There are a few blacksmiths who are waiting for their turn around too. I am sure that there will be airline jobs in the future but the pay and benefits are long gone. Most other industries saw pensions go away in the 70's.

SkyHigh

skyhigh are you one of the America West pilots who got fired for flying drunk?

First of all, you're NOT my biggest fan. You're a bitter little man who didn't get where you wanted to be. And please tell all of us how exactly I rubbed anything in? Nope. As usual, it's more of your sick little "Oh, damn. I didn't make it and you did so I'm all ****ed off about that" crap.

By the way, are you related to Poundstone? Maybe you're his illigitimate, long lost, ugly, step-brother? You sure as hell sound alike.

Enough of your petty whinning. You didn't make it. I did. Live with it.

One more thing. I earned it all the hard way.

Ranger and Cowboy,

Ranger...Oh, But I am your biggest fan and I acknowledge that you earned your successes. My entire point on this whole forum is that you are the exception and not the rule. It is (was) my biggest goal in life to become an arrogant self absorbed egotist just like you. And what a worthy goal it was to be paid a kings ransom for a fools Paradise. Who wouldn't want to be lavished with riches for doing something that I would do as a pastime anyway. If only Peter Pan could be so lucky.

I would maintain that I put forth a worthy effort but recognized the folly of my chances early enough to preserve a seed of a chance elsewhere. Not everyone has a 747 left seat waiting for them at the end of the rainbow, in fact by even Rangers own admission that perhaps fewer than "one in 25" ever make it to the promised land. Poundstone and I seem to be cut from the same stone. Our message is similar. I realise that you are not fond of the opinions that I pass, but that doesn't make me a "little man". It is easy to sell the snake oil to the eager youth, play the hero in four stripes. The concepts that I am trying to pass on are in an attempt to save a few. So, throw stones if you like, however I would prefer coherent ideas instead.

Cowboy, you seem to have recognised early the signs of the folly that you are pursuing. My advise is, if you truly love aviation and are prepared to set aside dreams of family, friends, financial security and community then go forth. If any of these sacrifices give you pause then I would work to develop a strong plan "B".

SkyHigh

No, you're not my greatest fan. That would be my wife. I said it before and I'll say it again. You're a bitter man who's ****ed because someone else is living the life that you wanted to live. Your posts scream that fact.

I have no use for quitters. I learned that little fact a long time ago. You earn the life that you have. And I'm sure as hell enjoying mine.

Don't bother. It's a rhetorical comment.

Cowboy-

It can be done. You just have to have the guts to stick it out. Make the necessary sacrifices, network and try your level best to make good decisions. With any luck at all you won't end up a bitter little man who resents the successes of others.

Quitters, that's funny. I'll bet they used that line on the kamikaze pilots as they lined up for their aviation careers. More stones. You are so out of touch that you can't even produce a worthy argument. As always, rhetorical.

I really do like you by the way,

SkyHigh

Blah, blah, blah.

Guys this has got to stop. You two sound like a couple of old farts married for too long. Move on, or kiss and make up

My case against aviation can be built on two statements that Ranger himself has made:

"when I'm interacting with the young wannabes I stress it. I tell them (if there's a group) to look around and understand that MAYBE one in 25 will have a chance at a job at a major airline."

"25 years ago I was flying for a commuter airline and the prospects of a job with a better paying, major airline were pretty remote. My wife and I discussed what we would do if I was stuck at that job and couldn't get any further. While it would have made life a lot tougher financially, I would have stayed and made the most of it. And I would have ended up flying an RJ for one of the biggest regionals in the U.S."

One has to be prepared to invest themselves completely as in Rangers statement referring to how he decided to remain at the commuter airline in spite of the low wages and bad working conditions. His claim to fame is that he lacked the rational to save himself and got lucky. He made the jump to the big time and his airline didn't die. Good for you Ranger. In my career I was right there with you our resumes would be mirrors of each others to the point where my jet airline failed.

Ask anyone if it seems like a good idea to spend 100K in training and education. And 10 to 15 years of their young lives for a one in 25 chance at getting a job that pays a bit more than an urban police officer. The consequences for failure are serving out the remainder of your career as a trailer park RJ captain or having to start over in a totally new career in middle age.

I think aviation shouldn't be represented as a career but more of a self inflicted quest or obsession. And I think it is wrong when the lottery winners try to represent that the odds are surmountible by human efforts. All it takes is one stuffed shirt egotist to launch a thousand fruitless careers and it is wrong. They might as well be pushing crack.

SkyHigh