New Career

[onmyway]

Sinkrate, great questions. I'm not going to tell you whether to continue or leave that’s for you to decide. I have asked myself those same questions over and over, do I give it up now after all I’ve given or capitalise on those same sacrifices. With the unprecedented opportunities for me in the in the airline industry, I have ask myself if I’m certifiably insane.
Yes, it's been a quite a ride getting to the so called top. I've had some good times and some really bad times, seen and done amazing things in the aviation world. It's easy to point the finger, to bitch and moan, but the reality is that the down times and time away has taken their toll both my wife and me. Your time alone is also your other half’s time alone. If you think maintaining a healthy relationship part time is viable, don’t kid yourself, it’s a fallacy, I’ve known way too many crash and burn stories; was almost a casualty. I truly have to say that I have missed out on life while flying.
Unlike many other professions there are sacrifices you will have to continue making, in aviation like missing birthdays, Christmas, looking after loved ones when they are either ill or in crisis, and too many more to mention. The last 15 years of my personal life has been conducted through a cell phone! Phone sex sucks! It seemed like when I did get home it was time to head out again. I’m tired of living life crammed into a few days off littered here and there. The wall I hit was when I recently went to leave for work, drove a couple of miles down the road and turned back, literally, that was it.
Although it sounds like I’m bitter, far from it. In a nut shell, this has been my retrospect. I have the utmost admiration for those who are at it. Will I miss it? You bet, I’ll still look up at crossing aircraft and wonder at the marvel of it all whilst wearing my “been there done that” T-shirt. Thanks for all responses, and best of the season.

[ea306]

'79K20driver:

There is a saying:"One Life to Live".

I would like to add this... "Don't waste time while living it."

We all have time to invest... but there is no time to waste. At least that is how I am trying to approach things. While chasing your dreams you have to live your life too.

just my 2 cents.


D.

Oh yes.....and thanks for the kind words.

[ontheslide]

Quite the eye opening thread. This one shouldn't be lost in steady shuffle of new topics...

[robshelle]

I think about it every summer. Flying over town at 10 pm after a 15 hour day where I have to start again at 4am. I look down and see people out BBQing and having a life. Float flying has taken every summer from my life since I was 17.

Yeah, but after not flying professionaly for 10 years, I look up at that A/C during my BBQ thinking how much fun being in the air would be. (though I never did get into floats, I sure would love to now)

Rob Benusic, CYEG Tower

[Noob]

The grass is always greener on the other side. I've moved many times thinking that it would be the last. But it never is. Hauling my wife around and now two kids... Being away all the time does take its toll and I never really feel satisfied. I've wondered what it would be like to be you Rob, in the tower with a hot cup of coffee, a reasonable paycheck but I've met a number of controllers who pack it in to go flying so I guess that says something. I think the whole industry is ridiculous. I've got ten years in and am finally at a point where I'm not starving for a living and I'm thinking of quitting as well. I may have an opportunity with a large company working 8hrs a day, if you go over one minute you're on double time, a pension rapid progression and they will be happy to have me not making me feel evey day that I'm lucky to have my job and be paid for it here with their "here go clean the shitter" attitude. I don't think it will be perfect, just better. I too will look up and see you guys bombing around and sometimes may be a bit nostalgic. But I'm not going to quit completely I plan on renting. When I wake up on a clear blue day, I'll pick up my Tim's drive to the airport and go flying, where I want, when I want with who I want. I enjoy the fun of an approach to mins in blinding snow, wind and getting the job done safely it is satisfying but I will also be wearing my been there done that t-shirt on those days.
My only regret is I didn't see this ten years ago.

[Radical.Edward]

I got fed up a while ago, fed up with all the crap at my long-time job and I changed my career path entirely, still in aviation, but I get home virtually every night, have medical, dental, pension, can sit at home and watch the sun go down with my wife and actually have hobbies and other stuff that I do in my own house, and my car was made this century.

Your niche doesn't have to be an A380!

xsbank, do you mean you gave up airline flying or being a pilot entirely, for a living?

Quite the eye opening thread. This one shouldn't be lost in steady shuffle of new topics...

Yea, this thread is a keeper, definitely some interesting perspectives here; thanks for posting everyone and keep them coming.

Ed

[THEICEMAN]

Wow! It's interesting to see the flip side of things. As a youngster like myself, you don't really think about concepts like hitting the wall.

