To the Experienced Pilots
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: UK
To the Experienced Pilots
To all the Experienced Flight Crew out there- given all the bad press lately & the pressures on the industry, especially in the role of Pilot. If you had the choice to go back, would you choose this career again?
Even if the process to gain a Flying career was set now, with all the glossy flight school brochures & the prospect of splashing out 100k+?
Is the role really worth it?
Be interesting to hear your thoughts.
Even if the process to gain a Flying career was set now, with all the glossy flight school brochures & the prospect of splashing out 100k+?
Is the role really worth it?
Be interesting to hear your thoughts.
Joined: Sep 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 884
Likes: 233
From: by the seaside
Yes except for the strain on my family..often away for three weeks a month. Poor initial salary nearly 50 years ago, bully boys and poor training. Lots of accidents and twenty years to a command. Many health problems including malaria and neurotoxins.
Fabulous life, demanding skill set, young, enthusiastic, well educated cabin crew. Saw a lot of the world when only the rich could afford it. Loss my license and really missed it but was given a very good retirement package which has allowed me to fly into my 70s.
life and flying is what you make of it.
Flew over Paris and Heathrow today..although just a pax window superb. Not a patch on the greenhouse up front but still a priveledge.
yesterday paragliding with eagles.
Fabulous life, demanding skill set, young, enthusiastic, well educated cabin crew. Saw a lot of the world when only the rich could afford it. Loss my license and really missed it but was given a very good retirement package which has allowed me to fly into my 70s.
life and flying is what you make of it.
Flew over Paris and Heathrow today..although just a pax window superb. Not a patch on the greenhouse up front but still a priveledge.
yesterday paragliding with eagles.
Last edited by blind pew; 18th September 2019 at 19:31.
de minimus non curat lex
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 7
From: sunny troon
The reasons why individuals decide to go into flying vary markedly.
At one end of the spectrum, there are those who have no particular interest until probably late teens who think that the life style is glamorous, wearing a uniform and with the appropriate shades. They are assisted by the Bank of Mum & Dad.
I suspect that the majority of these would, with the benefit from of hindsight, have chosen a different occupation.
Then at the other end of the spectrum are those who, from an early age, were ‘plane daft’ to use a Scottish expression. Building airfix models, going spotting, joining the Air Cadets to go flying for free. Extremely knowledgeable about aircraft types and various aviation books in abundance at home.
Those who have showed a passion, and thought of having no other occupation, are probably the most likely to have done it all again.
When I was having a day flying up in the distant Isles where not a lot was going right ( ac tech / adverse wx etc) and frustration was setting in, I would ask myself whether I would prefer to be in the office (ex articled clerk for my sins) or flying; aviation was the answer every time.
I suspect that the answers received might roughly fall into these two broad categories.
There will always be the exceptions.....
At one end of the spectrum, there are those who have no particular interest until probably late teens who think that the life style is glamorous, wearing a uniform and with the appropriate shades. They are assisted by the Bank of Mum & Dad.
I suspect that the majority of these would, with the benefit from of hindsight, have chosen a different occupation.
Then at the other end of the spectrum are those who, from an early age, were ‘plane daft’ to use a Scottish expression. Building airfix models, going spotting, joining the Air Cadets to go flying for free. Extremely knowledgeable about aircraft types and various aviation books in abundance at home.
Those who have showed a passion, and thought of having no other occupation, are probably the most likely to have done it all again.
When I was having a day flying up in the distant Isles where not a lot was going right ( ac tech / adverse wx etc) and frustration was setting in, I would ask myself whether I would prefer to be in the office (ex articled clerk for my sins) or flying; aviation was the answer every time.
I suspect that the answers received might roughly fall into these two broad categories.
There will always be the exceptions.....
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 74
From: White Waltham, Prestwick & Calgary
The ting is, you have to treat it to some extent as a business (as a professional). In those terms, if you had over £100K to spend, you might think of starting a business and flying for pleasure. Most people I have met consider the money they earn to be the compensation for the nonsense and the flying is the icing on the cake.
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: UK
I'm one of the Airfix building/plane spotting/Air Cadets types. It took me 20 years from my first trial lesson (7 years old) to First Officer. Despite the struggle, I'd happily do it all again.
But....
Just be prepared to accept that you will miss birthdays/weddings/anniversaries/Christmas. Your wife/husband/significant other will get used to attending events alone and having to explain why you're not there. You stand a chance of losing your job several times a year even without your airline being insolvent (sim, medical, etc).
If the above doesn't put you off then I personally still think it's the best job for me, and I have several to compare it against. Just be realistic with what to expect!
But....
Just be prepared to accept that you will miss birthdays/weddings/anniversaries/Christmas. Your wife/husband/significant other will get used to attending events alone and having to explain why you're not there. You stand a chance of losing your job several times a year even without your airline being insolvent (sim, medical, etc).
If the above doesn't put you off then I personally still think it's the best job for me, and I have several to compare it against. Just be realistic with what to expect!
Joined: Oct 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 77
Likes: 14
From: Scotland
The reasons why individuals decide to go into flying vary markedly.
At one end of the spectrum, there are those who have no particular interest until probably late teens who think that the life style is glamorous, wearing a uniform and with the appropriate shades. They are assisted by the Bank of Mum & Dad.
I suspect that the majority of these would, with the benefit from of hindsight, have chosen a different occupation.
Then at the other end of the spectrum are those who, from an early age, were ‘plane daft’ to use a Scottish expression. Building airfix models, going spotting, joining the Air Cadets to go flying for free. Extremely knowledgeable about aircraft types and various aviation books in abundance at home.
Those who have showed a passion, and thought of having no other occupation, are probably the most likely to have done it all again.
When I was having a day flying up in the distant Isles where not a lot was going right ( ac tech / adverse wx etc) and frustration was setting in, I would ask myself whether I would prefer to be in the office (ex articled clerk for my sins) or flying; aviation was the answer every time.
I suspect that the answers received might roughly fall into these two broad categories.
There will always be the exceptions.....
At one end of the spectrum, there are those who have no particular interest until probably late teens who think that the life style is glamorous, wearing a uniform and with the appropriate shades. They are assisted by the Bank of Mum & Dad.
I suspect that the majority of these would, with the benefit from of hindsight, have chosen a different occupation.
Then at the other end of the spectrum are those who, from an early age, were ‘plane daft’ to use a Scottish expression. Building airfix models, going spotting, joining the Air Cadets to go flying for free. Extremely knowledgeable about aircraft types and various aviation books in abundance at home.
Those who have showed a passion, and thought of having no other occupation, are probably the most likely to have done it all again.
When I was having a day flying up in the distant Isles where not a lot was going right ( ac tech / adverse wx etc) and frustration was setting in, I would ask myself whether I would prefer to be in the office (ex articled clerk for my sins) or flying; aviation was the answer every time.
I suspect that the answers received might roughly fall into these two broad categories.
There will always be the exceptions.....
You tend to find the types who are partial to moaning and advising against this career are the people who’ve never had a proper job prior to flying.
We as pilots are very fortunate indeed, and those of us who appreciate everyday of our careers are even more fortunate.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,910
Likes: 184
From: Duit On Mon Dei
I would have done a few things differently. I would have picked different instructors in the early part of the process. I probably wouldn't have stayed as long as I did in the Kimberly (Australia) and headed back east sooner. Would I have moved to the UK? Fortunately it did work out but it was hard work trying to get a job post 2001. The last 14 years have definitely been the best.
