Why do some folks choose to become pilots?
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Why do some folks choose to become pilots?
Hello everyone! Greetings from a new pprune-er but an old enthusiast of all un-natural flying objects and the folks who make 'em fly! A 'spotter', as this forum identifies me.
Having snooped around the thousands of threads and pages on this forum, curiously I have come across a common 'thread' (so to speak) of comments/complaints.....most pilots and allied airline professionals who post here complain about how difficult and expensive it is gain an entry into the aviation world. Pay to train, pay to fly, do thousands of hours of bush flying to be eligible to fly airliners, etc etc etc......
May I ask you (and believe me, I will be honoured to hear from you), WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A LIFE IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND DID IT TURN OUT TO BE WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?
Having snooped around the thousands of threads and pages on this forum, curiously I have come across a common 'thread' (so to speak) of comments/complaints.....most pilots and allied airline professionals who post here complain about how difficult and expensive it is gain an entry into the aviation world. Pay to train, pay to fly, do thousands of hours of bush flying to be eligible to fly airliners, etc etc etc......
May I ask you (and believe me, I will be honoured to hear from you), WHY DID YOU CHOOSE A LIFE IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY AND DID IT TURN OUT TO BE WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?
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I'm a long retired Air Traffic Controller and I've pondered why anyone would want to become a pilot. I believe it's due to a genetic mutation... Now don't even think about asking why anyone wants to become an ATCO!
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I know an ATCO who decided to become an airline pilot because he thought it was more glamorous being on the other end ( being told where to go ) than telling people where to go 
I don't think it was even the money that attracted him, he had a fair bob or two from the ATCO work anyhow.
I don't think it was even the money that attracted him, he had a fair bob or two from the ATCO work anyhow.
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Now that's a great question!
Lets look at the job, you put passengers on-board that depend on your expertise, your ability. You load on many thousand of pounds of fuel, you start the engines running at 500-600 deg C, sitting under the fuel tanks! You hope MX did there job right. You climb to cruise, and travel at 85% of the speed of sound, many miles up! You can't breath the air, or survive at cruise, to thin and to cold. You fly a six day trip back and forth across the Atlantic, crossing over 20 time zones, after awhile that starts to hit you. You land in Narita (NRT) after 14 hours, and some passenger has a wise crack, as they exit the aircraft, about being 10 minutes late.
You spend many nights away from the family, missing birthdays, holidays, and other family events. Your first child walked while you where away, they hit the winning home run in the little league game, but you where not there.
I flew my first commercial flight in May 1971, First Officer in an Twin Otter, DHC-6. It was a 20 minute flight to Nantucket (ACK), I thought that I would never be able to keep up with such a fast airplane! Forty three years and four companies later, and I retired in Oct 2014, Captain 777.
Would I do it again, no question yes! It was not as great as I hoped it would be, but it is the great job yet!
Lets look at the job, you put passengers on-board that depend on your expertise, your ability. You load on many thousand of pounds of fuel, you start the engines running at 500-600 deg C, sitting under the fuel tanks! You hope MX did there job right. You climb to cruise, and travel at 85% of the speed of sound, many miles up! You can't breath the air, or survive at cruise, to thin and to cold. You fly a six day trip back and forth across the Atlantic, crossing over 20 time zones, after awhile that starts to hit you. You land in Narita (NRT) after 14 hours, and some passenger has a wise crack, as they exit the aircraft, about being 10 minutes late.
You spend many nights away from the family, missing birthdays, holidays, and other family events. Your first child walked while you where away, they hit the winning home run in the little league game, but you where not there.
I flew my first commercial flight in May 1971, First Officer in an Twin Otter, DHC-6. It was a 20 minute flight to Nantucket (ACK), I thought that I would never be able to keep up with such a fast airplane! Forty three years and four companies later, and I retired in Oct 2014, Captain 777.
Would I do it again, no question yes! It was not as great as I hoped it would be, but it is the great job yet!
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Quite honestly, from personal experience i can vouch for the half wit mutant theory. Always wanted to fly or make stuff (sophisticated paper planes, RC model planes, kites and so on) fly since i could think. Which of course lead to flying at the minimum legal age of 14 in glider planes and from there to the aim of being an air line pilot. Tried something else first (computer sciences) but it was kinda boring so i got my ATPL and enjoyed flying ever since.
