Why are you flying for a living???

[Lostdog65]

I got into it because someone told me there were hot women and cold beer. Since I've been in I've found all the woman and most of the beer have been flat.



Seriously...it's in my blood. I have other hobbies that could be turned into careers but at 40, I'd be starting over at the bottom of the barrel and with a mortgage and two kids to put through school....I'm kinda stuck here. But it's a nice place to be stuck, aviation...not my current job...if you have to be stuck somewhere. Where else is someone going to pay me to do what I like to do??

Eric

 

[PastFastMover]

We all know it's not the money.

I went into the military to fly fighters because of my love of flying. I was "fortunate" to get in and to fly fighters, not that easy of a thing to do. I got out of the military and into the airlines specifically for the money. The airlines are still a great job if you are with the select few but I have to admit not what it was when I transferred over more than 30 years ago.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

The view that my office came with...

View from FL510

I see someone has been playing with thier new toy (camera not airplane..)

nice pic!

CAAM, dont discard the money completly. There are much harder ways to make an OK paycheck....You wont get rich, but you can certainly make 100K+

a decent paycheck and the opportunity to check out the world on someone elses dime is OK for now.

dont get me wrong, I bitch the entire time Im doing it, but thats just SOP.

imp:

 

[pilotyip]

Oh my Gad!, Did I see G200 say a $100K is an OK salary? You can live decently on $100K and do a job you really enjoy, few people ever get to do that. Start flying, have a plan to move to better jobs, and plan on paying your dues for about 10 years. Fly becasue you like to, and you will enjoy this job.

 

[81Horse]

From someone who's never seen the commercial aspect of flying, what is it that made you want to fly for a living?

My grandfather made me. Eventually, I learned to like it.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Oh my Gad!, Did I see G200 say a $100K is an OK salary? You can live decently on $100K and do a job you really enjoy, few people ever get to do that. Start flying, have a plan to move to better jobs, and plan on paying your dues for about 10 years. Fly becasue you like to, and you will enjoy this job.

No yip,...I said 100K+ (PLUS!)

The old 100K success mark is now 200K.....sign of the times.

dont forget to tell the kid to go to college.

 

[pilotyip]

I have given up the no college thing for the next 5 weeks.

 

[Purpledog]

Why are you flying for a living???

The million $ question. I flew because it was fun (fighters). Now it's just a job, not an adventure. Make a lot of money elsewhere and go buy an Extra to have fun in. With two kids having to go to private school and then college, that 120k doesn't go too far. Definitely don't do it for the money!

 

[Gorilla]

A job is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end. Use the job (whatever it is) to finance your happy life. Time off is where it's at. Family, friends, creative hobbies, these will make you happy, not getting to wear some monkey suit at a big company flying big hardware.

If it was fun, you'd do it for free. Imagine crew schedule calls and says "We have a trip for you over the holidays. And oh yes, it is unpaid. Want to go flying!?" Chances are excellent you'd laugh at them and stay home. By definition, then, it must not be fun, otherwise you'd jump all over it.

It is a better job (and a worse job) than many. In the end, it is another variation on a job. On your death bed, you will not be thinking about that three-day LGA trip - you'll be thinking about loved ones.

Sorry to sound like some bitter old dude. Like I said, it's a job, and can be a fine one, but there are more important things to focus your life's energy on.

 

[mcjohn]

I have been making 30-40k a year go a long way and that's combined income with my wife. Give me 120k and I'd live like a king and send my kids to private school and college as long as I live in an affordable city/town.
I am perpeptually a little unhappy b/c I'm so freakin poor but my creadit's good and we're not accumulating debt. How can I make 30-40k/yr go a long way:
Don't finance a vehicle! Take the time to save the cash and buy a realiable beater.
My nissan pick-up = $3300 w/ 86k miles on it.
My wifes subaru = $2700 w/ 90k miles on it.
Buy a house! Great safety net and provides stability when your broke.
Hurry up and commit to a decent woman! If you don't you'll spend 40-50 bucks when your at the bars trying to meet one.
Make friends who are as poor as you are! So you don't get dragged out to restaurants and bars that you can't afford all the time.

So as you see it's a little depressing and QOL is down the tubes for a while as I wait to slowly inch my way toward that next aviation job.

Instructing and part-time bellman = $20k/yr if I'm lucky
Next I'll fly for Ram Air or Flight Express = $20k plus if I'm lucky
Then maybe a regional = $20k plus if I'm lucky

O.K. Now I got myself all upset!:bawling: and I have to go jogging to make myself feel better. WOE IS ME