Thinking of becoming a pilot?

I'm out of town for a funeral, but just thought I'd check in.

Thanks to everyone for your input, whether you agree or disagree with what I had to say. To those who disagree, I won't argue with you, you are entitled to your opinion.

To those of you who think I have a bad/negative attitude and a poor outlook on life (Mtsu...), I can assure you, I would not be where I am today if I did. I will admit to being a realist, and at times even pessimistic, but I do not have a bad attitude. There is a difference.

Oh, and I need to qualify something regarding the Mesa thing: The main reason I did not take an interview, is because I'm not overly interested in 121 flying. Their reputation for low pay, poor work rules, etc. only helped reinforce my decision. I'd like to say that I would have it in me to not take an interview based solely on that, but if flying 121 were my ultimate goal, I can't honestly sit here and say what I would have done.

Anyways, thanks to everyone who participated. Its been a good discussion, and I hope I didn't rain on anyones parade too much.
 
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To those of you who think I have a bad/negative attitude and a poor outlook on life (Mtsu...), I can assure you, I would not be where I am today if I did.

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Don't take anything I said the wrong way, man! I'm not saying that you specifically have a negative attitude - only that some people choose to have a more optomistic attitude than others! To each his own!
 
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To those of you who think I have a bad/negative attitude and a poor outlook on life (Mtsu...), I can assure you, I would not be where I am today if I did.

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Don't take anything I said the wrong way, man! I'm not saying that you specifically have a negative attitude - only that some people choose to have a more optomistic attitude than others! To each his own!

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Same here.

My post was talking about general situations, not your rant.

In fact, I liked your rant and am glad you aired those things. That is the reality for an awful lot of pilots in the early years of their career, and the up-and-comers need to hear about the hard times as well as the good.

Personally, I'm pretty sure that you are not one of those *negative-vibe" people. Others on this board that have met you say good things about you.

Remember, this thread has been evolving for 5 or 6 days, and the discussion became much more general in nature rather than specifically about your original post. I'm sure, though, that it does not come across quite the same when you've been gone a few days and read through the whole thing in one sitting. The generalized comments probably sound a lot more personally directed than intended.

Sorry to hear about the funeral.

I'd happily share a flight deck with you given the opportunity........
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I think that you gave us some insight into the ugly side of the industry. That is something that we need as a counterbalance to all the slick, glossy brochures and ads that marketing departments put out.

And if you change your mind, the offer I gave to you still stands.
 
ESF,
I bet you're a really cool guy and probably a very good pilot. I'd rather read an honest opinion (from personal experience) than open up Flying Magazine and see the embellished, eye-catching ads about the airlines.

The public perception is still that of high pay, instant employment, and "clear skies" (if you'll pardon the expression).

If they only knew.......
 
Speaking of ads in flying, has anyone seen the ad about how a high percentage of airline pilots dive and how you can train to fly and dive during your trips or something? I might have mischaracterized the ad, but it was hilarious.

Nevermind the bends!
 
Hey, that's my client you're talking about!

No, I'm kidding. I have called on some people who I was not happy to be calling on, but I gave it very little effort and gee, they didn't sign up.

Hard for me to justify morally working with, say, Gulfstream even though they'd be putting money into my pocket.
 
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I.e., I have 5 friends that I've grown up with that also got into this crazy flying business. We're all flying jets, making pretty good money. Two of us fly corporate, one flys a triple seven, one flys a 737, and the other one flys G's for a 135 operator. The reason I give this example is to illustrate that it can be done and is done everyday. Even in a slow market/industry/economy etc. I think you get the point. You'll know when you start flying if you've got it or not. Besides, I'll fly with you. If you ain't got it, I fill ya in.
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This is what is good to hear. It doesn't always have to be negative to be realistic. The human tendency is just to focus on the negative all the time. There is such a thing is realistically good things to this career as well its just nobody ever talks about it because we wouldn't be saying anything if we weren't complaining. How do you expect anybody to succeed if their only fed with all the negativity side of things? That's what's wrong with the world today. Your constantly fed with negativity and that probably explains a lot of the problems occuring. This includes possibly being realistic, if you consider the life of a pilot to be a 100% failed career like everybody says. Obviously, its not 100% because where did those successful pilots come from? If they can do it, so can anybody. Its not luck or special talent, its working hard to achieve your goals and going through no matter what the road is like before (to put it simple, paying your dues in life) Its a long hard road and sometimes dosn't feel worth it but in the end, it was well worth it. I know there's lots of competition but you just have to wait your turn and it will come. Hearing the realistic end of things is fine until you start saying things like you screwed your life getting into this career and it will only cause you grief for you and your family. You have to stop and start thinking maybe its just me and not my chosen career. That's where the famous quote was made in regards to looking at what's wrong with you rather than your circumstances. Nobody is really out of control of their own circumstances but people still like to blame their problems on them because they don't want to blame their selves.
 
Hey eatsleepfly,

I dont think any of us meant to say anything to offend you.
A couple of us including MTSU got sidetracked in the thread and started having our own discussion on the topic in general. It was not about you. He was talking to me.

People come from different places in life so they look at things different. But Im sure everyone would agree that we appreciate your input and respect you and your feelings.
 
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This is what is good to hear. It doesn't always have to be negative to be realistic.

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Good news IS good to hear, but it can also be misleading. While it's absolutely fantastic that Jonnyb's friends all have jobs - what's left out of that post is the struggles and hard work and hours flying for crappy pay they had to put in to get where they are now.

ESF just put it like it is in his situation. I applaud him for doing so.

Believe me - I was one of those "don't say anything negative" guys not too long ago myself. Ask JohnTenney.
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But, having both sides of the story presented can only help prepare all of us who want to pursue this as a career.

Just my $0.02.

R2F
 
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ESF just put it like it is in his situation.

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Don't worry ya'll. I'm conspiring to whip up a sister post to this one, but of postive things. It just might take me awhile longer.
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Well, there's one thing for sure. You're not sitting in an office, with flourescent lighting, staring at a computer screen, and knowing that if you don't make a change, you'll be doing something similar for the next 30 years.

There was some movie, where someone said, you're insane. And the so called insane character said something about how doing that was truly insane.

He might not be too far from the truth.
 
Conair:

The quote was Billy Bob Thornton (sp?) and something to the effect of [ QUOTE ]
What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?

[/ QUOTE ] Courtesy of the Internet Movie Database
 
My bad, you're right. I knew it was one of the "weirdos" in the movie.
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Great quote, though, as you can see I'm now using it instead of my old one!
 
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Sorry bucko, that was Steve Buscemi who said that. But nice try!!
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Notice that the Coen brothers kill of Buscemi in every one of their movies? He's a regular "Kenny".
 
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Notice that the Coen brothers kill of Buscemi in every one of their movies? He's a regular "Kenny".

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And it even works!

"Oh, my God, they killed Buscemi! Those bastards!"
 
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Hey eatsleepfly,

A couple of us including MTSU got sidetracked in the thread and started having our own discussion on the topic in general. It was not about you. He was talking to me.



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Let's not ever let that happen again.
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