This career rocks man, seriously.

[wildfreightess]

This job is awesome. So what if I:

1) Drive 2 hours one way to work
2) Make 25 - 30 K a year
3) Have to dress like a member of the opposite sex
4) Have to get up at 3:15 in the morning to look pretty in my man costume for a 4:30 van.
5) Have to work hard to stay healthy
6) Choke down tears in the sim (let's face it, I'm a girl!)
7) Have to work holidays/weekends
8) Am stuck in airports on 4+ hour layovers
9) Flights are cancelled due to blizzards in Cleveland or other assorted chronically crappy weather places
10) Travel bennies aren't what they used to be
11) Every overnight looks/seems the same


Because I:

1) Get to drive home to enjoy 3+ days off in a row
2) Can afford to buy the essentials and pay bills and STILL have half the month off.
3) Know that some men find a professional woman unbearably sexy
4) Have learned how to manage my time. Often I survive on a couple hours' sleep, but the next night's sleep is sooooo rewarding!
5) Enjoy running 20 miles a week, having a healthy blood pressure, sexy figure, excellent blood sugar, muscle tone, and high metabolism - even if I do fear that Godforsaken eye machine.
6) Am determined to find my weak points, analyze what went wrong, why the instructor was so hard on me, and figure out what I can do to become better at what I do.
7) Love the 4 hours extra "holiday pay", and after all my loved ones understand I'll be away..... December 25th is only a day; we can still have a special day when I get home.
8) Love to people watch. I love to meet people. Every traveller has a story, and I want to know it. I love to answer questions. I love to put fears to rest. I love being a listening ear to an anxious someone. I just love people.
9) The best time I've ever had was getting stuck in Cleveland last year for 3 days due to a blizzard. Brought a pax to the hotel who would have been stranded at the airport because she was too young to qualify for any comps and had no money or credit card that would have enabled her to pay for a hotel room (and the hotels were rapidly filling up because of all the stranded travellers). Her parents were happy she was taken care of, she was happy to not have to sleep on a cot, and the holiday miriacle was she made it to Providence in time for Thanksgiving. I love being a part of something like this. I loved partying with my fellow stranded crewmembers (and drinking with the SWA crews.... wow those guys can hold their liquor!) I loved sneaking into the CAL Christmas party and watching the drunk white FA's and CA's try to dance!!
10) My man and I can still (if we're patient) travel wherever in the world we want, at a fraction of the cost of a purchased ticket
11) Take advantage of the local attractions. If I can't afford to, or if we're staying out in the middle of nowhere, I either take advantage of the hotel bar and meet yet more interesting people, or I stay in my room and READ A BOOK, do a workout video, or continue my Rosetta Stone education. Or just better myself in general!

Let's face it, this career does have its crappy moments. I met an AA FO who used to be a TWA CA and was looking at furlough this October. Some guys get pooped on from the time they enter the industry 'till the time they leave. I can't blame anything but timing, and I know that's not his fault. So far, this career has been good to me. I've loved every milestone, from solo 'till now. I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Keep the faith, folks. Let those who hate their jobs, hate them, and hope they quit to make room on the seniority list for those of us who are grateful to be there.

 

[Velocipede]

Well said, D!

 

[ppragman]

Work is a four letter word. And really, flying is just as boring as anything other job if you do it long enough, I've seen captains who we're just collecting a check, waiting to cash out and die. However, this is better than digging ditches, its not the best (the best job in the world is tenured college professor) but its close enough so that I'll keep doing it until I get tired of it.

 

[DE727UPS]

I disagree somewhat with those who say "you don't take your experience with you". While it's true you lose your seniority going from union airline to union airline, you still take your experience with you to apply for the next job.

In the case of moving up the career ladder, you certainly take your experience, background, PIC turbine, and type ratings with you.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Once you have reached the pinnacle of said career ladder, those things do you little good when a furlough, bankruptcy, or airline shutdown leaves you on the street. Then you do what you have to do to keep food on the table... even if it means falling down a few rungs. The fact is that despite the benefits of the airline seniority system, starting over at each new airline can be a humbling and financially destructive experience.

 

[jrh]

I'd have something good to say about it if I had chances that would stick around. What is the secret to "make opportunities" for yourself? Send me the magic.

There is no single trick, but here are some things I've observed in my short time in this industry that might help:

Network, network, network. Obviously, the more personable a person is, the better this will work for them. Try to make friends everywhere you go. Don't do it to get a job, either. Do it because it's good to have lots of friends. Getting a job is a result of having lots of friends.

Draw lines and stick to them. If you're not willing to work for less than X dollars per hour, then don't. If you're not willing to work overnight, don't. Whatever the condition is, be willing to say no. Be willing to walk away. Obviously you have to set reasonable expectations and conditions, but if you stick to your own standards, you'll never find yourself at a job that treats you unfairly, because you won't have taken what you consider to be an unfair job to begin with.

