If you look honestly at the UK market aside from EK, the sudden drop in terms over even the last 18 months across the board is severe. The career is actually properly stuffed I do now think. Is taken me a long time to face facts I didn't want to face. But that's pilots. We're all sensible until defending the industry then we all defend it like odd balls.
I've for a while thought it was not all that bad, "get it in proportion, there's still viable long term options that are sure to see you to retirement without contributing towards a heart attack", but the last 2 years I've really had to come to terms that I've got to find a way out of this industry before its too late, for my health. If I were 30 there's no Damm way I'd foresee another 35 years in this "industry".
The lifestyle in commercial aviation, especially longhaul, kills you early.
It has to. To argue otherwise defies any medical logic we all seem to believe in rationally. I'm long haul, do 68-80 hours a month and feel destroyed. Unless I'm lucky, I know the years of this I've endured will shorten my life. I don't want this. I'm sick of the silent stress we carry in return for a crap lifestyle and mediocre pay.
I've worked regional, medium and long haul. They all are terrible for your health under today's working practices. 1 day off in long haul is a death sentence long term. If you're looking from short haul, you won't understand this. 98 hours long haul with 8 days off is NOT like 98 hours short haul with 8 days off. Not by a country mile, not within ten country miles. Just remember this if you apply to these companies. All you're doing is exchanging lifespan for, well. I can't think of a reason good enough.
Last edited by Cliff Secord; 15th June 2015 at 21:56.