What would you do?

quickturn · Post by **quickturn** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:00 pm

I'd really like to get some opinions from people who have "been there" (so to speak).

Here's my current situation:

Finished flight training a while back and moved away from home to get a job on the ramp with a successful operator that is known for taking people off the ramp and putting them into a right seat twin turbine job. Of course, it seemed like a great idea at the time. I've been working the ramp for some time now, and was hoping to be flying soon. However, it looks like it will be considerably longer than expected (however it is impossible to predict when exactly).

I realized when I took the job that I would be leaving my friends, family, and my life to take a minimum wage job. I also realized it would be a gamble. No one said it would be easy, and I take complete responsiblity for my decision.

I now find myself questioning what is best. I've obviously put a lot of time and effort (and money) into moving, working the ramp, etc, etc. The carrot doesn't seem to be getting any closer (although it will eventually come), and I miss my friends and family incredibly. I'd hate to lose the investment I've made so far, but frankly, I'm miserable.
I have few friends here, I'm broke and in heavy debt, I hate my job, my pilot ratings are lapsed, and all I want to do is fly.
So what should I do? Go home and try to find something there? Try and survive on the ramp even longer?
Am I missing other opportunities by being here?
Instructing is an option.
All I want is what is best for my career, and my sanity. My decision also has to be econimcally feasible. Since things seem to be slowing down at work, am I wasting time being here? Should I cut my losses and move on?

Friends and family don't understand the circumstances. So, I bring it to you! What would you do?

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:12 pm

If you find yourself missing family and friends you are in the wrong business. I've been working in shithole after shithole for years. This industry breaks apart families and ends friendships. That's just a fact. I don't even get to go home for Christmas. Either because i'm working on Christmas Eve and then again on Boxing day or because I don't have the money to fly home and then back again. If you want to fly you may have to say goodbye to your friends and family and make due with other down on there luck pilots and rampies. Me and my work buddies have found the answers to alot of the worlds problems in the bottom of a bottle together.

Dash7nomad · Post by **Dash7nomad** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:02 pm

Hey,
It wasn't too long ago I worked the ramp. It seemed long at the time but the twin turbine job did come. This progressed to a corporate job in my hometown. then a job enabled me to see most of the world. Actually I was hired for the ramp less than 10 years ago. Hang in there before you choose the instructing option-you don't want to regret anything this early on.

punk · Post by **punk** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:06 pm

yes...the old bottom of the bottle to battle life's ills...young lad, I appreciate you are struggling and looking for answers & all I can say is what's in your heart? What is your biggest priority? What are the pro's & con's of staying or going home & say doing an instructor rating? Ask yourself some of these questions & your answer will come...good luck!

armani · Post by **armani** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 5:15 pm

How old are you? I suspect you are quite a young guy. In my opinion just get yourself together and continue. As you know you will fly - one day. But what you can do, just set up the time frame for yourself and try to save some money. If nothing happens during this period, then move on.

angry inch · Post by **angry inch** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:10 pm

There's always the "Bush"...
Find yourself a job workin' a dock job at a float operator this summer. The time is right, you could save a few bucks & pay some bills and maybe get checked out on a floater...

buck82 · Post by **buck82** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:56 pm

Yeah just hang in there a little longer.. maybe get checked out on a float plane.

Sure it sounds great, but i hate it break it to ya.. your still going to need at least another 200hrs in a float plane before they'll start paying you to do it, and if they do, it'll be a mere 2g's/month. The bush is not a realistic way to be a career pilot. At the end of the day/year, at some point you'll still be wanting to jump into a multi IFR machine. Why not just start there in the first place.

Find something to give you some PIC time and then jump in co-joe. That would be my advice.

duplicate2 · Post by **duplicate2** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 1:55 am

quickturn wrote:Instructing is an option.

You better be sure before you decide to do this. It's another $6-8000 and you don't sound too keen on it which makes for an unhappy/bad instructor.

quickturn · Post by **quickturn** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:32 am

Thanks for the responses.
Yes, I'm young. Also, I have already completed an instructor rating, and I think I am keen on instructing. The only reason I ended up deciding to pursue "the ramp" over instructing was because I felt it would take me to my dream-flying-job quicker.
And now I'm just a confused ramp rat who doesn't know what to do with his life.

U/S · Post by **U/S** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 10:55 am

You have already invested so much into this job in terms of time, effort, sacrifice etc... If I were you I'd stick with it to see the pay off otherwise you put yourself through all that for nothing. This business changes so fast and so frequently it may look loke you'll be on the ramp a while today but tomorrow you'll be on course for your twin turbine, which when it happens will renew your ratings and set you on fire for the job you love to do. Things will improve for you but unfortunately it'll take time. Ney 2 cents, good luck!

altiplano · Post by **altiplano** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:06 pm

overrun · Post by **overrun** » Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:55 pm

The ramp sucks to start but if the company is very busy you can have a decent resume with over a 1000 hours multi-turbine in a year. It might not get you into AC in a year but you do become valuable to small companies where many of us work. As was said previously this industry is hard on family but don't give up if flying is what you want to do. Eventually you can make some money and have a decent schedule.

DHQ · Post by **DHQ** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:32 am

phillyfan wrote:If you find yourself missing family and friends you are in the wrong business. I've been working in shithole after shithole for years. This industry breaks apart families and ends friendships. That's just a fact. I don't even get to go home for Christmas. Either because i'm working on Christmas Eve and then again on Boxing day or because I don't have the money to fly home and then back again. If you want to fly you may have to say goodbye to your friends and family and make due with other down on there luck pilots and rampies. Me and my work buddies have found the answers to alot of the worlds problems in the bottom of a bottle together.

haha... That's a pretty bitter outlook on things. I'm quite certain you can be in the business of aviation and have friends and family. I'm sure it's hard on the family in some situations, but have you ever had a drama queen friend who's like, "oh you're moving away, we can't be friends anymore!"

If you hate where you're working/living so much, then move.

Cheers.

Switchfoot · Post by **Switchfoot** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 11:33 am

quickturn wrote:I'd really like to get some opinions from people who have "been there" (so to speak).

Here's my current situation:
I'm miserable.
I have few friends here, I'm broke and in heavy debt, I hate my job, my pilot ratings are lapsed, and all I want to do is fly.
So what should I do? Go home and try to find something there? Try and survive on the ramp even longer?
Am I missing other opportunities by being here?
Instructing is an option. So, I bring it to you! What would you do?

If you want to fly, then why are you working on the ramp? I understand that when you're starting out, most people will do just about anything to get hired, but you trained to FLY not to WORK ON THE RAMP. So get your butt out of there, go get an instructor rating or float rating and get on the road and find a job flying. There is a lot happening in the industry right now; from WJ to AC to JAZZ and everything in between (including other parts of the industry).

Get into an airplane and get some PIC. That will help. Don't worry about the debt part; we all have some....

There is no reason to work the ramp. It's making you unhappy and not helping you get to where you really want to be.

Clear skies and good luck!

Switchfoot.

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