10 years of flying

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:49 am

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I took my first flight.
10 years since I signed my life away by walking into The Career Academy School of Aviation and handed them my student loan money.

What a ride it’s been!!!

I think I’ve moved 12 times, driven the country 5 times, had 8 jobs, lost touch with more than a few friends/family not to mention relationships.
I’ve owned 4 cars, 2 years of below poverty paychecks, collected 1 welfare check, but somehow never went hungry.

I’ve met some really cool people, flown to some interesting places and as some I’d care to forget.
I’ve seen baby’s born and people die in the back. Watched more spectacular sunrises/sunsets over more parts of the world then I thought I’ve ever see. Extreme cold and heat, extreme storms, types of weather most would watch with wonder on the weather channel.

The elation of my first solo, the childlike joy of playing in a cloud.
The satisfaction of my first job, and the utter shame and disappointment of my first (and hopefully only) accident.

Ten years of flying, wow does time fly when you’re having fun!!!!

Cheers.

abc xyz · Post by **abc xyz** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:59 am

Good stuff- its my 10th year come November. Its amazing how time flies when your having fun. Heres to continued success

water wings · Post by **water wings** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:08 am

jebus... you got me thinking...

good times.
glad to see i'm not the olny one still having fun out here, despite having a MB health card, AB licence, SK plates and an ON address and not much in the bank...
losses and gains have been too numerous to mention, but with each loss comes a gain - eventually.

fly safe, ww

Techopsgirl · Post by **Techopsgirl** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:40 am

I remember the days of the "career academy", the staff at the airport having to answer the phone "it's a great day at the academy".
It's been 10 years for me as well, but gave up on the dream of flying years ago. The money is better at the other end of the business and I get to sleep in my own bed everyday.
Glad to hear that some people are getting ahead in the industry and are enjoying themselves.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:03 am

Wow - make me feel old, or what?

P.S. Our #4 pilot starting flying in 1947 (58 years) and he's got a current ATPL & ICAS card for solo & formation.

pitot · Post by **pitot** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:04 am

Ive been in the industry for 6 years and it took me 5 of those years to make more money than the job i left for flying. I was making 23000 a year in 99. That tells you the poverty run ive had.

just curious · Post by **just curious** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:09 am

Ten years ago today, I flew to Tuk. Again.

low n over · Post by **low n over** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:09 am

wow. It'll be 10 years next summer that i first strapped on an air cadet glider in Debert. Been all over hells half acre ever since attaining my comm in Greenwood with a bunch of scammed CASA students in 98. great intro for a aviation career. Never been so hungry as when i flew for dynamic, nice and thin too. Glad to be where i am now, a steady decent deposit of cash every two weeks for doing what I consider to be getting my fix. It truely is a disease, i didnt know i had when i was 16 and driving 5 hours every weekend [spring/fall] just to get 10 minutes of glider flying.

cheers.

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:39 am

Hey JC, ever consider that you might be in a bit of a rut? Maybe a change might be in order? Seriously,

Tubthumper · Post by **Tubthumper** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 11:55 am

10 years last August for me. You know you still enjoy flying when you can be at the hold line, waiting for another aircraft to land or take off in front of you and you watch that aircraft in amazingment like you're some 8 year old kid wondering '... I wonder what it's like to be in that airplane". Not many jobs are the subject of a kids fascination, let alone now doing what I wanted to do as kid. I'll never forget my 8th birthday: I got 10 presents and EVERY one of them was an airplane. How many kids grow up thinking "I wanna be a lawyer when I grow up" ...?

Not many offices have views like ours, do they? Despite the BS we sometimes put up with, I have no regrets about getting into this industry. Other professions that you may have to fork out 30 or 60Ks for an education to get a good job may have a higher pay cheque, but as the saying goes:

"The grass may be greener on the other side of the fence, but you can bet the water bill is a LOT higher!"

I like where I am.

SplitS · Post by **SplitS** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:49 pm

10 years Aug 25th.. Jeez, too busy too notice!!!

C-FOXY · Post by **C-FOXY** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:04 pm

10 years for me too....what a ride!!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:17 pm

Jeeses I am trying to remember where I was ten years ago, I think I checked Duke Elegant out in the C117 around this time of year then went over to Africa.

