Walking away

[kellwolf]

I think a lot of the people that find themselves at regionals and hating life either didn't do enough research or just flat out didn't listen to what people who had been there, done that told them. Which is why I really like this site and people like Doug, Don and sometimes even Tenney who tell it like it is.

Let's see, reduced rest overnights where I might get 6 hours of sleep? Check. Weird hotels? Check. Scheduling nightmares? Check. So far, everything I've run into I've been prewarned about so I KNEW it was coming and prepared myself for it. Some of my fellow FOs are shocked and appalled they're not staying at the Crowne Plaza every night and don't have 15 days off a month, and now they're thinking about getting out.

Despite all the bad things, I still wouldn't be doing anything else at this point in time. I knew all of this was coming, my wife knew all of this was coming (my kid doesn't really know what's going on yet) and we made the decision to go ahead anyway. It's like Doug has said in the past, the flying part is easy, it's the stuff that goes with it on the ground you have to put up with and get past.

It's a very personal decision on if you should stay in or get out. For me, I'm sorta in fairly deep, so it would take a LOT for me to get out altogether. Now, if PCL started furloughing, then I'd find another job flying somewhere. I'd like to go for a King Air job or something like that to get the TPIC time rather than start at the bottom of another seniority list and try to fight my way back up to upgrade, but I'd probably keep my eyes open for anything that comes along. Getting out and doing something else hasn't even crossed my mind.

[Hacker15e]

I've almost walked away from flying jobs, but never from aviation in general. I'm sure that most pilots have that feeling at some time or another.

For me, it's when the other non-flying aspects of the job start to outweigh the flying aspects of the job. I nearly walked away from the military because I was so fed up with the brap the happens away from the cockpit...but, an assignment away from the tip of the spear helped me bring things back into perspective.

If aviation is in your blood, you'll never walk away completely.

[C150J]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

If aviation is in your blood, you'll never walk away completely.

x2...

I can't emphasize this enough, both from personal experience and those of friends.

J.

[H46Bubba]

I've had to step away for family. Family comes first. I havn't flow in over seven months. When I do return I have to retake the Commarcial written, do a BFR and an instrument proficiency flight. But I don't regret it. I had no other choice.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

\

If aviation is in your blood, you'll never walk away completely.

No way!! I'll never turn in my wings or stop flying. It might be tough in the next few months to find the time to stay in the air, but I'll get back there. I think I'm just going to roll with the flow, see what happens. I might end up in a decent position financially and be able to afford an airplane and give part time instruction in it. That would be pretty awesome.

[bigs]

Hey Airdale,

Came across your post, and have been dealing with the same type of thing for several years now. I went to Pan Am when it still existed at Ft. Pierce, and 9/11 coupled with many broken promises from the management there (the incredible vanishing guaranteed salary CFI job), weeks long waits for stage-checks and checkrides, cost over-runs, and I found myself moving back to Virginia. I had my initial CFI, 260 hours, and a total of $72,948 in debt ($60,000 of it from flight school).

Fast forward 4 1/2 years... I've now got 290 hours, have kept my CFI current through AOPA's FIRC in Northern Virginia every two years, and have paid my debt down to $25,000 through payments every month of $750 plus some additional help from family. I've worked two different sales jobs in the medical field...and am completely MISERABLE professionally. I am making several times what I could make as an instructor, and yet am counting the days until I'm out of debt and can return to aviation.

Flying was the one time in my life when I felt completely fulfilled with what I was doing, and the more time that passes the more I know that it's an absolute necessity for me to find a way to do it for a living. My wife and family is extremely supportive and would love nothing more than for me to find a way to do this. It's just going to take a couple of more years to get into a financial situation where I can afford to take the hit. Fortunately, my wife makes really good money in her profession so eventually we are both committed to pulling this off.

Anyways, sorry to be so long-winded but your post really struck a chord with me. My opinion...I've been making good money for several years and CANNOT WAIT to make the leap to going back to flying...this time, hopefully for good!

...just my two cents...

Bigs

[ChrisH]

You are right. Being a pilot is still a great career. The problem is, most people do not do the research to find out about the initial years of sacrifice, etc. People seem to think you just start out making $300K and working just 10 days.

Originally Posted by kellwolf

I think a lot of the people that find themselves at regionals and hating life either didn't do enough research or just flat out didn't listen to what people who had been there, done that told them. Which is why I really like this site and people like Doug, Don and sometimes even Tenney who tell it like it is.

Let's see, reduced rest overnights where I might get 6 hours of sleep? Check. Weird hotels? Check. Scheduling nightmares? Check. So far, everything I've run into I've been prewarned about so I KNEW it was coming and prepared myself for it. Some of my fellow FOs are shocked and appalled they're not staying at the Crowne Plaza every night and don't have 15 days off a month, and now they're thinking about getting out.

Despite all the bad things, I still wouldn't be doing anything else at this point in time. I knew all of this was coming, my wife knew all of this was coming (my kid doesn't really know what's going on yet) and we made the decision to go ahead anyway. It's like Doug has said in the past, the flying part is easy, it's the stuff that goes with it on the ground you have to put up with and get past.

It's a very personal decision on if you should stay in or get out. For me, I'm sorta in fairly deep, so it would take a LOT for me to get out altogether. Now, if PCL started furloughing, then I'd find another job flying somewhere. I'd like to go for a King Air job or something like that to get the TPIC time rather than start at the bottom of another seniority list and try to fight my way back up to upgrade, but I'd probably keep my eyes open for anything that comes along. Getting out and doing something else hasn't even crossed my mind.

[skydog]

I have walked away twice. The first time because I was offered a job that literally doubled my salary. And it was a chance to try something different. Turns out that the the only thing I like about that job was the money. So I went back. After another 10 years in the business, I walked away again, this time for good. In that 10 years the business had changed, and so had I. I eventually came to realize that, no matter where I worked, what I flew, or how much money I made, I was not going to be happy. So this past summer I quit, and went back to school to get a Masters. I don't miss it at all.

Remember, just because you quit being a professional pilot, doesn't mean you have to give up flying.

[jtrain609]

I've quit once, came back because I didn't really know how to do anything else and I had bills to pay and I'm still doing it. My current job is a good one, so I don't have much to complain about. I give it another few years before I go back to get a masters degree, but I'm hoping I can do it while I'm at this job.

[av8sean]

I've walked away over the last 2 years.. Completed upto my commercial license but don't have alot of desire to live like a homeless vagabond... I've been working for the last 2 years in business (currently work for a very large drug company). I make alot more than the top payscale any regional captain can make, 26yo, travel alot, and unlike some other people, I actually really like my job.

In a few years, when I have a really solid bank account, I will probably go back to flying and get a job at an airline. But I have no expectations of earning a living off this industry, and at least I know if I ever get furloughed, I won't be SOL because I can easily get a good job back in the real world.

[flyguy969]

There were times as a student when I got VERY frustrated with flying. Luckily my girlfriend helped me out when I needed the help. Flying is something that can make one want to pack it in sometime. It is time consuming, expensive, and there are delays. But for me the rewards really do out weigh the problems. It’s always cool to hear other people's point of view when it comes to question like this but ultimately what’s in your heart and mind is the most important thing. Also, if you need a break I don't think taking one is really that bad to do!! Good luck brother!!