How many of you thought you'd be where you are now in your career?

[PureMuscle]

I like it, its fun, not as stressful as you would think. I don't see people in planes anymore, just big hunks of metal that fly j/k. Money is good, benefits are great, and Northern California is beautiful however not a day goes by i don't miss being in the air. I hear horror stories about the regionals but if i had so much money that I didn't need a career, id go up to KBIL and apply to bigsky

What type of controller are you, and where? ATC was another option I thought of but I know there are age restrictions, being aceepted into the program, etc. I'm 22 so age shouldn't be too big of a deal, but then again I remember someone telling me the cutoff for ATC was 23 (maybe it was 25).

If you can give me a short summary of how you went about it that would be great. Thanks for everything.

 

[atlcrashpad]

Career Path

I wanted to dig ditches for a living and now I fly for a Regional Carrier. I'm embarassed to say my "Dream" is shattered.

 

[Big Duke Six]

Yeah, someone is definitely looking out for you.

So, you're saying I can't fly? j/k

I don't have a wife and kids yet but what if I want them someday, even though some people thinks it's dumb to think of that stuff when it's not in front of them. I want to be able to provide for them, and atleast see them every once in a while. Then again, the selfish side of me comes out and says I don't even have a family yet so do what you want. I appreciate the reply, it helped me out a lot. Thanks

My advice would be to head in the direction you want to go ASAP. If that is an airline, the sooner you get there and get a seniority number, the sooner you'll be established in a decent quality-of-life so you can have a family. It's best to have a greater degree of flexibility early on, because you don't know where you may end up along the way.

 

[smellthejeta]

Muscle,

Age cut off for ATC is 31. PM me for more details about getting that career going if you want.

 

[JimBo480]

When I was hired by NWA in the fall of 1999 I expected to be a DC-9 Captain within 5 years. Five years later, I'm starting my fourth year of furlough and working outside aviation as a mechanical engineer.

This is not the career path I expected. I certainly would have settled in a warmer part of the country. But all things considered, life isn't bad outside aviation. Although I must miss it a little, I find myself drawn back to this board every month or two.

Jim in MSP

 

[PureMuscle]

Muscle,

Age cut off for ATC is 31. PM me for more details about getting that career going if you want.

Definitely will, thanks a lot.

 

[PureMuscle]

When I was hired by NWA in the fall of 1999 I expected to be a DC-9 Captain within 5 years. Five years later, I'm starting my fourth year of furlough and working outside aviation as a mechanical engineer.

This is not the career path I expected. I certainly would have settled in a warmer part of the country. But all things considered, life isn't bad outside aviation. Although I must miss it a little, I find myself drawn back to this board every month or two.

Jim in MSP

I saw on your profile you have flown the F-16. Do you wish you would have stayed in the military, or did you see getting out a chance to do different things for the better?

 

[typhoonpilot]

When I was hired by NWA in the fall of 1999 I expected to be a DC-9 Captain within 5 years. Five years later, I'm starting my fourth year of furlough and working outside aviation as a mechanical engineer.

This is not the career path I expected. I certainly would have settled in a warmer part of the country. But all things considered, life isn't bad outside aviation. Although I must miss it a little, I find myself drawn back to this board every month or two.

Jim in MSP

Very similar. When I was hired by USAir in 1989, they were saying you'll be a DC-9 captain in five years. Of course I didn't believe that, I thought more like 10 years. In the end they were right, I was a DC-9 captain five years later, it wasn't at USAirways though :erm: . .

Right now I consider that I'm well ahead in terms of seat position, but well behind in terms of monetary compensation.


TP

 

[AA717driver]

Ever since I knew what an airplane was, I wanted to be a fighter pilot. I didn't have the eyesight. So, in that respect, I didn't make it.

I was a captain at a major airline and now I'm flying a G550 all over the world. I haven't had job security for squat but, yes, I've done pretty well. I'm lucky and thankful.TC

P.S.--Too bad my resume looks a whole lot better than my bank account...

 

[Bjammin]

Good thread, people letting it all hang out.

I'm way ahead of where I thought I would be at 36. Some of it is luck, alot of it was good people teaching me how to fly, some genes ( My Dad took almost the exact path I did.), and some is skill (Trying not to toot my horn), but even with all I have I sometimes wish I would have done something different. Something like computer programing or being a charter yacht captain in the Virgin Islands. I know if I would have got into computers in the 80's I would be a very rich man and could be with my family every night as well as afford my own airplane to fly whenever I wanted to. Those thoughts come into my mind over the cold, dark Pacific after 10hrs in the air and away from home for the 15th night in a month, and I have it about as good as most pilots. If I was working for a commuter, away from home even more, and with an airline that may go under I think I would be as disgrunteled (sp?) as most of those guys seem and truly looking for a way out.
Flying is very, very fun and satisfying in spirts and I am truly happy, but it can be very hard work, frustrating in terms of both airborne issues and company problems, and extreamly stressful with regards to checkrides and emergencies.
I dunno, it is a love/not so much love relationship with me.

 

[Bankangle]

3 words to success...

You never know!

I have been flying since I was 16. I have never given up and always stayed motivated and ambitious. It has been very tuff and quite a few times my career aspects seemed very bleak. But I stuck with it. It has paid and will continue to pay off...you just cant give up. I believe that alot of this career is attrition. Those that quit "God bless them", just thin the ranks and affording more opportunity to those that are left. If you step aside from yourself and compare your situation as a Pro Pilot to the average working Joe, we got pretty good it alot of aspects...Good Luck

 

[808pilot]

here goes my 2 cents......
i took it all for granted.......i grew up with a pops who was a decorated USAF vietnam pilot having flown into some heavy sh_t.....
there was always a plane around growing up...172, saratoga......he said "get your private by your 17th b-day!".....riiiiiiight.....i was too busy surfing and chasing girls.......
then, the start of my sophmore year of college he tells me "you know, you can join the air guard, fly part time with them and hook up with the airlines and you're set.....you can fly the world and live at home..."
at the time i was studying geography and wanted to be a professor and have a college pay me to travel the world and teach on the side....but the flying bug ended up getting me......
i'm still waiting on the guard and flying 121 on the side and not making squat (think of a regional turbprop based in denver...), but damn......i'm having a good time....i don't care about the money.....i have seen some things in my life that tells me life is too short to get hung up on that crap....believe it or not, every day is a good day.....as long as you love what you do.....don't get caught up in all the negative on this board/website....everything in life is what you make of it.....
now.....where is my vodka.........

 

[Cardinal]

The "II"? You're gay.

 

[Swaayze]

"Made it" in 1999. Now I'm where I was in 1995 but with serious disillusion.