Is anyone actually happy? Anybody?

[Zapatas Blood]

Scoping through pprune, especially this component of it, one would be left with the impression that no pilot is actually happy at work.

I read complaints from people working at every carrier I have known and it appears that pilots are doing nothing but complaining.

Can anybody pop thier scone above the fenceline and have something positive to say about the conditions they enjoy, the acceptable pay and staff travel perhaps. Or maybe the satisfactory rostering system that enables them to have input about days off. What about a management team that has the employees interests at heart and makes sound decisions that cement the future viability of the business.

Does anybody work for such a carrier.

[Super Cecil]

I am happy in Aviation, after starting first flying job in 1980. In 25 years flying in GA (I chose this career, it was not a time builder for airlines) I can say I would'nt have chosen another career. I still enjoy flying, when not working I go flying on the weekend.

I will add I have been self employed for the last 14 years, that means when something needs doing on an Aircraft , it's done not at the next hundred or annual. That helps with job satisfaction.

I agree with the wingeing on this site, there doesn't seem to be much positive comment on an Airline career. For the "Ultimate" job, there doesn't seem much job satisfaction. :8

[questil]

was in ga for 12 yrs until getting into that elusive airline position in 2003, so i guess i still remember where i came from and as a result are extremely happy flying a regional turboprop, the quality of life is fantastic, dont work too hard and the money is pretty good in comparison to what i do. ask me again in 10 yrs and ill probably be a grumpy respondant but at this stage its all good

[empacher48]

I'm very happy, flying around the mountains I love to climb around the southern alps of NZ, showing passengers the area I love... And the best thing about it????? I'm getting paid for it!!!!!!!

Fair enough I'm only flying single engine Cessnas when I'm really wanting to get into a 747. But until someone offers me a job doing that (or twin turboprop IFR runs in NZ) then I am really quite happy with my job.

I get to meet some fantastic people, give them a laugh and teach them something about the area I love so much. At the present time this is the best job in the world! :ok:

[Cloud Cutter]

I guess complaints about poor conditions etc. are more noteworthy than expressions of contentment.

I also enjoy the amazing views of NZ, as well as dealing with the punters, and the technical aspects of flying. I'm glad I signed up, and wouldn't trade it for any other job. The fact that there's always a higher rung in the ladder to aim for also keeps things interesting.

[Ultralights]

worked for QF for 11 yrs (engineer) the first 5 yrs were good, loved working on aircraft, and actually using your brain to solve problems, the perks were Ok (free uniform, super, annual and paid sick leave etc) and the money was enough to live on, but that was about it. the last 6 yrs were a very steady decline in conditions and morale. the last year was hell, all i wanted t do was leave! similar situation to the pilots and crew on here, hearing how tuff it is only to see the managers and execs line their own pockets at the staff expense! record profits, the sky is fallign BS from Dixon more and more pressure to get the job done at the lowest cost in time and resources, therefor giving no job satisfaction in doing a job to the best of your ability.
Left in 02, took the redundancy, and it was the best day of my life, now run my own company that is steadily expanding. fortunatly i keep my staff travel privliges for the nest 8 yrs! Been flying GA for the past 16 yrs since legally being able to. (first solo at age 15), my initial dream was to make it to the big jets, but alas, the cost was prohibitive. now i am earning enough to pay for flying and the mortgages, and the family, and now working on building VH- MINE, twin engine aerobatic capable, flying is good and relativle easy in OZ, and im still racking my brain building planes!

[splatman]

Happy - Hell YES!

Lifes to short to carry a chip on your shoulder or walk around being disgruntled with the world.

LIFES GOOD :D

[Longhauler]

I would suggest that the very reason there is so much "whinging" here is because the majority of us are so happy with what we have NOW. I have worked hard, spent lots of money and made many sacrifices along the way to achieve the position I now hold with its good pay and conditions. To see others working systematically and tirelessly to erode them makes me unhappy. I am sure many others agree.

LH

[Homer_Jay]

Happy?

Absolutely, but I fly helicopters so who wouldn't be happy with that.

[Chimbu chuckles]

Happy?

You bet!

