Someone always has it worse.
12-26-2009, 12:46 PM
#1
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: C-17A
Posts: 97
Someone always has it worse.
Hey everyone. Just though I would start an encouragement thread for all of us who are biding our time and waiting for the right flight job to come along.
Like my parents always said, no matter what, someone always has it worse than you. In that spirit I figure we can all post our crappy flying situations that way we can vent, or at least maybe feel a little bit better knowing that some other guy or gal might just have it worse.
Myself
26yrs old, engaged, WMU graduate, 220 hrs of flight time, $130,000 of student loans from UND and WMU combined. I work 70 hours a week throwing bags at Delta and De-icing aircraft for ASIG. It's torture being around the aircraft you coud be flying but do not have the hours for because of the market.
Flying locally when I can afford it in a PA-28 and saving up for a wedding and my CFI.
Hope this makes someone feel OK. Keep your heads up and stay current! 2012 is not far away.
Like my parents always said, no matter what, someone always has it worse than you. In that spirit I figure we can all post our crappy flying situations that way we can vent, or at least maybe feel a little bit better knowing that some other guy or gal might just have it worse.
Myself
26yrs old, engaged, WMU graduate, 220 hrs of flight time, $130,000 of student loans from UND and WMU combined. I work 70 hours a week throwing bags at Delta and De-icing aircraft for ASIG. It's torture being around the aircraft you coud be flying but do not have the hours for because of the market.
Flying locally when I can afford it in a PA-28 and saving up for a wedding and my CFI.
Hope this makes someone feel OK. Keep your heads up and stay current! 2012 is not far away.
12-26-2009, 04:26 PM
#3
Does NOT get weekends off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: ERJ - 145
Posts: 1,631
Wow, hats off to you bro. It is true - you do have it worse than me. Godly luck on the wedding but mainly - congrats!
Get that CFI! Study, study study! There is NOTHING like putting that first hour in your logbook that you didn't have to pay for
(and it's usually a checkout or something). Then when you have a whole page with a couple hours that you didn't have to pay for. It's a long hard (giggidy) road but the CFI is worth it. Also try for the II as quick as possible. I have about 100 hours dual given, about half is instrument. Just like when you get an instrument add on to your private, being able to do something that others cant (teaching someone how to shoot an ILS when it's IFR out) makes any part worth it.
My turn and I humbly respect your position and that mine isn't anywhere near yours.
23yo graduate of UofI with ~450TT/50ME and ~100 dual given. Get roughly 15-20 hours a month at minimum wage ($8/hr) and no benefits. We are only hired on a semester basis and even then, are only given notice of being hired for a semester 24-48 hours before we are expected to show up. Talk about a gamble for housing. Full time employment is non-existent at this point and the thought of flying the Seminole's is a laughable offense. My debt situation isn't as bad, only about $10,000 to Uncle Sam - mainly thanks to working 3 of my 4 years in college, and spending 2 years at Community College.
Again, best of luck sir. Keep those spirits high and know there are hundreds, nay, thousands like you standing in line for this career. I'll be that makes those already flying feel even more secure!
Get that CFI! Study, study study! There is NOTHING like putting that first hour in your logbook that you didn't have to pay for
(and it's usually a checkout or something). Then when you have a whole page with a couple hours that you didn't have to pay for. It's a long hard (giggidy) road but the CFI is worth it. Also try for the II as quick as possible. I have about 100 hours dual given, about half is instrument. Just like when you get an instrument add on to your private, being able to do something that others cant (teaching someone how to shoot an ILS when it's IFR out) makes any part worth it.My turn and I humbly respect your position and that mine isn't anywhere near yours.
23yo graduate of UofI with ~450TT/50ME and ~100 dual given. Get roughly 15-20 hours a month at minimum wage ($8/hr) and no benefits. We are only hired on a semester basis and even then, are only given notice of being hired for a semester 24-48 hours before we are expected to show up. Talk about a gamble for housing. Full time employment is non-existent at this point and the thought of flying the Seminole's is a laughable offense. My debt situation isn't as bad, only about $10,000 to Uncle Sam - mainly thanks to working 3 of my 4 years in college, and spending 2 years at Community College.
