We hear often of the price we pilots (M&F) pay to be in this industry.
AIDS (Aviation-Induced Divorce Syndrome) is a biggy but not necessarily the most gut-wrenching.
Can you share what your biggest sacrifice was?
aviation sacrifices
Moderators: North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, I WAS Birddog
-
snaproll20
- Rank 7
- Posts: 636
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 7:50 pm
-
Golden Flyer
- Rank 7
- Posts: 550
- Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:46 pm
Re: aviation sacrifices
lmao..... NICEEEEsnaproll20 wrote:AIDS (Aviation-Induced Divorce Syndrome)
"Aviation is proof that given, the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible"
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker
All Pilots & Prospective Pilots Should Have Read:
http://walter.freefuelforever.com
Walter Gilles
Emirates: B-777
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker
All Pilots & Prospective Pilots Should Have Read:
http://walter.freefuelforever.com
Walter Gilles
Emirates: B-777
In the past number of years, I've moved across the country many times for better flying jobs. Three of those times, no, four times I've moved away from women with long-term potential.
Now, I'm not going to get into any of the details but let me tell ya, it sucked - every single time.
At the time, they were sacrifices. After living those jobs, and knowing how the relationships turned out, I can quite easily say they were my biggest sacrifices to this industry.
To this day, I am still uncertain if it was a case of chasing the career, not ready to settle down, not the right women for me, or if I honestly believed though the relationships could/would survive the moves.
Whichever the case, it has helped redefine what is important to me. As I've mentioned before, everyone is different. To me, it's just a job, not who I am. A strong, healthy personal life is far more important to my happiness.
You always have choices.
Now, I'm not going to get into any of the details but let me tell ya, it sucked - every single time.
At the time, they were sacrifices. After living those jobs, and knowing how the relationships turned out, I can quite easily say they were my biggest sacrifices to this industry.
To this day, I am still uncertain if it was a case of chasing the career, not ready to settle down, not the right women for me, or if I honestly believed though the relationships could/would survive the moves.
Whichever the case, it has helped redefine what is important to me. As I've mentioned before, everyone is different. To me, it's just a job, not who I am. A strong, healthy personal life is far more important to my happiness.
You always have choices.
Yep leaving behind people I care about like family and friends. This is the second year in a row that I am going to miss christmas at home with the family. Last year wasn't easy due to the fact that my long term relationship with a woman ended a week before chritmas due to living in a small northern town for the career.
I have only been in the industry a short time compared to some on the board, but I do see the pattern so far, and I am sure it will continue.
I have only been in the industry a short time compared to some on the board, but I do see the pattern so far, and I am sure it will continue.
following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been.
Sacrifices are never ending in this job. The missed b-day, anniversary, school concert etc, etc will continue until the day you retire. "Oh Honey, I got called in to work on my day off, again" Sound familiar?
There are some fantastic spouses out there (mine included) that are willing to accept the sacrifices we make in a desperate attempt to succeed. I'm not there yet but I don't suspect much will change when I take the plunge at AC or WJ.
There are some fantastic spouses out there (mine included) that are willing to accept the sacrifices we make in a desperate attempt to succeed. I'm not there yet but I don't suspect much will change when I take the plunge at AC or WJ.
Being out of work for nearly a year due to a layoff.
The financial stress and having to work 2 jobs to survive nearly did cause a divorce. We ended up with 2 better paying jobs, but it will be a little while longer before we get out of the financial hole the layoff caused.
The financial stress and having to work 2 jobs to survive nearly did cause a divorce. We ended up with 2 better paying jobs, but it will be a little while longer before we get out of the financial hole the layoff caused.
Being out of work for nearly a year due to a layoff.
The financial stress and having to work 2 jobs to survive nearly did cause a divorce. We ended up with 2 better paying jobs, but it will be a little while longer before we get out of the financial hole the layoff caused.
The financial stress and having to work 2 jobs to survive nearly did cause a divorce. We ended up with 2 better paying jobs, but it will be a little while longer before we get out of the financial hole the layoff caused.
-
desksgo
- Rank 10
- Posts: 2850
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:05 pm
- Location: Toy Poodle Town, Manitoba
- Contact:
Try wrapping your head around losing your closest family member when you are up North playing pilot, and you had the power to prevent it. Oh yea, its just what you do.jet a1 wrote: a pilot is what i do, it's not who i am.
wrap your head around that little tid-bit and it's like a light turns on. it also helps when the bitterness starts to creep in..
When things turned sour in my personal life, aviation was there to divert my energy away from seriously bad things, and gave me something to contiue to focus my life on. Probably saved me from some serious depression and a lot of heartache this year. It was the people in aviation that helped get me through this year, and chances are, they do not even realise it.
