Sad to hear....the reality?

ILSstud

ILSstud

Well-Known Member
I was flying to ATL this past weekend, and I was sitting next to a United captain who was deadheading to Chicago. Anyway, as I was studying for my instrument checkride, he turned to me and said, "Son, are you going to be going into aviation? Why the hell would you want to do that?? You seem like a smart 'lad', go become a doctor or lawyer and enjoy your private bonanza or something." I don't know why it struck me so much, but I guess it is just a representation of how much deep sh** the large airlines are in. Any thoughts?
 
Could very well be.

But remember a few weeks back when everybody was up in arms against the retired airline pilot that was talking to some flight students at a flight school? They were having a discussion about the airlines during a WX down day, and it wasn't appreciated that he was calling it as it was? Supposedly that would "demoralize" those with their sights set up there.

They'd rather keep their rose-colored glasses on. Nobody wants the downside.
 
If you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, be a doctor or a lawyer.... i didnt realize that those were such easy career tracks. If you want to be a pilot, be a pilot.... there's no such thing as an easy path with a certain career outcome, no matter what profession. Dont let one disgruntled worker ruin your dream.
 
When I bought my first motorcycle, my dad chastised me for riding it to work he said, ”Son, why would you want to take a beautiful thing like riding a bike and turn it into mere transportation”. I can see how some could make the same argument about flying.
 
I for one wouldn't get caught dead working in those depressing hospitals just because "it's a better career". Do what's going to make you happy...

Jordan
 
It all depends!

But I'm about to head out to bref'us with the Mrs so maybe I'll elaborate later.
 
There are definitely some world-weary, even curmudgeonly pilots out there.

When I was working at an FBO, I was walking in one day to the lobby with my Gleim PPL book. A kind of haggard looking guy was hunched over his newspaper, glanced up, and said, "Oh God, not another one."

A bit caught off guard, I said, "I'm sorry?"

"Kid, you don't know what you're gettin' into. Be a lawyer. Be a doctor. Anything but aviation." He was, of course, assuming I wanted to become a professional pilot. Which was true, but he didn't know me from Adam.

"You're a pilot, sir?" I asked as respectfully as I could.

"Flyin' that 604 out on the ramp. 18,000 hours." He went on to explain the horrendous lifesytle of a corporate pilot, always away from home, not making jack, he was sick and tired of flying around the states, he knew it inside and out like the back of his hand so now he can't even travel anywhere and have a decent vacation without going abroad and its the worst job in the world and now he wants to start up a winery and get outta this s***ty business and trust me flying becomes just like any other job after the first week of doing it professionally and a s**t job at that.

Thanks a lot, buddy, I thought. I'm not naive to the state of the industry, but I am hopeful. Sure doesn't help to have Scrooges like that to pull you down.

When I'm an airline captain--not if--I intend to be encouraging to younger up-and-comers (like myself right now). I'll lay out in truthful terms what it's like, that it's a tough industry to get into, can be a tough one to stay in, you've gotta pay your dues, but if you really want to do it: go for it!

This was just one guy. Other pilots I've spoken with, most even, have been fantastic and encouraging, while not sugar-coating the reality.

Anyway, he coulda just been having a bad day.
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I look it as a learning experience. He had some legitimate points, just a bad attitude.
 
I agree with all the posts. Flying is what makes me happy, and I will damn well pursue it! I doubt I could stomach being a physician or doctor anyway
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[ QUOTE ]
I was flying to ATL this past weekend, and I was sitting next to a United captain who was deadheading to Chicago. Anyway, as I was studying for my instrument checkride, he turned to me and said, "Son, are you going to be going into aviation? Why the hell would you want to do that?? You seem like a smart 'lad', go become a doctor or lawyer and enjoy your private bonanza or something." I don't know why it struck me so much, but I guess it is just a representation of how much deep sh** the large airlines are in. Any thoughts?

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I think people need to stop and think about why we're hearing things like this so often. Do you think the guy was telling you that to bust your balls? I don't. Its not like you're competing with him for a job or something. What reason would he have to lie to you? Absolutely none. He is the real deal, and he's telling it like it is. People need to start listening to what he (generic airline pilot he) has to say, instead of oogling over these glossy, happy-go-lucky BS ads in all the stupid magazines.

I agree with MikeD 110%- off with the rose-colored spectacles.
 
