Do it all again????

[cubegirl7]

doctor, lawyer, wall st exec, pilot, no matter what you do
at one point your going to wonder if you made the right choice.
nothing is perfect all the time. i know so many doctors that wish they chose a different profession because of all the law suits, etc.
also, i think it's very hard to know exactly what your career will be like until you get there. the best thing to do is continue to learn and always have a back up plan.

 

[dsee8driver]

Again..

I have been furloughed twice and thanks to my very supportive wife have been able to get back on my feet with minimal impact. I work a week on a week off and thanks to creative bidding and vacation time, twice a year I get 24 days off in a row. I'm ready to get back to work after a week or so off and I truly enjoy going to work. The day I wake up and I find it I do not enjoy it anymore I will look for another career. Life is way too short.
I guess the type of flying we do is somewhat different then the commuters or the majors. Where else will I carry 1 horse accross the pond for the Derby and back or killer whales or Pandas to China.

 

[slide33]

Sometimes I think they should call this site DepressingFlightinfo.com

Shoulda gone to law school? Yeah, but then you'd be a lawyer.

Do what you enjoy. My father has a good paying, 9-5, home on weekends/holidays job - and he hates every day of it. No thanks.

It's cliche', but like the Navy commercial says "If your life was a book, would anybody want to read it?"

 

[Swaayze]

I've tried to envision myself in some other job or career and it just doesn't seem right. Yeah, despite a decent IQ I'd do it again. In fact, at twice that age I'm starting over again in a couple of weeks. 3rd time's a charm they say! This time I'm trying real hard to prioritize things other than money and career progression, namely time and family. By utilizing what I know now to choose my path and appreciate what I do have, I'm hopeful that this will be a good job, possibly a very reasonable career, but at least eventually a decent living that provides for my family, allows me a fair amount of time with them, requires no commuting, and lets me fly very nice airplanes instead of a desk.

 

[Ailerongirl]

[BOh my goodness, Where in the world did you hear that one??!!?!?!? [/B]

Sheesh....joke!

 

[AV1ATRX]

I think cubegirl hit the nail on the head.

Yes, aviation is tough. But I know for me personally that flying is the only thing I'll ever want to do, despite all the bad stuff. I haven't had much success yet, but a lot of setbacks, and I still wouldn't change it. I don't know what it will be like when I finally get "there" (wherever that may be), but I do know that flying is who I am. There are some people who would judge me for saying that, and there are others who feel the same way. I was born to fly, and all of these "experiences" are just part of the package.

I think it's odd that so many women have responded to this post...

 

[JediNein]

"If your life was a book, would anybody want to read it?"

Only if they like comedies.

I'm no longer within waving distance of 18, but was glad I was already flying when 18 hit. The only things I'd change: 1. Get the CFI ticket at 18. 2. Quit the full time cubicle prison job, never take the part time airline ramp rat job, and be flight instructing full time at 18.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[Moonfly201]

Did it a little differently ....

Was waiting for my my USAF date to enter UPT (undergraduate pilot training) after ROTC. The Secretary of Defense determined the pilot candidates were not longer needed, as the Viet Nam war was over, and the few remaining slots for jet training were given to AF Academy grads, females and minorities.

During my short active duty retraining stint, I worked in an office planning sorties for the pilots of an F-105 Reserve Squadron. I never forgot a conversation with a group of F-105 combat veteran pilots who were putting together a partnership to buy a bonanza. Two of these guys were current airline pilots. I said, what are you crazy? You guys fly jets for pay, and you want to buy a bug-smasher? Their reply was telling, and changed my life. "From two hours before every flight, up to and including two hours afterward .... we are totally controlled. Where we go, what altitudes, headings, everything. A little bug-smasher is true freedom. Take the wife and another couple gambling to Vegas next weekend if we feel like it. The fun is in the freedom."

Nine years later I found myself a self-employed sales representative, driving and flying commercially around a ten state territory. I bought a third of a Cherokee and started using it for business. Then went to a third of a Mooney, then half a Mooney, and finally to my own Mooney. All this over the last 18 years.

