Well, it’s official. After a long year of thinking it over I have decided I will NOT pursue a career in aviation. I don’t have to get into to the details of how hard and risky this field can be as you pros out there know way more about it than me. But one of the last things that got me was a picture I saw of NWA DC-9 on short final with the view from the cockpit. It’s a classic “what’s wrong with this picture” kind of thing. Well, it’s clear that the F/O is AT LEAST 10 years older than the captain. I’d hate to hear that poor fella’s story.
Anyway, I was willing to put up with a whole lot. But as much as I absolutely love flying I think I’m the kind of guy where the honey moon feeling would wear off. Yeah, I look up at everything from an ATR to a 747-400 coming down into KIAD and wish, wish, wish that I could experience that. Getting pushed out from the gate, getting passengers safely to their destination with gusting cross-winds and storms on the way. Follow the river into KDCA, see T-storms off to the side from 36,000. I could go on and on. That all being said, I just can’t handle the possibility of spending all that time and money and walking such a tough road of low pay, tons of roommates, hotels and reserve life to finally get to my 4th or 5th year in the right seat of an RJ and then all of the sudden my airline goes under. All without a single hour of 121 PIC time. I’m thinking about going to PA school instead. The salary and time off would give me plenty of opportunity to buzz around in rentals out of KHEF and have fun with the greatest safety pilot of all time…my dear old dad who was a huge supporter through this whole thought process.
I don’t want any of this to sound negative or discourage any others out there thinking of following their dream. If you love it and it’s what you want more than anything….GO FOR IT! I’m actually jealous of those out there who have made such a bold career change in honor of something they truly love. My hat’s off to you. I guess I just didn’t want it bad enough.
I’ll keep poking my head around here as I will continue to fly with my PPL, this site is a great resource for any type of pilot.
Mainly I wanted take the time to give a big thanks to all the people who have taken time to talk to me and to all who always share their stories, give their advice and make this website the wonderful source of information that it has become. Of course, special thanks to DT for starting it all. You da man!