To be honest, it helps that i only fly around 300 hours a year, that way i thoroughly enjoy every single day of flying at my job.
To be honest, it helps that i only fly around 300 hours a year, that way i thoroughly enjoy every single day of flying at my job.
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As a young A&P mechanic, I had plenty of opportunity to get on the road towards an ATP license. I spent a few years as a Flight Mechanic (mostly freight) and while I was sleeping, reading, watching a movie... Those pilots were strapped into their seats monitoring aircraft systems and communicating on the radio for 8 or 9 hrs straight only taking the odd break to hit the lav and maybe stretch out a bit. It takes probable decade(s) of this or getting paid peanuts getting bounced around in a commuter (after probably 5 or 6 layoff's) before you might get lucky enough to get on with a company that pays well enough to make what they do worth it and be secure enough to get your retirement in before you get layed off & every time you get layed off you start at the bottom of the pay scale again with another carrier. Nahh I was already in the business and am lucky to be with a well paying and very secure cargo company as an A&P.
The glory days of aviation are long gone, to be successful in aviation you need to be constantly prepared to take advantage of an opportunity, this means alot of moving around. It is hell on relationships, just about all of the successful pilots that I know have been married several times as Aviation Related Divorce Syndrome runs rampant.
The glory days of aviation are long gone, to be successful in aviation you need to be constantly prepared to take advantage of an opportunity, this means alot of moving around. It is hell on relationships, just about all of the successful pilots that I know have been married several times as Aviation Related Divorce Syndrome runs rampant.
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Thank you all for your introspective responses.
The strangest thing is, 99% of 6 year olds' want to be pilots when they grow up. I guess the ones who actually do become pilots don't grow up!
If I were to list the factors thrown up so far, they would be.....sheer craziness, machismo, romance of making a living in an unnatural environment, glamour, adventure, dis-satisfaction with a routine 9-5 life style.... But I haven't really come across any thread where there is real disillusionment with a flying life. This may be because of the huge sums of money already invested in the initial years, or not, I don't know. So, while it may be true that "The glory days of aviation are long gone", what attracts young people to this field may still be the glory. I would really like to know.
The strangest thing is, 99% of 6 year olds' want to be pilots when they grow up. I guess the ones who actually do become pilots don't grow up!
If I were to list the factors thrown up so far, they would be.....sheer craziness, machismo, romance of making a living in an unnatural environment, glamour, adventure, dis-satisfaction with a routine 9-5 life style.... But I haven't really come across any thread where there is real disillusionment with a flying life. This may be because of the huge sums of money already invested in the initial years, or not, I don't know. So, while it may be true that "The glory days of aviation are long gone", what attracts young people to this field may still be the glory. I would really like to know.
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It must be a glamour or prestige attraction, but what fosters that in kids? The media?
The irregular hours, time away from home, missing loved ones and dealing with cranky passengers applies equally to the folk working back in the cabin but I've yet to meet anyone who grew-up aspiring to be cabin crew
Why the difference ( other than salary, obviously )? If you can crack that you might have the answer.
The irregular hours, time away from home, missing loved ones and dealing with cranky passengers applies equally to the folk working back in the cabin but I've yet to meet anyone who grew-up aspiring to be cabin crew
Why the difference ( other than salary, obviously )? If you can crack that you might have the answer.
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When you are 6 years old or 10 or 15, you look up at the sky and see a beautiful metal bird in the sky! Then you go on a trip with your parents and see a smart, fit, RayBan glassed man
going into the pointy end of the aircraft and NO ONE IS ALLOWED THERE! 
Wow, must be important things happening in there!
THAT's where I suppose the dreams are born. The actual nightmare of days and days away from family, job uncertainties, risk, et all gets unveiled AFTER the kid actually joins an airline.....something like the heaven/hell screen saver with St.Peter!!!
As opposed to other conventional careers which exist on one plane (plane as in axis!), it may also be the attraction of a three axis existence which appeals.
going into the pointy end of the aircraft and NO ONE IS ALLOWED THERE! Wow, must be important things happening in there!THAT's where I suppose the dreams are born. The actual nightmare of days and days away from family, job uncertainties, risk, et all gets unveiled AFTER the kid actually joins an airline.....something like the heaven/hell screen saver with St.Peter!!!