First flying lesson in 81...13+ yrs GA (in PNG) all well paid, accom provided etc.

Nearly 10 yrs now in airlines and corporate as an F/O and capt..current 767 F/O...went back to airlines after being stabbed in the back to death while a Corporate CP and Checkie...realistic chance of a command again soonish (a year or so as opposed to a decade or so at QF). Spent a year unemployed between this gig and the last...did some casual in a C441..saw what Oz GA is like...it sucks..and I was flying a flash bit of kit and paid well casually/day!!

Know MANY VB/Jet* pilots (some VERY, VERY senior)...all are very happy in general terms...working hard for sure but all have been there and done it and have experienced all the highs and lows this industry has to offer...some are 89ers...all great guys...they know, and have experienced, way to much to whinge about the small stuff.

know a young guy who has kept his head down, flown well, learned hard, treated his employers and their aeroplanes well and barely 5 yrs after starting in the Territory flying my Bonanza he is on a dash 8 course at Sunnies...and he'll get jets in the not too distant future if he wants them...his older mates, like me, who have watched him mature and keep his head down will do our very best to help him when the time is right.

Oz GA, and Regionals for that matter, has a lot of young guys who think the world owes them a living...it doesn't and that hurts...poor dears!!!

Between those guys and the very small number of QF cadets who think their **** doesn't stink because the managed to bluff their way past the cadetship selectors...well there are most of your whingers!

But for every 1 whinger on these boards there are 100 out there working hard and having too much fun to bother...they are the ones who will make it/have made it...and have very little to whinge about when they do....just mostly found memories of the 'hard yards'

The main difference between now and 25 yrs ago?

There are good jobs left and right and we have a place for the losers to vent.

Having said all that I am very glad I don't work on the ground for QF (Not unhappy that I don't work for them at all)...that situation sucks...I think GD is a joke!

[A/F Armed]

Just finished work, (it's 3am local time). Had a fantastic night flying up and down the East Coast of Aus. Just me the moon and a million stars. Whats not to be happy about. Oh I know, got back to the base to be told that I have the next two nights off, which will make two nights of flying for the week. Life just doesn't get any better. So I can honestly say I've never been so happy in all my life, and I love that sensation you get as you roll down the runway and climb out into the night sky.
Yep lifes pretty good.
:ok:

[compressor stall]

Got what I reckon is the best job in the world, in the most incredible part of the world with the most diverse and interesting group of people in the world.

It's a perfect mix of flying and my own personal passion. My old man said to me the other day before this tour, "Son you've got your cake and you're eating it too."

I replied, "Yep, and the problem with that is...?"

"Nothing mate, nothing."

[Binoculars]

What a delightful change for Dunnunda! Keep the happy stories coming, folks.

[The Voice]

Stallie .. your Dad is a wise man ..

Bino's .. I was just thinking the same thing ..

how nice to see posts from people happy with their lot/choice.

[news]

Mmmmmmmmm, the conditions we currently enjoy.

1. Great pay.

2. The best roster you could have. Every pilot granted day/s off requested or last minute changes for what ever reason. I don't mind setting the roster.

3. The CEOs on our side, and has been from the start.

4. All staff full time yet feels like part time. Doing 800hrs.

5. Meetings between all pilots and top management provide the most efficient communication channel to discuss initiatives, resolve complaints and ask questions.

6. No fragmented pilot groups.

7. Company has expanded beyond forecasted projections and shall continue the trend over the next 12 months.

8. Plenty of time for other pursuits. Happy as a ...........

Going surfing bye now.

[enicalyth]

Genial companions, knowledgeable too. Good aircraft. Roster not too bad. Pay is okay. Don't drink or eat too much, on top of my health.. family too. Like flying. Like managing. Dislike whingers. Proud to be Australian. Loyal to my firm and rewarded well. Happy? You betcha!

[Binoculars]

I think this would be a really appropriate time for somebody to repost the old chestnut about the C150 student looking at an IFR C402 pilot, who in turn is looking at a..... etc etc until the astronaut looks down at the C150 pilot. You all know the one, I can't 't be bothered searching for it, but maybe there's a few newbies around who haven't seen it.