The individuals who have already posted in this thread are indicative of many of the sacrifices made in this industry. Few industries will ever see similar sacrifices (although there are some). They do it out of passion, and I guess I can admire that passion, and out of all that, it is no longer just what you "do". Everyone knows there's barely any profit to be had, but yet here we all are striving each day. No, it doesn't have to define your character, and the very essence of your soul. But try tellin the kid flyin' his first job in a 206 up in N. Saskatchewan that its just a job, because he's the one that makes the industry something special.
I've had 10 years of this business kicking me around and I've had it better than most. I finally have a job where help manage a 703, owners treat me incredibly well, value me as a human being, I've got a nice little house by the lake, and the woman that stood by me through aviation's rocky roads is still at my side. The paycheque is good...I'm still flying. But yea, it's just a job
I'll probably be singing a different song next year, but right now...I AM CONTENT. Best of luck to everyone at Avcanada,
DG. Out.
-
water wings
- Rank 8
- Posts: 928
- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:09 pm
leaving the music behind was the hardest. I used to tour Canada in a couple bands over the years... but the more flying i did, the larger the breaks between gigs and recordings, until the gap never closed up again. poop.
i still sing in the plane, though - but a captive audience of three ain't the same as 800 in a venue - especially when one of the audience members is strapped down and drugged.
i still sing in the plane, though - but a captive audience of three ain't the same as 800 in a venue - especially when one of the audience members is strapped down and drugged.
-
lilfssister
- Rank Moderator
- Posts: 2783
- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2004 2:51 pm
- Location: Mysteryville Castle
I'll come at this from another perspective: I've given up a LOT aviation wise to have the life I do now. I'm home every night (almost), live in a great community of which I'm an active member, have an awesome wife and a great kid that I get to spend lots of time with and see grow up. I don't live extravagantly, but by taking advantage of a few non-aviation opportunities, we do pretty well.
To get here, I've turned down some unbelievable job opportunities in this industry. I'm maybe not flying the fancy, heavy equipment I imagined I would be when I first got into this business (stupid friggin' blinders), work WAY harder for WAY less $$ than I ever imagined, and didn't pursue the white-collar route I'm sure my mother would have preferred. I've struggled longer than most of my peers because I made the choice to stay at a position most would consider to be near the bottom of the ladder, but from where I sit right now, I wouldn't have done it any differently. I really enjoy the flying I get to do, the folks I get to work with (a few exceptions, to be sure), and the vast majority of mornings, I'm excited about getting to go back to work. Also, the people who I have a great deal of respect for in this business feel the same way about me, and that means a lot.
All that being said, as Jeremy and jet a1 wrote, aviation has never dictated who I am. I wish more of the kids in this business could figure that out.
To get here, I've turned down some unbelievable job opportunities in this industry. I'm maybe not flying the fancy, heavy equipment I imagined I would be when I first got into this business (stupid friggin' blinders), work WAY harder for WAY less $$ than I ever imagined, and didn't pursue the white-collar route I'm sure my mother would have preferred. I've struggled longer than most of my peers because I made the choice to stay at a position most would consider to be near the bottom of the ladder, but from where I sit right now, I wouldn't have done it any differently. I really enjoy the flying I get to do, the folks I get to work with (a few exceptions, to be sure), and the vast majority of mornings, I'm excited about getting to go back to work. Also, the people who I have a great deal of respect for in this business feel the same way about me, and that means a lot.
All that being said, as Jeremy and jet a1 wrote, aviation has never dictated who I am. I wish more of the kids in this business could figure that out.
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
Can't say I've made any sacrifices FOR aviation.
Yeah, I changed jobs and went from $50k+ to substantially less. It was time for a change anyway and after working my way up in my last profession to a point where the job was no longer enjoyable I can't say I regret the change. More money would be nice but with any new career there's a certain time of apprenticeship where one learns the trade and pays his dues while earning little, I've done it before and may do so again.
And yes, I've changed jobs and spent time away from loved ones which I'll never get back. My last job was the same way and to me and my loved ones it wasn't a huge deal, kinda came with the territory...take it or leave it, life's too short.
With this new endeavour I've a ton of things and seen things I could never have imagined and wouldn't have had the opportunity to do in any other field. Regrets...none, and the sacrifices would have come with any career...only different.
Nice to hear your perspective, Tids.
Yeah, I changed jobs and went from $50k+ to substantially less. It was time for a change anyway and after working my way up in my last profession to a point where the job was no longer enjoyable I can't say I regret the change. More money would be nice but with any new career there's a certain time of apprenticeship where one learns the trade and pays his dues while earning little, I've done it before and may do so again.
And yes, I've changed jobs and spent time away from loved ones which I'll never get back. My last job was the same way and to me and my loved ones it wasn't a huge deal, kinda came with the territory...take it or leave it, life's too short.
With this new endeavour I've a ton of things and seen things I could never have imagined and wouldn't have had the opportunity to do in any other field. Regrets...none, and the sacrifices would have come with any career...only different.
Nice to hear your perspective, Tids.
