YesterdayQuote:
You're probably fairly young, and clearly not experienced in aviation...Originally Posted by pilot_man
Did you ever stop to think that maybe some pilots aren't in it for the money. Maybe just having a job in aviation is a dream come true. Who cares if its flying Rj's for 20k a year, who cares if your flying an A380 out of Hong Kong flying rubber dog poo. The point is flying is flying. To me I don't care how much I make or what I fly. As long as I am living comfortably and flying. I do understand at the salary pilots have these days, living is pretty hard. But if you love what you do, it doesn't matter.
1) Flying will become a job after 1-2 years at an airline. I agree it's good job with enjoyable moments, but like any other other job I'd rather be home than working.
2) If you ever get married and/or have kids financial reality will arrive...your peers in other industries (ANY other industry) will be making three times what you do, you will live in marginal housing and drive a 20 y/o car which you share with your wife...since you're usually gone you don't need and can't afford two beaters anyway (extra $400 insurance). On weekends you will visit your friend's palatial new homes in the new developments...you watch the game at their place since you can't afford a wide HD TV.
3) When you start to get gray hair, and have FINALLY gotten slightly ahead of the 8 ball finacially, they will downsize you and give your job to...You Guessed It! A 20-something punk who doesn't need "money" to fly, he just loves to fly! Why would they possibly keep you around when you cost 5 times as much???
This is the reality at the regional level (and sometimes at the majors too). This cycle has been repeating almost as long as there have been airplanes...