Be willing to commit to something for a relatively long time (a few years). If you look at the most successful people outside of the airlines (corporate, charter, career instructors, full time ferry pilots, etc.), they pretty much never get in to their positions overnight. It takes a few years for the local aviation community to get to know and trust them. Also, there is a certain mental attitude that comes with settling in to an area. It shifts from, "I'm doing my time here just long enough to get gone," to "I'm here indefinitely, so I'm going to be the best there is." Outsiders notice that shift. Nobody wants to invest a lot of resources in to somebody who is obviously going to skip town at the next big opportunity that comes their way.

Keep a positive attitude and enjoy the moment. I'm scheduled to work from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow. On Tuesday I'll be in the office from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. To be completely honest, I'd rather not. I'd rather take off a few days early and spend the whole week with family in Minnesota. But even on days like tomorrow when I'm not especially excited to be there, my customers won't notice a difference in how I act. Aside from the fact that I'm naturally positive, I also recognize the importance of it from a business perspective. Nobody wants to deal with a grumpy instructor, employee, or boss. If I went in and complained about life, how many customers would want to come back? How many would not recommend us to their friends? How many potential employers would meet me and think, "Geeze, we aren't interested in hiring this grouch,"? If I had the reputation of always being unhappy with my current conditions/industry/whatever, my job prospects for the future would go down significantly.

I'm sure there are many more tips, but those are the first ones that pop in to my mind. They've worked well for me.

 

[Seggy]

Look at the glass like it is half full.

 

[MQAAord]

Look at the glass like it is half full.

If my glass is half-full, then the bartender screwed up.

 

[Goonie]

Once you have reached the pinnacle of said career ladder,

(Not disagreeing with you, just taking a line out of context)

The problem is pilots keep looking up at the "pinnacle" without looking at the present which makes them bitter.

Airline pilots look at the senior 777 spot and corporate pilots dream of the BBJ. It might be human nature or just our ego's.

I love the corporate world and cant see any other future for me right now. I got to fly a famous basketball player to a hunting trip today and talked some B-ball with him......It was pretty cool and only a 30 minute flight for a whole days pay.

 

[bartman]

If my glass is half-full, then the bartender screwed up.

No, it means it's time to get ordering another drink so that you don't finish your half-full/half-empty glass before the next arrives :bandit:

 

[Goonie]

Look at the glass like it is half full.

Is that the Giants motto?

 

[Toonces]

I disagree somewhat with those who say "you don't take your experience with you". While it's true you lose your seniority going from union airline to union airline, you still take your experience with you to apply for the next job.

In the case of moving up the career ladder, you certainly take your experience, background, PIC turbine, and type ratings with you.

Will the banks cash type ratings? How many hours of turbine PIC does it take to pay my mortgage? It's all about the money my friend.

 

[pilot4500]

Will the banks cash type ratings? How many hours of turbine PIC does it take to pay my mortgage? It's all about the money my friend.

Well said. I absolutely love to fly, but it does tend to lose its appeal rather quickly when you can't pay your bills. Try paying for rent or groceries with all of those type ratings and turbine PIC time. It doesn't work too well.

I've heard a lot of people say that if you are miserable flying, go do something else. Lord how I wish it was that simple! If I could find a job tomorrow as a business executive or a good paying job as a Home Depot manager, I would be happier than a pig in ####. I would have no problem working the long hours as long as I got compensated well for it, had good health benefits, and could provide a good living for my family. When the only thing that you are qualified to do is fly airplanes, it is tough to just jump into another career. It takes time to establish another career. You cannot become a professional pilot in one day, nor can you become a business executive in one day. It takes time.

Having said that, I have just started working on a college degree that will hopefully allow me to get a job in the business world. It is going to take some time to do that though. You can't go from Pro Pilot to the business world without getting some additional education, and that is what I am working on.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Smart post pilot 4500. Good luck

 

[surreal1221]

This career sucks. This career sucks because I can't pay my bills. Any career that does not allow you to pay your bills sucks big fat sweaty balls.

Perhaps better evaluation of one's financial responsibilities prior to entering the profession was needed?

But we wouldn't want to dash anyone's dreams now would we?

Just a thought.

Hopefully Jace's post will remind some of the youngins who think it's all roses and smells great will realize that they best plan for the increased financial responsibilities they will have when they leave college and those federal subsidized loans they were living off of for the past 4+ years disappear and you actually have to earn your keep. Wake up, grow up, man up.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Perhaps better evaluation of one's financial responsibilities prior to entering the profession was needed?

You've got to be joking. It is inconceivable that someone can be so naive.

What socioeconomic level to suggest we attempt to live at in order to continue to make our obligations in the event we are furloughed and need to start over?

When I was furloughed by US Airways my wife and I lived in a rented house for $800/month. We had two cars, payments due on one of them. We had a dog who required food occasionally... exactly what should we have done differently to be better prepared financially to lose our primary source of income?

Clearly you need to go into financial planning.

I own a small house now (1600 sq. feet). I have two cars, both paid for. We pay off our credit cards every month. We squirrel away a few extra dollars into retirement and into our son's 529 plan.

