Perseverance.
There was a time when I would go to any lengths to succeed in this profession. I can relate to Jtrain's dillema, but I might add an element. For me, finally reaching the brass ring, flying for a major for 3+ years and then getting furloughed felt like I had wasted a decade of my life. I was fortunate (?) enough to go to a commuter after that... but boy, if you want to absolutely feel like dirt show up at IOE for a commuter sitting next to some 250 hour wonder when you have 8000 hours and 3 type ratings.
It makes you realize that experience means nothing in this industry.
So after 3 commuters, 1 LCC, and 1 major i'm flying corporate. I still have 737 models in my son's room and I cant wait to tell him stories from my DC9 and 737 days. I'm proud of what I accomplished.
That being said, if I were in the original poster's situation, would I start down the road to this profession? No.
One needs only look at CNN to see why. Oil prices approaching $150 a barrel. Airlines collapsing under business plans that never counted on those high energy prices. Thousands -- yes, THOUSANDS -- of pilots being furloughed industrywide...some for the second time in a decade.
If you MUST fly, avoid the airlines. Their business model is broken. There are some fantastic flying jobs out there that have nothing to do with the airlines. Better yet pursue something that allows you to spend each night at home with your family. Buy a 172 - convert it to run on butterfly necter
- and enjoy flying as an artist might enjoy painting... without the utter fatigue caused by trying to make a living at it!
Guys like slushie think they'll have better luck than I did. And maybe they will. But what, in their opinion did I do wrong? And how will THEY avoid those same pitfalls? The "it can't happen to me" attitude is prevalent in aviation.
