Getting Out?
07-13-2008, 04:48 PM
#31
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Pacific Northwest
That's a great point. My goal was to be an airline pilot. I did what I had to do to get here. I was successful in my goal. The goal just isn't what I thought it would be.
I like how you put it. We didn't fail in our career, the career failed us.
Hey sky high, do you live in the Northwest? Just curious because of your Horizon air time
I like how you put it. We didn't fail in our career, the career failed us.
Hey sky high, do you live in the Northwest? Just curious because of your Horizon air time
Skyhigh
07-13-2008, 06:10 PM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
Posts: 4,357
"You guys are missing the point-we didn't fail in this career, the career failed us"
Whatever makes you feel better...
Some will stick it out through the hard times without the doom and gloom presented here. Someone said not everyone was made for this career. Yeah, I'd buy that. Too bad there isn't a way to figure that out before spending the big bucks on ATP or Riddle. In the end, though, even in these tough times, people are finding jobs outside the airlines, or are happy with the job they have. No reason to rain on their parade.
Not everyone is cut out for, or needs to, "leave the career", To each his own.
Tough times tend to weed out those who can't stick with it for one reason or another. It's always been that way. Nothing wrong with that and no reason to feel bad about it. Best of luck to those who feel the need to walk away.
Whatever makes you feel better...
Some will stick it out through the hard times without the doom and gloom presented here. Someone said not everyone was made for this career. Yeah, I'd buy that. Too bad there isn't a way to figure that out before spending the big bucks on ATP or Riddle. In the end, though, even in these tough times, people are finding jobs outside the airlines, or are happy with the job they have. No reason to rain on their parade.
Not everyone is cut out for, or needs to, "leave the career", To each his own.
Tough times tend to weed out those who can't stick with it for one reason or another. It's always been that way. Nothing wrong with that and no reason to feel bad about it. Best of luck to those who feel the need to walk away.
07-13-2008, 06:19 PM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
Hey Easy,
Sorry to hear about your marriage. Things like that are the real cost of this career that people don't like to hear about. And yes, to all those peeps out there that say it happens in any career that is true. But at least in those careers your not on the phone in a hotel trying to talk to your family(in my case my wife and kid) and you can be there when its needed. Hell, I still haven't unpacked my toiletry kit(I'm a very well trained gearmonkey) and am still living out of it at home!
With all that being said I am proud I made it and did fly 121 ops. I still think about what I accomplished with fondness. With that said, I never thought I'd be one of those guys posting about how I left the airlines last week to get my life back
Good luck to my brothers and sister's going through the same dilemma...
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Sorry to hear about your marriage. Things like that are the real cost of this career that people don't like to hear about. And yes, to all those peeps out there that say it happens in any career that is true. But at least in those careers your not on the phone in a hotel trying to talk to your family(in my case my wife and kid) and you can be there when its needed. Hell, I still haven't unpacked my toiletry kit(I'm a very well trained gearmonkey) and am still living out of it at home!
With all that being said I am proud I made it and did fly 121 ops. I still think about what I accomplished with fondness. With that said, I never thought I'd be one of those guys posting about how I left the airlines last week to get my life back
Good luck to my brothers and sister's going through the same dilemma... </div>
07-13-2008, 07:34 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
Some will stick it out through the hard times without the doom and gloom presented here.
No reason to rain on their parade.
Don't you have a 757/767 to go fly or something DE727UPS? Although, I do appreciate someone of your stature(Capt. UPS) has the time to hang out and comment on people talking about leaving aviation as a career...See Ya'
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07-13-2008, 08:02 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
Posts: 4,357
"Don't you have a 757/767 to go fly or something DE727UPS?"
Well....actually I do. But it doesn't happen much as I fly about 3 days a month on reserve. I'm one of those seemingly nonexistant guys who has found happiness in the aviation career.
"Although, I do appreciate someone of your stature(Capt. UPS) has the time to hang out and comment on people talking about leaving aviation as a career."
I'm simply here to refute what I believe is an overly negative picture being portrayed about the future of being a pilot. If you all would like me to leave your pity party alone, it's no problem. I can do that. But I'd suggest that anyone who reads the thread needs to understand that only one side of the story is being told here. I read all the forums at this site and I see that the fracs are doing well and others in the biz seem content with sticking it out, in spite of todays challenges.
