If you weren't a pilot, what would you do?

[FracCapt]

I talked to some pro divers out in BKK and they said the same thing about their profession that we say about ours. Apperantly there is also PFT in the diving industry.

Not necessarily PFT.....but there are many whores as there are in aviation. Guys that will work as a commercial diver or tender for far less than they should. These days, it's difficult, if not impossible, to support a family as a beginning commercial diver....just as it is in aviation.

If I decide to make the switch(and it's dependent on this)....a friend of mine can likely get me in with a good company doing sat diving making real money.....primarily based on my previous diving experience and the people I know. It's just like aviation.....it's all who you know.

 

[darkvw]

Stunt C**k for the porn pictures, sounds like a good one to me, the telephone companies are going the way of the everything else lately, thank god I've retired.

 

[bigD]

I'd be a physics professor.

 

[MGlobemaster]

I've already done the pornstar thing so I would have to go with...move to the mountains and be a rock climbing instructor in the summer, and ski instructor in the winter.

 

[moxiepilot]

ATC

hitman

or

fluffer

 

[Ill Mitch]

I'd start a porn production company. Way more money than just being in them.

 

[jagmagic]

Sports Agent But Hard To Get Into

 

[NookyBooky]

Pro Surfer- I should have layed off the parties and surfed more and it might have been so.....

 

[NookyBooky]

........Or a mercenary.

 

[NookyBooky]

Pirate would be cool too

 

[Steveair]

Firefighter

 

[I.P. Freley]

I'd be...

Fred Garvin; Male Prostitute.

 

[Occam's Razor]

Showshoe Repairman in Key West.

Or surfing instructor in Minnesota.

I think I'd like the workload...

 

[FN FAL]

I'd be...

Fred Garvin; Male Prostitute.

What's ten bucks gonna get me, Mr. Garvin? Hahahaha...

 

[wrxpilot]

Engineering is a nice profession as there is typically no BS politics in the office, most of the people you deal with are honest, you will always be able to get a job (w/ benefits), usually don't work much beyond 40 hrs/week (unless you want to), and pay is ok out of school. But that pay doesn't change much. The payscales for engineers typically go in this order (from least pay to most pay):
Civil
Mechanical
Electrical
Chemical
Petroleum

As a mech engineer with a couple years experience, I make around $55k. It is very difficult to top out much beyond $75k (as a ME or civil eng) unless you own your own business or get into a good contract position. Flat out owning your 182 seems kinda far fetched to me, especially if you had a family.

You also have to ask yourself if you'd be happy being in front of a computer for 8 hrs/day. It is very difficult for me sometimes...

Those of you that are pilots, what would be your career of choice if you weren't able to be a pilot?

If I could do it all over again (and I'm still not a 'real' pilot) I'd get a degree in civil engineering and make enough money to own a nice 182 and fly it on the weekends.