Someone please tell me to pull my head in!!!!!
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Australia
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Someone please tell me to pull my head in!!!!!
Can someone verbally slap me around the head, so I start thinking straight again. Story is an old one, in mid 30's, been out of flying for years now, keep thinking about it and wanting to get back into it though hours are still lowish, have a great high paying job in another industry and now with responsibilities eg a mortgage and thinking of having a family etc. I know there is a world of pain in aviation and that is why I got out, why after so long do you start thinking romantically of flying again - when the reality is that GA won't pay the mortgage, future schools fees, holidays etc, and just a slim chance if getting into the airlines.
Sorry for the rant and trying to publicly justify my actions.
Sorry for the rant and trying to publicly justify my actions.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Try this for a cure. Wander around any GA flight line and take a long hard look at what you'll be flying. 
Ask the operators of the nice shiny twins/jets etc what their minimums are. Then ask what the usual applicant has.
Wander around the car parks and ask who owns the clapped out heaps of rubbish.
Go and have a read of Deathcruzer's thread in Wannabes.
Note, most of us quite like flying. Most of us though, after a few years reckon the industry sucks. There is a difference between flying and the industry.
Also, you risk your standard of living after retirement at this age. Pensions etc are based on what you have contributed, not what you could have contributed.
If your partner is ok with it, you've done the sums and you still come out on top, go for it. Otherwise, hire a nice new single and go and have fun.
Ask the operators of the nice shiny twins/jets etc what their minimums are. Then ask what the usual applicant has. Wander around the car parks and ask who owns the clapped out heaps of rubbish.
Go and have a read of Deathcruzer's thread in Wannabes.
Note, most of us quite like flying. Most of us though, after a few years reckon the industry sucks. There is a difference between flying and the industry.
Also, you risk your standard of living after retirement at this age. Pensions etc are based on what you have contributed, not what you could have contributed.
If your partner is ok with it, you've done the sums and you still come out on top, go for it. Otherwise, hire a nice new single and go and have fun.
There's a world of difference between:
* waking up in the late morning after a pleasant night out the previous night, looking out the window at the clear blue sky, and deciding to go for flight with some friends to somewhere nice for lunch, or
* getting dragged out of bed before dawn after leaving the party early the night before, driving to work in the pouring rain/fog/already hot tropics - forecast to 'improve' to occasional thunderstorms - planning & refueling the a/c, cleaning the a/c because the last charter was a rush job & lacked time to do it afterwards, hand loading loading 600kg of freight or pax + bags, dozing all day in the heatsoaked a/c at an airstrip in the middle of nowhere while the pax go do whatever pax go to do then finally returning home late that afternoon to poor weather & diversions, cleaning the a/c & completing the company paperwork before driving home.....every day.
* waking up in the late morning after a pleasant night out the previous night, looking out the window at the clear blue sky, and deciding to go for flight with some friends to somewhere nice for lunch, or
* getting dragged out of bed before dawn after leaving the party early the night before, driving to work in the pouring rain/fog/already hot tropics - forecast to 'improve' to occasional thunderstorms - planning & refueling the a/c, cleaning the a/c because the last charter was a rush job & lacked time to do it afterwards, hand loading loading 600kg of freight or pax + bags, dozing all day in the heatsoaked a/c at an airstrip in the middle of nowhere while the pax go do whatever pax go to do then finally returning home late that afternoon to poor weather & diversions, cleaning the a/c & completing the company paperwork before driving home.....every day.
Join Date: Jan 1998
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Playing the devils advocate
OR
you may consider accumulating enough funds to enable self supporting your family for a period of time, say 12 months.
Make that application to your high paying employer for 12 months off without pay .. you know, so you can travel around Australia or something, then go chase your dream.
See how you go, see if it is really is what you want, see what you can make of it.
You then have the opportunity to see if the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence and if it is worth crossing back to the dark side, with the safety net of your high paying job and quality life style still within reach.
at mid 30, you are not that old, for anything .. at mid 40 you maybe ..
you may consider accumulating enough funds to enable self supporting your family for a period of time, say 12 months.
Make that application to your high paying employer for 12 months off without pay .. you know, so you can travel around Australia or something, then go chase your dream.
See how you go, see if it is really is what you want, see what you can make of it.
You then have the opportunity to see if the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence and if it is worth crossing back to the dark side, with the safety net of your high paying job and quality life style still within reach.
at mid 30, you are not that old, for anything .. at mid 40 you maybe ..
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Someone please tell me to pull my head in!!!!!
OK, you asked for it.
