It's like a drug, no?

[righthandman]

So I am just curious what got you (us) into aviation, AND what keeps you (us) coming back for more?

Yes I know this has been covered before (Why do I fly?), as I said... I am just curious as to the breakdown of the answers.

[The Old Fogducker]

I'm one of thse seemingly rare types on this forum that has been fortunate in being able to do exactly what I wanted to do since I was maybe 5 years old, with the bonus of another career running in parallel for almost my entire working life ... which began at age 16.

In addition, I've also managed to make a decent living at it too, although it sure didn't start that way.

Now I'm being paid for the knowlege I accumulated in the first 20 or 30 years of my career when I was underpaid for actually doing it. along the way, I've met a lot of people ... from blank-staring, mouth breathing bozos with the intelligence of a toad, to people who did major design work on the space program. Its an interesting business.

My simple advice for success? Don't limit yourself to only flying airplanes. Learn more about the total industry and then master those jobs too. Take on responsibility for the sake of responsibility, and what you'll learn from the experience, not just that it might pay you an extra few bucks at the end of the month. Feed your brain. Learn to communicate effectively. Be a leader and mentor.

In one of the last conversations I had with my father before his death, he said "You've never worked a day in your life." I took great exception, and immdeiately snapped back with the list of things I'd done ... adding, "with no help from anybody." He replied with "No, you misunderstood. You've been able to take things that interested you as a kid and turn that into a way to be paid for it. I had to take jobs, only because there were bills to pay and a family to feed, you've been able to make it a passion."

And ... I guess he's right ... looking back, I guess I never have worked a day in my life ... well, except for the couple of months in the lumber mill, and a few weeks at a car wash....because I had bills to pay.

The Old Fogducker

[iflyforpie]

For the pie of course...


The other pilot who works here showed up yesterday wearing a T-Shirt that said on the front 'Will fly for food' and on the back 'Canadian Aviation'. And that pretty much sums up the low-end of flying here in this country. We are passionate about flying and we--for better or worse--do whatever it takes to make it happen.

I suppose that when something causes you to do irrational things (pay huge bucks for education that doesn't give you a degree, work for minimal pay, work awful hours, move to Norman Wells, etc) then it could be considered an addiction.


I love my job. It may be entry level, but I live in a tourist mecca south of the #1 and west of the Rockies, I meet all kinds of interesting people, I do interesting flying, and work for great people. Because I accidentally got my AME license (not what I always wanted to do, it was supposed to keep me occupied and be a means to an end) I've got job security, decent pay, and a neat (I really do like it) aviation-related diversion.

[ditar]

You need the option for "I couldn't go back to an 8 - 5 job anymore".

[Just another canuck]

Travel and chix diggit...

[flying4dollars]

I just want to wear the uniform....and look cool at Starbucks wearing it.

[ahramin]

Money son, money. There is a big pile of cash to be made for not much work if you refuse to do it for little or no cash.

[Ogee]

My simple advice for success? Don't limit yourself to only flying airplanes. Learn more about the total industry and then master those jobs too. Take on responsibility for the sake of responsibility, and what you'll learn from the experience, not just that it might pay you an extra few bucks at the end of the month. Feed your brain. Learn to communicate effectively. Be a leader and mentor.

Probably the wisest words I've seen on this forum.

[Changes in Latitudes]

Well...

It can leave you broke and penniless like drugs.
It can lead you to doing some pretty shady things like drugs.
It can lead you to selling your dignity like drugs.
It can get you divorced just as easily as drugs.

The key is not to use it like a drug. Use it as a means to see some things while paying your mortgage. Take what you can from it.

And if it gets to this point, admit you have a problem and get out:

[loopa]

I'm one of thse seemingly rare types on this forum that has been fortunate in being able to do exactly what I wanted to do since I was maybe 5 years old, with the bonus of another career running in parallel for almost my entire working life ... which began at age 16.

In addition, I've also managed to make a decent living at it too, although it sure didn't start that way.

Now I'm being paid for the knowlege I accumulated in the first 20 or 30 years of my career when I was underpaid for actually doing it. along the way, I've met a lot of people ... from blank-staring, mouth breathing bozos with the intelligence of a toad, to people who did major design work on the space program. Its an interesting business.

My simple advice for success? Don't limit yourself to only flying airplanes. Learn more about the total industry and then master those jobs too. Take on responsibility for the sake of responsibility, and what you'll learn from the experience, not just that it might pay you an extra few bucks at the end of the month. Feed your brain. Learn to communicate effectively. Be a leader and mentor.

In one of the last conversations I had with my father before his death, he said "You've never worked a day in your life." I took great exception, and immdeiately snapped back with the list of things I'd done ... adding, "with no help from anybody." He replied with "No, you misunderstood. You've been able to take things that interested you as a kid and turn that into a way to be paid for it. I had to take jobs, only because there were bills to pay and a family to feed, you've been able to make it a passion."

And ... I guess he's right ... looking back, I guess I never have worked a day in my life ... well, except for the couple of months in the lumber mill, and a few weeks at a car wash....because I had bills to pay.

The Old Fogducker

This is a fantastic post OFD. My father passed too early to see me do what I love, but he had the same mentality as your father, and they're right! There's no day that I wake up and say "damn, I have to go to work."

[The Old Fogducker]

Thanks Loopa.

I appreciate that it was meaningful for you.

The Old Fogducker

[Glory.]

My simple advice for success? Don't limit yourself to only flying airplanes. Learn more about the total industry and then master those jobs too. Take on responsibility for the sake of responsibility, and what you'll learn from the experience, not just that it might pay you an extra few bucks at the end of the month. Feed your brain. Learn to communicate effectively. Be a leader and mentor.
The Old Fogducker

Thats exactly what Iv been working on these past few months.

awesome quote. Very wise words.

[The Old Fogducker]

Well Glory ... you're on the right track then, but it is a long journey to the destination. Then, we're in the transportation industry ... for us its about the quality of the journey, not just reaching the destination.

Foggy

[HuD 91gt]

What got me into flying? It was a spur of the moment idea I had, never had an interested in aviation before but I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.

Why am I staying in aviation? Because it's the only thing I know how to do.