Upgrade syndrome

dbrault17

Well-Known Member
I dont remember where i read this and im not trying to plagerize but the story kinda went like this-

-A young flight instructor was flying a c-150 teaching a student stalls becoming very frustrated with the lack of improvement. The little airplane was crammped and the air vents virtually useless as sweat poured from the instructors forehead. Already frustrated with his job and working on his 24th straight 16 hour day all he could do was look at the brand new CRJ glistening overhead as it climbed out of the busy new airport now served by a new regional airline. "I almost meet the minimums then I can move on and I know ill be happier working as a regional airline pilot"

Meanwhile in the CRJ two college grads have words with center for being sent to a holding pattern to ease congestion in the NAS. The captain had been away from home for four days and couldnt wait to get home to see his new born infant. However he wont be there anytime soon and when he does return home he will need several days of rest to recover. While doing ractrack paterns through the sky a brand new 747-400 checks in over the radio. "Baby formula, diapers, wife off work how will I afford to raise my kid on this pay. Maybe once I get that 747 job at the majors I know I will be happy".

In the cockpit of the legendary Boeing to older pilots are dealing with a whole slew of problems dealing with the cabin tempurature leaving 200+ paying passengers a little annoyed. The FO ran through a few checklist to solve the problem then thought about his own problems. "Divorce? Again? how am I going to pay for my kids college. Not to mention all the pay cuts, if the damn company can even stay in bussiness"? Just then a small speck of light shoots across the sky barely visiable in the early evening darkness. It was the space shuttle just launched several days before. "Now theres a gig I cant wait to get. I know once Im an astronaut Ill be happy".

Several miles high the space shuttle orbiting the earth is dealing with a radiation problem. The captain who hadent slept for almost 36 hours is trying to install a new photo imagery camera on a new satelitte. "What happended to playing with M&Ms and video conferences with school kids". While the captain tested the camera he could see a small C-150 buzzing around low and slow way down below him. "I cant wait to flying one of those again after retirement. I know then Ill be happy".-

This isnt exactly how it went nor do I know the author but he did have a good point, one that im feeling now.

All I could remember wanting to do while washing dishes was to be a flight instructor. I thought the job would be so much better and the pay even worthwile. Now that Ive been instructing for a few months all I can think about is moving up to fly cargo (hope the pay will be better too, lol). Is this how its going to be for a flying career?
 
The experience you have in life is tinted by the lens through which you view it.

Put on some rose colored glasses!

Think of the person who is picking tomatos in the field hoping for a better life, for his children.

Take a minute to realize all the blessings and gifts you have.

Pay it forward!
 
Happiness is a choice. You can bitch about your current job, and long for that upgrade... or just have fun doing what you're doing. It's a choice.
 
I love my job right now and tell ya the truth i would never leave if I could afford my student loans and raise a family on what I make as a CFI. it just seems everyone is always wanting to upgrade or move on. Is there a point where you just coast.

I did meet some regional captains who started out thinking they were going to move to the majors as quickly as posible but after getting plenty of senority as based where they want to they just made regionals there career.
 
FlyingNole said:
Grass is always greener on the other side, brotha.

Always.

A nuggest of wisdom from the band "She Wants Revenge".

"They're having the time of their lives, but they don't even know".

(or something like that!)
 
Doug Taylor said:
Always.

A nuggest of wisdom from the band "She Wants Revenge".

"They're having the time of their lives, but they don't even know".

(or something like that!)

Aww man, my girlfriend has been listening to this band non-stop for about a week now. Good lyrics though.
 
That's what I'm listening to on the iPod during my "productivity sit" now!
 
Yup thats how it work pretty much. I've got that bug too somtimes. I was driving school buses before CFIing and I would just think, if I can just get that CFI job and start building my hours. And so on....Here's some advice you've probably already heard...

Find a non-aviation hobby. Mine's playing saxophone and keeping up with my music. Its nice to talk about music with my non-pilot friends every once in a while.
 
pwnt = 'owned' = 'got housed' = 'defeated'.

Those are the fans of the German national soccer team that got defeated by the Italians. I really wanted to see a France/Germany match for the finals, but it didn't happen.

If you're a world cup fan, there's always an active thread in "The Lavatory".
 
I think that is true regardless of your profession. There is always something that someone else has that you think would make you happier. In the words of a pilot a flew with last year;

"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence when you don't water your own lawn." (We were talking about relationships at the time, but it applies to almost anything in life.)
 
Lee D said:
"The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence when you don't water your own lawn."

Nice. Very nice! Me likey!

So true.
 
saxman66 said:
Find a non-aviation hobby. Mine's playing saxophone and keeping up with my music. Its nice to talk about music with my non-pilot friends every once in a while.

I started taking guitar lessons. My ears cant take much more-lol
 
life gives back what you put into it. My grandfather always tells me "work hard, you will never regret it." every time i think about doing something half-ass i think of that saying and it motivates me. I also think of sitting in the left seat of a 777-300. That motivates as well.

as you go through life you must look as the glass half full or life will suck. i guarantee it.

Never give up, no matter what the circumstance is. Throughout life, you will always hit high and low points, harder and easier experiences, but you have to stay strong; it's the key to everything. Stay strong and NEVER give up, there's always something out there worth fighting for and its always better and ALWAYS worth it. No matter how much you think there isn't, there always is and you will find it, no matter what. :nana2:
 
bumblebee said:
The experience you have in life is tinted by the lens through which you view it.

Put on some rose colored glasses!

Think of the person who is picking tomatos in the field hoping for a better life, for his children.

Take a minute to realize all the blessings and gifts you have.

Pay it forward!

Well said my friend!
 
It's actually a social law...I learned it in college Psych class and it always stuck with me. It's called the 'Law of Rising Expectations'...and it basically states that the more we get the more we want.

We might say that we'd be happy being a CRJ captain...but once we get there we want to be a 74 copilot...etc, etc.

There's a thesis out there somewhere written by a doctoral candidate.


The somewhat antithesis of that social law is the "Law of Diminishing Returns'...where more is not necessarily better and can actually become harmful or less productive.
 
It's actually a social law...I learned it in college Psych class and it always stuck with me. It's called the 'Law of Rising Expectations'...and it basically states that the more we get the more we want.

We might say that we'd be happy being a CRJ captain...but once we get there we want to be a 74 copilot...etc, etc.

There's a thesis out there somewhere written by a doctoral candidate.


The somewhat antithesis of that social law is the "Law of Diminishing Returns'...where more is not necessarily better and can actually become harmful or less productive.

finally, a topic for my research paper!!!
 
Although I am looking forward to moving on, I am enjoying flight instructing even more than I ever immagined. If this is as good a it gets I won't be all that disappointed.
 
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