As opposed to other conventional careers which exist on one plane (plane as in axis!), it may also be the attraction of a three axis existence which appeals.
Biggles books, Dan Dare and air shows. It's a passion nurtured early, rather than a suggestion from the 6th form career advisor.
I'm home every night, I get a double weekend after each block of work, the views are stunning and the satisfaction of putting it down safely in a bowling crosswind, or threading a line of storms keeps you going.
Of course we moan, what profession doesn't? Most of us just love flying though, it's that simple.
I'm home every night, I get a double weekend after each block of work, the views are stunning and the satisfaction of putting it down safely in a bowling crosswind, or threading a line of storms keeps you going.
Of course we moan, what profession doesn't? Most of us just love flying though, it's that simple.
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You are so SPOT ON!!!!!
I don't know the situation in other countries, but in India, parents have a large say in in the career choices our children make. It is a rare parent who does NOT steer a child into 'safe' professions like engineering, medicine, law or accountancy. To allow a child to choose his own destiny purely based on his/her 'dream' is not a risk many will take. You will not hear of parent 'forcing' a child to take up aviation but you will hear of a child being forced into engineering when he/she would rather study sociology or literature or something.
So those of our kids who have read Biggles, Nevil Shute, Richard Bach AND been allowed to be inspired AND allowed to pursue the dreams thus engendered, are they just plain lucky or do they just have foolish parents?
A lot of AND conditions here!!!
I don't know the situation in other countries, but in India, parents have a large say in in the career choices our children make. It is a rare parent who does NOT steer a child into 'safe' professions like engineering, medicine, law or accountancy. To allow a child to choose his own destiny purely based on his/her 'dream' is not a risk many will take. You will not hear of parent 'forcing' a child to take up aviation but you will hear of a child being forced into engineering when he/she would rather study sociology or literature or something.
So those of our kids who have read Biggles, Nevil Shute, Richard Bach AND been allowed to be inspired AND allowed to pursue the dreams thus engendered, are they just plain lucky or do they just have foolish parents?
A lot of AND conditions here!!!
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Well its cool init. Get to wear a flash uniform, drive fast cars, pull the birds, get loads of dosh. Spend weeks in exotic locations in 5 star hotels lying by the pool surround by totty. Then you leave the military and join the airlines and they work you until drop on crap schedules usually all nights not days and then their pension fund crashes.
That's why I am here now
P.S. Still flying though. But when I want to and in the glorious Okavango Delta.
That's why I am here now
P.S. Still flying though. But when I want to and in the glorious Okavango Delta.
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Most of us just love flying though, it's that simple.
.
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My dad was a pilot before I was born.
I wanted to be an astronaut, but all the good positions were taken.
I saw a 'crop duster' at work and decided that was for me.
That was 40 years ago and I'm still a full time GA commercial pilot. I been a crop duster, a charter pilot, flight instructor, flown some other interesting ops, blue water international ferry, demonstration and display, production test pilot and developmental test pilot. Still travelling the world doing GA delivery and intro to service for new customers and flight testing for a manufacturer.
I have friends around the world and attended most of the premier aviation events. I have stayed in Air Force officers messes of several interesting airforces around the globe, and seen most of the wonders of the world from a GA aircraft cockpit, hand flying, no co-pilot. Thousands of hours spent in my own company mainly, or with a Flight Test Engineer of similar mind.
Would do it again in an instant, but would try harder to stay married. In fact I am trying harder these days, another restructuring would ruin my toy collection for retirement. I have enjoyed almost every hour, although there have been a few terrifying moments. I have come home without the plane a couple of times, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I have a replica ww11 fighter project half built in the shed, with NO electronic displays, no GPS, no nuthin other than a Battle of Britain pilot would have. Just how I started in the late 60's early 70's. Back to the future for me.
I recall talking with Bert Rutan once and he said "If people want to live on the ground, that's their problem"
I concur
I am close to spending two years of my life as an air dweller.
I wanted to be an astronaut, but all the good positions were taken.
I saw a 'crop duster' at work and decided that was for me.
That was 40 years ago and I'm still a full time GA commercial pilot. I been a crop duster, a charter pilot, flight instructor, flown some other interesting ops, blue water international ferry, demonstration and display, production test pilot and developmental test pilot. Still travelling the world doing GA delivery and intro to service for new customers and flight testing for a manufacturer.
