Is it worth it in the end??

[g4800xp]

I had some crap jobs, but life is good now. It was a struggle but my wife to be, knew fairly well that it would be a long hard road, ahead of time.I will average 10 days a month of work, this year maybe 11, and each year average about 80 overnights. About the time she is ready to choke me I leave on a trip for a day or two. It has a lot to do with your expectations well in advance. I know I have been blessed, but to me it is the greatest job on the planet. I fly part 91, fortune 500, been to 49 states, 33 countries and circled the globe. We adjust a birthday a few days one way or the other, the anniversary the same to try to compensate for schedule. It is a toss up, I am home so much, but it never fails that fly days and our schedule will conflict. Just make sure that your wife to be understands the tradeoffs. If she melts down over missing a birthday, find a 9 to 5 and enjoy the cubicle, but believe me, the view from my office beats the cubicle's view.

 

[climbhappy]

this is a typical week

been laid off, started flying a baron. just made five hundred on a trip....
my daughter needed meds costing 145.00 she lost her retainer ...another two hundred. the flying was fun. the wife is out of money.. cannot keep the Dave Ramsey approach (he's a syndicated radio finaince guru who preahces restraint) my daughter needs fifty today for a field trip.
I just ran out of high life....good news...it's only $5.99 for a twelve pack

 

[HA25]

been laid off, started flying a baron. just made five hundred on a trip....
my daughter needed meds costing 145.00 she lost her retainer ...another two hundred. the flying was fun. the wife is out of money.. cannot keep the Dave Ramsey approach (he's a syndicated radio finaince guru who preahces restraint) my daughter needs fifty today for a field trip.
I just ran out of high life....good news...it's only $5.99 for a twelve pack

Damn dude.. accept my best wishes.

 

[SSDD]

Notice that all these people telling you its a crappy carreer have not themselves gotten out. Its not without its challenges, but what carreer is? As the first reply said, make sure the future wife understands and supports what you're trying to do. If there is any hint to the contrary, then things will get worse after marriage.

 

[gringo]

I got out- and I couldn't be happier. Life is getting better and better every day, and my relationship with my wife is unlike anything it's ever been before. Best decision I ever made was to get out early!

 

[SSDD]

I got out- and I couldn't be happier. Life is getting better and better every day, and my relationship with my wife is unlike anything it's ever been before. Best decision I ever made was to get out early!

And yet you still hang around an aviation board...

 

[gringo]

Wow Sparky, that response is so full of ignorant I don't even know where to begin.

2 reasons, I would guess, why I still hang around here; the first, being that I still enjoy flying for fun. Last time I checked, this was an aviation board, not an airline pilot only board.

And secondly (and more importantly),

I get endless amusement watching chuckleheads like you convincing yourself and each others on this board that the $hit sandwich you're choking down is actually filet mignon, or at the very least a prime rib sandwich. And as we all know, prime rib is the king of all the meats!

However, your attempt at sarcasm has been noted, and you will be receiving a gold star soon. Check your mail; it'll be arriving right after the great hiring boon of 2007.

 

[climbhappy]

quote" and yet you still hang out on an avaition board"


i do that too, i feel like i have one foot out the door, but yet i just joined airline apps and sent 10 resumes thinking throw enough crap against the wall and something may stick. flying is kind of like crack!
i may get called back, but the longer one goes and the life adjustment is made, the harder it is. you have to be committed sure, but maybe i should be committed for even thiking i am committed.
i found last week, collecting decent money for the time i had spent "one day" was a good return as far as flying goes. if it keeps up i may be next.

for sure this busienss keeps you in suspense. if you don't like last minute football games like the cowboys v giants last week, then yeah this business isn't (as far as 121 goes assuming the big job hasn't come yet, sticking it out for hope thereof) worth it.

 

[capt. megadeth]

I get endless amusement watching chuckleheads like you convincing yourself and each others on this board that the $hit sandwich you're choking down is actually filet mignon, or at the very least a prime rib sandwich. And as we all know, prime rib is the king of all the meats!

.

That's not fair. There are many pilots that have had great careers. Ok, I admit, the chances are slim but it's there. Every capt. I have flown with has multiple properties, toys, etc. They are not complaining about any $hit sandwich.

 

[152SIC]

I wish I had chose a different career path. Now at 33 years old it is difficult to just jump into another job. I have been flying since i was 21 and now have a mortgage, bills etc...
I have often thought about other career paths I could pursue at this point, but I suppose my current level of pay keeps me where I am at (for the time being.)
On the plus side, I have seen alot of the country I would have never seen with any other job. I am currently flying a Citation X which WAS interesting (the first 15 hours or so.) I am also making a comfortable living at present (it won't last though.)
For someone starting out, however; chose a career path which allows you to fly on the side. There is not a good future in professional flying.

