Sound advice perhaps?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: igloo
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sound advice perhaps?
I ran across this little bit from a website about the profession:
I have been one of the lucky ones in this career field who went straight from 8 years in the military to, as of today, 25 years at a major airline. Amazingly, over 20 years of that has been as a wide body Captain. Even with this good fortune, I would not dream of encouraging my two sons to follow in my footsteps. They are both currently enrolled in Engineering colleges. I am making the same pay today as I was in 1993. What else in this country still costs the same as it did 17 years ago? There is no future for this profession. It's heyday is past and the unstoppable wave of globalization will mean that very competent pilots from China, India and the like will be flying our airplanes for unbelievably low wages within the next couple of decades - i.e. during the working life of a pilot who is entering the profession today. Additionally, increased technology will take away the needed skill level for whoever occupies the cockpit of the future and this alone will drive down wages.......Every profession has its time and the time for the airline pilot has come and gone. Look for something that is on it's way up, not in decline. Good luck in life.
I have been one of the lucky ones in this career field who went straight from 8 years in the military to, as of today, 25 years at a major airline. Amazingly, over 20 years of that has been as a wide body Captain. Even with this good fortune, I would not dream of encouraging my two sons to follow in my footsteps. They are both currently enrolled in Engineering colleges. I am making the same pay today as I was in 1993. What else in this country still costs the same as it did 17 years ago? There is no future for this profession. It's heyday is past and the unstoppable wave of globalization will mean that very competent pilots from China, India and the like will be flying our airplanes for unbelievably low wages within the next couple of decades - i.e. during the working life of a pilot who is entering the profession today. Additionally, increased technology will take away the needed skill level for whoever occupies the cockpit of the future and this alone will drive down wages.......Every profession has its time and the time for the airline pilot has come and gone. Look for something that is on it's way up, not in decline. Good luck in life.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: EU
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
chimi,
I read a lot of posts similar to yours on this forum so it's clear it's just not one individual being really negative, there obviously is a big change in the industry.
You've been flying for a long, long time back to when being a pilot was was in it's hey days, apparently. I can see why you think that about the aviation industry, you've been there since when being a pilot was THE thing to be and compared to nowadays it's a declining career.
However, the way I see it is that this 'decline' is in fact the norm to new pilots out of training. This means they have no "those were the days" view on the industry so they should be happy with how it is. That is, of course, assuming they researched into the life style, wages etc.
As long as somebody does as much research as possible, know they want to fly and don't expect an 80s life style I don't understand why anybody who longs to be a pilot would decide against being a pilot based on your advice.
I'm sure a lot of experienced pilots come on this forum and can't believe any wannabe would want to work in Today's industry. But the fact is, things change and the experienced generation may hate it, but to the new generation of pilots it's the norm and I for one am extremely excited to see what technology of the future has to bring.
I just want to make clear that I welcome your advice and opinion but people with a dream to fly need bigger reasons than you gave to decide against it.
I read a lot of posts similar to yours on this forum so it's clear it's just not one individual being really negative, there obviously is a big change in the industry.
You've been flying for a long, long time back to when being a pilot was was in it's hey days, apparently. I can see why you think that about the aviation industry, you've been there since when being a pilot was THE thing to be and compared to nowadays it's a declining career.
However, the way I see it is that this 'decline' is in fact the norm to new pilots out of training. This means they have no "those were the days" view on the industry so they should be happy with how it is. That is, of course, assuming they researched into the life style, wages etc.
As long as somebody does as much research as possible, know they want to fly and don't expect an 80s life style I don't understand why anybody who longs to be a pilot would decide against being a pilot based on your advice.
I'm sure a lot of experienced pilots come on this forum and can't believe any wannabe would want to work in Today's industry. But the fact is, things change and the experienced generation may hate it, but to the new generation of pilots it's the norm and I for one am extremely excited to see what technology of the future has to bring.
I just want to make clear that I welcome your advice and opinion but people with a dream to fly need bigger reasons than you gave to decide against it.
Educated Hillbilly
Chimichanga,
Did you think flying is the only profession that has stagnated in the last ten or twenty years.
I find it rather ironic that the quote you mentioned has his sons in Engineering colleges. The average salary for an experienced Engineer (from a graduate background) in 1999 was quoted at 35000. Ten years later alot of permanent staff technical positions are still only offering 30 to 40 K a year. Yes you can earn alot more contracting but the contracting life style is as disruptive to family life as flying was.
Also the Engineering sector is also under threat from the rise is Indian based design and analysis Engineering firms. At the moments the Indian companies are used as low cost option for doing repetitive draughting and number crunching/ data handling task. In time these will gain experience and start to out price the UK and US based companies for main stream work packages.