Now I have changed my business to include manufacturing and sales, and am traveling nationally with the Mooney. But I need K-ice and turbos, and hope to buy a Seneca by next winter.

I would not change a thing. Find a job that requires instant travel to do product demonstrations and close sales. And leverage yourself into a plane to get you there.

 

[Hovernut]

Wish I did it at 19!

At age 19 in the mid-80's, I could've moved from St. Louis to Champaign-Urbana, ILL with my fellow compu-geek buddy and gotten a programming job with a little known company called Bruce Artwick Org, who made this quirky little program called Flight Sim, which was later sold to Microsoft. I instead opted to serve my country like the previous generations of my family and entered Uncle Sam's NAVY and learned how to operate a submarine nuclear plant.

I could be a retired Microsoft millionaire like my buddy is now, but as I look back on the last 20 years, the life experience I accumulated in the Navy, nuclear utilities, and working with some wild stuff at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, I have no regrets chucking it all for the job I now hold flying the CRJ. Now, I wouldn't mind having a fatter bank account, but I'm rich in life experience, family/friend ties, and in my faith.

Had I done it at 19, I may be holding a major CA seat right now instead of regional FO, but that 'book' would, in my opinion, be a little less of a good read!

Follow your dreams, or you'll always be looking back or up and wondering 'what if...' I just had to give my childhood dream a shot or it would've haunted me for the rest of my life.

 

[norskman2]

I wouldn't do it again in a thousand years.

Look, I'm not slamming you guys/gals who are saying you would do it differently if you could do it over. But I really want to know something before I get too deep into this profession:

Many of you who express profound regret over your career choice seem to be in the 3-8000 hour range. I assume that puts many of you in the mid-30s to mid-40s range, maybe even a little higher.

Why are you still an airline pilot? Maybe it's too late for med school, but if it's that intolerable, why didn't you bail at some point for a job where you could at least sleep at home every night and not be pushed around by crew scheduling during the day?

Nobody's forcing you to stay on until 60. What's going on?

Curious in St. Paul.

 

[bafanguy]

norskman2,

Excellent question !! Right to the heart of the matter. I'd be interested to hear the answers myself.

 

[350DRIVER]

norskman2,

The very simple and straight forward answer that requires very little if any thought would be the amount of time, years, hard work, money, etc, that most have invested to get to this point. To suggest that some should just walk away and start a new career is much easier said than done. You are only on this planet for a limited amount of time and contrary to some beliefs, the body ages just as the mind does.

One cannot re-write history nor can one defy the aging process in hopes to change things for the better. The best thing that can happen is to have business interests and investments that will allow you to walk away and have the financial freedom not to have to do a single thing other than enjoy life.


3 5 0

 

[501261]

LWhy are you still an airline pilot? Maybe it's too late for med school, but if it's that intolerable, why didn't you bail at some point for a job where you could at least sleep at home every night and not be pushed around by crew scheduling during the day?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

If I could get a 6 figure desk job, there'd probably be a pilot job opening up.

 

[norskman2]

bafanguy,

It looks like you've flown just about everything under the sun. Gooney Bird AND San Diego Anteater (CV880) time??? Wow!

What's your take on this? After 23,000 hours do still head for the flightline with a smile or a scowl?

 

[mar]

You knew the job was dangerous...

...when you took it Fred.

Any other SuperChicken fans?

I made my choices deliberately and with my eyes wide open.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Fly safe--and smile for a change.

 

[Northern Lights]

I think that I'll have to go with Mar on this one. Well said!

For those under 30, it seems like there is still plenty of time to make a career change if you aren't happy with this one.

After visiting my friends accounting office, I decided that there was no way I could ever be happy in an office 40+ hours a week.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Re: You knew the job was dangerous...

Any other SuperChicken fans?

Oh, He!! Yeah. Click Here

Super Chicken Theme Song

When you find yourself in danger,
When you're threatened by a stranger,
When it looks like you will take a lickin', (puk, puk, puk)
There is someone waiting,
Who will hurry up and rescue you,
Just Call for Super Chicken! (puk, ack!)