To all those at the thread who are walking: What will you do next and what are the guarantees that it will be better? Seems to me many careers are in the dumps along with the economy in general. If you can get hired as Skyhighs tile floor installer, sounds like you might have a great gig that far outweighs flying for a living. But for the rest of you.....what will YOU be doing? Maybe we should start a sub-forum about "leaving the career jobs". What do they pay? What is the QOL? How do you get hired?
This is what people want to know if they are considering walking away from the airlines.
Well....actually I do. But it doesn't happen much as I fly about 3 days a month on reserve. I'm one of those seemingly nonexistant guys who has found happiness in the aviation career.
"Although, I do appreciate someone of your stature(Capt. UPS) has the time to hang out and comment on people talking about leaving aviation as a career."
I'm simply here to refute what I believe is an overly negative picture being portrayed about the future of being a pilot. If you all would like me to leave your pity party alone, it's no problem. I can do that. But I'd suggest that anyone who reads the thread needs to understand that only one side of the story is being told here. I read all the forums at this site and I see that the fracs are doing well and others in the biz seem content with sticking it out, in spite of todays challenges.
To all those at the thread who are walking: What will you do next and what are the guarantees that it will be better? Seems to me many careers are in the dumps along with the economy in general. If you can get hired as Skyhighs tile floor installer, sounds like you might have a great gig that far outweighs flying for a living. But for the rest of you.....what will YOU be doing? Maybe we should start a sub-forum about "leaving the career jobs". What do they pay? What is the QOL? How do you get hired?
This is what people want to know if they are considering walking away from the airlines.
07-13-2008, 08:06 PM
#36
Cleared for Takeoff
Joined APC: Oct 2007
Position: Air Bus Driver
Posts: 119
In regards to being away from home as a pilot, there are many other professions that require it. As a result, you do miss out on important times in family life, but that is part of the job. Everyone who even contemplates becoming a pilot should know and understand this. Alot of professions, especially in the business world where I used to work, caused me to miss things that I wish I would have been able to go to. So even individuals that dont travel, and have a desk job are still away from there family a ton. Its a blessing that as pilots we have at least 14 full days off a month.
07-13-2008, 10:41 PM
#37
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
I'm simply here to refute what I believe is an overly negative picture being portrayed about the future of being a pilot
Well....actually I do. But it doesn't happen much as I fly about 3 days a month on reserve.
I'm one of those seemingly nonexistant guys who has found happiness in the aviation career.
DE727UPS why don't you create a forum for "happy to be in aviation" forum? I'm being serious, that would probably be a more appropriate place for your motivational speaking than the "leaving the career" forum...
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07-13-2008, 10:47 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Reverse cowgirl
Posts: 106
de727
I know this thread is starting to sound like a pity party, and that's not the intent. (At least I don't think it is.) You are absolutly right, there are plenty of people that will thrive in the industry as is stands today and however it looks tomorrow. Take yourself. I think is bad @ss that you get to fly a 75. I know you've had many layovers and hotel stays and have felt the bad as well as the good. Nobody should try and take away from your accomplishments, and I can't compare my life to yours because we don't know eachother. (As far as how being away is such a struggle and if it's worth it.)
This is what I do know though. I love flying more than just about anything. You're right in saying "what else, how else and what will I be paid and for how long?" I'm looking into law enforcement personally. I'm going to miss the little things like bringing the gear up, meeting a new crew, and for some reason even commuting. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like an aviator at heart.
What I can't do anymore though is hope my job is secure when it's clearly not. I'm looking at a second furlough by the end of summer. I know I'm not unique in that fact, I'm just saying I don't want to deal with that anymore. I don't want to miss my son learning something new everyday. I don't want to feel like my skills as a pilot are being taken advantage of. I feel so lucky to be able to say I accomplished my goal of being an airline pilot. I'm also lucky to have worked with some of the most professional people I've ever come accross. I'm just simply stepping away, not because I can't hack it but because the lifestyle doesn't fit anymore. No regrets. Just another job opening
I know this thread is starting to sound like a pity party, and that's not the intent. (At least I don't think it is.) You are absolutly right, there are plenty of people that will thrive in the industry as is stands today and however it looks tomorrow. Take yourself. I think is bad @ss that you get to fly a 75. I know you've had many layovers and hotel stays and have felt the bad as well as the good. Nobody should try and take away from your accomplishments, and I can't compare my life to yours because we don't know eachother. (As far as how being away is such a struggle and if it's worth it.)