Ask any existing engineer if he or she would let his her sons or daughters go into Engineering and they will give the same answer as most Pilots would with regard to flying.
Note also this guy said he has spent 8 years in the military and 25 years in a mainstream airline, he has never worked in general industry to know what it is like to work in a corporate / office based environment.
Did you think flying is the only profession that has stagnated in the last ten or twenty years.
I find it rather ironic that the quote you mentioned has his sons in Engineering colleges. The average salary for an experienced Engineer (from a graduate background) in 1999 was quoted at 35000. Ten years later alot of permanent staff technical positions are still only offering 30 to 40 K a year. Yes you can earn alot more contracting but the contracting life style is as disruptive to family life as flying was.
Also the Engineering sector is also under threat from the rise is Indian based design and analysis Engineering firms. At the moments the Indian companies are used as low cost option for doing repetitive draughting and number crunching/ data handling task. In time these will gain experience and start to out price the UK and US based companies for main stream work packages.
Ask any existing engineer if he or she would let his her sons or daughters go into Engineering and they will give the same answer as most Pilots would with regard to flying.
Note also this guy said he has spent 8 years in the military and 25 years in a mainstream airline, he has never worked in general industry to know what it is like to work in a corporate / office based environment.
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: In the SIM
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I find this quite an interesting thread.
I have to agree with what Billy has written.
I would be interested to know Chimi, whether you did any other profession before you joined the forces? If the answer is no, then I can understand your view on this profession, however I do not agree with it.
A lot of guys who want to do this job, know the score, or they should do if they have done their homework. I did my homework before I embarked on the mission of pursuing the career, and I love the job. After having many jobs that I didnt enjoy, I look at the job as a pilot as a privilege, and still cant believe I make a living from going to work everyday and enjoying it. I guess it depends on want you want from life, and what sort of lifestyle you want.
I will always support up and coming pilots who are enthusiastic and passionate about flying.
I have to agree with what Billy has written.
I would be interested to know Chimi, whether you did any other profession before you joined the forces? If the answer is no, then I can understand your view on this profession, however I do not agree with it.
A lot of guys who want to do this job, know the score, or they should do if they have done their homework. I did my homework before I embarked on the mission of pursuing the career, and I love the job. After having many jobs that I didnt enjoy, I look at the job as a pilot as a privilege, and still cant believe I make a living from going to work everyday and enjoying it. I guess it depends on want you want from life, and what sort of lifestyle you want.
I will always support up and coming pilots who are enthusiastic and passionate about flying.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These days airlines are run by people with no previous experience in the industry. They are itinerant directors who seek to enhance their City reputations before scurrying off to their next high profile appointment.
Pilots, like any other employee, are simpy costs to be shaved and trimmed to what they consider to be an appropriate level. This is happening in every industry and every employment group.
The problem with pilots is that that represent one of the largest employment groups in the company, and certainly the most expensive (as a group). With modern technology appearing to trivialise our contribution to daily operations, it's easy to see why these directors want to reduce our status to something more appealing on their balance sheet.
We are (mostly) well paid because we make a significant contribution to the statistic that flying is the safest form of transport. But an accountant would argue that techology has enhanced reliability and safety in a way which far outstrips our own development. They would assert, therefore, that things go wrong far less that they once did, and as such, we should be paid less.
I don't agree with their logic, but I can at least understand it. I worry that, left unchecked, airline bosses will continue to drive our status (and with it our terms conditions) further and further down with every rotation of CEO.
I think we have a monumental struggle on our hands over the next decade or so, simply to cling on to what we currently have: a respected profession.
The quoted author has a point: flying has had its day.
Pilots, like any other employee, are simpy costs to be shaved and trimmed to what they consider to be an appropriate level. This is happening in every industry and every employment group.
The problem with pilots is that that represent one of the largest employment groups in the company, and certainly the most expensive (as a group). With modern technology appearing to trivialise our contribution to daily operations, it's easy to see why these directors want to reduce our status to something more appealing on their balance sheet.
We are (mostly) well paid because we make a significant contribution to the statistic that flying is the safest form of transport. But an accountant would argue that techology has enhanced reliability and safety in a way which far outstrips our own development. They would assert, therefore, that things go wrong far less that they once did, and as such, we should be paid less.
I don't agree with their logic, but I can at least understand it. I worry that, left unchecked, airline bosses will continue to drive our status (and with it our terms conditions) further and further down with every rotation of CEO.
I think we have a monumental struggle on our hands over the next decade or so, simply to cling on to what we currently have: a respected profession.
The quoted author has a point: flying has had its day.
