Would you trade me?

[hardball]

First time poster long time reader. And yes, I’ve used the search function.

Ill keep it short and simple so I don’t waste your time.

I’m 26, married, with a 7 month old baby girl who is my world.
126 hours with an instrument. Wife makes just over $50,000 and I make just under $70,000 in retail management. I’m home every day by 7pm. 2 days off in a row but it's a job and career I absolutely hate.

BUT......Not a day goes by in the last 4 years where I look up and wish that was my office. Past posts from here have kept me from doing it. Most here seem to say the profession is dying.

My question to you is, would you trade me? Should I just suck it up, be a man and provide for my family in a job I hate?

Or go on, pursue my passion? Do I really have a decent chance at making a decent living and enjoying my career?

Tear me to shreds flightinfo

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Suck it up, be a man and provide for my family in a job I hate?

At least for now. Find something else you'll love instead of the airline route, like corporate or something.

Congrats on the new edition by the way!

 

[sayrejm]

Well..... I am on furlough so I will trade you my 238 dollar a week unemployment check and walking door to door at Fort Lauderdale executive airport handing out resumes to anyone with a pulse for your 70K any day.... but not before I get you to answer one question first: Is your wife hot? I'll stick with my $238 if she isn't.

 

[jergar999]

I know exactly what you mean about looking skyward, but you could end up hating a flying job just as much as your current one. Honestly the most fun I've had in aviation was working on my private.

In my opinion now is one of the worst times ever to be getting into flying for a career. There are huge numbers of furloughed or downsized pilots on the street, pending legislation that could make qualifying for a job more difficult, and the economic downturn has companies cutting costs everywhere.

You can always keep working on getting your ratings and building time and see what happens to the aviation job market. The last three people I know who have gone through flight training recently are unemployed (at least not employed in aviation), in massive debt, and wish they had chosen to keep the careers they had and fly for fun.

I truly hope this helps, and wish you luck in whatever you decide.

 

[urflyingme?!]

Have you read a paper recently.

 

[WayBack]

Go get hired by a regional...if they were hiring. Give it about a year and you'll hate that job as well.
You might as well get paid a livable wage, be home every night. Instead of living off food stamps, gone 22 nights a month and still hate your job.

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Go get hired by a regional...if they were hiring. Give it about a year and you'll hate that job as well.
You might as well get paid a livable wage, be home every night. Instead of living off food stamps, gone 22 nights a month and still hate your job.

BS. Only those who got into this job for the wrong reasons hate their jobs.

 

[dhc8fo]

Enjoy your income, your baby, and your wife and go fly for fun. You will have the perfect life.

 

[McNugent]

Save as much money as you can as a back up. Go for your dream. If not you'll never forgive yourself. I love this job. It has it's moments, but what job doesn't. There are times that I don't want to be on the road, don't want to be broken or delayed, and some holidays are missed. As long as your wife supports you pursuing your dream I say go for it. And don't let the crabby, negative jerks on here tell you otherwise!

And no I won't trade you, but I'll gladly buy you a beer on an overnight some day :beer:

 

[Hypoxik]

Save as much money as you can as a back up. Go for your dream. If not you'll never forgive yourself. I love this job. It has it's moments, but what job doesn't. There are times that I don't want to be on the road, don't want to be broken or delayed, and some holidays are missed. As long as your wife supports you pursuing your dream I say go for it. And don't let the crabby, negative jerks on here tell you otherwise!

And no I won't trade you, but I'll gladly buy you a beer on an overnight some day :beer:

Pickle...are you serious? You don't think that positive do you?

Kinda makes you think. Why all these guys hate the job why there doesnt seem to be a pilots shortage???

To lazy to find something else...?

 

[filejw]

Kinda makes you think. Why all these guys hate the job why there doesnt seem to be a pilots shortage???

 

[McNugent]

Pickle...are you serious? You don't think that positive do you?

I am serious. And don't call me Pickle!

 

[sayrejm]

PS... I do love flying too, I was just trying to be funny. I don't hate being a pilot but it is not easy. I am in a furlough right now but it happens and if you pursue this dream than it can and probably will happen to you too. I am still very young and have a masters degree in engineering and I am still trying to find work as a pilot when I could be making a good living staring at a computer all day long (sick!). They are right, the important thing here is if your wife supports you in this. I am sure there are many guys around here that can tell you what could happen if she doesn't fully understand how this industry works. Having starry eyes of being a 777 captain is like a city league football player dreaming of winning a super bowl, not many will make it but there are those who do. Then there are 777 captains that probably complain about hating their job too.... anyway, what do I know?

