Question for experienced pilots in the airlines......

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First hand experience with ERAU. ... The Aeronautical Science program, at least back in the late 1980's was more or less high school math, "just show up and you'll get a grade" English ...

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As evidenced by:

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After having completed the program there, I really didn't feel like I had went to college.

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(Sorry for picking on ya, Doog!)
 
Yowza!

At first, I thought "What dipsh*t wrote that!?"

Then:

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"(Sorry for picking on ya, Doog!)"

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That dipsh*t be me!
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On the Riddle tip, I actually considered trying to take engineering-level math because "Maff Fer Piolitts" was an expensive waste of time and I at least wanted to learn something if I was going to shell out megabucks per credit hour.
 
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Bog why did you become a pilot if you didn't want to be one?
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What would you rather do?

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Well, I was tired of shuffling various jobs around the PHX airport. Nothing seemed to be leading anywhere. One morning, watching my guys load a 727 and a DC-8, I thought "Gee, I'll never get to fly either of those if I keep standing here watching guys load cargo." Must have hit my head that morning or something. So, I started the search for a flight school, found ATP, did the program, yada yada, here I am a CRJ CA at MAG.

I stayed away from the job for the same reasons I dislike it now: gone from family and friends too much, pay doesn't jive with the sacrifice of what we do, move too much, sitting in hotels gets boring, etc, etc. Is it fun to fly planes? Heck yeah. But, my distate for the industry is worse now with the massive increase in Airline Academies, aka ATMs for Airlines. I sometimes wonder if I was as starry-eyed as some just before getting into this job. Lucky me had quite a few friends in the industry to warn me of reality, but it's really something you have to experience to fully understand.

What would I rather do? Win the lottery. Since that won't happen, I'd love to teach or have my own aquarium shop. But, neither will allow me to support my non-existant (as of yet) family to a level I'd like. So, I'll stick with flying for now, hoping that a jump to cargo or fractional will improve my outlook on things. All I know today is that the passenger airline industry is WAY out of whack, it's not the fault of the crews, rampers, or mechanics, but we're the ones paying for it.

Hope that answers your question. If not, ask again. I don't mind.
 
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Well, I was tired of shuffling various jobs around the PHX airport. Nothing seemed to be leading anywhere. One morning, watching my guys load a 727 and a DC-8, I thought "Gee, I'll never get to fly either of those if I keep standing here watching guys load cargo." Must have hit my head that morning or something. So, I started the search for a flight school, found ATP, did the program, yada yada, here I am a CRJ CA at MAG.

I stayed away from the job for the same reasons I dislike it now: gone from family and friends too much, pay doesn't jive with the sacrifice of what we do, move too much, sitting in hotels gets boring, etc, etc. Is it fun to fly planes? Heck yeah. But, my distate for the industry is worse now with the massive increase in Airline Academies, aka ATMs for Airlines. I sometimes wonder if I was as starry-eyed as some just before getting into this job. Lucky me had quite a few friends in the industry to warn me of reality, but it's really something you have to experience to fully understand.

What would I rather do? Win the lottery. Since that won't happen, I'd love to teach or have my own aquarium shop. But, neither will allow me to support my non-existant (as of yet) family to a level I'd like. So, I'll stick with flying for now, hoping that a jump to cargo or fractional will improve my outlook on things. All I know today is that the passenger airline industry is WAY out of whack, it's not the fault of the crews, rampers, or mechanics, but we're the ones paying for it.

Hope that answers your question. If not, ask again. I don't mind.

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How about corporate?

Flying a Jetstar for Discount Tire Co out of SDL would be alright.
 
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Flying a Jetstar for Discount Tire Co out of SDL would be alright.

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* Ring * * Ring *

Hey, it's the 1960's calling. They want their corporate jet back.

Seriously, I was at Flightsafety ATL for recurrent last week and I was checking out the Jetstar sim. Looks like a fun airplane, actually, just real old-skool.
 
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So, I'll stick with flying for now, hoping that a jump to cargo or fractional will improve my outlook on things.

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Do you still get family flight benefits if you're flying for say, UPS or FedEx?
 
Family travel benes at UPS are slim as far as I know. We do get these Southwest passes, used to be $20 one way anywhere in the country but it was space available. You have to get them in advance through our travel dept, though, so they are pretty useless for me.

Fedex is much better as they give shipping discounts to airline employees.
 
I would definitely heed the advice of the experienced guys. By nature, I'm pretty debt-averse, so I was lucky enough to get my ratings with very little debt, and I would advise anyone to do his/her homework before jumping in this. Is it possible to finish all of your certs with little-to-no debt? Absolutely; be smart about how you spend your $$$ and pick up a job while you're training, or take a loan from the Bank of Your Parents (if able). Their interest rates are probably a little more competitive than most.
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The bottom line is to be smart with your money and always prepare for the worst.
 
Word.

Could i still be successful if i dont try to become a pilot?

Yes. I would be much more successful.

Would i be happy?

Probably not.


What im going to do when the time comes is get involved with some of the fashion industry and be a pilot at the same time. I have family ties already in it, so i wouldnt need to be there alot, just minimal (of course when the time comes for it to happen).

So i think its okay to be a pilot still just have to have something on the side, this is my view.
 
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It reminds me of teachers who get an education to teach and realize the low pay and then have the nerve to complain about what they make.

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I am not trying to be negative or flame you or hijack the thread, but just so you know, there are at least 3 teachers on this board that I know of...not to mention the countless number of CFI's. Please be aware of who might read what you write before you post it.
 
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It reminds me of teachers who get an education to teach and realize the low pay and then have the nerve to complain about what they make.

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I am not trying to be negative or flame you or hijack the thread, but just so you know, there are at least 3 teachers on this board that I know of...not to mention the countless number of CFI's. Please be aware of who might read what you write before you post it.

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I don't think he's directing it at anyone specifically here; just making a comment in general.

At least I don't read it that way. And I'm sure there are teachers that do just that. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong or right with that, just that it likely happens, as with anyone in any career.
 
If you believe that outsourcing, turning jobs over to the inexperienced for cheap, and Wal-Martization is happening ONLY at the airlines, you are sadly mistaken. It's ALL over America. The American way for the new millenium, if you will. The only successful ones seem to be those without integrity of business, and take advantage of the working class.
 
Guess we may as well get our Malaysian and Indian real estate licenses so we can follow the jobs, eh? Guess we can all remember last century when Walmart was proud of the fact that most of their goods was made in the US of A.
 
Could union's and cost of labor be part of the problem of why American business is going across the pond for cheaper goods?
 
Gotta equate "cost of labor" with "standard of living" and it brings a whole new light to the discussion and I'm not sure if America should become a third world nation because the world demands a ten pack of tube socks for $2 at Wal Mart.
 
Rising labor costs are simply part of the cost of doing business. When costs go up so should the selling price. Check the numbers and you'll find that senior management wages have risen much, much more than for the common worker. After all, you didn't see any pilots walk away from US Airways with $5 to $15 million in their pocket.
 
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People have a right to complain about anything they want, especially when they feel undervalued.

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They definately have that right, but it does take alot of nerve to get into a field that you know pays horribly, and then cry about it . . .

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No it doesn't. It takes a lot of nerve to get into a field that doesn't pay well and then do NOTHING to make it better ...
 
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