Pull your head in!!!!!
Now, if you still want to take up flying for a career, go to it. Just remember that nearly everyone and his dog is out there cutting each other's throats for whatever work is available, thus effectively keeping salaries down. However, if you have someone to bank-roll you and you don't mind joining a bloody long queue . . . . . .
Just try to remember that the workers within the GA industry, whether they be drivers, fixers or admin folks, subsidise the end user of the aircraft by virtue of un-realistic salaries.
The whole aviation thing looks good from the outside but don't expect too much when you're inside it. Still, in a clear sky on a good day in a good aircraft, who'd be anywhere else.
STL
Pull your head in!!!!!
Now, if you still want to take up flying for a career, go to it. Just remember that nearly everyone and his dog is out there cutting each other's throats for whatever work is available, thus effectively keeping salaries down. However, if you have someone to bank-roll you and you don't mind joining a bloody long queue . . . . . .
Just try to remember that the workers within the GA industry, whether they be drivers, fixers or admin folks, subsidise the end user of the aircraft by virtue of un-realistic salaries.
The whole aviation thing looks good from the outside but don't expect too much when you're inside it. Still, in a clear sky on a good day in a good aircraft, who'd be anywhere else.
STL
Join Date: Feb 2004
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On a beautiful day flying in an Islander from Kiunga to Telefomin I distinctly remember a Talair pilot saying "I should be paying Junior for this pleasure". I kid you not.
Grandpa Aerotart
Yeah animalclub but Dennis did pay us well and the aircraft were, mostly, well maintained.
The GA in Oz today is a FAR cry from what we enjoyed in PNG in the 80s.
Chuck.
PS T'dreamer...with that well paid job why not just fly for fun?
The GA in Oz today is a FAR cry from what we enjoyed in PNG in the 80s.
Chuck.
PS T'dreamer...with that well paid job why not just fly for fun?
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GA $28-50k pa, instant command.
DJ $70k pa 2+ years to command then $120k pa.
QF $120k pa 10+ years to command then $250k pa.
(incumbents please correct me if my numbers are wrong)
Or take the well paid job now refinance the mortgage and make some good investments and buy yourself a mooney/tiger/pitts/baron/whatever and fly whenever you want.
I suppose it depends on what you reckon well paid is.
The glory days of Oz aviation are well and truly over - PULL YOUR HEAD IN!!!
DJ $70k pa 2+ years to command then $120k pa.
QF $120k pa 10+ years to command then $250k pa.
(incumbents please correct me if my numbers are wrong)
Or take the well paid job now refinance the mortgage and make some good investments and buy yourself a mooney/tiger/pitts/baron/whatever and fly whenever you want.
I suppose it depends on what you reckon well paid is.
The glory days of Oz aviation are well and truly over - PULL YOUR HEAD IN!!!
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I'm in the same position.......I gave my notice to my employer in the finance sector last week....tried working for a living and didn't like it!!!!!!
Back to flying and couldn't be happier!!!....Go for it lad!
Back to flying and couldn't be happier!!!....Go for it lad!
Bottums Up
Dreamer,
[list=1][*]Pull your head in.[*]After 20 years in the industry the only thing I like less than when I started is the inconvenient bullsh
t security that takes some off the gloss off a great job.[/list=1]
Getting onto the apron or into the flight deck is close to a nighmare!
[list=1][*]Pull your head in.[*]After 20 years in the industry the only thing I like less than when I started is the inconvenient bullsh
t security that takes some off the gloss off a great job.[/list=1] Getting onto the apron or into the flight deck is close to a nighmare!
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Dreamer me old...,
I am five months short of the big 50, and have been out of the industry for about eight years. I literally crashed out of GA just over twelve years ago and only in the last eighteen months have I managed to get a 'foot back in the door' with a little Pa 31 time doing some ferry flights amongst other things.
I have never had a full time flying job on Australia; all my full time jobs were overseas. My current permanent employment is as a fruit picker/orchard hand/ vineyard worker.
I will not stop trying to get back into flying full time until they put me in a pine box!! And why???
Because I love flying!!
The decision is yours.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
I am five months short of the big 50, and have been out of the industry for about eight years. I literally crashed out of GA just over twelve years ago and only in the last eighteen months have I managed to get a 'foot back in the door' with a little Pa 31 time doing some ferry flights amongst other things.
I have never had a full time flying job on Australia; all my full time jobs were overseas. My current permanent employment is as a fruit picker/orchard hand/ vineyard worker.
I will not stop trying to get back into flying full time until they put me in a pine box!! And why???
