"Objection, your honour!"
Well,
I do believe I disagree a lot with this comment.
The question was answered by a lot of people, who in my opinion are whining. If you read some of the previous post, you'll find lots of complaints from people who should just stop complaining, and go do something about it already. You can't really tell me that you think their posts are not whining. Or you must have been reading something different from me.
"Your friend" has been in aviation for many hours, so don't you worry about that. I hope to be there for many hours to come. However, experienced or inexperienced, it really doesn't matter. The fact still remains, if you don't like what you are doing (whatever job you have!), go do something else. It really isn't that hard now is it?
And of course a lot of "noobs" (in my opinion a condescending term for people, especially those that take an interest in our industry) want to get in aviation because of HEMS, SAR of offshore flying (the latter being the biggest employer in the helicopter industry, so not very unrealistic in my opinon). So what? That doesn't mean they won't be very happy flying as an instructor or corporate or any other job for that matter. They might even get to be one of the few that actually makes it to HEMS or SAR. Good for them! If it is your dream, go for it, rather then complain about your current situation, but changing nothing about it.
"The rest of us works 60 to 80 hour weeks illegally, is on duty 330 days per year and makes less money than a brick layer in a 40 hour week.
There is no time for family and the divorce rates are high."
Please... The rest of us? Where did you get these "facts" from? If you want to express your opinion, then fine. But please don't go talking about "the rest of us", because that is simply not true. If you are one that works more hours than legally allowed, you should consider doing something else. Because in my opinion, you are a hazard to yourself, the aircraft, the public and the industry! I think a brick laying job would probably suit you better than flying, so I suggest you go do that. It obviously would make you a lot happier and all of us a lot safer!
"Lot's of us are still in it because it's too late to bail out after two decades or more in the saddle."
To this I say: It must not be bad enough then. Because if it was, I would still rather go do something else than stay at that job and be miserable. It is never too late to bail out if things were bad enough! Besides, if it took you 2 decades to find out that you hated it........ Let's just say I think I would find out a little sooner than that.
As far as DotMark goes: A lot of us are very happy doing what we do and we do it safely and legally! Go to a company, ask around and you will find that most pilots you will talk to are very happy in their job. I have! Sure, it isn't all good. Money could be better. Sometimes it gets boring (even though at the beginning stages that would be unimaginable), but to me it still beats sitting at a desk (or laying bricks!).
"With 150k Euros in your pocket you're better off buying a house so you never have to pay rent again and the bank can't touch you because you have NO loan. Come Friday noon you go home, get on your motorcycle and ride into the weekend."
Again, I did not say the money was fantastic (especially if you have a loan), but it isn't bad either. But don't get into aviation for the money. If that is your motive (which was GoodGriefs motive I suspect), you will end up unhappy without money. Go do it for the love of flying, because you hate the thought of a desk job or because your knees are too bad to lay bricks.
Again, start with a trial lesson, because you might not even like it up there. And if you do..... Make your decision. No one else can do it for you. If you want to give it a go, then do it. Times will get tough, money most certainly will be saying goodbye to you, but if you are like me... The reward of flying makes it all worth while. Then again, if you are like GoodGrief, it most certainly will not. But the grass is always greener on the other side for some people. Whatever you decide, the choice is yours!
Good luck with everything!