Noobie says hello

[nsktrombone84]

Hey guys --

My name is Nate and I've been hovering around these boards for quite some time. You all seemed like a friendly bunch, so I figured I'd join in.

I'm currently a professional trombonist/composer in Las Vegas. I have 2 bachelor's degrees in music from UNLV, and have basically done nothing but music my whole life. I've always had an interest in piloting, but I never took it much further than daydreaming.

Now that I have experienced the gloomy world of professional music (playing the same music day in day out in smoky lounges for unappreciative crowds) I have decided to pursue other career options. Music, unfortunately, is a career with infinite supply and very little demand -- a cruel industry full of politics, backstabbing, betrayal, humiliation, and embarrassment. There's a bad side, too, but we won't get into that. Since piloting had always been an interest, I did some research and finally decided to take a test flight. I took it last Monday, and though it was a very simple and short flight, I loved it! It was an incredible experience and all I can think about is the next time I go up. I want to head back and earn my private pilot to see if the passion is great enough to pursue a career or if it is simply a momentary interest.

I realize that websites and books can only expose me to so much about the "real world" of piloting airplanes. Therefore, I joined these forums to gain some insight into the day in the life of a pilot. I look forward to getting to know you all and picking your brains a bit as I immerse myself in this exciting field. If any of you would be so kind as to share your stories of how you made the big decision to pilot, I would love to hear it.

[Doug Taylor]

Welcome!

Make sure you say "Howdy" to SeanD who is another musician in LAS and certainly plan on coming to NetworkJC this October in LAS too!

If you've got questions, we probably have answers! Ask away!

[nsktrombone84]

Well, I guess I'll fire off a few. Questions, that is.

1. Does the career of piloting leave room for anything else in life? i.e. marriage, writing music, etc...?

2. Is this a good time to be considering a career in piloting? I've read so many mixed responses on the subject that it's hard to know what the truth is. Many schools I've called say that this is the best time to get started. However, some pilots seem to complain about how airlines are lowering salaries and so forth.

3. Speaking of salaries, what can the average major airline pilot expect to earn, truthfully? I understand that most people would be in it for the love of aviation, and I also recognize that like any career there will be some years in the woodshed before one can expect to make big numbers. But what can someone expect to earn in the long run?

4. What would be the best way to go about this? I've spoken with several flight schools in town, and the one in which I took a test flight seems as reputable as any other. Is there a systematic approach to going from beginner to pro?

5. Overall, what words of wisdom can you offer to a beginner contemplating a career in piloting in this day and age?

Thank you all for any input you can provide. This would be a major decision in my life, and I just want to make sure I'm examining all angles before I sign on to anything.

[nsktrombone84]

Thank you, SIUav8er -- your post has been noted for subtlety. In light of this, I'll amend my previous post by saying that if any of you read this and are sick and tired of answering the same newbie questions, then I would appreciate greatly if you could at least answer the last one for me. I think it's subjective enough to be worth answering. Possibly.

I know this "hello world" thread doesn't necessarily contribute anything in the traditional sense, so I'll just post a hilarious comic below for everyone's amusement.