Is it just a little boy's dream or a real job?

[ZapBrannigan]

Add this book to your library: Babywise

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5243045

It saved our lives during those challenging first 3 months. As a result of following some of the advice in that book we had a happy baby who slept through the night at 9 weeks, never woke up crying, and now takes a 3 hour nap during the day and sleeps 7pm to 7am. Great book. Two thumbs up!

[3enginejock]

I think maybe I give off the wrong vibe when I post. Im not trying to prove anyone wrong or piss anyone off.

I may be a "250 hour kid" but Ive wanted to be a pilot since I was a kid, its all ive ever wanted to do. Ive grown up watching my dad, my uncle, my grandfather and my godfather along with a lot of their friends fly all over the world. Ive also watched them lose their jobs and have to move in with family members because they are broke. If you think that simply because I only have 250 hours I do not know whats its like your wrong. Perhaps ive not been the one to get laid off but ive been the one affected several times.

The first piece of advice that was given to me before I became a pilot was this. Dont become a pilot if your not willing to make sacrafices. You dont think I know how extremely lucky I am to be able to find a job right out of school? But even with this job living in Miami on 20k a year will not be easy, but I will find a way to do it for as long as it takes. And who knows maybe ill get furloughed quickly, but im going into it understanding that possibility.

I understand some people have families, and of course that should be your priority. However the aviation industry has been up and down like this for a long time, you should have known what you were getting into before you did it. I would never marry anyone at this point in my life unless they knew what my career was and was OK with it, that is because at this point in my life this is my priority. Maybe one day it will change but for right now this is my priority.

I dont mean to sound like I know everything but I was raised in an aviation family. Ive moved all over the world because my dad had to find differant jobs, yet he and my mother managed to raise a family and it worked out ok. My Uncle has been furloughed 4 times in his career, and has also moved all over the world working differant jobs. Yet he managed to raise a family with his wife and 4 kids. The key is plan it out before you start a family IMO, if you just go and get married to the first women you meet and dont explain to her what your career entails to make sure she is ok with it then that is your mistake.

Do not become a pilot if your not willing to make sacrafices, that is the most important thing to remember and its the first thing I will tell any student pilot.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by 3enginejock

I think maybe I give off the wrong vibe when I post. Im not trying to prove anyone wrong or piss anyone off.

I may be a "250 hour kid" but Ive wanted to be a pilot since I was a kid, its all ive ever wanted to do. Ive grown up watching my dad, my uncle, my grandfather and my godfather along with a lot of their friends fly all over the world. Ive also watched them lose their jobs and have to move in with family members because they are broke. If you think that simply because I only have 250 hours I do not know whats its like your wrong. Perhaps ive not been the one to get laid off but ive been the one affected several times.

The first piece of advice that was given to me before I became a pilot was this. Dont become a pilot if your not willing to make sacrafices. You dont think I know how extremely lucky I am to be able to find a job right out of school? But even with this job living in Miami on 20k a year will not be easy, but I will find a way to do it for as long as it takes. And who knows maybe ill get furloughed quickly, but im going into it understanding that possibility.

I understand some people have families, and of course that should be your priority. However the aviation industry has been up and down like this for a long time, you should have known what you were getting into before you did it. I would never marry anyone at this point in my life unless they knew what my career was and was OK with it, that is because at this point in my life this is my priority. Maybe one day it will change but for right now this is my priority.

I dont mean to sound like I know everything but I was raised in an aviation family. Ive moved all over the world because my dad had to find differant jobs, yet he and my mother managed to raise a family and it worked out ok. My Uncle has been furloughed 4 times in his career, and has also moved all over the world working differant jobs. Yet he managed to raise a family with his wife and 4 kids. The key is plan it out before you start a family IMO, if you just go and get married to the first women you meet and dont explain to her what your career entails to make sure she is ok with it then that is your mistake.

Do not become a pilot if your not willing to make sacrafices, that is the most important thing to remember and its the first thing I will tell any student pilot.

I'm on your side, Brother. It can be done, and one can be happy. However, it's very cool to "whine" these days.

Keep your head up, stay motivated, and don't let them get you down. It's still extremely possible to "live the dream" on a daily basis.

[NotCoolEnufToFly]

And maybe I come off wrong too. It's not that I don't think it's possible either. I think it is, and I hope it is because that's the road my family and I are moving down too. I just think people are acting like these people who haven't had those great experiences are trying to take people out of their childhood dreams and I don't. I think their realistic perspective on it is just as important as those super success stories where everything worked out fine and they've never been furloughed. Like I said, I have people call all the time asking about the lifestyle and change their mind the second they hear hpw much it costs and I can't honestly tell them they will start off making 100K a year. That's part of why I think the negative is just as valuable.

[ZapBrannigan]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

It can be done, and one can be happy. However, it's very cool to "whine" these days.

Gimme a break. Ok. I quit.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

Gimme a break. Ok. I quit.

