What Keeps You Going

Chaffey · Post by **Chaffey** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:03 pm

Lately, I have been frustrated and keep wondering if aviation is right for me. I talked to some people and "duh" of course aviation is right for me. But what I want to know, is if people begin to loose their faith in aviation, what keeps them going. What makes a person a pilot, other than the training. Why do you want to be a pilot. For such a hard job to get into, why do people stick with it, instead of trying a different profession.

N2 · Post by N2 » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:09 pm

My excuse is brain damage!

Go Guns · Post by **Go Guns** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:14 pm

Lack of qualifications to do anything else
Lack of desire to do anything else
The view from my office window rocks
It's just such a damn cool job
It's allowed me to meet some of the coolest people
It's allowed me to stare in awe at places that I wouldn't even had thought to go

I could sit here all night and do this probably....

737 Mech · Post by **737 Mech** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:24 pm

I could fix farm equipment for the same money, but who wants to tell people they fix shit spreaders. Anyway I don't do it for the glory... hmmmm or do I? I guess maybe I do but I think it is just a pride thing and being proud of telling people what you do for a living. I do make more cash or at least the same as all my friends do and I get to travel for peanuts.

I get instant respect from people when they find out what I do...it's a good feeling.

Out of Control · Post by **Out of Control** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:25 pm

Chicks dig pilots. In some places

marktheone · Post by **marktheone** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:41 pm

damned if I know.

stuckmike · Post by **stuckmike** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:41 pm

I get instant respect from people when they find out what I do...it's a good feeling.

Yeah, me too.....until I tell them what I make, how much I paid to get here, the shithole town I'm working out of, and how many relationships I've seen come and go.

Fact is............ we are nuts. It isn't about the buck, glory or what other people perceive I am when they find out I'm a pilot. I try to keep it quiet. "Truck driver " I say.

For me.....it's the little shot of adrenaline...every T/O and Landing....every hiccup in the engine.....every day where ther's a little more weather than I'd like...

It's not the thinking man's gig...that's for sure.

It's just everything else feels...so....pedestrian.

my 2 cents

cheers

737 Mech · Post by **737 Mech** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:44 pm

stuckmike wrote:
I get instant respect from people when they find out what I do...it's a good feeling.
Yeah, me too.....until I tell them what I make, how much I paid to get here, the shithole town I'm working out of, and how many relationships I've seen come and go.

Fact is............ we are nuts. It isn't about the buck, glory or what other people perceive I am when they find out I'm a pilot. I try to keep it quiet. "Truck driver " I say.

For me.....it's the little shot of adrenaline...every T/O and Landing....every hiccup in the engine.....every day where ther's a little more weather than I'd like...

It's not the thinking man's gig...that's for sure.

It's just everything else feels...so....pedestrian.

my 2 cents

cheers

What I make never really comes up so just don't say.......but on the other hand I am in alot better shape than my friends that went to University

CB · Post by CB » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:48 pm

Personally, it was being able to travel, not sitting in an office 9-5 5 days a week, seeing what my country looks like from the air.

By all means its not easy and I was in your shoes when I lost lots of money with a flight school when bankrupt. I am up to my eye balls in debt, but I have meet so many great people including my boyfriend. He flys helicopters and now thats the way I want to go in a few years.

Hope you can find your drive again to fly. Its hard, but its all worth it when you are able to do that first flight where you are being paid and not you paying for it.

Dream Big
CB

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:52 pm

Redbull and Vodka

shimmydampner · Post by **shimmydampner** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:15 pm

I prefer it with Jager, but either works.

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:22 pm

In Cat's case.... Viagra!!!

pianodude · Post by **pianodude** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:25 am

i finally gave up after being poverty stricken for eight years and kept asking myself why am i doing this to myself? now my atpl just sits on the nightstand gathering dust

seriously though, life goes on. it never leaves you(i'm on this site three times a day!) there are many other opportunities after flying, but it was about ten years before i could say that it was really out of my system

bater · Post by **bater** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:33 am

'Cause I can't dance and I'm not handsome enough to be in movies!

laticsdave · Post by **laticsdave** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:23 am

The fact that having worked for 11 years in a bank in England (Halifax Plc), there's no way I could ever face going back to an earth-bound job.
However, if Iron Maiden want a 4th guitarist.....

, I'm there!!!!!!!!!!!

Northern Skies · Post by **Northern Skies** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:13 am

One day I asked myself this question, so I looked on workopolis and monster to see if there was actually anything else I would enjoy. The fruitless search lasted about 6 hours, and was extremely frustrating. I doubt I could ever leave the career that I have had my mind wrapped around since I was 4 years old. Anything else would be "just a job".

The only thing I could think of is to take a job in one of my hobbies, so I don't think I would mind being a fishing/hunting/wilderness/whitewater guide, or maybe a machinist. But only if I could afford my own plane for fun.

Cheers!

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:17 am

The groupies, of course.

"I spent most of my money on women and airplanes. The rest I wasted."

CAL · Post by **CAL** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:21 am

For any of you out there that think flying isnt for you and you are currently flying or involved with aviation, whatever you do, dont ever come back into an office, the money effect runs out quickly.

I gave up a good flying job, and I will regret it for the rest of my life. Only positive thing that came out of it was my wife and knowing that I if I ever get back in an airplane I will never ever leave it.

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:29 am

In my case, I was dropped on my head when I was a youngster.

W5 · Post by W5 » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:41 am

Too lazy to work, and too honest to steal!

Chaffey · Post by **Chaffey** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:28 pm

I also spent all this money into training, why waste it?

hazatude · Post by **hazatude** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:41 pm

60 years of Peninsulair.

I really respect that and I work hard towards the next 60.

Dog · Post by **Dog** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:45 pm

I have one foot out the door. I'm half way to being a paramedic. I might still fly the summer seasons if the money is right but I want to be home and see my kids grow up.

I love flying. I've know I wanted to be a pilot since I was six. It's too bad the conditions are so below par.

SkyWolfe · Post by **SkyWolfe** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:44 am

My head wount let me do anything else.

No matter what I do with myself - all I can think about is being back in the air- it's been this way since I can even remember.

So I better just stick with it or I will go crazy.

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:32 am

. wrote:Redbull and Vodka

Not good for the heart.