Newbie intro

jet-dreams · February 13th, 2008, 05:47

Okay, I have decided that I better get a formal introduction out of the way so I can start posting on the forum.

I am like most of you in that I have a love affair with flight its something I haven’t been able to shake since being about 7 years old and living under the flight path of a local city airport. I always new I wanted to be a pilot when I grew up. Well, let’s jump forward 28 years into the future. Like so many my dream of being an airline pilot was never realized my family didn’t have the money to get me into flight training nor did I have a clue how to go about it. Anyway at the age of 27 I finally decided to pursue part of the dream and get my private ticket. Once that hurdle was knocked down I didn’t know what to do next as my wife (now ex) didn’t want me to pursue a career in aviation.

Well some time has passed I got rid of the wife and kept the job, I'm making really good money but have no satisfaction or feeling of accomplishment. So here I am today with significant other (who supports my dream) 5 kids counting the 3 furry little ones and getting ready to jump back into the cockpit and achieve my dream. I've been reading all the post for the last couple of weeks and it seems to be mostly 2 groups of pilots out there, the ones still new to the career who love it then the ones that are a few years in and hating it. So where are the pilots that have had their wings for awhile and still enjoy the profession? I realize that the regionals pay worse than working fast food or donating plasma but come on there has to be something said for doing what you love. Does the money stay horrible for long? I plan to pay some things off to make the transition a little easier however I don’t want to be eating ramen noodles forever. hopefully I can afford them.

I hope that helps get to know me a little and perhaps some of you can shed some hopeful light on the career. I realize that there will be monetary sacrifices in the beginning hopefully eventually dwindling away. I will have the satisfaction of doing something I love and a smile on my face when I tell someone I’m an airline pilot.

Erick

Pietrantonio · February 13th, 2008, 09:28

Welcome.

Sounds like you have known what you wanted to do for a long time, and it's great to know that you're going to pursue it.

I'm not an airline pilot, but I'm working on my ratings. The only advice I have to recommend, is that you can't be in this profession for the money. You are already aware of the payscales, and it's something that you are going to have to accept. In my honest opinion, money isn't going to buy happiness. How many people make 80K working within 4 walls, and aren't happy to wake up everyday to go to their job? Quite a few. One of my favorite quotes..."If you do what you love, you'll never have to work another day in your life."

Anyways, don't let the money issues discourage you. I like the fact you said you wanted to pay off things to make the transition easier. Thats a smart move. The rest is just living a little below your means, save what you can, and just continue to be the best you can. Everyone starts out the same way, but your attitude about aviation (whether you're making 18K or 100K a year) is what determines who goes where.

I enjoyed reading your intro, and it seems you know what you want. Just go out and get it. Don't let people stand in the way or try to convience you that a profession in aviation is wrong. If you love it, that's all that matters. Good luck with your training, and be sure to post. There's lots of info here that will be of help, and don't be afraid to ask questions, etc.

moxiepilot · February 13th, 2008, 10:38

ZachH · February 13th, 2008, 13:46

Welcome and hope to hear some great post from you.

meyers9163 · February 13th, 2008, 14:13

Welcome aboard! haha I'll let some more senior guys respond back to the post... I have some thoughts but am fresh to the 121 world still...

jet-dreams · February 13th, 2008, 15:03

ZachH,

I love the quote you have:

If guns kill people I can blame misspelled words on my pencil - Larry the Cable Guy

I am going to file that away in my memory storage device for later reference.

Number1atNumber2 · February 14th, 2008, 00:13

Hello ladies and gents, it's way past time I intro'ed myself here, I'm Steve and I've loved flying for a long time and started in 2001. I did most of my training after my private in Vero Beach at FSA, good training, but I'm not sure if the extra cash was worth it.. I let you know when the jury comes in on that... I flight instructed in Pensacola, since then I've been in the 135 world doing freight in Denver, then most recently charter/air ambulance also in Denver at KAPA.

coa787 · February 14th, 2008, 01:38

Welcome Number1atNumber2 and jet-dreams!

ZachH · February 14th, 2008, 01:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by jet-dreams

ZachH,

I love the quote you have:

If guns kill people I can blame misspelled words on my pencil - Larry the Cable Guy

I am going to file that away in my memory storage device for later reference.

Haha, I have not used it yet... Maybe soon.

jet-dreams · February 14th, 2008, 02:13

Thanks everyone who responded I look forward to being a member of this forum while I continue training.

