"...plenty of pilots willing to fly—if the pay’s right."

ATN_Pilot said:
Then 9/11 hit less than a year into my time at Gulfstream, and I was back into the school house to get my CFI. Spent some time doing some instruction for the Gulfstream Academy side of the company, and then got hired at Pinnacle thanks to a preferential hiring thing they had worked out. Upgraded to captain at 23, and hired at AirTran shortly before my 25th birthday. That was about 7 years ago.
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This is proof positive that some people just can't comprehend their good fortune and be happy if it hit them at 75 mph, backed up, and ran over them again.
 
You must have missed the part where I, you know, directly spoke of my good fortune. But that doesn't fit your narrative, so feel free to continue ignoring it. :rolleyes:
 
ATN_Pilot said:
You must have missed the part where I, you know, directly spoke of my good fortune. But that doesn't fit your narrative, so feel free to continue ignoring it. :rolleyes:
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If anyone is ignoring anything, it's you not being able to see the world from anything other than your own point of view. Your HVAC rant is just a really recent example, but the list is long.
 
wheelsup said:
If anyone is ignoring anything, it's you not being able to see the world from anything other than your own point of view. Your HVAC rant is just a really recent example, but the list is long.
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Nah, what's clear from this thread is that some people just can't stand someone daring to suggest that the way they've done something may not be the perfect way to live life. Whether it's marriage, college, or a profession, everyone wants to pretend that their way is the only right way. It's been an interesting thread, that's for sure.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Nah, what's clear from this thread is that some people just can't stand someone daring to suggest that the way they've done something may not be the perfect way to live life. Whether it's marriage, college, or a profession, everyone wants to pretend that their way is the only right way. It's been an interesting thread, that's for sure.
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What's even better is seeing @jtrain rant about how great the airline profession is. When just a few years ago he made all the same arguments he's making for the airline pilot career for the legal profession.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
I know what point he's trying to make. My answer is that the statistics clearly show that it's a fantasy. But hey, I'm sure my buddy who just lost 7 figures in a divorce trial should be thankful for his marriage, right?
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ahhhhh. My favorite topic. I commuted for 6 years. Every week. On UAL and AA. Listening pilot after pilot talk about their failed marriages. I never talked, just listened. I heard everything from "she left me when money got low" to "I came home and found her with Bob". After years of listening, thinking, evaluating, I've concluded a few things. Women cheat if your a CEO, Pilot, Doctor, Starbucks Barista, or any job for that matter. There are woman who are interested in your money, there are also women who are interested in the title their husband has. I've had friends marry women who were less attractive because they believed they were less likely to have problems, ie cheating on them, interested in money etc. Some of those guys are the unhappiest guys I know.

Failed marriages happen to all different kinds of people for all different kinds of reasons. Theres no two stories that are alike. And there is no pattern to any of it. Maybe these celebrities who never get married but have kids have it figured out. Who knows.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Nah, what's clear from this thread is that some people just can't stand someone daring to suggest that the way they've done something may not be the perfect way to live life. Whether it's marriage, college, or a profession, everyone wants to pretend that their way is the only right way. It's been an interesting thread, that's for sure.
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couldn't be more true
 
mwflyer said:
What's even better is seeing @jtrain rant about how great the airline profession is. When just a few years ago he made all the same arguments he's making for the airline pilot career for the legal profession.
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It's stark, isn't it?

And I'm not even saying this is the best job in the world, just that it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be.

For me, it took getting out, seeing what my alternative was going to be, and realizing that I had something good sitting in front of me.
 
jtrain609 said:
For me, it took getting out, seeing what my alternative was going to be, and realizing that I had something good sitting in front of me.
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For me, the opposite occurred. I got disheartened with my career following the realization that I was going to be commuting for most of the rest of it, so I decided to give the family business a try. I enjoyed the "desk job" so much that I quickly decided that I would be far happier leaving aviation. Like I said, to each his own. Some people will never be happy doing anything but flying airplanes. But those people should realize that it isn't the be-all, end-all for everyone.

Does anyone stay in touch with Szluka? I'm curious how he's liking the career switch to law enforcement.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
For me, the opposite occurred. I got disheartened with my career following the realization that I was going to be commuting for most of the rest of it, so I decided to give the family business a try. I enjoyed the "desk job" so much that I quickly decided that I would be far happier leaving aviation. Like I said, to each his own. Some people will never be happy doing anything but flying airplanes. But those people should realize that it isn't the be-all, end-all for everyone.

Does anyone stay in touch with Szluka? I'm curious how he's liking the career switch to law enforcement.
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When was your last day?
 
ATN_Pilot said:
For me, the opposite occurred. I got disheartened with my career following the realization that I was going to be commuting for most of the rest of it, so I decided to give the family business a try. I enjoyed the "desk job" so much that I quickly decided that I would be far happier leaving aviation. Like I said, to each his own. Some people will never be happy doing anything but flying airplanes. But those people should realize that it isn't the be-all, end-all for everyone.