[one ball]

No but you scored points for registering the first mention of it.. good one binos.......:ok: :rolleyes:

[A/F Armed]

THE FULL CIRCLE

One fine hot Summer’s afternoon saw a Cessna 150 flying circuits at a quiet country airfield. The Instructor was getting quite bothered with the student’s inability to hold circuit height in the thermals and was getting impatient at sometimes having to take over the controls. Just then he saw a twin engine Cessna 5,000ft above him and thought "Another 1,000 hrs of this and I qualify for that twin charter job! Aaahh.. to be a real pilot.. going somewhere!"

The Cessna 402 was already late and the boss told him this charter was for one of the Company’s premier clients. He’d already set MCT and the cylinders didn’t like it in the heat of this Summer’s day. He was at 6,000ft and the winds were now a 20kt headwind. Today was the 6th day straight and he was pretty damn tired. Maybe if he got 10,000ft out of them the wind might die off... geez those cylinder temps! He looked out momentarily and saw a B737 leaving a contrail at 33,000ft in the serene blue sky. "Oh man" he thought, "My interview is next month. I hope I just don’t blow it! Outa G/A, nice jet job, above the weather... no snotty passengers to wait for.. aahhh."

The Boeing 737 bucked and weaved in the heavy CAT at FL330 and ATC advised that lower levels were not available due traffic. The Captain, who was only recently advised that his destination was below RVR minimums had slowed to LRC to try and hold off a possible inflight diversion, and arrange an ETA that would helpfully ensure the fog had lifted to CATII minima. The Company negotiations broke down yesterday and looked as if everyone was going to take a damn pay cut. The F/O’s will be particularly hard hit as their pay wasn’t anything to speak of anyway. Finally deciding on a speed compromise between LRC and turbulence penetration, the Captain looked up and saw Concorde at Mach 2+. Tapping his F/O’s shoulder as the 737 took another bashing, he said "Now THAT’S what we should be on... huge pay packet... super fast... not too many routes... not too many sectors... above the CAT... yep! What a life...!"

FL590 was not what he wanted anyway and considered FL570. Already the TAT was creeping up again and either they would have to descend or slow down. That damn rear fuel transfer pump was becoming unreliable and the F/E had said moments ago that the radiation meter was not reading numbers that he’d like to see. Concorde descended to FL570 but the radiation was still quite high even though the Notam indicated hunky dory below FL610. Fuel flow was up and the transfer pump was intermittent. Evening turned into night as they passed over the Atlantic. Looking up, the F/O could see a tiny white dot moving against the backdrop of a myriad of stars. "Hey Captain" he called as he pointed. "Must be the Shuttle. "The Captain looked for a moment and agreed. Quietly he thought how a Shuttle mission, whilst complicated, must be the be all and end all in aviation. Above the crap, no radiation problems, no damn fuel transfer problems... aaah. Must be a great way to earn a quid."

Discovery was into its 27th orbit and perigee was 200ft out from nominated rendezvous altitude with the commsat. The robot arm was virtually U/S and a walk may become necessary. The 200ft predicted error would necessitate a corrective burn and Discovery needed that fuel if a walk was to be required. Houston continually asked what the Commander wanted to do but the advice they proffered wasn’t much help. The Commander had already been 12 hours on station sorting out the problem and just wanted 10 bloody minutes to himself to take a leak. Just then a mission specialist, who had tilted the telescope down to the surface for a minute or two, called the Commander to the scope. "Have a look at this Sir, isn’t this the kinda flying you said you wanted to do after you finish up with NASA?" The Commander peered through the telescope and cried "Ooooohhhhh yeah! Now THAT’S flying! Man, that’s what its all about! Geez I’d give my left nut just to be doing THAT down there!"

What the Discovery Commander was looking at was a Cessna 150 flying circuits at a quiet country airfield on a nice bright sunny afternoon.

AND NOW.........THE REAL FULL CIRCLE


After returning from his flying lesson, the Instructor spent the next few hours into the night completing the club’s paperwork. A father and son walked through the door of the old aeroclub. “Daddy, I want to see a real plane” was the son’s impatient tugging at his father. “Hang on son, we’ll ask this young man here, he looks like a pilot.”