This is what I do know though. I love flying more than just about anything. You're right in saying "what else, how else and what will I be paid and for how long?" I'm looking into law enforcement personally. I'm going to miss the little things like bringing the gear up, meeting a new crew, and for some reason even commuting. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like an aviator at heart.
What I can't do anymore though is hope my job is secure when it's clearly not. I'm looking at a second furlough by the end of summer. I know I'm not unique in that fact, I'm just saying I don't want to deal with that anymore. I don't want to miss my son learning something new everyday. I don't want to feel like my skills as a pilot are being taken advantage of. I feel so lucky to be able to say I accomplished my goal of being an airline pilot. I'm also lucky to have worked with some of the most professional people I've ever come accross. I'm just simply stepping away, not because I can't hack it but because the lifestyle doesn't fit anymore. No regrets. Just another job opening
07-14-2008, 03:49 AM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,383
de727
I know this thread is starting to sound like a pity party, and that's not the intent. (At least I don't think it is.) You are absolutly right, there are plenty of people that will thrive in the industry as is stands today and however it looks tomorrow. Take yourself. I think is bad @ss that you get to fly a 75. I know you've had many layovers and hotel stays and have felt the bad as well as the good. Nobody should try and take away from your accomplishments, and I can't compare my life to yours because we don't know eachother. (As far as how being away is such a struggle and if it's worth it.)
This is what I do know though. I love flying more than just about anything. You're right in saying "what else, how else and what will I be paid and for how long?" I'm looking into law enforcement personally. I'm going to miss the little things like bringing the gear up, meeting a new crew, and for some reason even commuting. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like an aviator at heart.
What I can't do anymore though is hope my job is secure when it's clearly not. I'm looking at a second furlough by the end of summer. I know I'm not unique in that fact, I'm just saying I don't want to deal with that anymore. I don't want to miss my son learning something new everyday. I don't want to feel like my skills as a pilot are being taken advantage of. I feel so lucky to be able to say I accomplished my goal of being an airline pilot. I'm also lucky to have worked with some of the most professional people I've ever come accross. I'm just simply stepping away, not because I can't hack it but because the lifestyle doesn't fit anymore. No regrets. Just another job opening
I know this thread is starting to sound like a pity party, and that's not the intent. (At least I don't think it is.) You are absolutly right, there are plenty of people that will thrive in the industry as is stands today and however it looks tomorrow. Take yourself. I think is bad @ss that you get to fly a 75. I know you've had many layovers and hotel stays and have felt the bad as well as the good. Nobody should try and take away from your accomplishments, and I can't compare my life to yours because we don't know eachother. (As far as how being away is such a struggle and if it's worth it.)
This is what I do know though. I love flying more than just about anything. You're right in saying "what else, how else and what will I be paid and for how long?" I'm looking into law enforcement personally. I'm going to miss the little things like bringing the gear up, meeting a new crew, and for some reason even commuting. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like an aviator at heart.
What I can't do anymore though is hope my job is secure when it's clearly not. I'm looking at a second furlough by the end of summer. I know I'm not unique in that fact, I'm just saying I don't want to deal with that anymore. I don't want to miss my son learning something new everyday. I don't want to feel like my skills as a pilot are being taken advantage of. I feel so lucky to be able to say I accomplished my goal of being an airline pilot. I'm also lucky to have worked with some of the most professional people I've ever come accross. I'm just simply stepping away, not because I can't hack it but because the lifestyle doesn't fit anymore. No regrets. Just another job opening
07-14-2008, 04:55 AM
#40
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 34
I love aviation and being a pilot. I am still a pilot even though I am no longer driving a crj around the country. I will always be a pilot, even though my monkey suit and stripes are now in the closet and will remain there. It'll make a nice gift for my son someday. For me, there were many reasons to stay in and many reasons to get out of being an airline pilot. In the end, it wasn't the $, I knew what I'd be earning before I got in. I knew about the lifestyle and time away from home, too. I think we all do. One thing that I hate, though, is how aviation doesn't reward hard work/being a good person/all that jazz. Yes I knew about that, too, but in just about any other profession, if you work harder and do more than the next guy, you'll surpass him in status, earnings, benefits, everything. Not so in flying. Now my hard work is rewarded with income, real dollars that I can spend buzzing around in a rented 172 or in a 737 sim if I need to crank up a turbine! Everyone is different. I have respect for all pilots--I'm still one myself.