Erick

February 13th, 2008, 05:47	#1
jet-dreams Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah KOGD Posts: 68	Newbie intro Okay, I have decided that I better get a formal introduction out of the way so I can start posting on the forum. I am like most of you in that I have a love affair with flight its something I haven’t been able to shake since being about 7 years old and living under the flight path of a local city airport. I always new I wanted to be a pilot when I grew up. Well, let’s jump forward 28 years into the future. Like so many my dream of being an airline pilot was never realized my family didn’t have the money to get me into flight training nor did I have a clue how to go about it. Anyway at the age of 27 I finally decided to pursue part of the dream and get my private ticket. Once that hurdle was knocked down I didn’t know what to do next as my wife (now ex) didn’t want me to pursue a career in aviation. Well some time has passed I got rid of the wife and kept the job, I'm making really good money but have no satisfaction or feeling of accomplishment. So here I am today with significant other (who supports my dream) 5 kids counting the 3 furry little ones and getting ready to jump back into the cockpit and achieve my dream. I've been reading all the post for the last couple of weeks and it seems to be mostly 2 groups of pilots out there, the ones still new to the career who love it then the ones that are a few years in and hating it. So where are the pilots that have had their wings for awhile and still enjoy the profession? I realize that the regionals pay worse than working fast food or donating plasma but come on there has to be something said for doing what you love. Does the money stay horrible for long? I plan to pay some things off to make the transition a little easier however I don’t want to be eating ramen noodles forever. hopefully I can afford them. I hope that helps get to know me a little and perhaps some of you can shed some hopeful light on the career. I realize that there will be monetary sacrifices in the beginning hopefully eventually dwindling away. I will have the satisfaction of doing something I love and a smile on my face when I tell someone I’m an airline pilot. Erick

February 13th, 2008, 09:28	#2
Pietrantonio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 425	Re: Newbie intro Welcome. Sounds like you have known what you wanted to do for a long time, and it's great to know that you're going to pursue it. I'm not an airline pilot, but I'm working on my ratings. The only advice I have to recommend, is that you can't be in this profession for the money. You are already aware of the payscales, and it's something that you are going to have to accept. In my honest opinion, money isn't going to buy happiness. How many people make 80K working within 4 walls, and aren't happy to wake up everyday to go to their job? Quite a few. One of my favorite quotes..."If you do what you love, you'll never have to work another day in your life." Anyways, don't let the money issues discourage you. I like the fact you said you wanted to pay off things to make the transition easier. Thats a smart move. The rest is just living a little below your means, save what you can, and just continue to be the best you can. Everyone starts out the same way, but your attitude about aviation (whether you're making 18K or 100K a year) is what determines who goes where. I enjoyed reading your intro, and it seems you know what you want. Just go out and get it. Don't let people stand in the way or try to convience you that a profession in aviation is wrong. If you love it, that's all that matters. Good luck with your training, and be sure to post. There's lots of info here that will be of help, and don't be afraid to ask questions, etc. __________________ "The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goals! The tragedy lies in having no goals to reach." http://abovethehorizon-tlp.blogspot.com/

February 13th, 2008, 10:38	#3
moxiepilot Old Skool Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: CFI / CFII in PA Posts: 2,566	Re: Newbie intro

February 13th, 2008, 13:46	#4
ZachH Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville Posts: 279	Re: Newbie intro Welcome and hope to hear some great post from you. __________________ If guns kill people I can blame misspelled words on my pencil - Larry the Cable Guy.

February 13th, 2008, 14:13	#5
meyers9163 Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,933	Re: Newbie intro Welcome aboard! haha I'll let some more senior guys respond back to the post... I have some thoughts but am fresh to the 121 world still...

February 13th, 2008, 15:03	#6
jet-dreams Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah KOGD Posts: 68	Re: Newbie intro ZachH, I love the quote you have: If guns kill people I can blame misspelled words on my pencil - Larry the Cable Guy I am going to file that away in my memory storage device for later reference.

February 14th, 2008, 00:13	#7
Number1atNumber2 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 312 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Newbie intro Hello ladies and gents, it's way past time I intro'ed myself here, I'm Steve and I've loved flying for a long time and started in 2001. I did most of my training after my private in Vero Beach at FSA, good training, but I'm not sure if the extra cash was worth it.. I let you know when the jury comes in on that... I flight instructed in Pensacola, since then I've been in the 135 world doing freight in Denver, then most recently charter/air ambulance also in Denver at KAPA. __________________ Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue. Realize the strength and move on - Henry Rollins You can succeed or you can learn. CFI, CFII, ATP, Lear 25, 35, 55 SIC.

February 14th, 2008, 01:38	#8
coa787 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,030	Re: Newbie intro Welcome Number1atNumber2 and jet-dreams!

February 14th, 2008, 02:13	#10
jet-dreams Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah KOGD Posts: 68	Re: Newbie intro Thanks everyone who responded I look forward to being a member of this forum while I continue training. Erick

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