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

[TDTURBO]

I was good at multi-ducking!!

I knew you'd get my point.

 

[sandslob]

Well.. let's see. I'm TRYING to become a professional pilot.. but I guess if I'm asked this question in years to come, after I'm jaded and bitter like a lot of pilots I could always fall back on some of my previous endeavors. I’ve done bar-tending, internet security, satellite repair (not the home ones.. the BIG ones), DJ-ing around the world in various nightclubs surrounded by young women in nothing more than Saran Wrap, computer consultancy, and... well.. I’m always the ever aspiring porn star! ;-)

I’m VERY new to the aviation world and am finding that pilots fly because they really love ... well.. flying. Sure, not everybody works for a great company or airline.. but at the end of the day it’s SO MUCH BETTER than kissing ass for the much coveted window cubicle in a gray office. There are people that would trade their left testicle to be in the position that most of you (the people in this forum) have and enjoy.

Enjoy the view everyone... because you’re in the minority. The rest of the world has to put up with the s*it at ground level.

Peace.

Sandslob.
www.lifeisabeach.us

 

[hoop]

.. but at the end of the day it’s SO MUCH BETTER than kissing ass for the much coveted window cubicle in a gray office. There are people that would trade their left testicle to be in the position that most of you (the people in this forum) have and enjoy.

Enjoy the view everyone... because you’re in the minority. The rest of the world has to put up with the s*it at ground level.

Amen brother.......... That pretty much sums up life on the cube farm!

 

[CSY Mon]

Ok, how the heck do you get into the merchant marines?

Well, in the US ya go to the Academy if ya want to be an officer.
To be a deck hand or OS/AB ya accumelate sea-time and work yer way up.

I did my gig some years ago in a foreign merchant marine.
Started peeling potatoes in the galley (Kitchen for ya land-lubbers ) of a 3000 ton passenger ship when I was 14.
Only did that part time, then back to school, got restelss again and signed up for a 30,000 ton chemical tanker when I was 17. (Instead of going to college)
Worked in the engine room as an "oiler".
Hot and hard work down there in the hole, no A/C.
Sailed that thing nearly around the world..Lots of countries and ports and plenty of whorehouses and bar hopping..All good stuff for a teenager..

Next ship I was a VLCC, a 228,000 supertanker, got hired as an OS.(Ordinary Sailor)

Did that and a couple of other ships until I was twenty.
Then fell in love with some gal and took a job on land driving cabs.
Got bored with it.
Got drafted into the Military and ended up as a fire fighter / crash-rescue crew on a fighter base..Jsut sitting around drinking coffe untill somebody does a gear-up landing or worse, then it is all elbows and arseholes racing out there to get crew out.

Then went to flight school and the rest is history.

Sailing the oceans was okay for a while.
Would do it again, but not for life...It can get boring: 3 weeks at sea from Africa to Australia, no changes in the daily routine, same faces around the table every day.
The ships are completely automatic, not much to do except routine maintenace and visual "look-out".

 

[polysciguy9]

I've been thinking about building up the time and ratings to become a CFI and then put in my time before making it to the regionals one day, but I just got a sweet gig teaching at a junior college making 50k a year (24 year old, first year instructor with M.A.). Would I be crazy to leave this (especially with three months out of the year off) for the pilot biz? Flying professionally has always been the dream, it really just doesn't seem practical reading you guys' stories on this site.

 

[BoilerUP]

Look at what your career progression is in education vs. the airlines. You will probably not make 50K at a regional until you make captain.

My suggestion would be teach and continue to fly, gaining ratings and experience part-time or during summers. Let your work pay for your training to avoid debt. Network like crazy with everybody you know, then start flying charter or corporate locally. This will all probably take you 5 or so years, but your bank account, 403(b), Roth and quality of life will thank you later!

Do what makes you happy, but don't miss the forest for the trees. Good luck!

 

[propilot1983]

full time cop...already do it part time.

 

[scangadah]

Crack dealer....they get more respect from Mgmt. than we do.

 

[Joseph II]

Field Service: I would really enjoy traveling on somewhat sort notice to fix a problem that is critical in nature (medical/power? equipment). I'm not sure the pay/degree/skill set but have a solid grasp on troubleshooting already. Any ideas/help from any of you? I often thought though, that travel would get old... I guess you don't know until you do it.

Electronic Tech: Too late, I already do that. The tasks are constantly changing and we are working on stuff that is pretty high-tech. Pay is better then entry level flying. I get to learn on the job too.

Police Officer: I would love the ever changing working environment but would not feel excited about confronting an armed and dangerous person.

Police Helicopter Pilot: Better then ground bound officers!

 

[psysicx]

Are Merchant Marines gone a lot on those tankers?

 

[polysciguy9]

"Look at what your career progression is in education vs. the airlines. You will probably not make 50K at a regional until you make captain.

My suggestion would be teach and continue to fly, gaining ratings and experience part-time or during summers. Let your work pay for your training to avoid debt. Network like crazy with everybody you know, then start flying charter or corporate locally. This will all probably take you 5 or so years, but your bank account, 403(b), Roth and quality of life will thank you later!

Do what makes you happy, but don't miss the forest for the trees. Good luck!"

Many thanks for the advice - I'll keep plugging along since I'm lucky enough to have a job that helps support my flying habit.... now to explain it to the girlfriend ...

 

[Ill Mitch]

DJ-ing around the world in various nightclubs surrounded by young women in nothing more than Saran Wrap,

Is this you?

http://www.geocities.com/goodgawd2001/

 

[CSY Mon]

Are Merchant Marines gone a lot on those tankers?

Depends.

Not sure what the latest contracts are like, but perhaps 3 months off, 3 on.

Back when I was crewing the tankers ya needed 6 months onboard to get a free ticket home from anywhere on the planet.

These days they have 2 complete crews rotating in and out.

Or so I have been told.

 

[CrewDawg]

Move to Canada or Alaska and be a Fishing Guide, possibly flying a floatplane into the fishing holes.

Or go back to school to be an eye doc. I think I can do one or two, two or three, three or four.

 

[blueraider]

thank you....that was funny