MARK IX
I couldn't agree more. I always wanted to dive straight into a jet job once gaining my FATPL, but failing to get work after 5 months, I decided to instruct. Don't get me wrong, instructing was part of my master plan, but only once a had regained the capital outlay of the training.
I am really glad a ended up instructing first though. I love raw flying and that is what I do, in fact, it is changing the way I look at my career path. I now feel that I want to teach aero's, maybe get into the display scene and maybe coastal research flying. There are so many paths to follow that branch out from instructing and as you have pointed out, I still look forward to the alarm at 07:00.
Speaking to other Airline Pilots, the change seems to hitting the entire industry. Now every operator is cutting back on the perks and working pilots the way they are, the appeal has gone in my eyes.