Is it worth it...?
 

I have just read through a similar topic on another forum and was thinking that it would be interesting to get a South African opinion on this.

The question is this - Do you think that all the time, effort and money involved in becoming an airline pilot is worth it? And even if you do get that 1 in a million cushy job does the time away from the kids, wife and home make it worth it?

Is there a future for newly qualified commercial/ATP pilots in South Africa (previously advantaged ones)?

It would be great if some of the heavy-weights in the Industry could shed some light on this.

GI

yes!
Blues:ok:

Man, don't listen to all those people that say its impossible to achieve your dream. Ask yourself this, could you live with yourself knowing that you never even tried?!
Go for it
:ok:

Just one question GI. Would you rather be in an office that goes 400 knots at 35000 feet with the best view in the world or stuck in a little box with a wooden desk at zero knots and at ground level looking at a wall?

cm

Not that I'm a heavyweight of the industry, but...

No.
No.
and No.

Plough the $ into something else like a small business, you get to run your life and to control your time and income, determine how much time you spend with the family, where you want to live, and it doesn't depend on passing a 6-monthly medical.

Believe me, the time and effort and $ you are going to put into getting into an airline in SA (or anywhere really), the sheer tenacity and determination you are going to have to demonstrate will be hugely better served in your own interest.

With such effort the business profits will certainly stretch to an aircraft...!:ok:


Check this thread out too http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...17#post1205917

and this one
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hreadid=120924

and
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...&highlight=DHL

:uhoh:

JG1
It all depends what one wants from his/her life. In Portugal they have al old proverb;
Lot of people like to go to beach but very few will continue...

I haven' regret my decision to be a pilot. I had good and bad times but still, it sure beats the life in office!

Blues:ok:

Be careful not to miss the point here: The question should not be "is it worth it", but rather "do you want to fly?". Flying is not just another job and you can't compare it with any other profession.
Bottom line, if you have that fire in the belly, the absolute need to be up there - then you'll do it. Whether its worth it or not doesn't enter into the equasion.
So if your objective is the flashy sports car, the fancy cell phone, the smart address and the time at home - go somewhere else.
If your objective is the fulfilment that comes with satisfying that craving to fly, blue skies and tail winds forever to you!
(And, strangely enough, there are those pilots who have beautiful wives, great kids, lovely homes and all the other trimmings and gadgets).

GI

Firsly I'm no heavy weight in the industry but like most of the other guys have pointed out it sure as hell beats sitting behind a wooden desk with the same old view day in day out. Having compared both I know that the view at 35,000 feet is far preferable.

However I don't believe that being a pilot will ever make you "rich". For me it is not just about the money. I don't think that a successful career pilot would ever be poor but neither will you have massive wealth. Unless of course you can get sponsored by SAA.

There is a saying along the lines of "do what you love and the money will follow" which I like to live by....the only snag in aviation is that you need about R150,000 before you can do what you love.

JG1, I wish having one's own business was that easy



:sad:

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am not sure whether any of you are flying for SAA, Airlink, SAX, Comair, Nationwide or 1- Time, but these are the opinions I am interested in as I am not planning to leave South Africa if at all possible.

It is pretty clear to me that there are two types of pilots out there: The experienced ones (jet time etc.) who knows what it is all about (and it doesn't seem that rosy) and the wannabees (maybe some twin-piston etc.) who are still dreaming about that wonderfull airline job. I am sad to say the latter includes me.

Bluesafrica, Jelly Doughnut, and Captain Magic have you read through the links on Emirates? Very interesting...and worrying!

Anyhow back to the South African situation. How screwed up is the industry here. Not only do we fool ourselves by applying to SAA, Airlink, and SAX (Affirmative action you see) but you can forget to compete for other jobs if you don't know the right people. It is very much a case of who you know here - or am I wrong?

Is it really worth having the office with a view at 35000 ft if you don't see your kids growing up and the wife divorces you?

No job security and no way to plan your life more than a week ahead?

I love flying but the cost (and future cost) is probably going to kill me.

GI

It's only you who can make that decision if it is worth or not. Unfortunately aviation is kind of job that you need to be very very flexible and willing to even leave your own country to get your daily grob.

I have been flying 35 years and out of these 25 years out of my own country. I still feel that it has been worth for all the hardship.
I can still look for myself from the mirrow and feel that I did what I wanted in my life. It is true, as you say that you do need to sacrify a lot and if you like to stay with your family and to have the most secure job around with a steady income you may look something else.

You may always buy a nice little airplane for yourself and do some aerobatics on Sundays.

In my case I wanted to be only a pilot or Indian Chief. To be a pilot was most practical in my case....

All the best
Blues:ok:

Hey GI

It really is your own decision and you have to weigh up what's most important to you. Yes I have read the post on Emirates, without getting into the right and wrong of it all, its a sad fact of life that the terms and conditions in our industry are slowly being eroded...

I have several friends at the airlines you mention, all of them from previously "advantaged" backgrounds, and they seem pretty happy with their lot.

Myself, I chased flying hours and jobs all over Africa for 4 years before getting my lucky break into a decent airline back home (UK). I was single and without commitments, which helped, that said it was hard work combining contract flying with studying for SA and JAA airline exams, as well as keeping informed about the job market.

"Who you know, not what you know" will always apply to aviation, even here in the UK, but you can work on the "who you know" bit, just make the effort to talk to people and try not to upset too many of them!

Was it worth it - for me yes.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.

cheers
JD