“Excuse me, I was wondering if I could show my son around a plane”

“Sure, not a problem, just follow me this way” was the Instructor’s helpful reply.”

“How long have you been flying?” asked the father, a middle aged man of solid build.

“About 2 years” pipped the instructor.

“Do you hope to get your commercial license and fly big planes one day?”

“Well yeah, one day” was the Instructor’s dejected reply. It was just easier to say this that rather having to explain that he already had his commercial license, and airlines wanted 1000s of hours before they even consider giving interviews. He closed his eyes and shook his head thinking, “Man, one day I’m going to get my twin job and get myself outta this dump. I’ll be able to afford things like food other than Weetbix and maybe a car without rust in it, Just need a chance to get a twin job..”

The Charter pilot had landed his C402 at home base after successfully delivering his passengers to their important business meeting. It was good to be back in a Capital City after spending all that time out in the country, away from all his friends and family. What was even better was that he could move back in with his parents while he scrimped and saved from his honest wage. “Yep, things are moving slowly, but at least it’s twin time” he thought to himself. “Another year of saving, and working that second job at Maccas, and maybe a loan or two, and I can afford that Boeing 737 rating and get that job… man that’s gonna be sweet, travelling and seeing the world..”

The 737 crew were just finishing their shutdown checks after the 3 hour flight across the Tasman Ocean. “Well Skipper, I guess I owe you a beer for bawked P.A to the passengers, heck I’ll shout ya dinner too..” “Cheers mate, your on, same place?” replied the Captain. “Yep, your on” as the F/Os thoughts lingered on that great steak that pub by the motel served. “Better hurry” he thought to himself, “don’t want to hold up the crew bus, or else I’m gonna have to buy the entire crew dinner and beers…”
It was great to be in different town now and then, but he thought to himself, it would be great to see some real cities of the world, not just these provincial towns. London, New York, Madrid… ahhh, some real cities of class… Well at least I’m flying, and I’ve got a great wife and a house that I can call mine..”

The Concorde crew had just finished their 3 hour sector from London and were preparing to paint the town red for their overnight stopover.
“Well better get that perfume Jennifer always wants” thought the F/E as his eye caught a glimpse of the Duty Free Store. “It’s all pretty good really, 3-4 hour sectors each way, I’m home a lot more than I would be than on long haul, and I can’t wait to take the new boat out fishing when I finish this tour” though the F/E as he slid out his Gold Card to the cashier at the duty free store.

Discovery’s commander was slowly settling himself into bed next to his wife. It had been a busy but successful day. He was glad to be home. The presidential commendation presented to him and his crew today was great he thought to himself, but it wasn’t the reason why he joined NASA.
He was looking forward to next few weeks of hard earned leave. “Honey, how about a trip in the C182 to the Caribbean for the next week?” “Sounds great, lets do it” was his wife’s muffled reply. “Yep, sure is great, I earn a excellent wage, enough to own my our Cessna, by tying myself to the world’s biggest firecracker, shooting myself into orbit at thirty times the speed of sound and I get to see what most people only dream of seeing, with earth so vivid and colourful and the blackness of space, so dark and overpowering. And I return home to a family that loves me and a wife that is close and supportive. Yep this is really living!”

[maxgrad]

I have this on a wall at home
hard day
read it, and smile
I actually get payed fof this?!

Oh, I have slipped the bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

JOHN MAGEE

[Ibex]

Oh the emotion!
Oh the joy!

Everytime I strap on my trusty steed!

I think I'm going to cry, it's all too much.

:{

[Kornholio]

Shut up Ibex.

You consistently demonstrate nothing but a desire to bring people and topics down. You're a miserable tw@t.

You're not even a pilot. If you were you might someday have something sensible to say but for ages we've all been waiting... so far, NOTHING. Except tragic moaning and whinging and taking shots at other people. What's your problem? Why do you hate aviation so much?