I have friends around the world and attended most of the premier aviation events. I have stayed in Air Force officers messes of several interesting airforces around the globe, and seen most of the wonders of the world from a GA aircraft cockpit, hand flying, no co-pilot. Thousands of hours spent in my own company mainly, or with a Flight Test Engineer of similar mind.
Would do it again in an instant, but would try harder to stay married. In fact I am trying harder these days, another restructuring would ruin my toy collection for retirement. I have enjoyed almost every hour, although there have been a few terrifying moments. I have come home without the plane a couple of times, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
I have a replica ww11 fighter project half built in the shed, with NO electronic displays, no GPS, no nuthin other than a Battle of Britain pilot would have. Just how I started in the late 60's early 70's. Back to the future for me.
I recall talking with Bert Rutan once and he said "If people want to live on the ground, that's their problem"
I concur
I am close to spending two years of my life as an air dweller.
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Only a lapsed PPL holder here but I can grok the love of flying part - I too grew up with pix of aeroplanes on the walls - my mum's from WWII! - and devoured Biggles Dan Dare etc.
But just following up the OP's point, what I find strange now is that the status of pilots is so much diminished from what it was - and from what little I know, so have the financial rewards, almost certainly as a consequence.
Consider what the head of a medium-sized company might earn compared to a a commercial pilot, who has so much more responsibility and arguably so many more skills. It's probably at least 3x or more.
So I just wonder for how long the decline in status, which is mirrored in the salary, can continue given that it's also a key part of what attracts pilots to the job...
But just following up the OP's point, what I find strange now is that the status of pilots is so much diminished from what it was - and from what little I know, so have the financial rewards, almost certainly as a consequence.
Consider what the head of a medium-sized company might earn compared to a a commercial pilot, who has so much more responsibility and arguably so many more skills. It's probably at least 3x or more.
So I just wonder for how long the decline in status, which is mirrored in the salary, can continue given that it's also a key part of what attracts pilots to the job...
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"I find strange now is that the status of pilots is so much diminished from what it was - and from what little I know, so have the financial rewards, almost certainly as a consequence." (Sorry, I'm yet to master the art of 'quote'!)
You're right..... in the good old days, flying was an elitist mode of travelling so the pilots enjoyed the stature of people who took the rich and the famous around. Now, flying is 'just another means of travel' and the hoi-polloi as well as the rich and famous rub shoulders at the airports (not to mention other body parts in the tight seating offered these days!). Hence, along with their passengers, the pilots and other crew have also lost some of their mystique, status, whatever.
As for financial rewards, I suppose it is a matter of demand and supply. From some of the horror stories I read about on this forum - pay to train, pay to fly, sub-standard housing - I guess the reality in the airline industry is a very well secret, at-least until mind boggling sums of money have already been spent on ab-initio training. It is only AFTER the CPL that the scales fall from the eyes and ugly reality dawns. By then the wannabees are trapped and it is too late to back away. In places like the US or Oz, there is a fair bit of general aviation, so these kids at-least have some alternative avenue for earning a living, but in Asia, GA is practically non-existent. Thus the only option is to sell your soul and inheritance for an airline job.
Progress!!
You're right..... in the good old days, flying was an elitist mode of travelling so the pilots enjoyed the stature of people who took the rich and the famous around. Now, flying is 'just another means of travel' and the hoi-polloi as well as the rich and famous rub shoulders at the airports (not to mention other body parts in the tight seating offered these days!). Hence, along with their passengers, the pilots and other crew have also lost some of their mystique, status, whatever.
As for financial rewards, I suppose it is a matter of demand and supply. From some of the horror stories I read about on this forum - pay to train, pay to fly, sub-standard housing - I guess the reality in the airline industry is a very well secret, at-least until mind boggling sums of money have already been spent on ab-initio training. It is only AFTER the CPL that the scales fall from the eyes and ugly reality dawns. By then the wannabees are trapped and it is too late to back away. In places like the US or Oz, there is a fair bit of general aviation, so these kids at-least have some alternative avenue for earning a living, but in Asia, GA is practically non-existent. Thus the only option is to sell your soul and inheritance for an airline job.
Progress!!
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Big fat salary, sexy uniform and lots of faraway places to visit - although I guess they only get to see the hotels 
I'm sure that has a certain amount to do with it
I'm sure that has a certain amount to do with it