So here I sit, deep in debt pondering the consequences of my choices. Having spent some sixty thousand dollars on not only a CPL but also a college diploma, I am right back where I started nearly two and a half years ago, just a little deeper in debt, and perhaps wiser to the world.
Let me digress. It all started on a warm and clear day September 2. 2003, I taxied most wobbly down to Alpha to the button of 07 at Boundary Bay. Rounding the corner my instructor looks at me with a grin and say OK give her full power. With roar the little 172 speeds down the runway, the center line becoming a blur... OK wait I am suppose to do something, what was it? Huh what? Pull back on the stick. At that point the most amazing thing in the world happened. I was flying. Yes I alone was flying an actual airplane, I was a PILOT. OK the guy sitting next to me had to get the thing back on the ground but, it was after my very first flight.
Over the next 18 months I dove head long into flying and the business of flying as well. There where some good times and some not so good times. However any day that I got to go flying was a good day. High lights like the first Solo, 300nm cross country, that first flight in IMC will always be remembered.
Then one cold gray day in December it all came to an end, I , I GRADUATED. With enthusiasm I went to job fairs, sent out resumes, shook hands, and had high hopes. The added bonus is I still had my old job that I was doing before school to fall back on and was working full time right out of school. Things where great, I would work a the lumber yard for a few more months, and then land that first flying job. After all, I am single got a little life experience under my belt, and know just enough to be dangerous!
I am a 200 hour wonder and admit that I don't know anything but am willing to learn. Heck if I gotta clean cariboo dung off some grass strip in Nunavit, I would go do that. So four months have passed, and here I sit a lowly ticket agent at a company I do not have the qualifications to fly for, nor will I any time soon. Too broke to do the one thing that I really love to do fly. The only people from my graduating class who have gotten jobs thus far either had hook ups with family or close friends, or have gone and spent another large sum of money on a PPC that I cannot afford. The resumes I do send out rarely even garner a response. Sure I have heard the old story, gotta go on a road trip, gotta do this gotta do that. What is a guy to do w ho is stuck where his by debt obligations? I can't go and run off on a month long road trip where the cost of fuel alone will break what little funds I have. Besides I have two jobs to hold down just to make ends meet. Though I think that is just me being bitter.
What ever happened to a nice rejection letter. Hey got your resume, but no thanks. Hey got your resume, not even close! I suppose they cannot be bothered to even do that any more. I feel as though I have spent some where in the neighborhood of sixty thousand dollars and am exactly where I was September 1st of 2003. A lowly laborer in a lumber yard not getting anywhere and not going anywhere. Though I have a nice shiny pilots license and crane my neck to the sky every time I hear a plane going over longing to be in the pointy end. I just need someone to give me that break. The realty of the world I have found is that getting into this business sure does suck! And I may sound bitter, jaded and a whiner, but damit I just want to fly! I will do any job to the best of my ability if only I could fly!
Signed...
Sitting down here willing to do most anything to get up there.
From a bored and bitter mind...
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore
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200hr Wonder
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No Conflict
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200HR wonder
Believe it or not, we were all in your shoes. Low on experience and money we all had to make tough choices. Moving, losing relationships, or doing things we once thought below us (I bet in school you didn’t figure you’d be acting as a janitor)…it’s amazing what we will do to get at those flight controls.
But don’t worry, if your hard working, have the right attitude, and the willingness to leave your hometown, you’ll do just fine.
I have a few suggestions for you.
Do you live in an aviation rich area that has lots of companies that hire low timers?!
If you don’t then it’s time to move. You most likely won’t be getting a job by carpet-bombing the market with your resumes. You have no time and therefore little to offer on paper, employers need to meet you to decide weather there going to give you a break.
So you need to pick an area that has a few companies that hires low timers, the more the better. Also a variety of types of flying would be good. Floats, charter (single and multi), sched service. Forget the major cities - there over run with higher time pilots sick of the north, therefore you should look north. Pull out the Wings annual charter directory and start highlighting.
You also mentioned you are a ticket agent for a company that “you do not have the qualifications for” are you sure of this? Ask the CP directly if you put in enough time in the ground will they put you in a plane. If yes then great, if not move on - it’s a dead end job.
You also mentioned money being a problem. You shouldn’t just randomly pick a town and move; do lots of research before hand.
Select your town based on aviation prospects then pull out the yellow pages and start calling all employers (preferable at the airport) to see if they need full time work. Then check into housing costs. You may not get a flying job, but you will be able to get yourself the next best thing – exposure.
If you don’t know anyone, make yourself known. If you have no contacts, make them.
No luck, make your own. Need a break, put yourself in a position to receive one.
Sitting at home firing off resume after resume is not going to do it.
Not trying to sound negative, just trying to give you some ideas, and highlight what some of us have had to do.
Cheers.
Believe it or not, we were all in your shoes. Low on experience and money we all had to make tough choices. Moving, losing relationships, or doing things we once thought below us (I bet in school you didn’t figure you’d be acting as a janitor)…it’s amazing what we will do to get at those flight controls.