Does anyone stay in touch with Szluka? I'm curious how he's liking the career switch to law enforcement.
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This is exactly why it should be a requirement to have a "real job" prior to becoming a pilot. It would cut down on the complaining within the pilot ranks, and people like you wouldn't waste a decade or more of your life in a career you don't like.

Those pilots who have done nothing but fly their whole careers don't understand what the work world is all about. I think most would choose to keep their pilot gigs. And honestly, owning your own business is NOT the same as working 9-5 at some company. You have ownership and get additional satisfaction by watching your business flourish. That's not what most have in the "real world."

I'm not arguing with you about "trades" or college. Do what you want to do, but being a career pilot is a good job. It has challenges, but overall (for me at least) it's better than working for a living, and I've had plenty of "real jobs" to be able to say that.

Plus, I watched my wife go from med school to residency to practicing medicine and now to academic medicine (teaching residents). She may be home every night and make double my salary, but there's NO way I would trade jobs. Nope. No way.
 
You're right, owning your own business is not the same as a regular 9-5. Each has its own advantages, by the way. But anybody can own their own business if they're willing to take the risk and put the work in. Lots of "regular Joes" have become successful entrepreneurs. You don't have to be brilliant or have a big wad of cash.

But I'll never understand pilots who use your statement "it's better than working for a living." It is work. A lot of work. A lot of time away from home. A lot of BS with the company. A lot of uncertainty with medicals, checkrides, domicile closings, mergers, etc. I really wish people would just paint a real picture of the industry rather than making it sound like a vacation. That's the reason that people get in and feel bamboozled. It's not because they've never had a "real job," as you say. It's because too many pilots paint this ridiculous rose colored glasses image of professional aviation. Please, stop. You're doing a disservice to many people out there.
 
jtrain609 said:
It's stark, isn't it?

And I'm not even saying this is the best job in the world, just that it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be.

For me, it took getting out, seeing what my alternative was going to be, and realizing that I had something good sitting in front of me.
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Folks who have never done anything but fly airplanes don't realize how great a job flying airplanes is.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
You're right, owning your own business is not the same as a regular 9-5. Each has its own advantages, by the way. But anybody can own their own business if they're willing to take the risk and put the work in. Lots of "regular Joes" have become successful entrepreneurs. You don't have to be brilliant or have a big wad of cash.

But I'll never understand pilots who use your statement "it's better than working for a living." It is work. A lot of work. A lot of time away from home. A lot of BS with the company. A lot of uncertainty with medicals, checkrides, domicile closings, mergers, etc. I really wish people would just paint a real picture of the industry rather than making it sound like a vacation. That's the reason that people get in and feel bamboozled. It's not because they've never had a "real job," as you say. It's because too many pilots paint this ridiculous rose colored glasses image of professional aviation. Please, stop. You're doing a disservice to many people out there.
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I didn't say it was a vacation. It certainly has challenges, but FOR ME those challenges are minor in comparison to a 9-5 job at a software company, a 9-5 job at a well-known sports apparel company, installing carpet at a flooring company, managing a warehouse at a flooring company.

I agree with you, to each his own. I'll share my experiences, and you do the same. You do not have the right to determine what I say, or how I say it.
 
By the way, the phrase "it beats working for a living" is somewhat tongue-in- cheek. No one is suggesting that it isn't work, or is perfect. I'll happily tell the whole story, and I admit I have a passion for aviation, but this job is not a bad job. That's what JTrain and others are saying.
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
By the way, the phrase "it beats working for a living" is somewhat tongue-in- cheek. No one is suggesting that it isn't work, or is perfect. I'll happily tell the whole story, and I admit I have a passion for aviation, but this job is not a bad job. That's what JTrain and others are saying.
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Actually, it seems like what you and they are saying is that it's a good job, to the exclusion of all others. Which is downright ridiculous.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Actually, it seems like what you and they are saying is that it's a good job, to the exclusion of all others. Which is downright ridiculous.
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I never said that. Your own prejudices are coloring your interpretation.

There are other great jobs out there, I'm sure. The one thing I would quit my aviation job for would be running my own farm. If I could replace my salary by having a farm on my property, I would leave aviation. I still dream about it though.

There are a few other things that I would leave aviation for, but I think it is disingenuous to suggest that most of us could leave our jobs with 6 figure incomes and find a job to replace that salary and keep the same level if schedule flexibility and quality of life.
 
PhilosopherPilot said:
There are a few other things that I would leave aviation for, but I think it is disingenuous to suggest that most of us could leave our jobs with 6 figure incomes and find a job to replace that salary and keep the same level if schedule flexibility and quality of life.
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Honestly, I think just about every one of the people here could. It would just take effort and a tolerance for risk. I've done it, and I can assure you, I'm nothing special. But most people don't have the tolerance for risk, or aren't willing to put in the initial level of effort, which I'll admit, is considerable. The payoff is worth it, though. But, like I said, some people will never be happy doing anything but flying airplanes. For those people, more power to them.
 
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