Meanwhile........ to answer the question, some people do enjoy flying aircraft for a living. Some people enjoy the experience of blasting off into the WBY and pitting machine against the elements. Rather than bitching about it or one-upping themselves against others. Unlike Ibex and his sad-case whinges.......

I'm happy.

:ok:

;)

:p

:D

:)

[maxgrad]

well said that man!

ibex, (and I used little letters on purpose), get a life
Your wasting the one youv'e got.

You may not enjoy your job, and I doubt it is as a pilot,
whatever the case, a word of advice.

If you and this negative bout your job, move on so someone who will enjoy it can take over and excel.:mad:

Oh and any spelling nazi's out there


who cares!:}

[Super Cecil]

maxgrad and Kornholio, you blokes are bitter and twisted or what? :ugh: Why the vindictive and vitriolic reply's?

[The Other Half]

Well I'm happy :D It's all a state of mind. I couldn't think of a better job to do, bugger sitting in a cubicle the rest of my life! Oh wait, I will be :} At least it's got a view and takes me places!

Cheers :)

[Pinky the pilot]

When I'm flying anything, Pa 25's towing gliders or Pa 31's
I'm happy!:ok:
When I'm picking (expletive deleted) oranges, I'm not!:{
One day I will get back to full time flying and then I will be happy all the time. Until then I shall just have to be patient.

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

[Ibex]

Ah that's just gold :ok:

Those replies put a HUGE smile on my face! :D :D

Oh and the bit that goes "You're not even a pilot" - Gold. That's exactly what I say to other non superiors! Love your work!

I would stick around longer but I need to slap on the leather helmet and goggles and 'pit my machine against the elements' which will include wheeling and soaring in sunlit silence amongst the sun split clouds.

Watch out below, the rain may be sticky this afternoon.


:E

[Captain Sand Dune]

Flying aircraft has paid for a house on a few acres with a pool the boys can splash about in after school. The wife doesn't have to work 'coz the bank doesn't own us.
I go and teach kids to fly upside down, pull 'g', fly formation etc, and I'm home every night.
What's not to lile.
Happy 'straya day:cool:

[AllInGoodTime]

The Full Circle story is great, I hadn't read it before. Clearly, if you are not happy where you are now, you're not going to be happy just because you are flying a twin or a jet. I think there are many people out there instructing who will be happy their whole career teaching people to learn to fly, also the same applies to charter pilots or jet pilots.

Happiness though doesn't just come from what you do, it is what you are or not. EG, I am only flying a bit part time at present, am I happy, yes, I am very lucky with my full time job, home life and i get to fly aswell on weekends. Would I like to fly full time, yes. Will it make me happier than what i am now, NO. If you are not happy now and you are waiting for some job to make you happy later, you are setting yourself up for one big disappointment.

Just a thought. Life is too short to not to enjoy now, later may never come.

[maxgrad]

ibex
nicely taken out of context

The superior attitude was not present in my statement, but hey , if you feel inferior, fine.

If you are wearing goggles etc you may need the white scarf that that goes so well with your handle bar mustache and stiff upper lip.

Super Cecil, actually I think ibex is the bitter and twisted one. Positive statements were made about the industry, or at least the act of flying. These statements were attacked, therefore I responded, (mainly cause I enjoy a good brawl:E )

[Mr.Buzzy]

:O :O :O :O

Watch out below, the rain may be sticky this afternoon.

Im still laughing at this.... 4hours after reading it.....Gold man!


bbbzzzzzzz.....pffft...pffft.....bbbbbbbbbbbbbzzzzzzz

[James4th]

This thread had restored my faith in Pprune and the people in it, I might even come back and read it regularly!

I am content and happy as well, I never realised so many people were........

3 days ago, I took off at first light and watched to sun rise on my right and the moon set on my left while I steep turned round a few thunderheads.......it dosent get any better than that.....

But try and expalin that to a mere mortal.........

[maxspeed]

Happiness is flying 17000lb's of aircraft under powerlines day and night at 150kts and being paid for it!
life is sweet:ok:

[MercenaryAli]

Happy ? You bet - HM Queen Elizabeth paid for my training , the best the world could offer! She (not personally of course) ensured that the government of the day provided my colleagues and I with some airplanes to play in on a regular basis. Just occasionally asking us to pop off and fight the "woolies" or the "jiggaboos" someplace but always back for teatime!! Anything more serious I understand they sent a Gunboat from the Senior Service!!