Because I love flying!!
The decision is yours.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Join Date: May 2003
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TurbineDreamer Give your self an upper cut.
There are plenty of options to fly and retain your current job, go out and order a tail kit for an RV there is a turbine mod for the rv4 in the works if your dream burn jet A1 or if you have the cash a lanceair 4p turbine. Or maybe instructing on weekends or start a side venture doing scenics in a tiger. If the desire to fly takes over and you absolutley have to chuck in your day job good luck and be carefull with your money and family you never know when they might run out.
There are plenty of options to fly and retain your current job, go out and order a tail kit for an RV there is a turbine mod for the rv4 in the works if your dream burn jet A1 or if you have the cash a lanceair 4p turbine. Or maybe instructing on weekends or start a side venture doing scenics in a tiger. If the desire to fly takes over and you absolutley have to chuck in your day job good luck and be carefull with your money and family you never know when they might run out.
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Dear Mr. Dreamer T. My opinion is that if your standard of living is not so important than go for it. My sister earns $ 80 K in Sydney and still gets her land line cut several times a year. Sydney and city life is expensive.
The other thing is that there comes a point when you have to provide for a family and at your age that time will come soon. Just be mindful of that.
Have you read the latest copy of Flight safety. It mentions that the homebuild section of the industry is in a state of booming. That may be an avenue to flying while working in your current job.
U2
The other thing is that there comes a point when you have to provide for a family and at your age that time will come soon. Just be mindful of that.
Have you read the latest copy of Flight safety. It mentions that the homebuild section of the industry is in a state of booming. That may be an avenue to flying while working in your current job.
U2
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Slap, slap...slap...........Slap!
There..........that ought to do it!!??
Dreamer, do I have to describe the bourbon-laden stench in the back of the Chieftain as I scrubbed its carpet at 2100 after a 12hr duty to a country race meet?
Do I have to explain the ungrateful, stinking attiudes of the pax as they say, "you mean we're flying in that tiny little thing!", not less than an hour after you had to walk out of your 4yo daughters birthday party??
Do I have to explain the beautiful moonrises/sunrises as you sit between two cloud layers at FL200???
TD , as a friend once said to me at one of those aviation crossroads that you inevitably come to, "I'm sure you'll make the decision that's best for you & your family!"
But IMHO, I'd be holding onto a nice, well-paid job with some security if I had the choice, developing a ood investment portfolio and getting myself a nice Bonanza!!!!! That way you only have to fly with personable, respectful pax who appreciate not just your piloting skills.........but you. Your FAMILY!!!
That concludes my two cents/
Dreamer, do I have to describe the bourbon-laden stench in the back of the Chieftain as I scrubbed its carpet at 2100 after a 12hr duty to a country race meet?
Do I have to explain the ungrateful, stinking attiudes of the pax as they say, "you mean we're flying in that tiny little thing!", not less than an hour after you had to walk out of your 4yo daughters birthday party??
Do I have to explain the beautiful moonrises/sunrises as you sit between two cloud layers at FL200???
TD , as a friend once said to me at one of those aviation crossroads that you inevitably come to, "I'm sure you'll make the decision that's best for you & your family!"
But IMHO, I'd be holding onto a nice, well-paid job with some security if I had the choice, developing a ood investment portfolio and getting myself a nice Bonanza!!!!! That way you only have to fly with personable, respectful pax who appreciate not just your piloting skills.........but you. Your FAMILY!!!
That concludes my two cents/
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Aerodynamanamcists
A turbine mod for a RV4, that would be the bees knees. Any details, an allison C20 perhaps?
apologies for hi jacking a thread, but ........
A turbine mod for a RV4, that would be the bees knees. Any details, an allison C20 perhaps?
apologies for hi jacking a thread, but ........
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You think Australia is bad for the self-improver? Try Europe, the JAA's are doing a marvellous job at destroying this route to an aviation career.
Unless you have access to a lot of money £s50K+ you don't stand much of a chance.
It could have been worse, if it wasn't for the UK CAA not putting their foot down, when the German's wanted all candidates for the JAA ATPL to have a university education.
Say what you like about authorities like the FAA, NZ CAA & CASA etc, etc. but they let various companies do their weeding out, not the state.
Unless you have access to a lot of money £s50K+ you don't stand much of a chance.
It could have been worse, if it wasn't for the UK CAA not putting their foot down, when the German's wanted all candidates for the JAA ATPL to have a university education.
Say what you like about authorities like the FAA, NZ CAA & CASA etc, etc. but they let various companies do their weeding out, not the state.