 

[gringo]

That's not fair. There are many pilots that have had great careers. Ok, I admit, the chances are slim but it's there. Every capt. I have flown with has multiple properties, toys, etc. They are not complaining about any $hit sandwich.

And there's the issue right there: have had. 30 years ago, 20 years ago, maybe even as recently as 10 years ago, this was a great career. Nowadays, with all the turmoil, the low pay (adjusted for inflation, you're making 1/2 of what they were making 30 years ago), the stress, long times from the family, high divorce rates, stoopid TSA, jakc@ss schedulers, the list goes on and on and on...

I don't believe that one can have a great career anymore. Maybe a good one, certainly, but not great. But even then, the odds of one finishing 30 years from now, looking back and saying "yeah, I'm glad I did that" is so slim, why even bother? The writing's on the walls, fellas, and luckily for us, it's written in English.

There are literally millions of things you can do with your time that would lead to a more satisfying, more productive and ultimateley, more rewarding life.

And so yes, I stand by my "$hit sandwitch" statement. It was once filet mignon. But it sat out in the sun too long and became rancid. This career is going down the tubes; it's great while you're young and single, but once you get married and start a family, you should find other things to do. If the airlines didn't fcuk you today, they're likely to do it tomorrow, or the next day. It's just a question of time; ask any United pilot on September 10th; they were kings of the world. The next day, they were out of a job.

 

[capt. megadeth]

And there's the issue right there: have had. 30 years ago, 20 years ago, maybe even as recently as 10 years ago, this was a great career. Nowadays, with all the turmoil, the low pay (adjusted for inflation, you're making 1/2 of what they were making 30 years ago), the stress, long times from the family, high divorce rates, stoopid TSA, jakc@ss schedulers, the list goes on and on and on...

I don't believe that one can have a great career anymore. Maybe a good one, certainly, but not great. But even then, the odds of one finishing 30 years from now, looking back and saying "yeah, I'm glad I did that" is so slim, why even bother? The writing's on the walls, fellas, and luckily for us, it's written in English.

There are literally millions of things you can do with your time that would lead to a more satisfying, more productive and ultimateley, more rewarding life.

And so yes, I stand by my "$hit sandwitch" statement. It was once filet mignon. But it sat out in the sun too long and became rancid. This career is going down the tubes; it's great while you're young and single, but once you get married and start a family, you should find other things to do. If the airlines didn't fcuk you today, they're likely to do it tomorrow, or the next day. It's just a question of time; ask any United pilot on September 10th; they were kings of the world. The next day, they were out of a job.

Well, ya know....it's good that there are people like you out there because there is less competition for people that really want to make a lifelong career out of it. I am sorry things didn't work out for you but don't rain on everyone's parade.

 

[capt. megadeth]

There are literally millions of things you can do with your time that would lead to a more satisfying, more productive and ultimateley, more rewarding life.

.

Please do tell. Like what? Give me a few examples.

 

[Contract]

Im not going to waist my time reading all the responses to this question. Im sorry to tell you if your for real but this career field is becoming more and more like a Bus Drivers Schedule all the while requiring Pilots to maintain professionial proficciency doing what is not natural. Yes, thats it....we fly..

We move people through the air as fast as we can. All the while maintaining safety. Most pilots today dont really understand that idea. So they will tell you that its worth it and the lifestyle while different is GREAT. Bottom line, these are the same guys that you or any one else looking to embark on a career in this profession would gladdly heed. Funny thing is, this profession is not what many of us expected it to be at this point in our lives. We are actually going through the largest downturn this profession has ever seen.

The future; well it does not hold any great promises. We have alot of consolidating to do and beyond that will be anyones guess. If I were a young man once again, I would be looking for something that would keep me happy and make me money just as I did when I started my journey for the Airline Industry as a Professional Pilot.

The "Very Bottom Line" is this. If you love to fly thats great but if you want to have any resemblance of a normal life with wife and kids (which I consider to be normal progression but others may not) then find another profession that pays well and buy yourself an airplane.....Good Luck I have not even begun to speak of the testing to replace pilots with DRONES....WOW

 

[Contract]

Capt Mega Death......Rock on Bro Head.......but at least tell the guy why you are late on some of those BILLS your playin. Just kidding Brother,,,but you know damn well what I mean....Its not what we were expecting.......Gone are the $300k per yr.......EXPECTATIONS. The only way they come back is with a shortage, so STFU and let the shortage begin......Drones are at minimum 50 to 70 years out. Luv ya Man. Rock on but play Smart if your even a real /Rocker.