If I were to lose my job today, we would have enough in savings to make our expenses for about six months. After that, if I chose to remain in aviation, I might have to once again go back to the commuters or some some other bottom-feeder job in order to keep flying. So tell me how better I should have evaluated my financial responsibilities before continuing to pursue this profession?

We're not trying to dash your dreams. We're trying to make you wake up and realize that it's not all shiny-jets, far away romantic destinations, and ILS approaches that break out 500 feet above minimums. The cold hard reality is that it is a J-O-B. And though we all try to live within our means, NONE of us is prepared if we lose our jobs as pilots and due to the seniority system (such as it is) we are forced to go to the bottom of someone else's list with all of the associated pay and benefits that go along with that "privilege".

 

[surreal1221]

We agree more than you think Zap.

My point was to not be wooed by the flashy jets, and this notion of "flying" for a living.

Rather, to honestly evaluate ones abilities to live and sustain life while "flying" for a living.

Has nothing to do about a privilege, or some socioeconomic level to attempt to reach, rather the simple task of paying bills, feeding our families, and keeping a roof over our heads.

Many college graduates today fail to realize the ultimate cost of living on their own, much less having some false notion of how far a dollar will go. They falter, and then come crawling back to mommy and daddy for help. Or, they falter, and they complain that they're not being paid enough.

One way or the other one must wise up, man up, and grow up.

I'm not going to lecture you on how YOU (Zap) should plan for your future - or how you should have handled the numerous hurdles you encountered in your journey, but you clearly were able to succeed and provide a home and food for your family, rather than whine and complain that you were not being paid enough to pay the bills on an online forum. But for someone to come and complain that they do not have enough money to pay their bills with this profession either didn't plan for the low wages, or they did plan and ignored the reality.

People need to plan, and I'm sure you did - but I'm not going to address individual questions regarding one's financial abilities. Just plan, take an honest look, and if it doesn't appear it will work out - the wise decision is not to do it.

If in evaluating my ability to purchase a $15,000 car turns out that I won't able to make the payments if I were to lose my job, then I'm not going to buy the car. If, in evaluating my ability to pay a mortgage and associated bills for a 12 month period from money in savings is not there, you can be damn sure I'll be cutting back on spending that isn't necessary and that money will then go into my savings account so I CAN pay for those things for a 12 month period if I were to lose my current position.

Some people plan, some don't. Those who don't shouldn't be crying foul because the company they freely went to work for isn't paying them a wage they feel is appropriate to pay all of their associated bills. That's my point.

 

[dakovich]

this "job" should be a casino game, because in the long run the dealer will always win. with all its positives its still, IMHO, a bad and losing bet. some will win, and win big, but for the most part everyone is lucky to just break even and more will find themselves on the losing end. but, all my friends still think its a very cool job, and my granpa still can't understand why I don't do international flying for delta/american/etc "because thats where the money is"...still makes me laugh.

 

[Realms09]

Recently I was waiting for a flight at DFW. Years ago it was the sights, sounds, and smell of Jet-A at this airport, as well as its neighbor Love, that started drawing me into aviation as a small child. I remember scenes such as my first flight as a three year old on an American MD-80 and being slightly scared as I watched the ground slip farther and farther away. I remember flying on a DC-10 to Honolulu only a couple of years later and meeting the flight engineer as he posted our route on a map in the cabin - a map I took with me after the flight. Sitting at the window seat during taxi out on that flight I asked my dad if it was okay that the long wings were bouncing up and down so much. He assured me it was. As I reminisced on these memories and others a 777 caught my eye outside the terminal window, its vertical stabilizer eclipsing the setting Texas sun. Where was this beautiful silhouette headed? Paris, London, Tokyo, Rio..? Then my gaze shifted to the foreground and I noticed something even more striking.

An American Eagle FO eating his Sunday dinner alone, at an airport Sbarro.

 

[scramjet]

Recently I was waiting for a flight at DFW. Years ago it was the sights, sounds, and smell of Jet-A at this airport, as well as its neighbor Love, that started drawing me into aviation as a small child. I remember scenes such as my first flight as a three year old on an American MD-80 and being slightly scared as I watched the ground slip farther and farther away. I remember flying on a DC-10 to Honolulu only a couple of years later and meeting the flight engineer as he posted our route on a map in the cabin - a map I took with me after the flight. Sitting at the window seat during taxi out on that flight I asked my dad if it was okay that the long wings were bouncing up and down so much. He assured me it was. As I reminisced on these memories and others a 777 caught my eye outside the terminal window, its vertical stabilizer eclipsing the setting Texas sun. Where was this beautiful silhouette headed? Paris, London, Tokyo, Rio..? Then my gaze shifted to the foreground and I noticed something even more striking.

An American Eagle FO eating his Sunday dinner alone, at an airport Sbarro.

The good and the bad eloquently expressed.

(Seriously, though, who eats at Sbarro? I think it's overpriced and not very good, but then again I don't eat out much)