 

[crj567]

Dude-

I feel you, bro. NO ONE was more passionate about aviation than me. I absolutely ate it up! It was pretty much all I dreamed about, and all I spent my money on-for many years.

Eventually, I got a job flying a jet, and it was a a real thrill at first, but things do change.

-First-I realized I was attracted to general aviation-I have always thought the people who fly g.a. planes are great to hang out with-you meet some real fun people! I will never regret a single second I spent hanging out at my local airport, or sweating my balls off washing and waxing planes in exchange for flying time-those were truly wonderful times!

-Second-I was flying when I wanted to fly-not when stuff was really dangerous and draining (it is not always cool to be flying in nasty weather or when crap starts to blow up on the plane.). The best part about aviation is being able to go on sightseeing excursions. I would love to be able to afford to take friends and family up again one day (something which I have not been able to afford to do since getting a "real flying job."

-Third-As much as I loved aviation, I HATE repetition. You end up flying 10 or 20 or 30 thousand hours flying EXACTLY the same flight over and over and over and over. Things change a little from time to time, but the monotony can really wear. After a while it turns into another job-while I do not "hate" the job (and I have had other ones which I truly hated,) I can see that all jobs have their downside-and no matter how much passion you have when you begin, there is no escaping that fact.

-Honestly-If I knew then what I know now, I would not have gone after a professional flying job. I would have gone after a career which would afford me the opportunity to fly for fun, not for pay. The career today ain't a shadow of what it used to be- the pay is much lower, the liability is much higher, and stuff happens. (this ain't exactly as safe as sitting in your living room-no matter what size airliner you operate.)

-I say this with the full knowledge of what you are feeling-I absolutely know where you are coming from. No one could have talked me out of it at the time either, but in all truth I call tell you-the best flying you will ever do (and the most interesting people you will ever do it with) occurs in General Aviation.

-Get a job which pays well and blow off your stress in your own private airplane. You will be richer and happier in the long run.

-I do truly wish you the very best-but life is not a job, it is much bigger.

-Happiness never really comes from what you do for a living-it comes from what that job allows you to do for fun. (Plenty of guys around here have never figured that out.)

 

[buscap]

This being a seniority based industry, timing is everything. And right now is a bad time, for the airlines.

There are other flying careers, but most are also in the crapper. No easy answer here.

I guess if you started getting the ratings now, you could be in a good position when the hiring starts in about three years. If you can live on your wife's income and suck up life on reserve and maybe commuting to work...that's a lot of ifs!!!

If you already live where you think you might get a job, that is a huge plus.

But I do know where you're coming from. I couldn't do anything but fly for a living...and I mean REALLY couldn't. I am a one-trick pony who sort've got the timing right. Sort've, because I'm stuck at the regionals.

Know this-it will take you years to get back to what you're making now.

 

[JessMan]

Keep enjoying your flying hobby. Don't make it your career, it only ruins a good hobby. You don't know how lucky you are to be able to make a comfortable living and be home every night with your wife and baby. (Married, 28 with an eight month old).

 

[hardball]

SOLID advice by all- Even the comment about my wife! She's smokin, is the baby yours?

I respect each one of you for the work you do each day, I respect you even more for the advice you give.

Looks like I need to suck it up as a man.

For that, a tall boy is on me anytime your in SAT. I mean that.

My Gpa, a former 1980's Continental left seat, keeps telling me. "The real joy is finding a job that lands you in the back seat of a Falcon not the front."

My admiration goes out to your profession. Ill always be looking up.

Cheers


:beer:

 

[BobbyBiplane]

Do what you want to do, not what pays the most. If you are in aviation (or anything in life) for the money, you are an idiot.

Bob

 

[Mickey]

I feel your pain. I worked almost fifteen years in retail and finally hit the magic six figures right when I left to be an airline pilot. I have yet to make the same amount of money but, I'm close and I enjoy life a lot more. I'm not home every night, but when I am, I can actually relax because I am off duty. As a retail manager I was never really off duty. I remember getting nervous during the last three days of my honeymoon. I was wondering what fires I would have to put out at work. Now, when I am off, I am OFF. It's amazing how much less stress I have in this career. In retail, I might have been home, but I ate dinner and went to bed. Was I really AT home? Now every weekend is a three or four day affair,(and I'm relaxed). That never happened in retail. My wife only gets three days off in a row on a few national holidays. I get them several times and more every month. I love it, but not everyone does. You have to find what you like.

Good luck!

P.S. If you go the flying route don't jump at any job. Take one that works for you. Be patient!

