The glory days are over
05-30-2006, 07:03 PM
#81
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: A320 capt
Posts: 161
wow digging ditches!!
Originally Posted by Calpilot
I do not think the views expressed by skyhigh is off base at all. This job is a difficult one and a lot of sacrifices have to be made to be "successful". The pay at the regional level is pathetic and the number of "good" airline jobs are slim. It takes a special person with a very understanding family to peruse a career in this industry today.
I had an opportunity to fly in China after 9/11. At the time it was either that or dig ditches. I chose to dig ditches but was fortunate to find another job in aviation before I went to home depot to buy a shovel.
My advice is fly to live do not live to fly!
I had an opportunity to fly in China after 9/11. At the time it was either that or dig ditches. I chose to dig ditches but was fortunate to find another job in aviation before I went to home depot to buy a shovel.
My advice is fly to live do not live to fly!
my advice, --u should look into another career.
05-30-2006, 09:53 PM
#82
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2005
Position: tri current
Posts: 1,485
Sky:
I wasn't going to post on this thread anymore because some of the things you say are so far out of date that they lack any credibility. Flyer Josh and others have tried to point out to you again and again that what you say is not necessarily true. What happened to a group of guys 20 or 30 years ago has nothing to do with what may happen to the same group of guys today.
First of all, if you live in the Middle East, you do not necesarily live in a compound, let along an American compound. Stop watching CNN and believing everything you see on the TV. I live in a regular neighborhood without walls or fences. My neighbors are from all over the world. My wife can drive the car and she can walk down the street in normal western clothing.
Second, my friends who brought their families from the States are for the most part very happy with the move. They see their wives and kids much more than they did when they were flying in the States. Their overall family life quality has gone up, not down. Their kids will grow up in a rich multi-cultural environment and be so far ahead of the children in the States in areas like geography, language, religion, culture, and history that they will be a step ahead of others when they start their professional careers.
Third, world opinion is against the U.S. government, not Americans. Any educated person outside of the USA is able to make that differentiation.
Fourth, if you were to take 10 married couples of today and see how many were divorced 10 years from now, whether living in the States or having relocated overseas, the number would most likely be the same. Just because they got divorced while overseas doesn't mean the same wouldn't have happened to that couple if they had stayed in the States.
So just give it up Sky.
TP
I wasn't going to post on this thread anymore because some of the things you say are so far out of date that they lack any credibility. Flyer Josh and others have tried to point out to you again and again that what you say is not necessarily true. What happened to a group of guys 20 or 30 years ago has nothing to do with what may happen to the same group of guys today.
First of all, if you live in the Middle East, you do not necesarily live in a compound, let along an American compound. Stop watching CNN and believing everything you see on the TV. I live in a regular neighborhood without walls or fences. My neighbors are from all over the world. My wife can drive the car and she can walk down the street in normal western clothing.
Second, my friends who brought their families from the States are for the most part very happy with the move. They see their wives and kids much more than they did when they were flying in the States. Their overall family life quality has gone up, not down. Their kids will grow up in a rich multi-cultural environment and be so far ahead of the children in the States in areas like geography, language, religion, culture, and history that they will be a step ahead of others when they start their professional careers.
Third, world opinion is against the U.S. government, not Americans. Any educated person outside of the USA is able to make that differentiation.
Fourth, if you were to take 10 married couples of today and see how many were divorced 10 years from now, whether living in the States or having relocated overseas, the number would most likely be the same. Just because they got divorced while overseas doesn't mean the same wouldn't have happened to that couple if they had stayed in the States.
So just give it up Sky.
TP
05-31-2006, 05:30 AM
#83
Just Plane Stupid
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: Captain
Posts: 461
I think most of the domestic flying pilots are scared of overseas flying...And that's why you see a negative response when it come to flying for an airline like Emirates...Those who are short sighted about relocation to a far part of the world are probably the type that were affraid to cross a busy street as a kid. I would shoot myself if I was stuck bidding on Domestic flying from a hub to an exotic location like Springfield...D'OHHHHHHHHH!
good ole sky
05-31-2006, 06:34 AM
#86
Self Employed.
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Overseas People
I am sure that you all enjoy your lives overseas and that the food is great and all. What a joy it must be to see other cultures and to read the USA Today in a Starbucks in Dubai. However the majority of people would not accept that as a normal life. I don't know all the details of each country but I am fairly certain that you can't own land there, Grandma and Grandpa are not going to pop in for a barbecue and that you can't go bass fishing in the UAE or Hog Kong. It might look like a real life on the surface but some essential elements are missing. In addition I can't imagine what the future is for those who work overseas other than more overseas work. After a life of luxury and respect in a foreign land how would one accept the grist mill of a pilot job back in the USA? It might have the look and feel of the dream but it is a hollow version without an exit strategy.
Please, if I am way off base please enlighten me. Many times over my career I have examined making the same choice but can't get past some huge objections.
SKyHigh
Please, if I am way off base please enlighten me. Many times over my career I have examined making the same choice but can't get past some huge objections.
SKyHigh
05-31-2006, 07:16 AM
#87
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
So Skyhigh, what is a normal life? Are you prepared to define it? What is the average American lifestyle?
