upnatem wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2018 8:12 am
Go to the airport and look at the parking lots. First where the ATC folks park and then where the pilots park - a big part of your question will be answered.
BAHAHA!! Funny... when I was wrapping up my MEI, I remember looking across the parking lot at the tower thinking: “there’s gold in them thur hillz!”
Truthfully, to the original point, I do not think income is a determining factor in answering a question as abstract as the subject line. HOWEVER, I would submit to anyone that lifestyle is a determining factor for many people.
I worked a mid last night, but had the luxury of being home before and after my shift. Certainly, weighed against a career as a pilot, that is a huge perk for me!
As far as work/life balance goes, it is a choose your own adventure novel to some extent- work lots, or work your bare minimum of days if that’s your thing.
I would, therefore, call it a career. Some may consider it a job, but you can see and feel the difference and immediately see “who’s who in the zoo”, in my opinion.
I’m not sure what the motivations of this post are, but I suspect a good review of priorities is in order. There is much to consider about a career with Nav Canada (I suspect you’re external, because the answers are common internally...), and thinking about AFTER that career is a little self limiting in scope and in my view, a work ethic question. Yes, people have multiple careers, but consistently chasing careers, particularly AFTER one that hasn’t been had already is questionable.
Assuming you gave good work ethic and are simply trying to analyze work potential later in life- that’s too loaded of a question in a world of technology.
If you are internal or somehow related, well, without a doubt people have moved to other career opportunities. Transportation Safety Boards, Flight dispatching, Airfield Operations, self-employment, etc... essentially, your question has too many variables to be able to answer you clearly.