Exactly, do what you love to do. With all the crud I know about computers I could take an additional year or two of college, do a computer information system degree and come out the other end as a server administrator. Know what? I'd hate it. Computers are cool enough and all, but man I hate these things anymore. I already spend 21 hours a week troubleshooting computer problems at my job. I don't think I could handle any more than that.

Cheers


John Herreshoff
 
[ QUOTE ]
I could take an additional year or two of college, do a computer information system degree and come out the other end as a server administrator. Know what? I'd hate it. Computers are cool enough and all, but man I hate these things anymore. I already spend 21 hours a week troubleshooting computer problems at my job. I don't think I could handle any more than that.

Cheers


John Herreshoff

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John,

You sound like the aforementioned United captain
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Happens in every field.

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John,

Truer words have never been spoken.......
 
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Happens in every field.

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That's exactly it. In many ways, I feel grateful that I have so strong a desire to get into aviation, as difficult as it is.

I have a brother who wants to become a film director. He is artistically immensely talented. Unquestionably one of the smartest guys I know. He's had the desire since he was five years old. He's made lots of little movies and is in the process of working with many other gifted friends to create a full-length, independent film. With all that talent and perseverence, I still worry for him. The odds he's up against to achieve his goal of ultimately becoming a major motion picture film director, (the film equivalent of a major airline captain, I would say) is overwhelming. The path is extremely hazy. The financial and personal risks he is and will have to take could, if he failed, end his career, and that would be devastating.

With a piloting career, the path is at least much clearer than his. Easier, I would even say. And there are multiple, fairly sequential paths.

This isn't to minimize the challenge that is the road to becoming a pilot, but I hate to complain about my situation when I think of my brother.
 
[ QUOTE ]
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Happens in every field.

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That's exactly it. In many ways, I feel grateful that I have so strong a desire to get into aviation, as difficult as it is.

I have a brother who wants to become a film director. He is artistically immensely talented. Unquestionably one of the smartest guys I know. He's had the desire since he was five years old. He's made lots of little movies and is in the process of working with many other gifted friends to create a full-length, independent film. With all that talent and perseverence, I still worry for him. The odds he's up against to achieve his goal of ultimately becoming a major motion picture film director, (the film equivalent of a major airline captain, I would say) is overwhelming. The path is extremely hazy. The financial and personal risks he is and will have to take could, if he failed, end his career, and that would be devastating.

With a piloting career, the path is at least much clearer than his. Easier, I would even say. And there are multiple, fairly sequential paths.

This isn't to minimize the challenge that is the road to becoming a pilot, but I hate to complain about my situation when I think of my brother.

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Has anyone here put thought into the fact that they very well may turn into that United captain later in life?

Does anyone here not think that the United captain was one of the "up and coming" newbies years ago himself?
 
Yes, I have considered that I may one day be disgruntled and dislike aviation. But one thing I have observed so far is that every job sucks after a while. I've managed a photo lab and then went on to be a network admin for a very good company, but the job lacked diversity and really bored me. I view my career in aviation as full of risk and uncertainty, but if I end up jaded like the United pilot at least I did something more exciting on the way to being jaded. I like what I do so far (I'm an MEI & fly charters) and am glad I decided to do it, but am acutely aware of what could happen and don't have any illusions of grandeur. I do watch Catch Me If You Can and Airplane for fun sometimes...:)
 
I'm not saying that I'm always going to be "hunky-dory-this-is-the-best-job-in-the-world". I'm sure I'm gonna get to a point where I'm going to wake up in the morning and say, "Ah, jeez, gotta go fly the 737 today."

But then again, I could be sitting in an office in some computer programming position and be looking out the window (if they have one) and seeing the contrails of a jet passing thirty thousand feet above me and be hitting myself for not having taking the risk earlier on.

Just the day before yesterday I flew on a long X-country trip with a former airline pilot who flew 707s and DC-8s for Pan Am. After three years there, he was furloughed and, obviously, never got the call back. He went on to become a corporate pilot. You'd think a guy like that would be bitter about the industry, but not at all: as disappointed as he was about losing the Pan Am position and passive as he was about the fact that he flew the big iron (when I'm going, "Whoa, you flew 707s!? Awesome!"), he remained optimistic and encouraging towards a young guy like me. Work hard, graduate at the top of your class if you can, and you can even come back and fly for my charter company once you've built some time, he said.
 
Someone once wrote “All men lead lives of quiet desperation” You have to follow your dreams, but you can’t be pissed when that dream job turns out to be, well, just a job.
 
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