Murdoughnut
Well sized member
I think Dallas drivers are far, far, far worse. Just my opinion, though.
What is it like in Florida?
- Thread starter JA Yawd Bwoy
- Start date
I think Dallas drivers are far, far, far worse. Just my opinion, though.
TurdBird
Well-Known Member
I'm glad you don't live here either.
TravDK
Well-Known Member
I moved from upstate NY to Vero Beach (maybe 1hr30min drive north of Palm Beach). Did I say Vero Beach.... I'm sorry, "Zero Beach." Not much going on here aside from snowbirds driving 30 in a 55.
I have yet to endure my first summer down here but I hear it makes northerners like me cry for mommy.
1000/month will get you a nice place in my neck of the woods.
I am very happy so far that I made the move.
I have yet to endure my first summer down here but I hear it makes northerners like me cry for mommy.
1000/month will get you a nice place in my neck of the woods.
I am very happy so far that I made the move.
SoCalAprch
Well-Known Member
The Redneck Riviera.
kind of
kind of
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
Seriously, let's talk for a second...that's all it will take.
NO, Florida is the cesspool of aviation. There are no (good) jobs, there are a bunch of scumbag operators, and there are tons of 250+ TT guys and gals "looking for a break."
Sorry if I offended any low timers out there.
AviatorGator
Well-Known Member
As a fifth generation Floridian, it's hard for me to say anything bad about the great state of Florida. I was raised in the South Florida area, specifically in the Broward county, the area you are talking about moving to.
Some folks here have said the cost of living is a bit high; this can be true but as someone else mentioned the farther inland you are, the lower the cost. Also there is no state income tax which only 7 states in the U.S. can brag about.
The flying can only be described as excellent IMHO. There are plenty of training options, plenty of airports (both towered and uncontrolled), no mountains to hit, little fog to deal with (except inland during the winter), no icing to speak of in South Florida and everywhere has radar coverage. Watch out for thunderstorms; fly more in mornings during the summer if you need to.
Some folks here have said the cost of living is a bit high; this can be true but as someone else mentioned the farther inland you are, the lower the cost. Also there is no state income tax which only 7 states in the U.S. can brag about.
The flying can only be described as excellent IMHO. There are plenty of training options, plenty of airports (both towered and uncontrolled), no mountains to hit, little fog to deal with (except inland during the winter), no icing to speak of in South Florida and everywhere has radar coverage. Watch out for thunderstorms; fly more in mornings during the summer if you need to.
Old Dominion Flyer
Well-Known Member
You make it sound like Florida is to pilots as Los Angeles is to aspiring actresses.
RPM
Well-Known Member
What you talkin bout willis? Vero is awesome.. there is Riverside, Patio.. tons of gangsta wannabe's and eh umm.. nevermind, your right, there is absolutely nothing there besides the beach.. I hated it there.
Florida is a flat boring mosquito ridden, fire ant infested hell hole overrun with an abundance of white trash people as far as I'm concerned (redneck riviera is right), if you passed out in the grass there at night you would likely die of insect bites.. I do love the beach, warm weather and saltwater fishing I'll give them that, but not worth it to me.. If you go inland it is retardedly hot, humid and miserable.. If you must live there, live close to the beach, that is the only saving grace.
Not being able to ride my dirtbike anywhere but a track or a flat field or do much of anything outdoorsy pretty much killed it for me..
I did date and almost marry a runway model while living in South Florida though so there are some benefits to the state
Oh well, I guess I'll get my fishing in when I can.. I am stuck visiting Florida for life with my sister living there..
Jimmy_Norton
Well-Known Member
I lived in Ft Lauderdale for 3 years, and hated it. The first year was ok, but after that I was ready to leave. The summers are too hot to do anything outside when the sun is up, and while the winters are nice, it lasts for about two months, and all the while you have to deal with tourists. No one speaks english, the cost of living is through the roof, crime is just as bad, and the place is infested with crappy 135 operators. The people that live there are rude, stuck up, and focused on nothing but money. Yeah the chicks are hot, but unless you are a Brad Pitt look alike or have a Bentley and a Yacht, all you're gonna do is look. The guy I flew with put it best, "South Florida is the home of the broken promise and the bounced check". I got really really lucky, and got on with a semi decent part 91 operator, but like I said, I got lucky.
I am very very happy to be back in New Hampshire......
I am very very happy to be back in New Hampshire......
ILS37R
Well-Known Member
Flying: too freakin' flat. On the one hand, there are no mountains to fly into. On the other hand, there are no mountains to appreciate from the air. Do watch out for all the student pilots with marginal English skills.As in the flying, living there, the different cultures, is it nice living down there? Anyone who lives there or lived there, could you give me a JC tour so to speak?
Living, cost: Not near as bad as people are saying, at least not if your frame-of-reference is major West Coast metro areas, as mine is.
