[Hernandezcfi]

I bet all of us flying for a living miss that romance of flying that you experienced. Once you get the job, you will realize that it is a JOB. Looking out the window and enjoying the view while flying any heading and altitude you wish in Visual conditions will be a thing of the past. Waking up on a sunny Sunday afternoon and heading to the airport at your leisure will be a thing of the past.

You will be yanked from a deep sleep at 4am with that special ring from crew scheduling while on reserve to go fly a leg or three at a madhouse where you will spend as much time on the ground as you do in the air. Once you do get in the air, you won't have time to enjoy the view because you will be in Instrument conditions working to comply with headings and altitudes ATC gives you. You may be flying in weather that you do not like to fly in but you must because it's your job. You may be pushing 5 days away from your family but it's your job.

My point is, the pleasure you experienced flying an airplane is not what the airline business is about. Its about getting passengers from point A to point B in a fashion that makes the people above you happy no matter how you feel about it.

You must also be prepared to go thru alot of stuff to hold a thankless job where your seat has a eject button that someone at a safe warm office on the ground has their finger on at all times. You will not have a name to that person just a number and as much as they don't like to push the eject button, they won't hesitate if the bean counters show red on the balance sheet. It wont matter if you need new shoes or your rent is due.

If it sounds like I dislike my job, I don't. I am proud of what I do and I take the bad with the good. I just think you should know that it's not what you may imagine. It's like being in love with a woman who abuses you. The job will demand the utmost commitment to survive!