 

[PSUPilot]

I'm slightly biased, as I live in base, but there has never been a day where I'd want to switch my job away from being an airline pilot. I complain once in a while just like everyone else. But after a few days off, I'm excited to go back to work. This job isn't for everyone...but it beats most other jobs ANY day of the week. If this is your passion, and you accept the rough parts of the job, go for it.

 

[Jar Jar]

I know its not want you want to hear, but flying for an airline just isnt what you think. Your daughter will grow up knowing mommy better than daddy, your wife will get lonely. Things happen while you are gone, both good and bad things. You wont be there. You wont get paid for not being there.

Yes looking up at the sky you will see airplanes and think, "Gawsh, that coulda been me!" But really dude, its not worth it at all.

Unless some unforseen major event happens that changes the aviation labor landscape, i'd seriously listen to everyone else telling you that flying for FUN is way more fun.

 

[rumrnr78]

Save as much money as you can as a back up. Go for your dream. If not you'll never forgive yourself. I love this job. It has it's moments, but what job doesn't. There are times that I don't want to be on the road, don't want to be broken or delayed, and some holidays are missed. As long as your wife supports you pursuing your dream I say go for it. And don't let the crabby, negative jerks on here tell you otherwise!

And no I won't trade you, but I'll gladly buy you a beer on an overnight some day :beer:

I have had the pleasure of The Nuge occupying the jumpseat and barstool next to me (not at the same time). All I can say is he is of great character and I back this statement 100%.
If you want, PM me, I might have some ideas for you in SAT (my home is in Stone Oak).

Cheers- Rum

 

[7on7Off]

My GOD, what a bunch of whiney pu$$ies!!!

I am on my 15th year of professional flying and am even more in love with it than when I started.

It's what you make of it, yes the starting pay sucks, and I'll never go back to working for an airline EVER! But remember there are more than just airline jobs out there.

To all you disgruntled airline pilots, I say thank-you; you provide job security for me every time you open your mouth to show your disdain, and bemoan the people that actually pay your salaries, the passengers.

We all entered this profession for a reason, and very few of us did it for the money.

Follow your dreams, you'll regret it later if you don't!

 

[Jar Jar]

Good luck landing the corporate/fractional gig without having to miss the first 10 years of your daughter's life.

 

[suupah]

First time poster long time reader. And yes, I’ve used the search function.

Ill keep it short and simple so I don’t waste your time.

I’m 26, married, with a 7 month old baby girl who is my world.
126 hours with an instrument. Wife makes just over $50,000 and I make just under $70,000 in retail management. I’m home every day by 7pm. 2 days off in a row but it's a job and career I absolutely hate.

BUT......Not a day goes by in the last 4 years where I look up and wish that was my office. Past posts from here have kept me from doing it. Most here seem to say the profession is dying.

My question to you is, would you trade me? Should I just suck it up, be a man and provide for my family in a job I hate?

Or go on, pursue my passion? Do I really have a decent chance at making a decent living and enjoying my career?

Tear me to shreds flightinfo

Pursue aviation and lose your family, pursue family and lose aviation. I think family is more important.

After a while, flying is much like any other job

 

[Dubya]

WTF? Where's the link back to FI for titties sake?

What the f#$k are you sweethearts drinking today?

I can't believe it's up to me to drop this thread back into proper FI decorum.

The single most important piece of information this young man could EVER get on this website is that Mesa sucks.

The second most important piece of information is that we need compromising pictures of his hot ass wife NOW!

Please start bashing this poster properly. Wussies.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Hide your money, divorce the wife and let her keep the kids. Nothing smells as rewarding as the scent of burning JET-A at 7 AM.

Seriously though, you should pursue your dreams. Get the remainder of your certificates while keeping your job and CFI part-time until hiring picks up again. Aviation functions on a cyclical hiring cycle. A lot of pilots have walked away for good from this profession and there's a drop in student enrollment, so your chances are good if you prepare yourself now.

 

[414Flyer]

Enjoy your income, your baby, and your wife and go fly for fun. You will have the perfect life.

Sage advice.

Your family is far far far more important than flying aluminum tubes around the sky for work. Besides the fastest way to make something less fun, is to get paid for it.

Maybe get into an aircraft partnership, enjoy some of those weekends flying to get that 100 dollar hamburger. But treasure your family more, because that is your legacy.

 

[Dubya]

Name your next girl Mesa, so when she gets older all the boys will know she sucks.

 

[BigPappa]

Name your next girl Mesa, so when she gets older all the boys will know she sucks.

Not really that funny of a joke (average at best), and I don't even work for MESA. Try it without his future daughter and it might be funnier.