Looking Back
05-26-2010, 09:22 PM
#1
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Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Looking Back
The thing that kills me the most about my dead airline career is how I wasted my youth pining over aviation magazines and working several jobs to pay for training while my friends smoked pot and chased girls.
All the wasted years I spent in my 20's living in huts in the cold north flying the bush while my buddies played in the sun back home I will never get back. Man what a spectacular time I could have had with all the money I spent and long nights wasted at the gas station trying to dutifully pay for my next lesson.
And here I thought I was putting my time to better more diligent use.
Oh well. Next life I guess.
Skyhigh
All the wasted years I spent in my 20's living in huts in the cold north flying the bush while my buddies played in the sun back home I will never get back. Man what a spectacular time I could have had with all the money I spent and long nights wasted at the gas station trying to dutifully pay for my next lesson.
And here I thought I was putting my time to better more diligent use.
Oh well. Next life I guess. Skyhigh
05-26-2010, 09:40 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Posts: 111
It is a sad post you have there.
In the hopes of cheering you up, you have lead a good life. Flying the bush in the cold north, is quite a life. They make movies about those bush pilots. Besides, I bet if you look at the lives of your buddies, you will see ones with their own share of mediocrity and regret. I doubt you are the type of man that defines himself strictly by the job he does. All that work and the sacrifce has taught you that if one has a dream (allbeit misguided, looking back) one can accomplish anything in this life. Knowing that, is a powerful thing - especially to teach that to your children, and knowing it to be personally true.
My .02 cents,
-Aloha
In the hopes of cheering you up, you have lead a good life. Flying the bush in the cold north, is quite a life. They make movies about those bush pilots. Besides, I bet if you look at the lives of your buddies, you will see ones with their own share of mediocrity and regret. I doubt you are the type of man that defines himself strictly by the job he does. All that work and the sacrifce has taught you that if one has a dream (allbeit misguided, looking back) one can accomplish anything in this life. Knowing that, is a powerful thing - especially to teach that to your children, and knowing it to be personally true.
My .02 cents,
-Aloha
05-26-2010, 11:24 PM
#3
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Joined APC: May 2010
Posts: 54
Why not try getting back into it? I know sometimes the money isn't the best, but it's for the love of the profession is it not? Besides you rack up enough seniority and time you end up chipping out at least a descent wage. Though, the probability of that in the future is beginning to look bleak. I couldn't think of something else I'd rather do though.
05-27-2010, 06:40 AM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Get back
av8r007,
I have a family to support. They do not want to have to give up our home friends, family and lifestyle to move far away into a two bedroom apartment so that I can play airline pilot. Besides that a huge part of the dream is to be able to live a better life than if I had not made all the sacrifices I did. I can not see how that is possible anymore.
There was a time when I could not see myself doing anything else. There are things we would like to do and those that we have to do. At some point there are choices to make. The dream has not measured up to the sacrifices it took to get there.
Skyhigh
I have a family to support. They do not want to have to give up our home friends, family and lifestyle to move far away into a two bedroom apartment so that I can play airline pilot. Besides that a huge part of the dream is to be able to live a better life than if I had not made all the sacrifices I did. I can not see how that is possible anymore.
There was a time when I could not see myself doing anything else. There are things we would like to do and those that we have to do. At some point there are choices to make. The dream has not measured up to the sacrifices it took to get there.
Skyhigh
05-27-2010, 06:54 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
Let me help you out with your quote there a little Sky
It works for some, it doesn't work for others.
"Smoking pot and chasing girls" is what would have been rather doing than flying the bush huh?
And here I am imagining what a time I could have had in my 20s if I had gotten the chance to fly the bush for awhile.
Well if that isn't a case of different priorities for different people
USMCFLYR
"Smoking pot and chasing girls" is what would have been rather doing than flying the bush huh?
And here I am imagining what a time I could have had in my 20s if I had gotten the chance to fly the bush for awhile.
Well if that isn't a case of different priorities for different people
USMCFLYR
05-27-2010, 06:59 AM
#6
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Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
It is sad
It is a sad post you have there.
In the hopes of cheering you up, you have lead a good life. Flying the bush in the cold north, is quite a life. They make movies about those bush pilots. Besides, I bet if you look at the lives of your buddies, you will see ones with their own share of mediocrity and regret. I doubt you are the type of man that defines himself strictly by the job he does. All that work and the sacrifce has taught you that if one has a dream (allbeit misguided, looking back) one can accomplish anything in this life. Knowing that, is a powerful thing - especially to teach that to your children, and knowing it to be personally true.
My .02 cents,
-Aloha
In the hopes of cheering you up, you have lead a good life. Flying the bush in the cold north, is quite a life. They make movies about those bush pilots. Besides, I bet if you look at the lives of your buddies, you will see ones with their own share of mediocrity and regret. I doubt you are the type of man that defines himself strictly by the job he does. All that work and the sacrifce has taught you that if one has a dream (allbeit misguided, looking back) one can accomplish anything in this life. Knowing that, is a powerful thing - especially to teach that to your children, and knowing it to be personally true.
My .02 cents,
-Aloha
I was able to accomplish a lot of things however none of them lead to the completion of my goal. My journey to aviation was long and painful. I did a lot of things that I did not want to do because the trail lead there and I though that on the other side of the list of sacrifices was my goal.
