Share your aviation experiences

[wanderer_]

I am trying to decide whether to pursue aviation as a career.
I have two friends in the field that I've spoken to so far, read some books.
I've been told to talk to as many people in the field as I can, to get an idea of what a career in aviation is like.

So please share your aviation experiences.
I want to hear it all, the good, the bad and the ugly.
It would help if people can give a snapshot of their aviation careers (include salary if you don't mind).

Example:

Instructed 2 years (made 30k/year)
Air ambulance FO 2 years (40k/year)
Regional airline FO 3 years (40k-50k/year)
Air canada FO 1 year (40k/year)

This would really help me and others to get a picture of what we can expect should we choose to pursue a pilot career.
I want to hear from everyone, those that gave up aviation for another career, those that are still in the struggle, those that have made the move to a major airline. If you work for an airline in the middle east, I am especially interested in hearing your story.

Question: Lets stay I want to stay close to the Calgary area in Alberta. Would that be possible while pursuing a pilot career. Seems like there are aerial survey, air ambulance, regional airline, major airline, all those in the calgary region....or would you have a tough time finding jobs if you are not willing to move around ?

Thanks all

[dirk82]

Flight training. -55k
3months KA F/0. +6k

It's a long road to make money in this business. With a few raises and some per diems I'll be in the green in 2 years, any way you look at it its a tough investment unless mommy and daddy pay the bills. Otherwise You have to love it to switch careers. Best time of my life from my first flight to my first job.

[looproll]

one milllllllion dollars

[jump154]

Engineer $82K/year.

Fly when I want to for fun. No pressure to get anywhere, I get to decide when I push my personal limits, not a boss. If I don't fly, my paycheque is not at risk. If I loose my medical, I'll still have a logbook full of fun and memories and then look for something else to spend disposable income on.
Home every night with the wife and kids.
Someone else looks after the aircraft I fly, no worries about maintenance and worrying will I fly enough to keep everything working.

[CID]

Sounds like someone is fishing for information to feed in to a paper. First clue? Apparently "aviation" means "pilots".

[wanderer_]

Sounds like someone is fishing for information to feed in to a paper. First clue? Apparently "aviation" means "pilots".

lol, NO just honestly looking for information as to what I can expect if I choose to pursue a pilot career.

[lilflyboy262]

Is earning money the biggest factor in your decision to become a pilot?

[wanderer_]

Is earning money the biggest factor in your decision to become a pilot?

No, I have other career options that will make much more money compared to a pilot career.
But I would like to make some decent money in the future, maybe in a few years.

[ant_321]

Instructed 1 year - less than 15k
Currently 1900 F/O - 30k and change plus 4ish grand in per diems.

[Darkwing Duck]

Call me crazy but aviation is not just an industry you may want to be employed in, especially flying. If you are doing it as a job then do not do it. Granted there are other fields in aviation that people I have worked with have no aviation experience or interest in. However, if it is a passion, or you have a particularly strong interest then by all mean go for it. If it is a passion then some of these questions you are asking, you probably know the answer to already, unless you are 15yrs old and wanting to learn a bit more. Why spend a swack of money for endorsements and training to realize that you have no interest at all in doing it. That is like becoming a doctor because the pay is great but you cannot stand the sight of blood or other gross stuff. Doesn't make much sense. To me, and a lot of my friends and associates, I was always wanting to fly from about grade 3. It was a deep passion that I learned everything I could about aviation from that time on. Do what you love for a career, not for the love of money. This will only make you a bitter employee going to a job you hate but the pay cheque is sweet.

[N2]

I would be more than happy to share my aviation experiences with you.

Once upon a time I had money then I got into aviation...........................nuff said!

[wanderer_]

Do what you love for a career, not for the love of money. This will only make you a bitter employee going to a job you hate but the pay cheque is sweet.

But after work, when you come back home to your trophy wife and extravagant pad, you will feel good again...just kidding.

Few good stories so far...keep 'em coming please. For those pilots that have made it to a major airline, how many years of struggle did it take you to get there ?

[Meatservo]

I love being a pilot. One of the things I love the most is just a perfect turn on course after lifting off, watching the ground drop away and feeling the aeroplane slicing through the air with all the various forces in perfect balance. After practicing this move for over 12,000 hours I feel like I'm getting to be pretty good at it, but I'm still getting better.

I can sort of do some of the other things too. I don't really get tired of it, except during those times when I'm tired of it.

I'm not a "plane nerd", I do other things on my time off. I'm not a starry-eyed rookie, I've been doing this for twenty years. I've flown some really wicked planes, and met some really cool people. I've met some assholes, too, and made some enemies. I make a decent middle-class living. I guess when the smoke clears I make between 90 and 110 thousand a year, depending on how much I fly. I could probably find a better paying job, but I like my house, I like my friends, and most of the time I like my job, and frankly I'm too lazy to bother doing any better.

[gopher_killer]

I would be more than happy to share my aviation experiences with you.

Once upon a time I had money then I got into aviation...........................nuff said!

+1. Actually, +2 if you include my wife.

[Colonel Sanders]

I laugh when I hear about people getting into
aviation for "the big bucks". IMHO aviation is
more expensive than hookers and blow, and
will have the same effect on your marriage.