After 5 years I am out... It has been a exciting trip and I have met some great people and learned a lot about the industry. My brother in law offered me a great gig working in a job that provides steady pay, security and retirement. I am sad that I am leaving my passion behind but, it is not paying the bills. Since I began flying it has been a struggle however, lately it has gotten worse with bankruptcy and food stamps a reality. This new job will pay a lot more and give me what I need to keep my family afloat, I will even be able to pay the outrageous loan off that I financed this flying thing with. It is crazy though, like a drug, I feel like I am addicted to this flying thing and the life. It is the hardest thing to break, I know it is all mental and a false reality because no matter how good you look behind the uniform and how many exotic destinations you visit and stay, it is not reality because you really cannot enjoy yourself because there is no money to back it up. I think my family will be more strong having me home and providing them with what they need; food, shelter and clothes. It would be selfish of me to continue on the career path in the airlines never being home and living paycheck to paycheck on food stamps and no real room to advance in such a flooded market. Maybe one day I will be able to fly for fun and look back on the time that I was once an airline pilot. Fare thee well.... I will move on and not look back.

Good attitude! Bitterness over "what might have been" would only erode the satisfaction you will undoubtedly find in your new career. Best of luck, fellow pilot.

Good Luck with your new adventure. At least you'll never look back & wonder what if.

Great luck and may the force be with you.

Hopefully a few young guys considering taking out a HUGE loan to finance a job that pays so poorly will read this.

Good luck to the future.

Al, you can still do things with aviation without flying for a living. I hope you find some and enjoy doing them.

Good luck. Hopefully your new job will allow you to rent a 172 or something on the weekend to "scratch the itch." Maybe even consider your own bird one day.

If you dont mind me asking, what stage were you at now that you are leaving? 5 years so are you an Instructor? Maybe a Regional FO?

Sorry it didn't work out.... but good luck!! I HIGHLY respect your decision and hope you find what you need. It's not easy giving up something we all work so hard to achieve, but sometimes we have to, because, well.... sometimes it sucks. Good luck!

A very wise man wrote this. I believe that you have made the right choice. I miss aviation too, but not all the nonsense that goes with most of the jobs. In a world of selfish people you are stepping up to the plate, being a man and taking care of your family first. My hat is off to you. Airplanes do not love you, no matter how much you love them. A one sided love affair. Some people sacrafice family, friends and their health for a big piece of aluminum.

Thank you for the complement. I start my new job tomorrow at 5 am working in the city for the union and am finished at 2 pm, home with the kids by 3. This is a new way of life for me however, it will pay about 50 % more than what I was making, it allows for fully paid health care through the union along with a pension to retire on making 8k a month in my pocket after 25 yrs. I have many family members in this line of work who are quite successful and proud to be union, I am fortunate to have this token in my pocket.

As for flying it is something I had to do and was lucky to have gone as far as I did with it. I got a lot of experience and met great people I will never forget along with great places. If I were to do it over, I would have forgone the heavy loan and pt 141 schooling and went the route of the military. Not only do you get a chance to serve your country, you get paid to learn! I still have aspirations of serving my country however, I believe that flying is something that I will keep in my back pocket and if I do it again, it will be with my kids for pleasure or possibly on an "on call" basis with my old company to help them out when they are busy. I may not be in "love" with my new job but, it will pay me a wage that will offer a comfortable way of life and allow myself and my family a chance to experience things that they deserve. My love affair with aviation was for the freedom that it allows. Flying for a carrier for me was more or less a passion that offered a false reality in terms of a way of life. It may be for a single guy with no overhead but, for me, I woke up after being basically choked out by the low pay and living on the road and hung up my wings.

So here I go off to the 9-5 and I will not look back. Thank you Wilbur, Orville and God for giving me the chance to experience something so outstanding. Now I will be on the ground looking up at everyone at FL380 knowing that was me at one time, and I will keep my mouth shut knowing what I know and continue to work for my family. I will be home tonight. It was real!