Airline pilot the goal of all pilots?

Inverted25

Inverted25

Well-Known Member
It seems like everytime I talk to someone be pilot or not about what I want to do in aviation they look at me like I'm crazy. I have no desire to ever be a airline pilot. I would like to be a airshow pilot or a full time aerobatic instructor if possible. I would also like to fly freight or small corporate. But everyone always ask why dont you want to be a airline pilot? They seem to think they being an airline pilot is ultimate goal for all pilots. I think there are alot of jobs out there that are just as rewarding or even more so than being an airline pilot. Does anyone else agree with me or am I in the minority here?
 
i have the exact same goal / desires you do. see sig.

i have absolutely no desire to EVER fly airliners full of people.
 
When I was younger, I wanted to be a military pilot above all else. I didn't give the airlines much thought. It wasn't until a year or so into college that I decided to pursue civilian aviation. Then it wasn't until after my junior year that I focused on the airlines. I was keeping my options open to airlines or corporate.

I chose not to go the military route, because I knew my ultimate goal was to have a family. Now, as an airline pilot, I'm looking at other careers inside and outside aviation, for the same reason.

I've enjoyed working for the airlines, but I wouldn't say it's the pinnacle of one's career. I think the pinnacle of one's career is the position that gives you a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. It's not about what others think is "having made it," but what you feel makes you happy.

Truth be told, if I could start high school over again, I'd never quit hockey. Maybe I could have played in the NHL. :D
 
Jbroz04 said:
It seems like everytime I talk to someone be pilot or not about what I want to do in aviation they look at me like I'm crazy. I have no desire to ever be a airline pilot. I would like to be a airshow pilot or a full time aerobatic instructor if possible. I would also like to fly freight or small corporate. But everyone always ask why dont you want to be a airline pilot? They seem to think they being an airline pilot is ultimate goal for all pilots. I think there are alot of jobs out there that are just as rewarding or even more so than being an airline pilot. Does anyone else agree with me or am I in the minority here?
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I tell them if I end up being an airline pilot something went wrong in my career.
 
Jbroz04 said:
It seems like everytime I talk to someone be pilot or not about what I want to do in aviation they look at me like I'm crazy. I have no desire to ever be a airline pilot. I would like to be a airshow pilot or a full time aerobatic instructor if possible. I would also like to fly freight or small corporate. But everyone always ask why dont you want to be a airline pilot? They seem to think they being an airline pilot is ultimate goal for all pilots. I think there are alot of jobs out there that are just as rewarding or even more so than being an airline pilot. Does anyone else agree with me or am I in the minority here?
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No, not everyone wants to be an airline pilot but between that and fighter pilots that's pretty much all the general public knows about. Nothing wrong with not wanting to be an airline pilot.
 
esa17 said:
No, not everyone wants to be an airline pilot but between that and fighter pilots that's pretty much all the general public knows about. Nothing wrong with not wanting to be an airline pilot.
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exactly.... most people have no idea theres anything other than airliners flying around, and a CRJ is "a little tiny plane"
 
Earn as much money as is possible while working as little as is possible. = Success
 
Granted, there's absolutely nothing wrong with NOT wanting to be an airline pilot. There's also nothing wrong with wanting to be an airline pilot. Some of you folks make it sound like it's a death sentence or something. It's afforded my family and I a very good life style....just say'n. :)

PS...There ARE several airlines that don't fly a single paying passenger. I can think of one or two!
 
TXaviator said:
exactly.... most people have no idea theres anything other than airliners flying around, and a CRJ is "a little tiny plane"
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:yeahthat:

Most non-pilot people seem to think there are three (non-military) types of pilots:
1. The vast majority who fly for airlines
2. Three or four guys who used to fly the automaker's biz jets
3. Cropdusters

It's not surprising, though, as so much of aviation is outside the realm of most people's experience.

But it's the same in other industries: all programmers work for Google, Microsoft, Apple or IBM; no bankers work for local banks or credit unions; all lawyers are ambulance chasers, DAs or criminal defense; etc., etc.

Back to the OP, there's a part of me that would love to fly airliners international, but I have no particular aviation goals other than travel and a decent QOL. As pilots we're involved enough in the industry to know airlines aren't the only--or necessarily the best--option.
 
Would I say I want to be an airline pilot? No.

Would I say I don't want to be an airline pilot? no.

end goal? Not a clue. I'm going back to school for a masters degree. After that, I might fly for a airline, or I might run the whole freaking show. Who knows. I'm not closing any more doors than I already have.
 
I want to work for an airline - kind of...

Seaborne Airlines flying twin otters on floats is my current dream.
 
I dont know what I want to do. I want a job where I work with cool people, and no two days are the same. That is why flying for a small company here in Alaska sounds appealling to me.
 
When I was young my dad flew for the airlines. His best friend from the air force flew corporate and I always liked what Uncle Ray did better.
<O:p</O:p
Uncle Ray got me into the corporate world and I have loved it. Flying corporate can suck big time or it can be great depending on the job. I have had both but now have a great one. When I got into corporate flying the pay was a lot better with the airlines but now it is close to the same.
 
Support a family while having as much fun as is legal in an airplane. For me the dream is still rockin' and rollin' a Lear 35 full of boxes to and from FL450 as fast as I can.

I'm afraid that it might be kind of a dying dream though.
 
Roger said:
Support a family while having as much fun as is legal in an airplane. For me the dream is still rockin' and rollin' a Lear 35 full of boxes to and from FL450 as fast as I can.

I'm afraid that it might be kind of a dying dream though.
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Which part?

- the Lear 35?
- FL450?
- the boxes?
- all of the above?
 
MikeD said:
Which part?

- the Lear 35?
- FL450?
- the boxes?
- all of the above?
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Well, it seems like the really fun stuff like Lears are getting replaced by 19hundos, Bros, and the like as bank work goes away. Not that I don't still want to be a freight dog (see signature) but riding the jet was...exhilirating to say the least.
 
Over the long run, flying for the airlines will net you the most money with the most time off, assuming you're starting young and you're not a career-changer. That's all I want out of a job: a good income and plenty of time off. Other flying jobs that provide that are incredibly difficult to come by.
 
Roger said:
Well, it seems like the really fun stuff like Lears are getting replaced by 19hundos, Bros, and the like as bank work goes away. Not that I don't still want to be a freight dog (see signature) but riding the jet was...exhilirating to say the least.
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My freight dog days were fun in their own way.....kind of the last of the "take the keys and go" flying. Started in small package/bank bags in the single's, and UPS/Airborne Express cargo in the twins. "So long as the boxes get there on time, I don't care what goes on in-between", was the boss's attitude. All types of flying, geograpical areas, WX, day/night. Cool stuff. Got called in one night at about 2200 at PHX for a on-call run on a Saturday. Get to the airport, and boss says to taxi the 'Chief over to the America West ramp, since they called over and needed some parts for a broken 737-200 taken over to KLAX and they didn't have a flight going that way that could take it. Cool stuff like that, takeoff with the cargo after filing a quick flt plan, land there and taxi over to the maintenance place where their plane was, offload, and come back. All in a nights work.
 
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