SkyHigh

The big change that made this career not much of a sound investment anymore was when the airlines cut their pay. 140K and the left seat in a big jet is a lot of money but not worth the risk and current price of entry.

Major airline wages have been harshly pruned down from the 1980's. It is certain that the trend will continue. All a major has to do is to drag their feet at contract time and let inflation turn us all into blue collar paid workers. If one was to take stock of all that has been lost and then project that 30 years into the future it is a grim sight to be sure.

To those with a commercial license in their back pocket and a degree on the wall I say, press on! They have already paid the price of entry. A sound path would be at least to put your cards on the table for a time and see what happens.

To whom I address when I write a post is really the 18 year old kid with an ocean of life's paths to choose from. It is from that perspective that I highly suggest looking elsewhere. Aviation is too expensive to risky and if oil hits as high as some suggest then there is little future for any of us.

SkyHigh

surreal1221

Let's not forget that a large number of Commercial certificates issues these days are to foreign students who are leaving the US to fly in their home country (thank goodness they can't stay here and work yet).

So, with that being said - to find the real numbers, one would need to subtract the amount of foreign Commercial certificates are issued a year, and on top of that, the number of foreign and domestic Multi engine comm. certificates.

SkyHigh

Even if you were to subtract the amount of foreign students it does not change the odds all that much. Besides many of those foreign pilots end up working here anyway.

SkyHigh

de727ups

"To whom I address when I write a post is really the 18 year old kid with an ocean of life's paths to choose from."

They aren't here. In fact, by definition, they aren't even supposed to be at the site as it was created by airline pilots for airline pilots. That said, we do seem to look the other way quite often....

In any case, Sky, if you really wanted to save the world, you should be at www.jetcareers.com where all the newbs are. I think you'd get shouted down and laughed out of the house (truly meaning no disrespect, but that's what would happen) within a week.

Your rants at this site fall mostly on deaf ears if you're looking to save the 18 year olds. They aren't here as the vast majority at this site are professional pilots working in the biz.

At least you got this in the right forum, though.....

HIFLYR

So how is the can't loose life of a home builder career doing lately skyhigh?????? I do not see you touting your new career choice lately.

LeoSV

Wow dude, that is asking for some bad karma. You think you have a stable enough profession to be saying things like this? With oil prices up and consumer confidence down, you could find yourself looking for a non-flying job pretty soon too. BTW, it's lose, not loose.

surreal1221

Really?

All those Indian and Chinese students we are training at working here instead of going back home?

Where? And at what 121 carrier?

Yup, I can say I agree with this one. Get on over to JC their Sky. Trouble is, the 18 year olds are one whole group, and then you have the sugga parent 20 year olds who won't listen to anyone telling you they know how this profession works.

Please help. lol

SkyHigh

Thanks LeoSv,

Actually I am fortunate to be living in a part of the country that is still experiencing increasing real estate values. Lending has been difficult but so far all it means is that I will have a slower summer so I can go hiking more.

I build houses but mainly am a real estate investor and small developer. Changes in the marketplace can also bring opportunity.

SKyHigh

PS Nothing in life is a sure thing. However placing your destiny in the hands of airline management doesn't seem like a good idea either. I would rather take my chances under my own management.

SkyHigh

In Alaska I was competing against Norwegian, English, Canadians and the occasional Australian. I can recall foreigners at almost every company I worked for.

SKyHigh

surreal1221

Hmm. . .I believe it.

But my comments were more directed to the large influx of international flight training done by international students of third (or what are perceived to be) world countries that are now getting massive expansion in their own aviation infrastructure.

My new hire class had a gentlemen from Sweden, who could legally work here, one from Canada, and then a dual citizen-ship US/Canada gentlemen.

The difference with our Norwegian, English, Canadian, and Australian friends is that we (our government) hand out the appropriate visas for them to work here, where as we do not for our Chinese or Indian students. At least not nearly at the same level.