Fred, if you're afraid you'll have to overlook it,
Besides you knew the job was dangerous when you took it (puk, ack!)

He will drink his super sauce
And throw the bad guys for a loss
And he will bring them in alive and kickin' (puk, puk, puk)
There is one thing you should learn
When there is no one else to turn to
Call for Super Chicken! (puk, puk, puk)
Call for Super Chicken! (puk, ack!)

 

[starvingcfi]

haha. that's awesome

 

[mar]

That was beautiful. Thank you.

I'm wiping the tear from my eye.

 

[Dash8]

Re: Did it a little differently ....

*snip*
Their reply was telling, and changed my life. "From two hours before every flight, up to and including two hours afterward .... we are totally controlled. Where we go, what altitudes, headings, everything. A little bug-smasher is true freedom. Take the wife and another couple gambling to Vegas next weekend if we feel like it. The fun is in the freedom."

That is an incredibly sagacious statement, really strikes a chord...

for me, i'm not sure what i would have done differently,
either would have tried to get on as a technician at the local indian casino (and join the local flying club for the weekends) or figured out how to get to flight options.
no offense to the fine people i work with, but if i knew then what i knew now, i would have avoided the airlines like the plague.

 

[wings421]

I'm not terribly far from 18, and I'd already do somethings different. However, a desk job isn't for me and I'm certainly not going to be a lawyer or doctor. Money doesn't matter too much. Pay the bills, have some fun, who cares about being rich. There are a lot of unhappy rich people. As far as flying goes, there isn't anything else I'd rather do. Yes I'm young and stupid, but I can say without a doubt that I'll be in the cockpit till I'm 60, or until the day I can't get my medical anymore. Either one of those days will truely be a sad day. If I couldn't fly I'd be driving cross country in an 18 wheeler listening to an old country station at 2:00 in the morning. So obviously QOL is flexible for me.

I always want to be looking down, not up, wishing I was there. And thats what its all about to me.

 

[Dash8]

i used to feel the same way, and the airlines have completely sucked those sentiments out of me, now, if i can fly, pay my bills, and have a decent qol, with a minimum of bs and stress, i'd be ok....

I'm not terribly far from 18, and I'd already do somethings different. However, a desk job isn't for me and I'm certainly not going to be a lawyer or doctor. Money doesn't matter too much. Pay the bills, have some fun, who cares about being rich. There are a lot of unhappy rich people. As far as flying goes, there isn't anything else I'd rather do. Yes I'm young and stupid, but I can say without a doubt that I'll be in the cockpit till I'm 60, or until the day I can't get my medical anymore. Either one of those days will truely be a sad day. If I couldn't fly I'd be driving cross country in an 18 wheeler listening to an old country station at 2:00 in the morning. So obviously QOL is flexible for me.

I always want to be looking down, not up, wishing I was there. And thats what its all about to me.

 

[bafanguy]

norskman2,

I've been a bit reluctant to spout off too much about this as I've had it very easy compared to the knocks some fellow birdmen have taken...and I know it. I was with a major for 30+ years and my worse complaint was slow advancement. The very few times I fell into the septic tank, I came out smelling like a rose.

I'm retired now ( four years early...too long a story for this forum ), and miss having an airplane to move from A to B.

But, I still like to think I'd have done all again even if it had to been done without the good fortune I had. As some others have said, on it's worse day, flying an airplane has GOT to be better than a pencil jockey's best day....death by boredom.

So...don't send me any nasty-grams about how I haven't had it as bad as YOU...I know I've been lucky and that may give me a different view of things. But, of course, my view is still valid...somebody has to fly for a major for 30+ years. Maybe it'll happen to YOU !!

 

[norskman2]

Bafanguy,

Thanks for your insight and kudos on your career. May we all be as lucky as you in ways large and small.

Some of us may end up Lou Gehrigs and Cal Ripkins with long successful careers while others of us may be be destined to be Doc "Moonlight" Graham and "Crash" Davis with only a faint glimpse of the big time from afar. But hopefully we'll always be thankful for the opportunities we have.