Spent a few miserable years flying SLF and hated every minute of it except when I was accompanied by a pretty and nice smelling young female F/O - but I soon got bored and left for warmer climes.

Flew hither and thither all over the world, had come great times and some better times but NO COMPLAINTS.

Now fly from time to time, best job in the world and worst paid pro rata skill/responsibility but hey! one cannot have ones cake and eat it!! ahem!

Is everybody happy? You bet your life we are. . . . . :ok:

What are you flying Maxspeed ? a glider ?:D

[tinpis]

Hmmm......bloody heavy glider..:hmm:

[maxspeed]

I have had the aeroplane "turn into a glider" on me on more than one occasion, and when its below 100ft my "happiness in the job is momentarily "on hold":oh:

[maxgrad]

In that case would the smily need to be :ooh: and the feeling at the other end :uhoh:

:E

[CockpitJunkie]

Aviation is hard yakka. Been around long enough to see nearly everything from most sides.

Flying is a "glamorous" job that every boy (you know what I mean) wants to do when they grow up. The only other industry I have seen with parallels to aviation is the music/entertainment industry.

Flying reality is:
- only a few make it to the top (look at the numbers to see) and http://www.casa.gov.au/avreg/fsa/03nov/62.pdf
- pilots will work for free or casual
- parachute operators will often not pay pilots (see above) and have convinced CASA they are not a commercial operation and can otherwise use private pilots anyway
- flying schools employ casual pilots
- pressures from some operators on their pilots
- military pilots with civil accreditation of qualifications take charter and instructing jobs on weekends away from those in GA who need the jobs to survive and struggling to get the hours and a career path
- budget carriers are reducing employment conditions for pilots. Qantas starting low cost operations to do likewise. Qantas will disappear in the future as they ramp up their cheap pay offshoots
- budget carriers want you to have and pay type rating up front (used to be done by the airline once you got there)

The cycle becomes self-perpetuating. Pilots pay a lot for their quals and need to be paid to live. The article above gives some indication of how many have fallen by the wayside in their quest for a flying career (over 14,000).

That's why people get peeved off and cynical about the industry. And dealing with CASA doesn't help any segment of the industry either. If CASA was an airline it would lose its AOC and be shut down!

Other options:
- save your money and don't "invest" it in flying (think how long you can live on the $40 or 50k and what you could do elsewhere)
- Military and get training paid for, a decent wage and a career
- ATC (pays more unless you're flying for the big boys, but do the maths anyway and it might surprise you over a career)
- get a job in airline ops
- work for CASA if you can stand it
- a career in IT and get paid
- fly part time or for recreation and actually enjoy it
- any combination above

Q. How do you make a small fortune in aviation?
A. Start with a large one.

It will cost you emotionally, physically and financially. And be careful you don't end up suffering from flying AIDS (Aviation Induced Divorce Syndrome).

If you choose this path, good luck.

[nzmarty]

Other options:
- save your money and don't "invest" it in flying (think how long you can live on the $40 or 50k and what you could do elsewhere)
- Military and get training paid for, a decent wage and a career
- ATC (pays more unless you're flying for the big boys, but do the maths anyway and it might surprise you over a career)
- get a job in airline ops
- work for CASA if you can stand it
- a career in IT and get paid
- fly part time or for recreation and actually enjoy it
- any combination above
............................................................ .........................................

- or you could just p**ss it up against the wall, or spend it on waterskiing, or at the casino, or motor racing, or fishing.....
- in NZ????????????
- have you ever done ATC in a busy place? watching everyone else enjoying themselves while you're stressed beyond belief?
- in an office 12 hours a day?
- only if you get to fly your own aeroplane to go places in
- mmmm a computer geek. now there's an attractive option
- the only sensible option i reckon
- i'm LAME and flying - not the best combo but it pays the bills (i KNOW what's under the skin.......)