But if you miss the skies that much, what about having a local part-time 702 or instructing job? Not much pay, but at least you can keep a foothold inside aviation & pursue a career change simultaneously? Lot's of fun flying in the 702 world!
Even instructing on weekends or freelance instructing?

[onmyway]

THEICEMAN, I've been flying for 21 years, an analogy if you will, it's like an ex-girlfriend, there are parts (no pun intended!) that you will always miss, but it's time to move on. The pay has no merit for me at this point, I've made the big bucks, and truthfully I'd give it all back for the grief I endured as a direct result of chasing "Bigger and Better".

[MUSKEG]

I to have given up flying for a living. I think back to when I started and the way I would pinch myself and ask am I really doing this for a living, only to look back and realize it wasn't a living. I ended up at the top but it seemed nothing was ever enough. My job included line flying, covering dispatch on weekends, CP, CCP, training, ground school, holding 7 different PPC's (yes I know stupid me) at the same time, and a myriad of other duties never spelled out. Why? because I offered to do them thinking it would be of value later in my career, how utterly wrong I was. Had I expended the same energy doing my own thing like I am now I to could now go south for the winter, work because I want to. I thought it was more important to have a job that I liked rather than looking far down the road to retirement and observe other retired pilots and their means. Satisfaction is good but ask me now that I am staring at an uncertain retirement and I have a different aspect. I saw some awesome sites, developed skills that I am proud of, short field, and I mean short, IFR skills that got the job done and kept the shinny side up and the passengers comfortable, and a good repore with my pax. Unfortunately all these things meant little or nothing to management. I remember awesome guys and girls I worked with, an sunrises and sunsets to die for,the rest is suspect at best. Think carefully before joining this career. If you have an in somewhere ride it for all it's worth. The sooner you get to the big stuff the sooner you will have a chance at a life. Time off, yes scheduled, decent equipment, and firm rules of what is expected of you and what isn't. My children grew up without me being there alot and that sucks. Retirement seems like a eternity away when you are 20 but trust me it's not.

[YVR Dude]

One of the best posts I've read on this forum...

I too have thought about giving it up...twice! So many stories to tell, but in the end..how you feel about going to work is the final key..I know the feeling that you talked about..driving down the road and turning around thinking..I've had enough...

Good luck to you, sir..You'll know if you've made the right decision, and it sounds like you have...

[slimjim10101]

I have a 0730-1630 mon. - fri. job working on networks. It gives me a lot of time for college. I'm basically settled right now. pay isn't that great, but it is great to know that my bills will get paid every month, no questions asked. direct deposit and automatic withdrawl is great i'm also getting real close to starting a serious relationship. i'm ony 20 so i got a lot of time ahead of me, but i am at a point i want to change already. so i'm starting my flight training next month and i'll see where that takes me. I want a more random lifestyle. but i also want to get this relationship rolling too so i'm just playing it out right now. i don't wan kids for a while so i should be good for a while. oh well, dam life and all the decisions.

[wxnut]

It doesn't just have to do with aviation, driving trucks, or working the railways. It's about what you want to do bud.

If you think that you have received enough out of the aviation industry, then move onto something else If you feel like the urge is still there to fly and live off of it, then do that. It's important that you pursue what works best for you.

If you're going to go to another job that makes you even more unhappy, stay in this industry - at least you get an office that others just dream to have.


Good Luck with your goals !

[alpha1]

All newbies ought to read ALOUD five times this brilliant and brutally honest thread before they fork over a dime for flight training. To the contributors, a debt of gratitude is owed to you for offering such frank and honest perspectives on the price exacted by a career in aviation. I'm single, and not long ago a girl asked me how much id spent on aviaiton so far (ppl, cpl, flight instructor, multi/IFR ), i said about $60,000. "$60000 grand" she almost yelled, no wonder you dont have a family!.....needless to say that got me thinking......

[husky]

I wish I could have know what I know now 5 years ago when I started flight training. Now I'm married and before I've even really got a start in this industry, I'm leaving. If any 20 year old had a real concept of what life is all about, and how by being in aviation you don't get to have the things in life that most people value....well I suspect many flight school would be out of business. This industry is, for lack of a better word, a complete clusterf^*k, for everyone, at all levels...and you don't even get a decent paycheque until WAYYYYY into it.

Anyone looking to start flight training, for heavens sake, think about what you want out of life, not what you want out of a careeer.