A law, student is looking at a minimum of 5 years to simply achieve degree status, followed by 6 months study at the college of law for admission as a Barrister or Solicitor. All this to be paid $45 - $50k. With 5 years experience they MAY be earning $110k. How many pilots achieved the necessary results to study law at Uni?
A medical student will study for 7 years before graduation, they will then need to work in the hospital system for a number of years in order to gain experience. Starting salary, $70 – 80k after 7 years of study. Would you study 7 years to fly?
Accounting, 3 years study plus for a starting salary of $40k. Maybe $110k with 5 years experience AFTER the degree and IF you are very good.
Pilots outlay AT LEAST
DOUBLE, and in one of the examples cited,
FIVE TIMES, the number of $$$'s for their BASIC training to CPL standard.
Lawyers, doctors, and qualified accountants are almost cetainly
assured of being offered a position BEFORE completion of their final exams - and if they elect to not take those offers, are able to set themselves up for not a great outlay, in their own business.
Flying is a gamble...or in many cases a gambol!!
But, from my experience - or that of one of my son's, who is engaged in one of the above - the competition is almost as cut throat.
People willing to work obscene hours for little return, whilst "The Firm" charges their work out at equally OBSCENE rates...but at the
opposite end of the obscenity spectrum....until that person burns out.
Then it's "Move over, baby." - here comes up-and-coming Hotshot Mark 9,569!!
Sound familiar??
Maybe it's all a part of growing up....perhaps it's just an inherent part of the super-competitive industries in which we're all employed.
But as long as the over-supply to each vocation continues, unchecked, then things ain't gunna improve, until conditions get sooooo bad that no-one else is going to want to be a part of it!!
And AVIATION is just about at that x-road right NOW!!
(
KM -
"The Oracle"...note the spelling, twerb.)