Anybody enjoy being an airline pilot?

[WAFlyBoy]

I saw this question posed on another site and thought it worthy of discussion on JC.....

It's no secret that these forums are filled with gripes and complaints: rude passengers, crappy overnights, poor pay, demanding schedules, "management is out to screw us," "TSA is always molesting us," etc, etc.

With that in mind, is there anybody out there who actually enjoys being an airline pilot? Or are you staying in the profession simply because you've got too much invested to do anything else at this point? Or are you sticking it out, hoping that things will get better when you make it to the "majors?" Or perhaps you just complain about your job for recreation?

I understand that it's a job, and most jobs have an ugly side. But this seems more of a chronic state of distress than an occasional rant. I guess the tidbit of truth I'm seeking is this: why NOT do something else for a living?

Vote and discuss.

 

[WestIndian425]

The Guru!!! Man it's been a loooooooooooooooong time since I saw you post on here!

Well to answer your question, I absolutely love it! It's a dream of mine from since a little boy, and to see it coming to pass is a joy that goes beyond words; and this is regardless of the delays, scheduling issues, ground stops, and the occasional crew member that you may not get along well with.

 

[derg]

Management is out to screw us because we're nothing more than a 'cost', and every self-appointed airline analyst thinks we're overpaid...even the Mesa guys.

The TSA is a pain because it's a office lead by political appointees and eyewash for the masses (if they're being so cotton-pickin' tough on dem pahhlitts and non-revs, we must be safe!)

My schedule rocks, I love being an international airline pilot and tonight I'm flying to Paris with a great crew on one of the finest aircraft ever built.

If I had to fly domestic the rest of my career, management and the TSA troubles would probably drive me firmly into the dark side.

 

[Malko]

Management is out to screw us because we're nothing more than a 'cost', and every self-appointed airline analyst thinks we're overpaid...even the Mesa guys.

The TSA is a pain because it's a office lead by political appointees and eyewash for the masses (if they're being so cotton-pickin' tough on dem pahhlitts and non-revs, we must be safe!)

My schedule rocks, I love being an international airline pilot and tonight I'm flying to Paris with a great crew on one of the finest aircraft ever built.

If I had to fly domestic the rest of my career, management and the TSA troubles would probably drive me firmly into the dark side.

see, that 's what I am talking about below:

While some of what he said may indeed be true, it sounds like you caught him on a bad day. Doesn't sound like a fun person to be in the cockpit with that day. I bet if you saw one Mr. Douglas Taylor in the airport, you would get an entirely different outlook. Some of the same information but the message would be different. If it is truly THAT BAD, then get out. Sounds simple, but true.

How can one have a bad attitude when around such positive vibes....It has to be contagious.

 

[Bumblebee]

I love it. I am a career changer and love this even more than being a firefighter! There are challenges in any profession, and attitude goes a long way on how you percieve your life.

Nancy's has great breakfast . . .

 

[WestIndian425]

Nancy's has great breakfast . . .

Nancy's has great "any time of day" food...but I love those overnight meals during the summer.

 

[WAFlyBoy]

Well to answer your question, I absolutely love it! It's a dream of mine from since a little boy, and to see it coming to pass is a joy that goes beyond words

Hey WestIndian! I knew what your answer would be! Glad you're enjoying ExpressJet.

If I had to fly domestic the rest of my career, management and the TSA troubles would probably drive me firmly into the dark side.

Interesting perspective, Doug. And I do not disagree with your statements regarding the causes of some frustrations. Clearly TSA is there to give passengers the illusion of safety. And management... well, that's a discussion for another time.

Nancy's has great breakfast . . .

The best. Just be careful with the biscuits and gravy!

 

[Nick]

As far as the TSA goes, I think something is going to happen in the next 5-10 years that will totally change the security process. Who knows what it will be like in the future but it cannot continue to be what it is today for more than another decade. It is not even security.

 

[Cav]

I can say that I still enjoy the flying part. I also enjoy many of the people I work with. Any negatives I associate with the job really don't have a lot to do with the act of flying. I dislike the management/labor stuff. I'm not a huge fan of company and FAA scrutiny although I understand that for the most part it is both good and necessary. The travel associated with the job is both the best and worst part of it. Sometimes I just really want to be at home with my wife in my own bed. Other times I thoroughly enjoy a good overnight in a city that is worth seeing especially when a good crew is involved. Places like Halifax, Savannah, and Washington DC come to mind. Being gone bothers me a lot more now than it used to. Perhaps that's because I'm on reserve and feel kind of helpless when it comes to my schedule. I HATE not knowing when my trips will begin or end. However I realize that reserve is temporary (hopefully). I was pretty spoiled as a senior FO doing day trips and two day trips.

Don't forget that being an airline pilot is still called a job for a reason. It's WORK!! Having done other things in the past I can say with much certainty that I enjoy this job a lot more than any other and I really can't imagine doing anything else again. But it's not all roses all the time and I'm not always whistling on the drive in to the airport. It's called work for a reason but I believe that is true with any profession.

 

[E_Dawg]

I love it! For one, it's a really easy job with high earnings potential. It's about as dynamic a job as you can get, and you can't beat the view. For an easily bored and lazy guy such as myself, it's the perfect mix of being out of an office environment while still being able to sit in a somewhat comfortable chair for hours on end.

