HotMamaPilot

Crewdawg:
Thanks for your post. Rather than answer each of your questions, let me ask one: are you married with children?
The reason I ask is that it seems like the real happy folks are the people that have no obligations at base. Like the guy who thinks that growing a mustache in may is enough in and of itself to get into aviation. The word juvenile comes to mind.

USMCFLYR

Skylover - this comes from an airline pilot who has had all the right connections and doors opened to her, so take that for what it is worth. It is but one opinion.

This board is where people come to complain and blow off steam. I've been around aviation and airline pilots probably as long as she has and I have run into VERY few who view aviation in the same manner.

Aviation is a fickle business and for many it will not lead to the rewards that some have expected, for some they have reached the brass ring and are still bitter, others should have never given it a try and then are bitter at the end of the road.

The good thing about this forum is that you can read opinions from every sector of aviation, sift through the chaff, figure out what s worth listening too or relying on in your own mind and then make an informed decision based on your own circumstances.

Go into it blind and in love with an idea that doesn't do justice to the realities of the business, especially if you are focusing on the airline business, and you are likely to end up like many on these boards - disillusioned and disappointed.

The moron comment is her way of showing she cares
Some feel the need to hurl insults to more clearly make their points.
I encourage you to go to the 'Leaving the Career' section and read more of HMP's posts and others who share her feelings. They are on one side of the scale and feel no reason to report any balance in their views, yet if another pilot were to only propose the GOOD side of aviation then they have all types of names to sue in response.

In the end skylover - be smart, be well read, be well informed about what is really happening in all facets of the aviation world and make the best decision for YOU. All things that you should be doing no matter what future endeavors you contemplate.

USMCFLYR

galaxy flyer

As Louis Armstrong said to the young kid, "if you have to ask, you ain't never gonna know". The subject was jazz, the answer was universal.

GF

brn2fly72

Skylover, please look at all sides. HMP is a glass is have empty type of person. Unfortunately there are more negative posts about the airline industry like her's than there is positive post here. I know several pilots that love what they do and don't post on here. I am a glass have full type of person. I have flown for almost 20 years now and plan on another 20. I have flown in the Air Force and the Army as a crew-member and pilot; I currently fly 767 internationally and CH-47 for a Guard Unit. I can tell for sure that I love flying more today than when I started; and I make less than HMP. Sure it has its ups and downs and we miss a lot of holidays/anniversary/birthdays but my family celebrates them when we are together (married and three kids).

Again please read all you can and ask a lot of questions. Make sure if you decide to enter aviation/airline industry as a pilot that you have a back up if you lose your medical.

Don't become one of those miserable pilots that complaints all the time and can't get out.

"Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life"

skylover

Thanks; I'm young enough that I really do have time to consider a number of career paths. Other professions I have considered include law and something with business, both of which I think I'd be very successful with. But those jobs don't excite me. Flying excites me. And if I'm going to be in a profession for 40+ years, I need something that I'll be excited to wake up every day and do.

I completely understand the negatives of this kind of career - not seeing family, weak job security, low beginning pay, union/contract issues, etc. But there are so many positives about the career as well that I believe many current pilots sometimes take for granted.

I know this is "dangerous" to say around here, but as of now, flying is something that I'd be willing to do for free, if I didn't have to worry about actually making a living. In other words, if for some reason I had enough money for life, flying is something I'd still want to do. I know many others don't think that way, but at this point, that's how I see it. Of course, I'm just a naive, young dreamer right now

pitchtrim

Yeah I'm sure that guy was serious.

To the OP, do it cause you want to or do something else if you don't. Its a job like any other. Good parts and bad parts. Either you enjoy it enough to keep doing it, hate it and do something else, or complain and do nothing.

TurboDVR42

BRN2fly,

He asked regional/major pilots. Based on your post you dint take the regional route. I do not know your training history (sounds like you did your training with military, which is smart), but it seems like Skylover is going to take the regional route. He needs to know that
1. First year pay will be in the LOW 20s
2. Second year will not in the LOW 30s
3. There is no such a thing as planning on a quick upgrade
4. The benefits will be non-existing
5. The student loans will still need to be paid!
6. Be prepared of a base closure with short notice (I know I am about to move for a third time, only been flying 121 since 2008)

This job is not what it used to be. Look at the Departures in the mid 1980s...mostly done by mainline airplanes flown by mainline pilots at mainline wages....1990s CRJ100/200 introduced....Current day half (if not more) departures are done by the regionals. The higher paid jobs are more difficult to obtain and do not pay what they used to. There are airlines out there flying 99 seat jets for $35/hr. There are talks about a certain regional obtaining and flying 717s. Today’s 737 replacement is not 7XX…it’s a pair of E170s.
In order to have a fulfilling career one must examine ALL aspects of the job.

skylover

What exactly do you mean by this?

TurboDVR42

401k....health...travel benefits (priority level)...retirement...vacation...sick time...loss of medical, those are few to name

pitchtrim

I actually disagree a little about pay and benefits. Not all regionals (though most) pay that poorly with horrible benefits. Pick and choose wisely, even if it means waiting longer is my advice.