I echo What to do?'s comments above. Working 9-5 (or longer), commuting monday-friday with everybody else, and having to take work home on nights and weekends is IMHO a major repetitive drag and one that you have a good shot at avoiding if you get yourself into an airline.

That said, and before everyone posts their rosters to prove that they work much harder, let me say that your perception of your quality of life as a pilot will hinge dramatically on where you are based, who you fly for, and where you are in your family life.

Some pilots really do have a crap deal and get worked to death, losing that love for flying, and wondering if it was worth dishing out all that dosh.

If you're young and not tied down I suspect you'll find the lifestyle and the flying are terrific. Then, by the time you have a family to come home to, hopefully you'll have the seniority to get your preferred base, fleet, and days off etc.!

eoincarey

Read Puritans post here if you haven't already! It outlines pretty much the long and short of the whole truth about "doing the pilot thing" at the present time, market considerations etc etc....

If you really want to do it, then go ahead - I have to agree with most peoples comments about kicking the degree into to the sidelines, start your ATPL writtens instead!

Outline a plan for yourself but remain VERY flexible with it, choose your training provider, finance it - add 20-25% and go do it! If you really want it then you'll work hard and succeed.

The hard truth about the whole thing is keeping your feet on planet earth - hang on to your ambition but be aware, that you may never ever gain what you set out to do. IMHO the reason for this is the importance of luck, never underestimate it! You need talent, application and luck to get on - and finding luck is the most important factor in finding success!

I've been flying professionally for about a year now, and I just love it! I keep hearing it'll wear off and become just a job and as lifes priorities change i'm sure it will - but the buzz of going to work is just unreal...can't get enough of it! Worth every penny and all the sweat and tears. But then I fit into abracadabra's "....young and not tied down....find the lifestyle and the flying are terrific etc etc etc" bracket!!!

The very best of luck.
Cheers
JB

Not too many positive repies on here about flying for a living.....
It's a big gamble with a large sum of cash. Avaition jobs are never guaranteeed, and there will always be a large number of applicants for each and every single job going......

It's a pain getting up and some stupid hour to go to work when everyone else is asleep, and it's a pain having a rather unsociable lifestyle when you have to get an early night while all your mates are out on the town...
HOWEVER - the view out of my office window is absolutely bloomin mavellous, and having done the 9-5 job, it's something I wouldn't give up for the world.

Yes, there are low cost airlines giving out low cost lifestyles. Wherever you work you will have problems with your job. A job is what you make it, and if you really love flying and can;t imagine yourself doing anything else, go for it!!
If you're looking for a job that gives you lots of dosh for little work, stay away!

thanks for the comments guys

Cheers people

Although I disagree with the degree thing (I got into Edinburgh to do an MA in History, which is no mean feat!) and am not just going to chuck it as I think its important to have a fallback option, im grateful for all your advice. It seems that for better or worse, the pilot career is still worth it, just!

Cheers again

ETC

I am currently earnign very good money and to put it in perspective, I would have to be at LEAST a jet captain to equal my currently salary...........but i still want to give it up and start at the bottom of the heap in a flying career.

Flying for an airline is my ambition in life and I can't say much more than that. Take whichever path you wish to achieve your dream but be in control of your own destiny.

If you want something enough then you will get it in the end.

I'm personally avoiding a debt ridden route to qualification, but that's simply my decision. Others will be qualified at 19 years old with a £60k noose around their necks. If they can sleep at night and are managing it then that's fine. Do what you feel comfortable doing.