family to feed, idealism goes out the window. You'll be punching your card for a paycheck just like everyone else.

If you feel this way.....get another job!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Bose (Post 123270)

There's no comparing doctors and pilots. Doctors have much better job stability (pilots have zero), lateral mobility (pilots have zero), and earning power than pilots. You might never even see the types of numbers he'll be making in his first year of practice. If you do, it won't be until the tail end of your career.

I'm an optimist and confident I can make what he'll make in his first year of practice well before the tail end of my career. The only scenario that would make your statement true would be if I spent my entire aviation career at a regional.

Most airline pilots I communicate with on these message boards are unhappy with their careers, but not one of the pilots I know personally (outside of these boards) regrets choosing the airlines as a career. Now, I'm not so naive as to think that a career as an airline pilot is void of its problems, but the airline pilots I personally know are happy with their careers and make more than what my friend will make his first year. They are by no means at the tail end of their careers.

So far I've been pretty lucky in my aviation career, I've been at the right place at the right time and have made friends who are now in the right places. With the same fortune I'm sure I'll reach my career goals in due time.

One last comment about the family life thing.... What one family decides to do with their own family is no one else's business. By your standards I was an irresponsible husband for choosing a career as a Marine knowing I would leave my wife for six months to serve in the desert. Be careful where you point fingers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccube5 (Post 123263)

Unfortunately by my standards you are correct, you shouldn't be in your position starting at a regional with a wife and kids. Then again if second year regional pay is more than you were previously making more power to you. Unfortunately it's that which is bringing the industry down. The profession is so accessible to anyone that it's attracting people with much lower expectations out of life then the previous generation of pilots.

Once again well said Uncle Bose. Early in life with no overhead no family no kids is the time to make the jump to be a pilot. Once you add those variables in it is time to find a different career thats a little more stable.

WRONG...WRONG...WRONG!!! Kids keep flying 172's and stop thinking 'cause it's not workin' for ya. $25,000 a year CAN support a family of 4!!! But the average joe is fiscally retarded. But... if mom and dad paid for your schooling, maybe you don't understand delayed gratification. The concept is simple work hard now, sacrifice and down the road it will pay off.

It's a shame these threads are full of whiners. I'd like to see how many here paid for college and all their training. I did. No loans. No help from mom & dad. But I made it. I worked hard, two jobs. Now I make more money and spend more time with my family. I don't owe any money!

The hard work and sacrifice paid off. Now I appreciate where I'm at and I feel privledged not entitled to have this career! ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJPILOT1 (Post 123329)

If you feel this way.....get another job!!!

Thanks XJPILOT! I know some don't agree with my views, thoughts, and feelings but that is what makes us different. If things don't work out I will learn to say "Want fries with that".

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJPILOT1 (Post 123336)

Well said!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJPILOT1 (Post 123336)

$25,000 a year CAN support a family of 4!!!!

At first I thought you're only capable of dealing in absolutes (such as nothing in between rich and poor, cockpit and cubicle), and didn't understand that "decent living" doesn't have to mean $60K a year. But then I read this. That's the single most fanatical thing I've read on these boards.
Subjecting a family to the sort of lifestyle that salary demands for the sake of flying planes just defies belief.