Would you do it all over again?

[Rook]

I've been flying for over 30 years now, and still love flying as much as I did in the begining. It's all I've ever wanted to do since I was six years old. That being said, I was glad when my son decided against an aviation career.
Yes, it's a lot different now than when Pan Am was flying its clippers around the world. My family has suffered through the layoffs and furloughs and the restarts at the bottom of the seniority list and I'm sorrowful for having put them through it all. My wife says she's never seen me happier now that I'm flying glass cockpit wide bodies around the world from the left seat. I'm one lucky son of a gun! I've landed on aircraft carriers, watched MIRV warheads re-enter the atmosphere, chase cruise missiles, launched torpedoes, tracked submarines, flown tankers, flown formation on Russian TU-95's and our own B-52's. I flew for ValuJet through the crash and resurection int Airtran. I might do a few things differently, but I've been very lucky to have held the throttles in my hands all those years. I wouldn;t want it any other way.
Now if they would only increase the age to 65, I'll be glad to keep it going!

I found it an interesting thread to read. We are all different, but I see the Aviators who do it for the love of flying and agree with their posts. I see the pilots who want to quit and wouldn't do it again for anything. It confirms my observations in recent years that we are making a lot of pilots nowadays, but not as many Aviators. If you are not having fun, then do something else. Life is too shot, amigos.
It's also interesting to see those who got out of aviation still spend their time on an aviation forum.
Whatever you do, boys and girls, don't spend your life unhappy. If you got into flying to become rich, you picked the wrong job.

They told me in my interview that GAC had some great guys. Thanks for re-affirming this Fedora.

 

[tgabster]

Hell No! I would not become an airline pilot, however I would still get my private and instrument licence. Get a better paying job or start my own buissnes and take vacations and fly for fun all over the country.

 

[BoilerUP]

Hell No! I would not become an airline pilot, however I would still get my private and instrument licence. Get a better paying job or start my own buissnes and take vacations and fly for fun all over the country.

If your profile is accurate, you don't have much to lose if you decide to take that path now...

 

[flyer172r]

THATS THE FCUKN SPIRIT pullmyfinger!!!! You guys saying you wouldn't be a pilot if you had the chance to change; forgot the MAIN REASON you guys got into the industry.... GET PAID TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE..FLYING!!! AVIATION!!! Yes there are some airlines that take advantage of the pilots love for flying.... But you got to realize that the whole industry does not suck...There are greener pastures in this industry. You just cant give up finding them.

A lot of guys got into flying not because they love flying airplanes, but because they were persuaded by the image of the mainline captain making 300K flying two trips a month to Europe. Then when it doesn't pan out the way they thought they get really ticked off and bitter. There are days I hate my job, but if I had to do it over again, yeah I'd still be a pilot. Although maybe not an airline pilot, I do miss really flying the airplane.

 

[gunfyter]

gosh Fedora sounds like pilotyip

This can't be a good thing.

 

[pilotyip]

why can't it be a good thing. It is about flying airplanes. It is good to be able to do something you like.

 

[rfa]

So far so good. I really get a kick out of flying a Beech in the 121 world. Can't lie, actually flying (no a/p) helps (self respect boost!), and so does the size of the airplane since the salary seems to bother me less. Flying an RJ for that money (or less!) would really tick me off.

Anyway, at my current gig I am home everynight, usually work two long days and two SUPER short days, work with great people, get three or four day weekends almost every week - this is supposed to be a job? I worked real jobs before all of this - some payed better. ...you know what though? Real jobs suck!

Guess it all depends which airline you end up in. Made a good choice as to a regional, now I just want PIC and to make another good choice as to a major.

 

[pilotyip]

rfa understands it is about flying airplanes, he is an aviator

 

[tangodelta21]

After 9/11 I went from an office job at a Fractional to street with a severence package and the promise of unemployment for a while. I already had my Inst/Multi Comm so I finished my last semester loaded up the Honda and went to South Florida. I ended up towing banners for two great seasons. One in Hollywood and the other in Panama City Beach. I was living two blocks off the beach flying off of grass with some really cool people, all of them are still my friends. Not to mention the loads of tourist girls cutting loose for their one week a year, a new batch every week. Got back home and sold cars then got a job flying freight in Caravans then 401/402's. I did that for the next 2 years. Lots of good times there and alot of lessons learned. Now I'm an F/O at Expressjet flying the branded product looking at upgrade after the first of the year. It's what you make it and I would not change a thing, I love to fly!

 

[30West]

I'd have made some different stock purchases, and would be retired already and flying just for fun!

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I am pretty sure the original poster meant would you start over if you knew then what you know now ABOUT AVIATION! I mean ******************** it would just take the knowledge of one lotter number or great stock run and we would all be screwing hot models for a living.

 

[Americam]

I wouldn't have gotten so stressed-out right before checkrides... otherwise all is good.

 

[Fedora]

Thanks for those that support the Aviator thread. Those that want to quit, go ahead. Pushing the throttles up after 30 years is still a great thrill for me.
Yip, I've been in and out of YIP in a DC-10 and thought it was great. I hope you still get some time behind the yoke. All you other guys who are living for the paycheck, get another job or get in line with what we do.
When they scatter my ashes at 6000 feet, they'll be able to say he lived the life he loved. Chose your fate wisely. I do't go to work pissed off anymore, and I'm loving every minute of it.

 

[Vne]

Fedora is spot on.

Would not change a thing.
Its about Flying! I've loved it since my first flight in the Good Year Blimp at 7 years old, MIA 1957. Sat in a EA connie jump seat MIA to BOS 1960,sad that kids today can do that. Never imagined or wanted to do any thing other then Fly aircraft. I'm an aviator always was, always will be. I tried 'not' flying for several years. I could not give it up knowing what the world felt like on those special times aloft. Happiness for me is following ones bliss My bliss is not earth bound but skyward.

 

[bristolgone]

I left aviation after flying here and there for 8 years. I made it to a regional and even stayed for a year. One of the main reasons i left, besides low pay, and no job security, is that flying a passenger plane was boring to me compared to flying fireght in a broken piece of ****** airplane through weather that makes your knees shake. I guess I am a frieght dog at heart who got bored with crew scheduling. Although, I did like flying the Turbo Prop (J-41) at 6,000 ft and trying to get to my destination by folowing train tracks and towers across MO. So in answering your question, yes I do it all over again the journey to get the airline job was the best part.