Guys, Don't Do it.
 

This [airline] industry isn't worth your time.

The conditions are getting worse every year, you won't get a return on your investment whithin a reasonable time, there is no more glory, it's boring, you won't see your family, you wont have job security, you will lose contact with you family and freinds, you will age faster, if you get fired or furloughed you will have to start all over again at another company.

Sorry to break it to you guys but someone has to. I'm currently employed with a decent airline and have been for two years and i still regret my choice. The main arguments you will hear following this thread are:

"I do it for the love of flying"

Bull****!

You thought you were going to get paid and treated right and now all you have left is this piss-excuse to prevent yourself from jumping out the window!
F15's are fun, Cubs are fun but cruising in a Airbus for 6 hours is as interesting as staring out the window on a rainy day!

"The sunsets are nice"

But they are nicer if seen from the beach with a beer and a pretty girl. Also sunrises pale in comparison to seeing a smile on your childs face when your HOME.


My advice? Do something else that is fun but also rewarding. Don't beleive it when people say that there is nothing else out there for them. The options are plenty and with the time, effort and money you would spend on an airline carreer you could build a much better life elsewhere.

So what are you going to do now?!

I'm working on another degree and dreaming of better days.

In a completely unrelated field?

A good many of us feel the same, and here's the pinch...we are well paid for what we do. When you finish your degree and try and get a job look at how poorly you are remunerated.
Flying affords me a lifestyle, yes I agree it sucks and I'm about to head off on a six day pattern of back of the clock.

Still it's great to have a job and I still love the flying. I took a year off and watched every aircraft fly overhead and wanted back.

Sitting in an office 40 Hrs per week is not nearly as rewarding as you may believe.

Yes, I would like to finish with a JD.

I'm doing it, not gonna stop, I love it. I don't see myself doing anything else, and I've done lots of things before. Come on guys, stop being so negative.

The grass is always greener on the otherside!! Not matter what you do for a living

Yeah, but when you realize that you can't pay off your loans; the grass can be brown on the other side and still look good when you don't have any yourself!

Like any other investment, timing is key.

There will be a time "to do it"...

Just not during the largest Deflationary period the aviation world is going to experience in its entire history...
:)

Love it and wouldn't trade it for any other job. Each to their own I guess :ok:.

You make a fair point, but it deppends on the persons personal circumstances.

I remember a CFI (he was a training captain for BA Express at the time) asking me if I was thinking about going commercial and when I said no his response was "Oh good... it's much better as a hobby, I would keep it that way". Over the years this opinion has been very common.

It's always good seeing businessmen, lawyers, doctors etc. turning up to a flying club, getting into the seat of their own aircraft and taking their family for lunch in Oban... just enjoying the flying.

However... I've also met commercial pilots that can't believe they're getting paid to do their hobby; who are stunned by the incredible views they see almost everyday all over the world.

It's easy to sit in your position and comment on what you have experienced, but for others the thought of working at a desk in some boring company is a killer! I would hate to live my life thinking "What if..."

It's a hard decision, but I think regardless of the decision student pilots must at all costs try and avoid getting themselves into debt problems because as soon as that happens you'll be in the brown stuff for a very long time. Flying isn't fun when you have bailiffs and banks knocking on your door every week.

jabbejokker
Goodluck with your new career. This not for everyone

True. Jabbejokker is right to inform anyone ready to invest their $$$$ in aviation training.

Some flying jobs are still very interesting.

Aerobatics
Survey
air force
bush/float
and any special flying involving pilots in the flightdeck are still worth it.

That is a very simplistic view and one which I do not concour to. This industry is very very tough indeed and to find youself in the LHS of a big jet will take many years of hard work and dedication. It may seem at times pretty straightforward but that is because you are doing it daily for years. Ask a concert pianist how easy it is to play the piano?

Why all this comparison between a flying job and sitting in an office for 40 years? There are many good rewarding careers out there that give you respect, renumeration, leave, nights at home AND job satisfaction without requiring a mortgage on your balls to get into it.
Besides you are not comparing apples with apples here. There is no choice between having a career in flying and a career elsewhere as there no chances at all for a new licence holder and won't be for many years to come. Anyone who chances their luck now is just plain foolhardy and will very quickly wish they had taken heed of the cruel, harsh but honest advice being offered. It's like buying that Ferarri when there is no petrol left in the world!

And if you are wondering: I have the Ferarri, have had it nearly 3 decades and after 18 months I am still looking for the petrol station myself!

Point taken, edited my post accordingly.

Only thing i've ever wanted to do and although i have another career as soon as i get my licenses and a paid flying job i'm done with my present job..

KAG can i have your airline job once i've finished :confused::E

As far as I am concerned, boring is good for the passengers! :)

Try being a junior lawyer or a doctor. You'll be back in that seat before thinking.

Phil

Depending.... What do you give me in exchange?

Sounds like someone should have done some research before becoming a pilot.

Has there ever been glory in airline flying? Maybe when BOAC were using 4 engined flying boats going down route to Cairo but not much glory since the advent of the jet airliner.