PhilosopherPilot
Well-Known Member
Take a deep breath and relax. Jesus.
Is being a professional pilot really that bad?
- Thread starter EchoPapa
- Start date
Take a deep breath and relax. Jesus.
Cav
Former Maddog Whisperer
It all depends on what your goal is. If your goal is to fly, travel, work with interesting people, and make a decent living doing it, you'll probably be happy. If you desire to be rich, be home every night, and have eternal job security, you'll definitely be miserable as an airline pilot.
Before I worked in aviation I worked in business sales, commodities trading, and commercial real estate. This idea that pilots have that $150k jobs grow on trees is completely false. Yes we work hard, we're gone a lot, and deserve every penny we make (and more) but quite frankly, the people I hear complaining the loudest have never worked in another industry and have little clue. Sure there are exceptions and we all "have a friend" who works somewhere that pays a ton and works great hours, but these are the exceptions to the rule. It's all about perspective.
Set goals and surround yourself with similar positive people. You'll find a great group of them here. NETWORK with positive people that you would like to emulate. Learn from them, ask questions, and don't burn bridges. Good luck and enjoy the journey!
Before I worked in aviation I worked in business sales, commodities trading, and commercial real estate. This idea that pilots have that $150k jobs grow on trees is completely false. Yes we work hard, we're gone a lot, and deserve every penny we make (and more) but quite frankly, the people I hear complaining the loudest have never worked in another industry and have little clue. Sure there are exceptions and we all "have a friend" who works somewhere that pays a ton and works great hours, but these are the exceptions to the rule. It's all about perspective.
Set goals and surround yourself with similar positive people. You'll find a great group of them here. NETWORK with positive people that you would like to emulate. Learn from them, ask questions, and don't burn bridges. Good luck and enjoy the journey!
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
Mark815
Well-Known Member
This. I'm still without a degree, but have been flying corporate for the past 6 months now.
THANK YOU. Glad someone said it. Everything seems to be directed at 121 with these college programs, and then when people finally go to a regional and make crap pay, they complain!
I think the most frustrating thing with aviation, is that there is always someone with a cooler and better paying job than you. Of course when I pull into Signature and there is a kid my age flying a Hawker, I want to be there, but I can play the "I know a guy that flies [insert cool plane here] and makes [insert butt load of money here]" all day long. Is that going to make me hate my job? Absolutely not. The industry isn't what it should be, but I still fully enjoy my job (I'm not a 121 guy, so I can't tell you how QOL is over there). I work a 7\7 schedule, which I love. The airplane is a blast to fly, and while I'm not getting rich unfortunately, I'm still making more than some 2nd and even 3rd year F\Os at the regionals. I have a life when I'm not working and I don't commute. For 7 straight days I don't touch an airplane, and when I get back into it, I'm actually excited to go flying.
Is it perfect and where I want to be forever? Nope, I'd love to be making 6 figures flying a big G550 for a hot celebrity, but for now, with so many people out of work, I can't complain.
I worked in other fields for 25+ years before switching to aviation. I'll let you in on a secret: Job happiness is directly related to expectations versus reality. Doesn't matter what occupation, if your expectations are too high you won't be happy.
The good part of that news is that nobody controls your expectations except you. Other people might control the reality of the job, but YOU control whether or not you are happy with your lot in life.
Make it your goal to do something that appeals to you, and always look at the bright side, not the negatives. Enjoy whatever you do, enjoy the people you work with, and always be a positive influence on those around you.
The good part of that news is that nobody controls your expectations except you. Other people might control the reality of the job, but YOU control whether or not you are happy with your lot in life.
Make it your goal to do something that appeals to you, and always look at the bright side, not the negatives. Enjoy whatever you do, enjoy the people you work with, and always be a positive influence on those around you.
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
ljg
Well-Known Member
I love this job. I like the people I work with a lot, and I can draw fulfillment from acquiring new knowledge, skills, and going new places. I've tried to do other things non-flying, and it doesn't work well for me. The dream never dies. I feel very fortunate/lucky, etc.
BUT...
Hate this industry. No reasons to list other than what people have said. I'm thankful to have a very supportive wife who allows me to do what I love doing. I do have some amount of guilt that I am gone from her and my family from time to time -but we had discussed this at length before getting married. I value my marriage/family 1000x more than flying airplanes for paychecks.
This thread had got me thinking, based on where the industry is headed - would I want my child to get into this?
If my kid wanted to do this 20 years from now, I would advise him/her to try something else first. More significantly, I asked my wife the same question: Based on what you've seen and how all the positives/negatives play out to affect family-life, would you want your kid getting into flying professionally? Her answer: "NO. Please take out the trash."
BUT...
Hate this industry. No reasons to list other than what people have said. I'm thankful to have a very supportive wife who allows me to do what I love doing. I do have some amount of guilt that I am gone from her and my family from time to time -but we had discussed this at length before getting married. I value my marriage/family 1000x more than flying airplanes for paychecks.
This thread had got me thinking, based on where the industry is headed - would I want my child to get into this?
If my kid wanted to do this 20 years from now, I would advise him/her to try something else first. More significantly, I asked my wife the same question: Based on what you've seen and how all the positives/negatives play out to affect family-life, would you want your kid getting into flying professionally? Her answer: "NO. Please take out the trash."
To the original poster: Nah, it's pretty cool. You kind of get out what you put into it. If you're just here to fly airplanes, you're going to feel empty. If its about learning the challenges of working together on an ever-changing team of crew members, find irregular days (operationally, not gastrointestinally) a challenge, you're going to be alright.
Beats being an adult video store janitor for sure.
Beats being an adult video store janitor for sure.
CzechAirman
Well-Known Member
I don't have one either and this is my second major airline. Don't buy into the BS that you CAN'T get hired at a major without a degree. I've been hired by two of them without one. I'll be the first one to tell someone that if you have the opportunity to get a degree, get one. It will make it much easier to get to a major than without, and some majors still require one. But the blanket statement of you can't get there without one is just not true.
CzechAirman
Well-Known Member
At my all cargo airline, same day turn lines are popular with locals. We have both morning and evening turn lines that have you home every day.
Boris Badenov
Fortis Leader
This is really all that needs to be said on the subject, yet before the year is out I predict another multi-page thread.
trafficinsight
Well-Known Member
I suppose some people really don't want to believe that they may have wasted their time getting a degree, and others really don't want to believe that it's a good idea to get a degree
To the OP:
I can tell you that I'm enjoying the hell out of my first flying job. There are things I dislike about it, usually about day 5 of my 7 day rotation, but flying beats working any day of the week.
CzechAirman
Well-Known Member
Yes, and the guys that spent $100K+ for their fancy aviation university degree will pile on trying to justify their expenditure and entrance into a life of debt.
Gonzo
Well-Known Member
May I ask what two airlines? How long ago where you hired at the airlines.
CzechAirman
Well-Known Member
I suppose some people really don't want to believe that they may have wasted their time getting a degree, and others really don't want to believe that it's a good idea to get a degree
To the OP:
I can tell you that I'm enjoying the hell out of my first flying job. There are things I dislike about it, usually about day 5 of my 7 day rotation, but flying beats working any day of the week.
Getting a degree from a traditional university in a traditional major is almost never a waste of time. What is a waste is a degree that is so specialized, like aeronautical science that it's useless beyond professional piloting. And it is a waste because such specialized degree is NOT required to fly professionally. If you want to go to an aviation university and spend big bucks, more power to you. But don't cop the attitude that you are better than those that didn't, because you are not.
CzechAirman
Well-Known Member
Two major all cargo airlines. The names aren't important, there were only three back then. 20 and 10 yrs ago.