METARMan
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2004
- Posts
- 34
I can't give you any advice, as the decision you are about to make must be your own. However, I can tell you my story and pick from it what you want.
I recently stopped my aviation career to pursue other interests. I was an airline pilot for approximately 5 years...two regional airlines and one major. In my case there were three lifechanging events:
1) Marriage - I was getting tired of living out of a suitcase.
2) Financial stability - A. The major I was at is in a poor financial position and most likely I would have lost my job anyway.
B. I believe the airline industry as far as labor is concerned has changed remarkably over the last five years. ALPA and other unions have lost, in the future non-union "JetBlue" type's will prevail and the quality of life, pay and security of airline pilots will in general continue to decrease.
3) Schedules and Q.O.L. growth - For my five year career I saw little growth in quality of life. Although I did make it to a major, I was constantly on reserve with poor schedules, red eye's, etc.
Have I had doubts about my decision? YEP...you bet. I love to fly, and I do miss flying a bit. However, I've done two things in the last month I haven't been able to do in the last five years:
Fly with my dad in a C-172
Have a dinner with the rest of my family and good friends all at the table at once.
In conclusion, if when I started my flying career the airline industry was in the mess it is in today, I would have never done it in the first place. I enjoyed my airline career, I had great experiences and learned a tremendous amount...however, it is now time for me to do something else with my life. I'm back in school and have gone through tremendous emotions about my decision.
Good luck with yours! I've made great friends in the industry and I'm sure if I want to I can go back into it, and who knows...maybe someday I will.
I recently stopped my aviation career to pursue other interests. I was an airline pilot for approximately 5 years...two regional airlines and one major. In my case there were three lifechanging events:
1) Marriage - I was getting tired of living out of a suitcase.
2) Financial stability - A. The major I was at is in a poor financial position and most likely I would have lost my job anyway.
B. I believe the airline industry as far as labor is concerned has changed remarkably over the last five years. ALPA and other unions have lost, in the future non-union "JetBlue" type's will prevail and the quality of life, pay and security of airline pilots will in general continue to decrease.
3) Schedules and Q.O.L. growth - For my five year career I saw little growth in quality of life. Although I did make it to a major, I was constantly on reserve with poor schedules, red eye's, etc.
Have I had doubts about my decision? YEP...you bet. I love to fly, and I do miss flying a bit. However, I've done two things in the last month I haven't been able to do in the last five years:
Fly with my dad in a C-172
Have a dinner with the rest of my family and good friends all at the table at once.
In conclusion, if when I started my flying career the airline industry was in the mess it is in today, I would have never done it in the first place. I enjoyed my airline career, I had great experiences and learned a tremendous amount...however, it is now time for me to do something else with my life. I'm back in school and have gone through tremendous emotions about my decision.
Good luck with yours! I've made great friends in the industry and I'm sure if I want to I can go back into it, and who knows...maybe someday I will.
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