This may seem simplistic but if you really want to fly then join the RAF, if you want to system manage then join the airlines.
There is a world of difference between the two. In my time in the RAF (on helicopters) I had the height/heading hold engaged for only about 5% of my flying hours the rest of the time I was hand flying either at 50ft over Germany supporting the Army or in a hover over rough seas doing SAR. I spent 18 wonderful years enjoying myself. There were times when the fun was muted such as sitting in a soggy trench in Germany on exercise or being on 4 month detachments to the Falklands but this was far outweighed by the sheer fun of military flying.
I now fly in the N Sea and the routine is the opposite to military flying; this time the height/heading/nav hold is engaged for 95% of the time and you hand fly for 5% while you land the helicopter. It is boring and repetitive and only challenging when the weather is bad. It is the same in the airlines where you sit watching the RNAV slowly advance towards your destination, but is is stable. This is why I left the RAF as my kids needed the stability for their education.
I am, however, still a "pilot" and to satisfy my craving to fly I offer my sevices to the RAF for free and fly the Tutor with Air Training Corps cadets on AEF flights. This allows me to hand fly again doing Aeros etc. or as my kids call it "hobby flying". So all I can say is if you want to fly (as I did from a very early age) then join the RAF. It will not be easy. If you are good enough to get in you then have to be good enough to get through the training (50% of my course were chopped). You then have to be good enough to survive (25% of my successful course mates were killed in flying accidents and I have had a near miss!!). This is why you need a great deal of motivation to be a RAF pilot and the recruiters will spot anybody who doesn't have it.
I have been flying nonstop for 30yrs and if I had my time again I would plan my career in exactly the same way.
So if you want to be a real pilot join the RAF if you want to systems manage join the airlines and if you are insane then fly helicopters over the N Sea!!
HF