Again, best of luck sir. Keep those spirits high and know there are hundreds, nay, thousands like you standing in line for this career. I'll be that makes those already flying feel even more secure!
12-27-2009, 09:40 AM
#5
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: C-17A
Posts: 97
You dont have to feel to bad for me. I made my choice and i knew what the financial consequences would be. I knew pretty much the only way I would be happy is if I went to a good aviation university and knew that I received alot of education that guys at the local FBO might not be getting.
Anyhow, I came to terms with the debt a few months ago. Things will eventually work out. Hopefully 2012 is all they say it is going to be. I plan on getting the CFI this summer and then instructing when i can to keep my hours up.
Money is obviously tight but it helps alot that my Fiancee is a travel RN and makes good money. She pays about 65% of the bills around the house. Im a lucky guy to have her around in more ways than just that.
Anyhow, I came to terms with the debt a few months ago. Things will eventually work out. Hopefully 2012 is all they say it is going to be. I plan on getting the CFI this summer and then instructing when i can to keep my hours up.
Money is obviously tight but it helps alot that my Fiancee is a travel RN and makes good money. She pays about 65% of the bills around the house. Im a lucky guy to have her around in more ways than just that.
12-28-2009, 10:42 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Posts: 124
re:
Ditto on the attitude. Keep it up!
I know 70 hours is a lot, but maybe after the wedding you could afford to cut back and fly part-time with a skydive outfit? If anything, just to keep current.
I was in a pretty lousy situation this past year. I gave up my 141 instructor job to go back to my more stable drafting career. The first drafting job I was hired at fell through, so I had to go back to the flight school - this time as a janitor. Ouch. They supposedly didn't have any flight instructing business, however they kept hiring instructors after I've been scrubbing toilets all day. Double ouch.
Finally, I found a suitable drafting job and just recently got back into instructing part-time for a different flight school. I don't plan on pursuing the airliner dream, but at least I am flying again and am quite content with that!
I know 70 hours is a lot, but maybe after the wedding you could afford to cut back and fly part-time with a skydive outfit? If anything, just to keep current.
I was in a pretty lousy situation this past year. I gave up my 141 instructor job to go back to my more stable drafting career. The first drafting job I was hired at fell through, so I had to go back to the flight school - this time as a janitor. Ouch. They supposedly didn't have any flight instructing business, however they kept hiring instructors after I've been scrubbing toilets all day. Double ouch.
Finally, I found a suitable drafting job and just recently got back into instructing part-time for a different flight school. I don't plan on pursuing the airliner dream, but at least I am flying again and am quite content with that!
12-28-2009, 11:18 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 193
Ditto on the attitude. Keep it up!
The first drafting job I was hired at fell through, so I had to go back to the flight school - this time as a janitor. Ouch. They supposedly didn't have any flight instructing business, however they kept hiring instructors after I've been scrubbing toilets all day. Double ouch.
The first drafting job I was hired at fell through, so I had to go back to the flight school - this time as a janitor. Ouch. They supposedly didn't have any flight instructing business, however they kept hiring instructors after I've been scrubbing toilets all day. Double ouch.
12-28-2009, 11:41 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Posts: 124
How could I not have seen it! LOL
Actually, where I was I was constantly bombarded by old students who had to keep telling me how bad they felt, etc. It would have been okay if it were not for that. Some headphones would have been nice. I had my 'doo rag, my yellow gloves, and I kept that **** pine-sol fresh!
Actually, where I was I was constantly bombarded by old students who had to keep telling me how bad they felt, etc. It would have been okay if it were not for that. Some headphones would have been nice. I had my 'doo rag, my yellow gloves, and I kept that **** pine-sol fresh!
12-28-2009, 01:31 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: DHC-8 SIC
Posts: 634
I commend your positive attitude. Congrats on your upcoming wedding and all the best to you. I had a checkout on a 172 today and the CFI asked me what I want to do with flying. I told him, I want to do it as a career. And he said why do you want to live in poverty when you already have a nice cushy job? Do what makes you happy, it's well worth doing everything we have to, to get there. Good luck! Good times will come.
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