[C-FTR]

"military pilots with civil accreditation of qualifications take charter and instructing jobs on weekends away from those in GA who need the jobs to survive and struggling to get the hours and a career path"

WTF

[CockpitJunkie]

Yes, sad but true. Miitary pilots have a stable career, have had their training paid for, and they do work casual weekends and take jobs and opportunities away from GA pilots trying to get hours and make a living.

It doesn't help the industry at all.

[wrongwayaround]

.. So it's almost been a year since we've had a "happy post!" In my opinion, thats not good enough.

Have we had a good year of flying? I certainly have. It's involved new challenges, seeing more places and making new friends.

We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married, have a better job... maybe have a baby, then another. Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and that all will be well when they are older. Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them. Surely we’ll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.

We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire. The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now.
If not, then when?
Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.

there isn’t any road to happiness. Happiness IS the road. So, enjoy every moment. Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for autumn, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn… before deciding to be happy.

Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. :)

So, lets year about your year of flying



:) ;)

[Unhinged]

Happy as a pig in you-know-what :-)) Never going to the airlines, working in the warmth with the best boss in the world. Check out the cheshire grin on the face of the student you just sent first solo ... I never want another job. Just let me do this one until they carry me out :-)))))

[cunningham]

wrongwayaround ,

Your post is quite easily the best post I have ever read on this forum.

People I suggest you all print this gem off and stick it to your fridge so you can read and ponder over it everyday.

I will be printing it off and giving it to each of my kids to read. (when they are old enough to read !)

This is going straight to the pool room.

[Continental-520]

Yep, for sure. Wrongwayaround has it the rightwayaround if anyone does, I reckon.

You've started me thinking.

My year has been a great one. A few unforseen hiccupps that have plagued me somewhat, but at least you learn to move on from those things.

Certainly one of movement and development, new experiences and challenges, and so forth.

I think the saying "You take something with you from every person you meet in your life" holds truth.

520.

[Waste Gate]

Yep. . . . great post. I'm sending a copy to the pool room.

As for my year, well I'm now a year older, and I think I've done about 500 sectors into Melbourne.:ugh:

WG

[wrongwayaround]

Pleased to be of assistance :8

[Avgas172]

Was doing some circuits the other day, gusty sh*tty cross winds did the first one .... best in 20years .... got hold of spectator at the aero club and took him for a hour around the clouds, over the farm, orbit around the local Pub for the boys, got the crap shook out of us on the way home and did the second best crosswind landing in history. Following day was on my own did a short hop and back .... absolutely shocking approach (power + attitude = performance blah blah) too high , too low forgot to flare bounced twice before I thought better clean this up, applied a little power raised nose and plopped onto the runway .....ahhhh it don't get any better than this I says to meself .... wonder what the poor buggers are doing (who cares!) :ok:

[4SPOOLED]

WWA - that was the most sensible thing i have read on here for a while.....

My personal belief is the whingers on here are the PPL's with a little knowledge which is dangerous, and CPL's who havn't got the right stuff to make a career of this great industry.

Great Thread, would love to hear more inspiration from the ones out there doing it tough!!:ok:

[romansandal]

Great to hear im not the only one lovin the job. Personally it's been an awesome year for moi. Lots of cool new planes, lots of awesome mountain flying, met heaps of cool people and of course drunk way to much piss!

Of course the money is still crap and there's always the constant sniff of greener pastures (it's only natural), but at the end of the day, im 4 years in and there is absolutely nothing id rather be doin!

I've had many a young wannabe ask me if this is the way for them lately and I simply tell them the same thing, the moneys crap and it's always a hard slog, but theres no better job in the world.

Anyway, cheers to you all and all the best for the coming year.

RS

[maxgrad]

romansandal...What you said with bells on!
Used to tell students or parents of students, (when asked about aviation) that the flying and challenge is fantastic but the industry sucked.
I too have had a great year, working like mad doing what I should be paid more for.
When you look out the office window and see dirty great big CB's floating over huge areas of landscape, that's a job.

