Cstyle
I like Cheese
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2004
- Posts
- 44
There are a lot of ways to skin a cat, as they say. All paths have pros and cons. My advice to you is to make sure you really LOVE flying. If you don't, it is unlikely that you will be willing to endure the hardships you are certain to face in this career.
Personally, I could not recommend this profession right now because the risk/reward ratio is WAY out of balance. That will hopefully change in the next few years and you may get in at just the right time. (You wont know that until it's to late to do anything about it)
In the meantime, get involved in as many aviation related activities as possible. Pump gas at the local airport, wash airplanes, Aviation Explorers, etc. The goal of this is to make sure you have the drive you will need to be successful in this business.
I personally know several individuals who are paying off 50-80k worth of flight training loans and their careers in aviation either never got started or ended quickly because of a lack of dedication. This will have a financial effect on them for decades. (I'm not talking about guys who have been laid off, that's a whole other issue)
If you really have the LOVE, this can be a great job. But it still is a job. There are day's when I don't want to go to the airport. Also, this career can be very challenging on your family life also. You must marry the right kind of person or it wont last, and you'll be sending half your paycheck to her every month. I've been happily married for 9 years now and it can be a real challenge.
All of that said, I love what I do, and I cant imagine doing anything else.
One last thing....Don't let whiny, bitter pilots talk you out of your dream. (If it is your dream) Remember, the only thing pilots do better than fly airplanes is complain
Good Luck to you
Personally, I could not recommend this profession right now because the risk/reward ratio is WAY out of balance. That will hopefully change in the next few years and you may get in at just the right time. (You wont know that until it's to late to do anything about it)
In the meantime, get involved in as many aviation related activities as possible. Pump gas at the local airport, wash airplanes, Aviation Explorers, etc. The goal of this is to make sure you have the drive you will need to be successful in this business.
I personally know several individuals who are paying off 50-80k worth of flight training loans and their careers in aviation either never got started or ended quickly because of a lack of dedication. This will have a financial effect on them for decades. (I'm not talking about guys who have been laid off, that's a whole other issue)
If you really have the LOVE, this can be a great job. But it still is a job. There are day's when I don't want to go to the airport. Also, this career can be very challenging on your family life also. You must marry the right kind of person or it wont last, and you'll be sending half your paycheck to her every month. I've been happily married for 9 years now and it can be a real challenge.
All of that said, I love what I do, and I cant imagine doing anything else.
One last thing....Don't let whiny, bitter pilots talk you out of your dream. (If it is your dream) Remember, the only thing pilots do better than fly airplanes is complain
Good Luck to you