I ended up wasting the best years of my life, youthful momentum and determination on a dead end. It all was a waste. My peers who all lead monotonous lives now can enjoy status, respect and value in their careers.
I do measure myself by the job. It becomes more important as we age. Now approaching middle age feel like a fool. I don't know how old you are but accomplishments and professional status begin to mean more as we get older. My flying career took the best of my time and resources. I have seen a lot of my peers reduced to a small apartment by middle age thanks to their flying career. No family, few friends and no life. We are doing well but it is not what I had hoped for.
I don't know what to tell my children.
Skyhigh
05-27-2010, 07:05 AM
#7
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Sacrifises
Let me help you out with your quote there a little Sky
It works for some, it doesn't work for others.
"Smoking pot and chasing girls" is what would have been rather doing than flying the bush huh?
And here I am imagining what a time I could have had in my 20s if I had gotten the chance to fly the bush for awhile.
Well if that isn't a case of different priorities for different people
USMCFLYR
It works for some, it doesn't work for others.
"Smoking pot and chasing girls" is what would have been rather doing than flying the bush huh?
And here I am imagining what a time I could have had in my 20s if I had gotten the chance to fly the bush for awhile.
Well if that isn't a case of different priorities for different people
USMCFLYR
You are right, for those whose expectations are to make a good living and to be respected for what they have accomplished this profession is not a good place to be. However if you don't care about what you end up doing all day, how much you will earn or where you will end up it is great.
Skyhigh
05-27-2010, 07:19 AM
#8
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Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
At this point
During my bush flying years a retired guy who flew into our remote village in a 172 told me and my co-workers that one day we would look back at our time in the bush and the memories would be worth more than "money or gold".
It has been over 20 years and we are still waiting. None of my Alaska peers made it very far at all and a few of them died flying the bush. I am sure that they all would gladly take the trade.
Skyhigh
It has been over 20 years and we are still waiting. None of my Alaska peers made it very far at all and a few of them died flying the bush. I am sure that they all would gladly take the trade.
Skyhigh
05-27-2010, 07:30 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,839
You are right, for those whose expectations are to make a good living and to be respected for what they have accomplished this profession is not a good place to be. However if you don't care about what you end up doing all day, how much you will earn or where you will end up it is great.
Skyhigh
The problem is - for those that haven't read any other of Sky's thousands of posts, which all say the same thing - he only presents his side of the story and wishes the same misfortunes on others.
Sky as a lot of good points. His views are just so one sided and extreme that it is nearly impossible to pick out the gems of wisdom from among the muck and the mire of a less than expected airline career IN HIS CASE.
You get angry and defend yourself when others call you bitter and a quitter, yet when anyone tries to share an actual success story in aviation, you called them a flag waiver.
We've had these same discussions over and over Sky. You tool a break for awhile it seemed. I thought you might have even left the forum for greener pastures; but I see that you are back in full force now. Question. How many threads have you started with the SAME STORY of your misguided/misspent youth chasing the dream? Why?
USMCFLYR
05-27-2010, 08:04 AM
#10
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Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Reasons
Don't misquote me Sky. I never said the above or implied it. That is how YOU feel.
The problem is - for those that haven't read any other of Sky's thousands of posts, which all say the same thing - he only presents his side of the story and wishes the same misfortunes on others.
Sky as a lot of good points. His views are just so one sided and extreme that it is nearly impossible to pick out the gems of wisdom from among the muck and the mire of a less than expected airline career IN HIS CASE.
You get angry and defend yourself when others call you bitter and a quitter, yet when anyone tries to share an actual success story in aviation, you called them a flag waiver.
We've had these same discussions over and over Sky. You tool a break for awhile it seemed. I thought you might have even left the forum for greener pastures; but I see that you are back in full force now. Question. How many threads have you started with the SAME STORY of your misguided/misspent youth chasing the dream? Why?
USMCFLYR
The problem is - for those that haven't read any other of Sky's thousands of posts, which all say the same thing - he only presents his side of the story and wishes the same misfortunes on others.
Sky as a lot of good points. His views are just so one sided and extreme that it is nearly impossible to pick out the gems of wisdom from among the muck and the mire of a less than expected airline career IN HIS CASE.
You get angry and defend yourself when others call you bitter and a quitter, yet when anyone tries to share an actual success story in aviation, you called them a flag waiver.
We've had these same discussions over and over Sky. You tool a break for awhile it seemed. I thought you might have even left the forum for greener pastures; but I see that you are back in full force now. Question. How many threads have you started with the SAME STORY of your misguided/misspent youth chasing the dream? Why?
USMCFLYR
I have nothing against those who have made it to their dream. It is those who do not acknowledge the luck and personal advantages that they had and how it made a difference for them are who I have an issue with. It falsely leads others to believe that they have the same opportunities when possibly they do not.
New pilots need to hear the truth about what they are getting into. They need to try and put themselves into the place of the middle aged pilot who is trying to support a family. They need to look down the road a decade or two to determine if it is really what they want or not.
It is important for others to hear the daily hardships and consequences of the life of a pilot. Everyday all they get is the UAL captain who got hired at 21. (no one tells them that their father was best friends with the chief pilot) The reality for most is vastly different. How else are they to get that information?
Skyhigh
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