


So , in your opinion, Is it all worth it!?
Any opinons on what I touched upon above?
Thanks to all you great, very guys on Av canada in advance, As I cant have these questions go unanswered any longer

Thanks
Moderators: North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako
People tend to forget that there is more flying than major airlines. What about corporate, bush flying, aerial spraying, forest fire control, law enforcement, career flight instructor? I'm sure for most of those you could be home 6 nights of the week and pull in over $60,000.Flightman7 wrote:For those of you who have failed to beat the other 10000 odd candidates in the airline rat race and are stuck flying regionals..are you happy? Was it all worth it?
Great point, thanks for bringing that to light.Dagwood wrote:People tend to forget that there is more flying than major airlines. What about corporate, bush flying, aerial spraying, forest fire control, law enforcement, career flight instructor? I'm sure for most of those you could be home 6 nights of the week and pull in over $60,000.
Haha, good point about actually flying the plane! This really brought releif knowing that theres still great jobs out there other then airline flying!BEFAN5 wrote:Air Canada and Westjet do not always have to be the dream. I used to feel that they were. Now, I am in my 20s, make 50k, am home every night, only work half the month, and by the time I am 30 I'll be clearing 100k a year... Air Canada doesn't seem as appealing from my shoes anymore. I also get to actually FLY an airplane. I am not ready to retire myself to a fully automated airliner and never get to touch the controls.
This is a very interesting point, I wasnt aware canadian pilots could work for Emirates or Qatar! What the deal with this type of work? Isnt Emirates based in india only, if im not mistaken? Was your friend forced to move there to work for them, or is there some sort of port or pairing that foreign pilots are able to pick up here in canada? Same with Qatar, Id apreciate any information on that stuff as I never realized that those airlines were a possible employer to canadian pilots!ajet32 wrote:I spoke this weekend with a friend who after a number of downers including loosing money from a bond at a failed airline is now near the pinnacle of his chosen profession.
He is now just about completing his 3rd year at Emirates and flying the A380. loving every minute. Hard work yes but very rewarding.
Another friend just getting ready to start at Qatar Airways ,great opportunities. Don't give up before you start unless you really don't want to fly.
Are you sure this is a good idea to do it post university? I was told by an air canada 340 capt back in the day that if he could do it all over again he would of done flight training before university and work part time while in university. He said if you have the money, this can be very beneficial due to the fact that afterward your a step ahead of everyone else who did it your way. At the same time you most likely have a great deal of piloting seniority under your belt, and you obviously know a thousand times more then I do about the industryNorth Shore wrote:Take a deep breath, and slow down a little, though... While your dreams and aspirations are admirable, there's lots of time to go yet. Worry about graduating from Highschool, and getting into Uni/College, then worry about your PPL etc..
AEROBAT wrote:Oh... I forgot to add that marrying a girl who makes good money helps. That snappy little Cub or T-Crate you will eventually own will charm the pants off her!
Just what were you flying at Bramton that you found less interesting that being a pax in a 737?Flightman7 wrote:AEROBAT wrote:Oh... I forgot to add that marrying a girl who makes good money helps. That snappy little Cub or T-Crate you will eventually own will charm the pants off her!
I wish i could afford a plane!
But yes, i do know i love flying! I ecpecially love jets obviously, like flying 737's on your way to the tropics...I enjoy the flight more then the vacationIve also been on two intros at brampton flight center, Not as thrilling but i still loved every minute of it.
Love aviation with all my heart!
Simply not true.I am not ready to retire myself to a fully automated airliner and never get to touch the controls.
Thank you for posting this. Long live the adventure.The Old Fogducker wrote:Mr 7 ... or may I call you Flightman?
I'm one of the lucky ones that for roughly 40 years has been doing what I've wanted to do since I was about 5 years old. I'm very well paid for what I've learned over that time, and I learned it because I found it fascinating, not because I had to, or someone was forcing me to.
There certainly have been times when I was employed by a no-mind jerk who couldn't manage to feed peanuts to a monkey, or dogfood to a hungry puppy ... and that was frustrating of course. There was something to learn even from those clowns .... what not to do, or who be like, and where I didn't want to be employed.
I didn't run into anyone telling me I was nuts for wanting to get into the business of aviation until I was halfway through my Commercial pilot training, but I didn't let their personal failure or unhappiness affect me, and I'm glad I didn't.
My adventures have required a great deal of inner strength from time to time. I credit that "grab on and never let go" to the time I spent in the Army Reserve, and having enrolled in "The Dale Carnegie Course" when I was 17 years old.
I can tell you that getting a solid education is going to be a requirement, so dropping out of school and pumping gas to pay for flying lessons isn't the way to go in today and tomorrow's world. So stick with it.
Gotta run, although there is lots more I'd like to say to help you.
I'll leave you with something my dad said to me ... "You've never worked a day in your life" ... and he's right, its all been an adventure for me and has ultimately paid me very well.
Get into "the business of aviation" and don't limit yourself to exclusively flying airplanes ... that's just the first hurdle to jump in a lifetime long race.
Bye for now Flightman... 'outta time.
The Old Fogducker
KAG wrote:I started flight school right out of high school, and now 34 sitting at westjet I'm loving life
I do wish to someday get where you are, although I know there are so many great jobs that arent airline jobs out there. Im extremely happy you guys both accomplished your goal. I do however wish to say one thing: Making it to the airlines nowadays is way harder then back in the 1990's and early 2000's. I could be rong, but ive read many posts from wesjet pilots stating that they would have never been able to get hired with nowadays system. Im going to guess that there will be around 7000 apps when I am in any position to apply for the airlines, not very good odds. Any advice for me?highlander wrote:I have been flying since 1992. I am 36 years old and I have been at WJ for 3.5 years.