[757manipulator]

Happy? You Bet:) after 3yrs of being away from Home (NZ), Im back for a holiday............
Spent part of the afternoon at NZAA..smelling the JET A1....watchin the world go by. Best thing I ever did was to leave and fly elsewhere..sure I go a bit misty-eyed when I see the old Koru...but thats about it. Bugger flyin a 1900..or a crappy old scaab...or a 737 come to think of it..gimmie my 757..or my 767 anyday:D

[the wizard of auz]

Well, just to add to all the warm fuzzy's here. I just had a meeting with three senior members of the authority over here in west section to resolve some percieved problems. very positive meeting and a very profitable outcome on both sides. common sense prevailed.
They don't seem to be the two headed monsters I have been led to believe they were.

[Binoculars]

Careful there, Wiz, that sort of seditious talk could easily have a flow on effect if left unchecked. We wouldn't want the constant state of war to end, surely?


Wrongwayround, nice post. A few years ago when I was attempting to get through the same idea to my oldest at her most frustrating, always impatient for her life to begin properly, I came up with "Life is what's happening to you while you're waiting for your life to begin". Not Nobel prize winning stuff but I was quite proud of it. Your there isn’t any road to happiness. Happiness IS the road. puts it a little more neatly.

Now if only I could learn to take my own sound advice. :uhoh:

[Towering Q]

Hey Wiz, wash your mouth out with soap!

[Angels_370]

Its great to hear others also love getting up and going to 'work' as well.

Nothing beats the satisfying feeling of that greaser crosswind landing your student has just pulled off... or even the aerobatic routine that has gone flawlessly. Even the simple things like cruising over the city on a beautiful crystal clear night, nothing but you and the sky, makes all the S**t we put up with worthwhile.

Sure we all have rough days and we rant and rave about everything that comes into range but yet we still turn up for work the next day.

Why?? I hear you ask,

Simple, there is nothing else we would rather be doing.

Well thats my 2 cents.

Cheers Guys
A370

[the wizard of auz]

Yeah yeah, I know. I nearly choked while I was doing it as well. Hey, If something good comes from there, I'm not going to knock it. :} ;)

[relax737]

Who's unhappy?

Love it here. Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh, KL, and a few other Asian cities. Overnights are great too.

Pity about the never ending sims.

Management??? Who gives a $hit about them....just turn up, fly, go home and get on with life.

Life's too short to be grumpy every day.

[Sal-e]

I took off the other day for the Solomon Islands from Brisbane...11:30am departure (very civilised hour). Had a goumet brunch, loveliest flight attendants on earth. Nothing but ocean, blue skies, a smidgen of cloud and a 120kt tail wind.
Mountain range to descend through before Henderson Airfield, mount Austin boasts a 1,000 on top of Kosiusko....and 10 DME from the airfield. Some cloud cover over these ranges, a touch of spoiler, and we were in paradise.
A little less than an hour turnaround, and we were DME stepping up these same ranges, another goumet meal across the coral sea (with desert this time due to the headwind home), a nice descent through fantastic Queensland thunderies/lightning/hail, a rare left base over Brisbane town (spectacular city scenic) for a visual, home by 4:30pm (civilised hour) for some street cricket with the kids................Mate!!!! Nothing in the whole world like it. Wouldn't be dead for quids. Really beats the hell out of another day in the office.

[Jarule]

My wife came home from work the other day, said she was sick of the cube farm sitting in front of a computer screen for eleven hours a day with impossible dealines to meet set by senior management . She looked very tired, in fact absloutely exhausted, so much so she could barely conduct a conversation. She said it was ok for me as I didn't have to sit in front of a computer all day.

The next day at work, I sat in front of my computer screen, considered the view from my office window, which had changed from the last time I'd looked. I was asked if I would like a cup of coffee, I accepted and advised that TOD was in 10 minutes. After landing I rebooted my computer and departed for home.

That evening I told my wife of my day at work and she advised me that she had quit her job, that she couldn't stand it any longer. At first I was a little concerned about money as her job paid considerably more than mine, but then I noticed how happy she was and figured we'd work it out.

Love My Job? bet your sweet ass I do!:D

[Ultergra]

Very happy !!!!