But man oh man as close as I can figure I've flown in over forty counrties in the past ten years.

The best rush I've had though was on Sept 02/05 flying the Cat between the 350 foot high bridge pillar and the thirty story building in downtown Rotterdam, yup that was the highlight of the past ten years for me alright....

Then there was the forty two years of flying before that....

Cat

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:26 pm

June 28, 1959, Cessna 140 CF - HJM, instructor Jack Clake, Regina airport. early evening, off runway 30.
That was the first hour of what has become around 24,000.
Jack is dead now, heard he died of old age.
Runway 30 is now Runway 31.
CF HJM is still on the civil aircraft registry and I still depart every evening out of Regina.
Only this time in a Metro going back to wife and family in Calgary, a family raised on wages earned as a professional pilot.
I only wish I could put in words the sights and sounds of years of flying as well as KAG did.
It's been one hell of a ride and I am now looking forward to my very first old age pension which kicks in end of September.
Does that make me a double dipper?.

sprucemonkey · Post by **sprucemonkey** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 2:43 pm

I don't recall when my fam flight was but i got my MIFR on June 24/97,my daughters second birthday. I hope she doesn't hate me for it. I've moved 8 times since and they've moved 5 times for my career. What a ride it has been.

split s · Post by **split s** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 3:00 pm

Water Wings--- I like the way you put that, nearly choked on my Kraft Dinner!

DFione1 · Post by **DFione1** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:41 pm

Guys, just after a very hard breakup with my gf, very recently, b/c she didn't want to move with me everywhere. Your above posts gives me some light at the end of the tunnel. The past few days I've been pondering the idea of giving up my multi-turbine f/o job for a girl. The more good posts I read about flying, gives me more hope to stay in this industry. Thanks guys

shankdown · Post by **shankdown** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:54 pm

Don't give up, DFione1. I got canned 8 months ago by a girl for the same reason. We're both part of the statistic! We're members of an elite club of pilots who are probably enjoying their jobs far more than they'd be enjoying those women. Did you fall in love with her or flying first? Probably flying. Stick with it. She'll be back after you in no time. Remember what Jimmy Buffet says: "The best revenge is living well." You'll be flying a Forty-Seven outta San Fransisco in no time, and coming home to a tall, slim blonde with fake funbags! In the unlikely event that you want her then, take her... But you won't

Shizzledank

... · Post by **...** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:12 pm

Jobs come and go. Companies rise and fall.

One thing that has never changed...and thats people.

This is one of the better threads on here in a long time.
I hope everyone contributes to it.

Wind Ryder · Post by **Wind Ryder** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:26 pm

10 years ago, back to Jean Marie River and Trout Lake again. 17 years in and still its a hell of alot of fun.

PT6-114A · Post by **PT6-114A** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:06 pm

first flight was Oct. 20 1993 First Solo in Nov. 04 1993

Hay wind Ryder I started out flying to those same places.

planett · Post by **planett** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:10 pm

Ten years being paid last May. Twelve years since my familiarization in YAW come October.

Vote For Pedro

punk · Post by **punk** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:24 pm

7 years on Sept. 11...what a trip...thanks king air guy

desksgo · Post by **desksgo** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:43 pm

I am Birddog wrote:One thing that has never changed...and thats people.

You are so very correct...it's all about people.

10 years in aviation, last 7 have been spent away from my family and people that I love. My family has been through illness, death, births, weddings, funerals, victory, despair, tears, laughter, and all of the associated life changes while I was off trying to make an airplane driver of myself. All because I made a silly choice when I was 15, funny ol' world ain't it?

Ever find it weird to visit family members that you are so close to, and find they are 5 years older than you remember them to be? That's deskgoes fault though, he needs to manage things a little bit better, but he gets so rapped up in this aviation stuff sometimes.

Sometimes it's a great business, other times, I wake up and feel like the most selfish waste of human flesh on this good planet.

There are two sides to every story, don't forget that side.

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:49 pm

The people are the most important part of aviation. From the lowly ramp guy to the 777 Capt. People make or break our industry.

People
Pilots
Planes

My three Ps of aviation ground service.