EatSleepFly
Well-Known Member
Well, I watched all my hard work get flushed down the tubes yesterday.
I was supposed to have the rest of my aircraft training last night. They had me scheduled to deadhead down early Thursday morning. Since there's two direct flights on Continental, I decided to leave yesterday morning instead. That way I wouldn't have to connect anywhere, and I wouldn't have to sit around down there for two days doing nothing, since I had a couple things at home I needed to take care of. I called the CAL non-rev Thursday night, and she said there were plenty of seats available on both flights. Unfortunately, when I got there I found out that Continental's computers are still having trouble with that new CASS program, and I got denied a seat- twice. I did have another backup plan, connecting through ATL, but the flight there was on CAL as well...which obviously wasn't going to work. So I had to call the training manager and get my ass chewed. And did I ever. Now I have to fly down to DFW on Monday morning to turn in my letter and manuals. Game over.
My thoughts?
I don't really know where to go from here. Actually, my biggest thought so far has been how to tell people. My parents, friends, grandparents...they were all so proud that I finally got a halfway reasonable job, did so well in ground school, and passed my initial sim check no problem. I think deep down they were skeptical, since I'm barely 22, and an ERAU drop-out ($$$), that I would make it very far. I think some of my friends thought I was a loser that got lucky. I suppose I was, only the luck apparently ran out, so now I'm just a loser (cue the Beck CD).
On one hand, I'd like to walk away from aviation completely. Its honestly been nothing but one big pain in my ass (financially) since I started doing it for money in March 2003. My credit is probably shot (maybe I'll get drunk and check it sometime), and I've got too much debt (from school) with nothing to show for it except a few pieces of paper from the FAA. I've had two flight instructing jobs, a "corporate" job flying a Bonanza, and a charter job in a King Air. Each time I left a job, it was to move up to something better (or something that appeared to be better)- until now. All of these jobs I earned and was paid for. Other than a joy-ride or two, I haven't bought one minute of flight time since I took my CFII checkride almost two years ago. Although, other than me being proud of that for some dumb reason, I guess thats irrelevant.
Part of me would love to go back and finish my degree in something completely outside of aviation. Because of my debt from ERAU (having gone both as a resident, and in the distance learning program), that just isn't in the cards right now. Take note, people...this is what everyone means when they say, "GET A CHEAP DEGREE IN SOMETHING ELSE AND HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!" Nobody told me that when I walked off the stage at high school graduation, and look what I've gotten myself into.
So I guess that leaves flying. Which is what I really want anyways. Unfortunately now I have a big black mark on my resume. There's not many entry-level flying jobs in my area that I care to take. I can't move out of this area until my lease is up in March either. So I guess my plan for now is to try some freelance instructing again, and take a non-flying job to pay the bills. Once I can move this spring, I'll move for a better job- if anyone will hire me.
In the meantime, here I sit, avoiding phone calls from my family because they think I had my flight last night and want to see how it went. I just don't have the heart to tell them that I am indeed, a screw-up.
Luckily, my girlfriend is 100% supportive and willing and able to move for a job when the time comes. She was really upset at first because she thought it was her fault, since one of the reasons I didn't fly out on Thursday was because it was her birthday.
Anways, I guess that concludes my ramble. I was initially just going to try to fade away from jetcareers for fear of the negativity this post might bring, but I've been active around here for long enough now that I figured I should share my experience. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but so that people can learn from my mistakes.
I was supposed to have the rest of my aircraft training last night. They had me scheduled to deadhead down early Thursday morning. Since there's two direct flights on Continental, I decided to leave yesterday morning instead. That way I wouldn't have to connect anywhere, and I wouldn't have to sit around down there for two days doing nothing, since I had a couple things at home I needed to take care of. I called the CAL non-rev Thursday night, and she said there were plenty of seats available on both flights. Unfortunately, when I got there I found out that Continental's computers are still having trouble with that new CASS program, and I got denied a seat- twice. I did have another backup plan, connecting through ATL, but the flight there was on CAL as well...which obviously wasn't going to work. So I had to call the training manager and get my ass chewed. And did I ever. Now I have to fly down to DFW on Monday morning to turn in my letter and manuals. Game over.
My thoughts?
I don't really know where to go from here. Actually, my biggest thought so far has been how to tell people. My parents, friends, grandparents...they were all so proud that I finally got a halfway reasonable job, did so well in ground school, and passed my initial sim check no problem. I think deep down they were skeptical, since I'm barely 22, and an ERAU drop-out ($$$), that I would make it very far. I think some of my friends thought I was a loser that got lucky. I suppose I was, only the luck apparently ran out, so now I'm just a loser (cue the Beck CD).
On one hand, I'd like to walk away from aviation completely. Its honestly been nothing but one big pain in my ass (financially) since I started doing it for money in March 2003. My credit is probably shot (maybe I'll get drunk and check it sometime), and I've got too much debt (from school) with nothing to show for it except a few pieces of paper from the FAA. I've had two flight instructing jobs, a "corporate" job flying a Bonanza, and a charter job in a King Air. Each time I left a job, it was to move up to something better (or something that appeared to be better)- until now. All of these jobs I earned and was paid for. Other than a joy-ride or two, I haven't bought one minute of flight time since I took my CFII checkride almost two years ago. Although, other than me being proud of that for some dumb reason, I guess thats irrelevant.
Part of me would love to go back and finish my degree in something completely outside of aviation. Because of my debt from ERAU (having gone both as a resident, and in the distance learning program), that just isn't in the cards right now. Take note, people...this is what everyone means when they say, "GET A CHEAP DEGREE IN SOMETHING ELSE AND HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!" Nobody told me that when I walked off the stage at high school graduation, and look what I've gotten myself into.
So I guess that leaves flying. Which is what I really want anyways. Unfortunately now I have a big black mark on my resume. There's not many entry-level flying jobs in my area that I care to take. I can't move out of this area until my lease is up in March either. So I guess my plan for now is to try some freelance instructing again, and take a non-flying job to pay the bills. Once I can move this spring, I'll move for a better job- if anyone will hire me.
In the meantime, here I sit, avoiding phone calls from my family because they think I had my flight last night and want to see how it went. I just don't have the heart to tell them that I am indeed, a screw-up.
Luckily, my girlfriend is 100% supportive and willing and able to move for a job when the time comes. She was really upset at first because she thought it was her fault, since one of the reasons I didn't fly out on Thursday was because it was her birthday.
Anways, I guess that concludes my ramble. I was initially just going to try to fade away from jetcareers for fear of the negativity this post might bring, but I've been active around here for long enough now that I figured I should share my experience. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but so that people can learn from my mistakes.