But don’t worry, if your hard working, have the right attitude, and the willingness to leave your hometown, you’ll do just fine.
I have a few suggestions for you.
Do you live in an aviation rich area that has lots of companies that hire low timers?!
If you don’t then it’s time to move. You most likely won’t be getting a job by carpet-bombing the market with your resumes. You have no time and therefore little to offer on paper, employers need to meet you to decide weather there going to give you a break.
So you need to pick an area that has a few companies that hires low timers, the more the better. Also a variety of types of flying would be good. Floats, charter (single and multi), sched service. Forget the major cities - there over run with higher time pilots sick of the north, therefore you should look north. Pull out the Wings annual charter directory and start highlighting.
You also mentioned you are a ticket agent for a company that “you do not have the qualifications for” are you sure of this? Ask the CP directly if you put in enough time in the ground will they put you in a plane. If yes then great, if not move on - it’s a dead end job.
You also mentioned money being a problem. You shouldn’t just randomly pick a town and move; do lots of research before hand.
Select your town based on aviation prospects then pull out the yellow pages and start calling all employers (preferable at the airport) to see if they need full time work. Then check into housing costs. You may not get a flying job, but you will be able to get yourself the next best thing – exposure.
If you don’t know anyone, make yourself known. If you have no contacts, make them.
No luck, make your own. Need a break, put yourself in a position to receive one.
Sitting at home firing off resume after resume is not going to do it.
Not trying to sound negative, just trying to give you some ideas, and highlight what some of us have had to do.
Cheers.
The feet you step on today might be attached to the ass you're kissing tomorrow.
Chase lifestyle not metal.
Chase lifestyle not metal.
KAG's advice is, as always, worth listening to.
200hr Wonder, if I read you correctly you probably just make enough to get by on, and with a crippling debt load you likely aren't doing much flying these days, which just adds to the frustration. The one thing that I would recommend you do in the interim is find a job that will pay all your bills and then some, plus allow you to pay off your debts FAST. Flying doesn't pay what it's worth, and working on the ramp up north (or anywhere, for that matter) will make for some desperate days. I highly recommend the Alberta oil patch. If you are willing to work hard, you will make insane amounts of money, which will allow you to pay off your debts, live in financial security, and search for a flying job at your leisure, all the while continuing to fly and build time. Then, when opportunity presents itself, you will be ready. It's a detour, true, but in my opinion it's worth it. PM me if you want to know more.
In any case, don't give up.
200hr Wonder, if I read you correctly you probably just make enough to get by on, and with a crippling debt load you likely aren't doing much flying these days, which just adds to the frustration. The one thing that I would recommend you do in the interim is find a job that will pay all your bills and then some, plus allow you to pay off your debts FAST. Flying doesn't pay what it's worth, and working on the ramp up north (or anywhere, for that matter) will make for some desperate days. I highly recommend the Alberta oil patch. If you are willing to work hard, you will make insane amounts of money, which will allow you to pay off your debts, live in financial security, and search for a flying job at your leisure, all the while continuing to fly and build time. Then, when opportunity presents itself, you will be ready. It's a detour, true, but in my opinion it's worth it. PM me if you want to know more.
In any case, don't give up.
Understanding begets harmony; in seeking the first you will find the last.
As said before...welcome to the club!
I can totally feel you though. I to have seen the dark side of 50 grand and people can call you whiney all they want but the fact is, no one tells you how it really is while they're collecting your money. Someone also mentioned that you'll find yourself doing things you once thought were beneth you. Most likely. However, don't bend over so far that you have to wear high heels in order to bend over even more.
We've all been on that emotional roller coaster where we hit the turn that makes us a little negative and bitter for a while. You just have to try and focus on what really matters to you. I'm not trying to be doctor Phil here but I have a few quotes that were given to me when I needed them. Maybe you or someone else needs it now so I'll add it at the bottom. I don't remember the origional author.
ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
You determine your attitude.
You can respond positively or negatively to any situation.
Your attitude is not determined by circumstances,
but by how you respond to your circumstances.
Any challenge facing you is not as important as your attitude towards it, for that will determine your success or failure.
It's how you react to events, not the events themselves, that determines your attitude.
I can totally feel you though. I to have seen the dark side of 50 grand and people can call you whiney all they want but the fact is, no one tells you how it really is while they're collecting your money. Someone also mentioned that you'll find yourself doing things you once thought were beneth you. Most likely. However, don't bend over so far that you have to wear high heels in order to bend over even more.
We've all been on that emotional roller coaster where we hit the turn that makes us a little negative and bitter for a while. You just have to try and focus on what really matters to you. I'm not trying to be doctor Phil here but I have a few quotes that were given to me when I needed them. Maybe you or someone else needs it now so I'll add it at the bottom. I don't remember the origional author.ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
You determine your attitude.
You can respond positively or negatively to any situation.
Your attitude is not determined by circumstances,
but by how you respond to your circumstances.
Any challenge facing you is not as important as your attitude towards it, for that will determine your success or failure.
It's how you react to events, not the events themselves, that determines your attitude.
It's always better to appreciate the things you cannot have than to have the things you cannot appreciate.
