I finished my certificates and got into flight instructing in the mid-90's. I wanted to be an airline pilot, the industry seemed to be doing well, and getting to a major seemed an achievable, realistic goal. I instructed for a few years (loved it, but couldn't pay the bills), made it to a prop regional, and then the industry fell apart. My airline cut in half, and that was before 9/11!
Now the major jobs are few and far between, replaced by outsourcing to jet "regionals" that pay half as much, work twice as hard, and don't have nearly the quality of life.
I gave up on the airlines and went to a large fractional a few years ago. I was happy with the decision, and loved the work -- and now we're furloughing hundreds of guys. I didn't get caught in this wave, but if there's another, I surely will be. Then it's back to square one.
The biggest thing I miss in my life is some semblance of job security. I thought I had it, but this furlough has reminded me that there really isn't such a thing in aviation. While I enjoy the work, I don't enjoy the stress, nor the poverty. My average salary over the first 7 years of my airline career was under $30K. Flight instructing was even lower. Realistically, could you raise your family on that?
If I could go back twenty years, yeah, I'd totally find another line of work. As much as I enjoy the day-to-day, the overall experience just wasn't worth the tradeoffs. I chased that carrot only to find somebody else ate it years ago.
