Knowing what you know now about this game, wud you have done it all in the 1st plce?

[usedtofly]

www

Harsh......but true.....well said

Deano777

Less harsh.......but still true......again well said



As for the instructor thing, oh yes, it HAS to be one of the WORST jobs on the planet. I agree with every point www made....I would just add that a little too long spent instructing WILL grind you down to the point where you may well give up flying altogether.

Commercial flying is just a job (however now I have got past the sh**ty years I AM having fun).

Back to the thread....would I do it all again ?.......NO !

Have a nice day dudes, I'm off to fly

[Mikehotel152]

WWW - ever the optimist hey? Were you ever enthusiastic about flying? Mind you, I suppose the Wannabes Forums need a depressing voice to balance the wide-eyed enthusiasm of the twenty-somethings embarking on careers in commercial aviation with as much naivity as young men joined the infantry in 1914.

Deano777 - I see where you're coming from, but surely your point is equally applicable to the lucky chap who gets to sleep with a beautiful woman every night (or conversely, a woman sleeping with a handsome man). Familiarity dulls the senses and encourages apathy. The lustre may have rubbed off your particular wine goblet, but it's still a better cup than the tin mug into which I pour my Special Brew...

There are two separate issues here: The Job and the current job situation. One is still a great career, the other is merely depressing and part of a well-publicised cyclical trend.

[Life's a Beech]

The answer to WWW is not to instruct unless you actually want to instruct. Don't do it for the hours, although they will help with some jobs. Do it because you want to be an instructor and it is an amazing job. Extremely underpaid, but really very good fun and not nearly as unsafe as WWW suggests (I don't know anyone who has been hurt doing it, and I know a lot of instructors. Eacch one who has had an aircraft problem got safely to Earth. No danger from the students hav actually been realised).

[redsnail]

A colleague told me some great advice.

"Always look for your next job while you're still happy in your current job."

This advice was especially relevant in Australia as your first couple of jobs would entail flogging around in the bush flying singles and twins.

However, whether your goal is wide bodies for Cathay or Emirates or lo-co B737s or A319s, plan your career wisely and with the above top tip in mind. (As usual, be flexible)

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Guys, I was a flying instructor from the age of 18 to the age of 26 and for the bulk of that I was an unpaid volunteer (VGS unit). I've taught Gliding, PPL, CPL to Modular and Integrated student both cadet and self sponsored. Whilst I did it I had an absolute blast and did some pretty cool things and was very happy.

But my first job as a PPL instructor was given to me as the result of this instructors death in a C172:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/279603.stm

Spending lots of time in Group A aircraft doing stalls, lots of landings, simulated EFATOs and PFLs IS dangerous and most instructors can tell you a personal close shave tale.


MikeHotel152 - I am optimisitic about lots of aspect of life and trust me when I say things are pretty rosy in my garden compared to most. This does not stop me holding the view, backed by reason and argument and research, that we are facing a major recession for the Western airlines. For the typical Wannabe this will prove a disaster for several years.

I'm knocking on the door of 10,000hrs with a B737 & A319 type rating - I'm not pessimistic about my situation at all. Its the Wannabes that are potentially in deep trouble and lots of them don't know it yet..

WWW

[expedite08]

How come you left the instructing WWW? I would say now is a good time to get in to it, being as airline recruitment is going to be all but nill!!

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

I left instructing because I wanted to earn a six figure salary and tool around in a jet.


WWW

[redsnail]

Me too.

[mikehammer]

So you are both tooling around in jets, any sign of the 6 figures yet?!!!

[redsnail]

I get paid in Euros, so yes.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Including share options - yes.

WWW

[Luke SkyToddler]

Certainly earn a very healthy six figures USD equivalent (with no tax and free housing thrown in), although thanks to the current situation with the exchange rate I'm no longer anywhere near that in pounds or euros.

[mikehammer]

I get paid in Euros, so yes

I get paid in pence so yes also

[no sponsor]

Do not get into flying for the money. Over the next 20 years, pilots will get paid less and less. My airline gave everyone a 2% pay increase this year, which is effectively a 2.2% pay cut when inflation is factored in.

If you are getting into aviation for the money, then you are doing it for the wrong reasons. Six figure salaries are remote, and they will always start with a 1, and options are only good once they are cashed-in and the money is in your account.

[redsnail]

Mike, if you're going to be picky, then you could say I get paid in 7 or 8 figures. I do get paid in Euros as Portugal is where my pay source is.
BTW, I didn't start the 6 figure thing..

If I added up my package (no share options) and converted to GBP, then it's pretty close to the 100,000GBP mark. Not bad for 200 (inclusive of 22 days leave) days work.

For accuracies sake
98,000 Euro salary
~10,000 Euro per diems. (tax free)
Pension.
BUPA cover for my husband and me.
Other stuff too.

[hollingworthp]

Redsnail - now stop it, you're just rubbing it in

[redsnail]

And it's all yours once you get the hours and pass the command course.

[mikehammer]

Redders

Wasn't trying to be picky, was trying to have a laugh. Seems I didn't get the last laugh on this occasion! Didn't get the 6 figure salary either, maybe that's why!

I thought I was being funny, if not then I apologise.

[redsnail]

Sorry Mike, no worries.

[hollingworthp]

Looking forward to it but some years off yet