Sitting in front of the TV watching Jerry Springer? Shopping every payday at Walmart? Visiting "Grams" and "Gramps" on the 4th of July? Bass fishing every Sunday?
The biggest problem with this country is the elitist and closed minded attitude that Americans have about every other culture/country out there. Mostly it's from the fact that people have never experienced anything different from "the norm", nor do they want to.
Ever been hunting for big game in Turkey or gone diving on the reefs of the Southern Pacific? How about spear fishing in Trinidad or camping in the rain forests of Costa Rica? You might not be fishing for small mouth bass in Hong Kong, but I guarantee you that anywhere you go, you can always find a place to drop a line in the water and pull something good out.
As for other countries and "modern-day" amenities, do you think that only the US has movie theatres, golf courses, ski resorts, shopping malls, car dealerships, theme parks? You can find just about every American activity in any other industrialized nation in the world.
As for owning land in foreign countries, while there are often some restrictions, it almost never bars individuals from purchasing property for private/non-commercial/non-agricultural uses. You might have to pay more money for it or jump through some hoops in the process (sometimes as simple as meeting a local governor or magistrate), but it's possible to do in just about every country that allows US citizens to visit or stay for extended periods of time. (Consider all of the various vacation homes that celebrities have around the world- all it takes is money).
Like I've said before- overseas living isn't for everybody. If you're the type of person that has to watch Oprah and eat McDonalds every other day, then odds are it's not for you. However if you have an open mind and enjoy new cultures and having new experiences, living abroad can be quite exciting and a remarkable experience.
Of course if you're perfectly content fishing the same lake that you always have, tossing back the same big mouth bass that you've been catching each week for the past 22 years, by all means, stick to your little corner of the world. I'm more than happy to send you a post card.
Sitting in front of the TV watching Jerry Springer? Shopping every payday at Walmart? Visiting "Grams" and "Gramps" on the 4th of July? Bass fishing every Sunday?
The biggest problem with this country is the elitist and closed minded attitude that Americans have about every other culture/country out there. Mostly it's from the fact that people have never experienced anything different from "the norm", nor do they want to.
Ever been hunting for big game in Turkey or gone diving on the reefs of the Southern Pacific? How about spear fishing in Trinidad or camping in the rain forests of Costa Rica? You might not be fishing for small mouth bass in Hong Kong, but I guarantee you that anywhere you go, you can always find a place to drop a line in the water and pull something good out.
As for other countries and "modern-day" amenities, do you think that only the US has movie theatres, golf courses, ski resorts, shopping malls, car dealerships, theme parks? You can find just about every American activity in any other industrialized nation in the world.
As for owning land in foreign countries, while there are often some restrictions, it almost never bars individuals from purchasing property for private/non-commercial/non-agricultural uses. You might have to pay more money for it or jump through some hoops in the process (sometimes as simple as meeting a local governor or magistrate), but it's possible to do in just about every country that allows US citizens to visit or stay for extended periods of time. (Consider all of the various vacation homes that celebrities have around the world- all it takes is money).
Like I've said before- overseas living isn't for everybody. If you're the type of person that has to watch Oprah and eat McDonalds every other day, then odds are it's not for you. However if you have an open mind and enjoy new cultures and having new experiences, living abroad can be quite exciting and a remarkable experience.
Of course if you're perfectly content fishing the same lake that you always have, tossing back the same big mouth bass that you've been catching each week for the past 22 years, by all means, stick to your little corner of the world. I'm more than happy to send you a post card.
05-31-2006, 07:24 AM
#88
AAmerican Way for AA Pay
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: B-737 Pilot
Posts: 1,617
Originally Posted by HeavyDriver
I think most of the domestic flying pilots are scared of overseas flying...And that's why you see a negative response when it come to flying for an airline like Emirates...Those who are short sighted about relocation to a far part of the world are probably the type that were affraid to cross a busy street as a kid. I would shoot myself if I was stuck bidding on Domestic flying from a hub to an exotic location like Springfield...D'OHHHHHHHHH!
Springfield, WHERE, HeavyDriver???
Rather be in Kuwait or Bishkek, huh?
05-31-2006, 07:42 AM
#89
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Posts: 408
I'd say most Americans WOULD like to try new experiences (world travel in this context), but are unable to do so for a variety of reasons, mostly finance/job related. How many people have you ever heard say "No, I have no desire to ever visit Paris. Not for me, thanks." I wouldn't ascribe that mindset to anyone I've ever known, from elite businessmen to broke trailer park types. However, there's a huge difference between traveling and living abroad. You don't have to assume those who wouldn't prefer the latter are closed-minded and don't enjoy new experiences. As much as I may have enjoyed living in South Korea and Germany for a total of five years, there was never a time when I didn't ultimately consider the US home.
05-31-2006, 07:50 AM
#90
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,242
I've lived overseas for the past 8 1/2 out of 13 years. I never missed the USA or considered it home. I remember once returning from KSA thinking how wonderful it was to be back home in Germany.
I would rather live and work overseas and retire in the USA.
In total I've spent 19 1/2 years of my life overseas. I'm 34 now.
-LAFF
I would rather live and work overseas and retire in the USA.
In total I've spent 19 1/2 years of my life overseas. I'm 34 now.
-LAFF
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