It's the truth.

[Evers91]

I'm just starting my CPL and paying through the a$$ to do it. I have friends only 3 years older than me who are already earning $100k+ australian straight out of uni. I won't even get close to that for many years. Whenever they gloat to me about how they can afford all of their fancy stuff I just say "do you enjoy what you do?". Many of them don't, they are stuck driving a desk 9-5 dealing with managers who they cant stand. I love what I do, i would give anything to fly, and pretty much already am.

I am lucky enough that I will have a regional job as soon as I finish training with a look into a major job 2 years after that. Although I can't say for certain, I'm pretty sure even if that wasn't the case, I'd still be flying and giving everything to try and get to the airlines.

[DenverPilot8]

I am lucky enough that I will have a regional job as soon as I finish training with a look into a major job 2 years after that. Although I can't say for certain, I'm pretty sure even if that wasn't the case, I'd still be flying and giving everything to try and get to the airlines.[/quote]

What kind of set up do you have that gurantees you this path?

[NotCoolEnufToFly]

Oh, and FYI...not everyone hates "driving a desk."

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by NotCoolEnufToFly

Oh, and FYI...not everyone hates "driving a desk."

"Corporate accounts payable, Nina speaking. Just a moment." (Office Space)

Yeah, keep tellin' yerself that, sunshine!

[NotCoolEnufToFly]

No Doug really, while other people are actually working for a living. I'm driving a desk which is code for surfing the web all day. lol It's great. How do you think I had time for JC...well before I got pregnant, couldn't sleep and ended up on JC at 1:30am?! lol

[Doug Taylor]

well before I got pregnant, couldn't sleep and ended up on JC at 1:30am?! lol

JC got you preggers?! ArrroOooO?

(I know, I know!)

[Evers91]

Originally Posted by DenverPilot8

What kind of set up do you have that gurantees you this path?

Qantas cadetship

[surreal1221]

Love the job. Hate the industry.

[ZapBrannigan]

Job gets boring after a while too. The only thrill anymore is the ever-so-rare approach to minimums.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

Job gets boring after a while too. The only thrill anymore is the ever-so-rare approach to minimums.

For some.

[TangoBravo]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

For some.

Others.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

Job gets boring after a while too. The only thrill anymore is the ever-so-rare approach to minimums.

Cruise is pretty damn boring. . .and at 23 an hour, really isn't enjoyable.

But. . .the other portions are, and can be, enjoyable.

Even for me as a disgruntled union cheerleader.

Cruise wouldn't be so boring, and it won't be boring in the future - when I'm making a wage I'm comfortable and happy making.

[skidz]

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Cruise is pretty damn boring. . .and at 23 an hour, really isn't enjoyable.

23 dollars an hour for sitting and watching the clouds go by?
Geesh...Some people would do that for free...

[BillH]

After graduating from ATP, it dawned on me that I didn't really want a regional job.
After departing my Miami CFI gig this past Friday, I realized just how bad it is right now and I was about to go flip chicken at Pollo Tropical and work on other things in my life, but alas, I got the call, hired at a new flight school. So my aviation career continues.
I left the ATC program to go be a pilot. I said good bye to a government pension, a job that desperately needs people for the next 20 years, for a roller coaster job market of ups and downs.
WHY???
Because I felt like it. It was a childhod dream, it's been conquered, now it is a job, one that I enjoy once that engine is running and the wheels lift off the pavement. If I never step foot again in a cockpit, I will feel sad, but at least I won't die saying, "I wish I went and did that."
Flying also takes my mind off other things in life that I find lacking, it is my therapy.

[3green]

23 dollars an hour for sitting and watching the clouds go by?
Geesh...Some people would do that for free...

Actually, after you factor in time sitting ready reserve, waiting for the darn airport shuttle, preflight/postflight, etc. It probably really comes out to darn less than $5 an hour. LOL

[Evers91]

Originally Posted by 3green

Actually, after you factor in time sitting ready reserve, waiting for the darn airport shuttle, preflight/postflight, etc. It probably really comes out to darn less than $5 an hour. LOL

I'd be happy with $5/hour for something i enjoy vs. $30/hour i utterly detest

[skidz]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

JC got you preggers?! ArrroOooO?

(I know, I know!)

Ready to pay child support Doug?
Your website did it

[3green]

I'd be happy with $5/hour for something i enjoy vs. $30/hour i utterly detest

Yeah, well thats what alot of us thought too. You can't tell me you'd enjoy waiting for an airport shuttle for 40 mins? And your time on this planet is worth alot more than $5 an hour. I always thought it was nice the guy/gal behind the airport counter at McDees made more than me. But hey I loved what I was doing, right?

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by 3green

I always thought it was nice the guy/gal behind the airport counter at McDees made more than me. But hey I loved what I was doing, right?

I love what I'm doing . . . makes it all pretty much ok to me.