Living, culture: Varies by region. The southeast coast is a strange, alien place filled with rich, retired folk; rich, drug-running folk; rich, miscellaneous folk; formerly-rich real estate folk; rich athletes; and some less wealthy people (those who do not own boats).
Living, climate: hot and humid, but the winters are nice. Expect thunderstorms between 1100 and 1500 every day in the summer. As US climate goes, I'd rate is slightly better than the Midwest and better than the frozen north.
Living, having fun: I hope you like beaches, because that's what we've got. Golf, too. There's also birding and kayak/canoeing. And diving, of course, though most of the sites are pretty marginal. If you're interested in anything that involves altitude but does not involve planes, you're out of luck.
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
I've quickly learned (I'm in my 2nd semester in Florida) that vacationing and living in Florida are completely opposite of each other. Sure, you've got the beach and whatnot, but, it's there 365 days a year. I'm in Daytona, and well, if you're coming this way, I hope you like NASCAR. O, and motorcycle's.
Weather-wise. Its sunny, and warm. Contrary to what northerner's think, it does get cool/cold here. I couldn't believe one morning walking outside to see pot wholes in the sidewalk filled with ice, from the previous day's rain.
Flying-wise: Its seems as if there are a billion flight schools down here. However, you'll quickly learn that some of them aren't really flight schools, but casino's where you pay to play Russian roulette with your life. Or, its crazy high priced. Seems to be very little in the middle. From what I understand from friends, the CFI market is quite saturated, or seems to me as if it is.
Weather-wise. Its sunny, and warm. Contrary to what northerner's think, it does get cool/cold here. I couldn't believe one morning walking outside to see pot wholes in the sidewalk filled with ice, from the previous day's rain.
Flying-wise: Its seems as if there are a billion flight schools down here. However, you'll quickly learn that some of them aren't really flight schools, but casino's where you pay to play Russian roulette with your life. Or, its crazy high priced. Seems to be very little in the middle. From what I understand from friends, the CFI market is quite saturated, or seems to me as if it is.
staplegun
Well-Known Member
Florida is really three states:
1) North Florida is a mistake of geography. Other than Jacksonville, it's really Alabama and Georgia. Dixie to the core - also the interior down to the Everglades.
2) Disneyworld!
3) Miami = Cuba/South America...
Kevin
wrxpilot
New Member
Well, I guess I've just been lucky then. I left Denver when I became a professional pilot as there were absolutely no aviation job prospects out there, even back in 2007. So far in south FL, I have built tons of great time as a CFI, had my CFII paid for by my employer, got a 135 turbine job at 800 hrs, got a part 91 managed PIC job at 950 hours, and got a part 91 corporate turbojet job at 1200 hrs (salary, full benefits, great schedule). All of these jobs were with good operators - good pay, good maintenance, and all have provided me with excellent references and are on very friendly terms even after I've moved on. I think sometimes I could've been offered better training, but I guess you can't always have everything.
I've had several friends that I instructed with that are now flying some good jobs in turbine equipment. I went back to CO a few months ago, and some of the people that were my instructors back in '06 are still instructing. All of the instructors I had in '04 in FL have pretty nice jobs.
The best places for jobs in the US for entry level guys are Southern CA and South FL. There is just tons of activity in these locations, and if one is willing to network and work their butt off some good things can happen. Sure, there are some bad operators around... That just goes with the shear number of operations in a place like this. That's why you ask around, find out who's bad, and don't work for them. Pretty simple.
As far as living here, it's way too damn hot in the summer. Luckily for me, we go to some really nice places in the summer to beat the heat. Good thing, as I couldn't take another summer of flying around FL and the Bahamas sweating to death! The flying can get boring, but you will get good at dealing with thunderstorms and crosswind landings (it's windy here a lot). It's also busy airspace and ATC, so by the time I started dealing with NY Approach and ops at TEB it wasn't too big of a deal.
Housing is expensive... I was extremely lucky to have some relatives in Palm Beach that I could live with while starting out. I just rent a room from them for a few hundred bucks a month, and it's in a really nice location. There are some very sketchy areas down here that would be cheap but you will literally hear gunshots at night (Riviera Beach comes to mind).
I'd love to be back in Colorado, or working somewhere like WA or ID. I love the mountains, and am a huge snowboarder/mountain biker. But to make this crazy job work, you gotta move where the work is.
EDUC8-or
Well-Known Member
Florida is really three states:
1) North Florida is a mistake of geography. Other than Jacksonville, it's really Alabama and Georgia. Dixie to the core - also the interior down to the Everglades.
2) Disneyworld!
3) Miami = Cuba/South America...
Kevin
Pretty much what he said.
R
Roger, Roger
Guest
Texas.
That's all.
That's all.