I love the (limited) flexibility to adjust my schedule. When I'm off work the only thing I have to think about is when I show up again, no bringing the work home with me. And when I do have time off I can spend it anywhere in the country, and getting there is free.

Among the multiple various odd jobs and 'normal' jobs I've had, nothing compares to being an airline pilot. The big drawbacks being the potential for one mistake to end my career (or worse), or the loss of a medical with the same result. The industry's high volatility is a major drawback as well; this combined with the seniority system means luck plays a big role in earnings over the course of a career.

One other thing is why is it so uncool to actually like being a pilot?? Yeah first year pay sucks but otherwise it's not a bad job. The only thing I'd maybe rather do is be a truck driver or a porn star.

 

[zmiller4]

I love it! For one, it's a really easy job with high earnings potential. It's about as dynamic a job as you can get, and you can't beat the view. For an easily bored and lazy guy such as myself, it's the perfect mix of being out of an office environment while still being able to sit in a somewhat comfortable chair for hours on end.

I love the (limited) flexibility to adjust my schedule. When I'm off work the only thing I have to think about is when I show up again, no bringing the work home with me. And when I do have time off I can spend it anywhere in the country, and getting there is free.

Among the multiple various odd jobs and 'normal' jobs I've had, nothing compares to being an airline pilot. The big drawbacks being the potential for one mistake to end my career (or worse), or the loss of a medical with the same result. The industry's high volatility is a major drawback as well; this combined with the seniority system means luck plays a big role in earnings over the course of a career.

One other thing is why is it so uncool to actually like being a pilot?? Yeah first year pay sucks but otherwise it's not a bad job. The only thing I'd maybe rather do is be a truck driver or a porn star.

:yeahthat: to all that, except for:

while still being able to sit in a somewhat comfortable chair for hours on end.

You obviously have not flown 403. I've sat on jagged stumps in the woods that were less painful.

 

[ChrisH]

Or are you staying in the profession simply because you've got too much invested to do anything else at this point?

To me, this argument does not hold up. The way some people talk, outside of aviation, there is all of this money to be made. If there is so much more to be made, then that should make up for the "investment". I can understand an older pilot making this statement, but I've heard regional FOs make this statement. It doesn't make sense to me. If you hate the job, do something else. Use the back up degree that is so heavily advised, and go make more money, elsewhere.

 

[CapnJim]

I like my job a lot, despite the shortcomings. I can't imagine doing anything else for a living, but if I do, I'll be sure to let you all know. I was talking to this very bitter FO (junior to me!) griping about how tired he was of working at ExpressJet. (!) He griped about the time away from home. He griped about commuting from ROC-EWR. He griped about the pay. He griped about the passengers. He said, "I think I'm going tp try and find a new job."
I replied, "You mean a good paying flying job in ROC with no passengers and no time away from home?"
"Yeah."
"Good luck!"

~~

It occurs to me that the majority of people who are miserable with thier flying job are the same people who didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they signed on.

The big flight schools have a business to run, I understand. Caveat emptor, dogface.

CAVEAT MTHF'N EMPTOR

 

[E_Dawg]

You obviously have not flown 403. I've sat on jagged stumps in the woods that were less painful.

I've flown 405. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to position the seat so it felt natural. Anyway, that's why I said a 'somewhat' comfortable chair :crazy:

And, you sit on jagged stumps in the woods?

 

[derg]

It occurs to me that the majority of people who are miserable with thier flying job are the same people who didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they signed on.

The big flight schools have a business to run, I understand. Caveat emptor, dogface.

CAVEAT MTHF'N EMPTOR

There's not an excuse for this in 2007 whatsoever.

All I had back in the day was a furloghed Inland Empires Airlines pilot, a couple Irv Jasinski books and a book on Naval Aviation back in the day. But these days? Damn, there's more insider information in a single forum thread than was available in all the bookstores back in the 1980's.

 

[CapnJim]

What's that you say? Something about horses and water?
One of the primary symptoms of SJS-- is myopia.

 

[zmiller4]

I've flown 405. I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to position the seat so it felt natural. Anyway, that's why I said a 'somewhat' comfortable chair :crazy:

And, you sit on jagged stumps in the woods?

In my dirty hippie days, yes.

On this whole enjoyment/quality of life thread, how have your schedules been out of Chicago? Are you holding a fair number of days off? I'll be up there starting Aug 1st, but commuting in...

 

[Soul Brotha']

I absolutely love being an airline pilot. The pay sucks(right now), too much fighting between companies(MESA vs CMR/ASA, XJT vs CHQ, etc.), time away from my family(the wife and dog), very long days, overnights in great cities like Jackson, MS; Rochester, NY; no offense to people who live in the mentioned cities but I'm a NYC boy at heart. Crappy airport food. With all that I mentioned above and more to add, I love my job. I have a passion to fly. Need to earn a living and should be properly compensated for it, but I could not see myself do anything else.

 

[mtsu_av8er]

It occurs to me that the majority of people who are miserable with thier flying job are the same people who didn't know what they were getting themselves into when they signed on.

I agree with that. I'm also noticing that many (not all) of the people that whine and complain are the same ones that took the first airline job that came along.

Noticing a trend . . . maybe I'll wait longer.

 

[E_Dawg]

On this whole enjoyment/quality of life thread, how have your schedules been out of Chicago? Are you holding a fair number of days off? I'll be up there starting Aug 1st, but commuting in...

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