Career change to pilot
06-03-2008, 02:47 PM
#181
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Fine and Good
"I would never discourage anyone from entering the field..."
Neither would I. I see many folks at APC, and in real life, that are happy with their career choice. That's why I can't smile and look the other way when people knock the job. I tell things from my perspective, just as you do. It doesn't work out for everyone. There are no guarantees. That said, while luck is everything, I think sometimes you make your own luck by the choices you make. NJA turns you down? Try another frac. If that doesn't fit your plan, then fine, but maybe it does fit the next guys plan and that's how one puts himself in the right place at the right time....which many call luck.
Neither would I. I see many folks at APC, and in real life, that are happy with their career choice. That's why I can't smile and look the other way when people knock the job. I tell things from my perspective, just as you do. It doesn't work out for everyone. There are no guarantees. That said, while luck is everything, I think sometimes you make your own luck by the choices you make. NJA turns you down? Try another frac. If that doesn't fit your plan, then fine, but maybe it does fit the next guys plan and that's how one puts himself in the right place at the right time....which many call luck.
I am sure that you see lots of happy pilots because you work for one of the last great places. I have seen the other side of aviation and to me it is the more common experience. In a few months the industry could be a real blood bath. My position is that the good times in aviation are over. Luck and effort will not overcome the changes the industry is continuing to go through.
An investment in aviation is becoming difficult to justify the price it takes to get there.
I do not feel very good about a profession that rests so much on luck to get the brass ring.
SkyHigh
06-03-2008, 03:29 PM
#182
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
Sir Sky: Much of life depends on luck, who you know, and being in the right place at the right time....sometimes life just doesnt work out the way we would like.
Being great or even just good at something wont get you far in many things these days.....
yes yes yes, there are exceptions.... but many of the really GOOD jobs in most professions are "inside" jobs...ie...who you know. Hell even in this business there are companies that wont look at you unless you have internal rec letters.....
Being great or even just good at something wont get you far in many things these days.....
yes yes yes, there are exceptions.... but many of the really GOOD jobs in most professions are "inside" jobs...ie...who you know. Hell even in this business there are companies that wont look at you unless you have internal rec letters.....
06-03-2008, 03:54 PM
#183
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,383
Sir Sky: Much of life depends on luck, who you know, and being in the right place at the right time....sometimes life just doesnt work out the way we would like.
Being great or even just good at something wont get you far in many things these days.....
yes yes yes, there are exceptions.... but many of the really GOOD jobs in most professions are "inside" jobs...ie...who you know. Hell even in this business there are companies that wont look at you unless you have internal rec letters.....
Being great or even just good at something wont get you far in many things these days.....
yes yes yes, there are exceptions.... but many of the really GOOD jobs in most professions are "inside" jobs...ie...who you know. Hell even in this business there are companies that wont look at you unless you have internal rec letters.....
Attorney, and even in this economy she is still getting calls and emails from recruiters for employment.
06-03-2008, 05:41 PM
#184
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 193
Want to be an airline pilot? Here's a little 'summation' of an airline pilots life:
Think 'bout it:
Drill instructor = management
Private Pyle = airline pilot
Obstacle = successful career
Take endless abuse, only to finally start to get up and ahead, only to fall down (furlough, or even moving on to 'bigger and better', but still at the bottom) and have to start over at the bottom in the trenches again, all the while still taking abuse! Harsh language in this, but damn it's funny!
"If God wanted you up there, he would have miracled your ass up there by now, wouldn't he?!"
Hilarious. But sad because it's so true.
For the virgin ears out there, language warning:
http://ilovemarinecorp.ytmnd.com/
Think 'bout it:
Drill instructor = management
Private Pyle = airline pilot
Obstacle = successful career
Take endless abuse, only to finally start to get up and ahead, only to fall down (furlough, or even moving on to 'bigger and better', but still at the bottom) and have to start over at the bottom in the trenches again, all the while still taking abuse! Harsh language in this, but damn it's funny!
"If God wanted you up there, he would have miracled your ass up there by now, wouldn't he?!"
Hilarious. But sad because it's so true.
For the virgin ears out there, language warning:
http://ilovemarinecorp.ytmnd.com/
06-03-2008, 05:55 PM
#185
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2008
Position: Hotel
Posts: 714
I don't think the good times are over. But I tend to be an optimist. I really believe that all this current hoopla is just like a neurotic finally confronting his demons. You gotta go through some hell before it gets good again. It won't be the same. And after it gets good for a while, it'll go to crap again, and back again.
But maybe I am just an optimist.
But maybe I am just an optimist.
06-03-2008, 06:07 PM
#186
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 754
In reality, they don't need you and you don't need them. It's to easy to become a pilot these days. With schools spitting them out on their 6 month assembly lines there will likely never be a shortage of pilots in the states. Abroad however, the story may be different since there is still an academic element to the Pilot-education.
06-03-2008, 09:16 PM
#187
Self Employed.
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Corporate Pilot
Posts: 7,119
Luck
Sir Sky: Much of life depends on luck, who you know, and being in the right place at the right time....sometimes life just doesnt work out the way we would like.
Being great or even just good at something wont get you far in many things these days.....
yes yes yes, there are exceptions.... but many of the really GOOD jobs in most professions are "inside" jobs...ie...who you know. Hell even in this business there are companies that wont look at you unless you have internal rec letters.....
Being great or even just good at something wont get you far in many things these days.....
yes yes yes, there are exceptions.... but many of the really GOOD jobs in most professions are "inside" jobs...ie...who you know. Hell even in this business there are companies that wont look at you unless you have internal rec letters.....
Luck is a factor in everything however this profession needs too much luck.
SkyHigh
06-21-2008, 05:35 PM
#188
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 63
I wouldn't ask that question on this forum. If it is your dream that become an airline pilot than do it and don't listen to all of the negativity.
Most of the opinions you get will be from guys that have been in the industry less than two years.
Right now the industry is down but it will turn back around by the time you finish all your training and gain enough experience to be marketable.
I have been in the industry for more than ten years and I still love it. That is even working for a company that everyone is saying to stay away from.
Most of the opinions you get will be from guys that have been in the industry less than two years.
Right now the industry is down but it will turn back around by the time you finish all your training and gain enough experience to be marketable.
I have been in the industry for more than ten years and I still love it. That is even working for a company that everyone is saying to stay away from.
06-21-2008, 05:57 PM
#189
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 63
I have researched government/homeland security job in Aviation. There a several out there that START at $60,000/yr. I would like to fly regionals someday but the government aiation jobs look way more promising. I don't know whey so many pilots stay with Regionals if there are all these high-paying gov't aviation jobs.???
Were all you Regional Pilots aware of these Gov't pilot jobs and the money they make?....and benefits??
Were all you Regional Pilots aware of these Gov't pilot jobs and the money they make?....and benefits??
06-22-2008, 08:26 AM
#190
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: G550 Captain
Posts: 1,206
I have researched government/homeland security job in Aviation. There a several out there that START at $60,000/yr. I would like to fly regionals someday but the government aiation jobs look way more promising. I don't know whey so many pilots stay with Regionals if there are all these high-paying gov't aviation jobs.???
Were all you Regional Pilots aware of these Gov't pilot jobs and the money they make?....and benefits??
Were all you Regional Pilots aware of these Gov't pilot jobs and the money they make?....and benefits??
As to your dream of becoming a professional pilot, I say go for it. I fly for a living and I like it a lot more than when I had a corner office with much higher pay but longer hours.
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