GravellyPointer

Lots of posters opposed to SkyHigh. Well, I know plenty of pilots who got divorced due to this job, abuse alcohol due to this job, have a very unsatisfactory married sex life due to this job (me included), cheated on their wives/girlfriends due to this job, miss valuable time with their children due to this job. Is the sacrifice worth it? I thought so for the last 8 years but not anymore. I've given up that my marriage will improve enough for us to make it for the long run. Maybe my wife is not very suitable for this (not an ex FA who like sex for the sake of it, a farmer's daughter who resents her husband for being gone) but I'm not ready to get divorced while raising two daughters aged 3 and 7. In an act of Love and sacrifice she let me make this career change, now we're distant from each other, have little emotional intimacy and very rarely physical. Basically I'm in a sexless marriage with a bitter and resentful overweight spouse. And it's all my fault. Also, I have no time for hobbies and friends, am trying to remodel a house on my days off with my own labor, cause my RJ CA pay doesn't provide enough $ to pay someone to do it without jacking up our credit debt back up to $20K. And we live in low cost of living Iowa, have cars with 100K and 150K miles, have no HDTV, and one real vacation in the last 8 years. And a two leg forced commute, with one post 911 shutdown-furlough. I'm not miserable, but close.

In my case, Maslow has got it down right. Some of the basic needs aren't being met, so the ones at the top of the pyramid aren't being met as well.

I'm trying to get OUT, corp pilot home most nights or back to a mech engr job which would get me out on the factory floor some. I'll always have the memories of airline jet flying, something I have proven myself in, that I've done well in.

frieswiththat

Wow, I am with you brotha. I can't relate to all you said, but MOST of it.

I think the best thought that you expressed it that you "proved to yourself". Even if you leave the flying gig, you proved that you have the capacity to do it, and you'll always have those great memories. Do what's best for you as far as family life, and always do what you enjoy.

SkyHigh

Written like a 23 year old without a family to support or retirement to fund. Money is very important for those who have an outside life.

SkyHigh

BankAngle09

Its not like your pay went down as you gained seniority bud...you know what you were getting yourself into, and if you have a family to think about, you should have thought about a different gig if its SO hard. So people do love the job and KNEW what they were about to be paid, dont justify your your brilliant decision or bash a young kid cause all you need is money. We're not going to get raises because people feel bad you're carrying extra baggage.

nky30

Bank...that seemed a bit harsh. How did Gravely bash anyone with his last post? It sounded like he was just justifiying his decision. The bottom line seems to be that there has always been a line in the sand in this industry...one that with cuts, worse work rules etc we get closer and closer to every day. Gravely's sounds like he has reached it and jumped over. The downside of this job simply doesn't justify the pros of it anymore. There is nothing wrong with that at all. Who would stay in a job that has more cons than pros it makes no logical since. People on here are very sensitive to the guys that say they have had enough. I respect them because they are at least doing something about their circumstance rather than just complain about it. On another note...brew..I'm sorry for the tool comments, I had a rough one the other day and that's no excuse but sorry.

hindsight2020

That's the funny irony of that statement. It doesn't matter if you don't verbally subscribe to that theory, you're not exempt from it lol.

By having rich parents, sugar mamas, "understanding" wives (fallacy, they are understanding in so far as they're able to withstand not meeting basic needs over the promised return on investment from loyalty, and that is at best, finite in time), previous careers that allowed savings, all these things compensate for the inabilty of this career at the onset to fulfill one's basic needs, perhaps one's higher tier security needs (job stability, retirement, lack of lateral career options etc).

In fact, many people on the regional level and even some at the majors have or do in fact hold primary sources of income outside of their flying job to be able to satisfy their basic needs, while exclaiming that the flying job kicks the "IT job" on the teeth and provides them with self-fulfillment. That's cute but doesn't adequately answer the question of "who else is happy?" because it artificially unloads the burden of providing low-tier needs, that EVERYBODY is slaved to, from the flying gig, hence making it an artificial discussion.

I can tell you if public sector (military in my case) would have not been available as an option for pursuing a "flying gig" I would have been limited, as a rational individual that recognized a while ago that nobody takes checks written out in takeoffs and landings, to pursuing a non-aviation job (engineering job in the case of my formal education) and left with the option of attempting to pursue general aviation to the greatest extent possible until I was in a position to economically afford a flying career, and the possibility of it not even becoming possible.

This poses the question of whether a flying career is turning into a hobby, and that is a discussion for another day, but suggesting callously that "yeah I'm super happy flying my jjjjeeeeet, is not all about money people" all the while not disclosing your income sources mind you, is disingenuous and flies in the face of the numerous personal accounts on here that dramatically illustrate the real life consequences of living under the social hierarchy of needs, needs that do not care if you work in a cockpit or a desk. If you do not acknowledge your operating reality you have no hope of ever realizing what's keeping you from attaining happiness. Likewise, using Lebron James ("attitude determines you altitude" NASA posters, everybody can be #1 middle class work ethic mantra) as your model for success without recognizing the condition by which Lebron James is in the position in which he is will inevitably disappoint you. Set yourself up for success, stop clicking your heels.

Sideshow Bob

My brother-in-law is a very successful lawyer, making well over $10 million last year, sleeps in his own bed 350 nights a year, has all the toys and is absolutely miserable.

A successful realtor at my kids school making millions until recently sleeping in his own bed 365 days a year with a hot wife just blew his brains out in his garage all over the turbo Porsche.

There is so much more to be considered than money and rigors of anyone's job. Some people have nothing, work their asses off and are happy. Others would be miserable no matter what they did or had...go figure.

SkyHigh

I believe that a big reason for so much movement at the regionals is due to people jumping into the industry only to realize that it isn't as much fun as the pictures in flying magazine would suggest and they quickly return to their old life.

Easy come. Easy go. With so little time invested into the profession these days it must be easier to leave once the reality sets in. 15 years ago it took 5 or more years of professional flying just to reach the interview room of a regional. Now all it takes is 90 days and cold hard cash.

SkyHigh

BankAngle09

maybe a bit harsh but is it fair to bring down other guys who are here cause we want to be, happy to be here and not all "some 23 y.o. guy" that has no clue. I dont know about all the young guys or the guys that are doing because they love flying, but i know where ever you find one of those guys who complain because they think they have seen it all or been through it all and try to bring down the ones that have a smile on their faces when they show up to work is crap in my eyes.

What's the name of this thread???

There is another one to complain for all the "tired" ones out there, let us bask in our glory of accomplishing a dream, you live you learn you know... there are some that dont need 100K a year and some that can handle 20K for a year

SkyHigh

I am sure that most people expect to be at least a little bit miserable while at work. That is why it is called work in the first place. Accepting that fact is a part of growing up and of developing a work ethic. As a result most are well compensated for their sacrifices.

At 10 Million a year your attorney relative must have sacrificed and most likely will continue to do so. However he will only have to suffer for a short time in his life then he can retire well off to enjoy whatever he likes. As a pilot industry turmoil will insure that pilots will perpetually be miserable outside of the flight deck and will have to keep working well after the age of 65.

We get what we give. Choosing a career based on fun now will only serve to push the bill onto your later years.

SkyHigh