Dreaming of flying a jet (specially to you older guys!)
 

"Flying is hours of boredom, punctuated by moments of stark terror."

Here I am today, "living the dream"

Yet the dream does not feel like a dream anymore! Maybe my message should also go as a stark warning to those "older wannabes", who believe this is what is missing in their life!

Against most odds, I got into the business, which was my "dream" - however already on my first observer day, my dreams was shattered to pieces! 4 sectors across Europe in one day on the jump seat, I was destroyed when I returned to my bed to have a rest! Guess what, not a long rest, I barely had closed my eyes, before I had to wake up again, and go for another day of observer flights!

Now this has become my everyday life - and feeling what I do now it makes me wonder, was this really the dream I thought it was?

Yes I am living the "dream!"

Looking back over the years, the sacrifices, the money I spent, the fractures of my relationship, the time I am loosing with my daughter, the things I could have done with that "money" that I have already spent!

I get up 3.30 in the morning, and get back at 17.00, and than next morning up again 3.30 - vow... yes, I am flying a shiny jet, vow... what a dream!! :ugh:

And how much money did I make for those hours of work? Hmm. Hard to give an exact number, but probably around £150, seriously, are you kidding me, you might think that is great money!
However I had a business, still have it by the way, where I make more money in an afternoon, I actually was home few days last week, and made £1500 with few hours work within 4 - 5 days

Now what can I say, I got what I wanted, or so it seemed, do I enjoy it? I enjoy parts, but are those parts I enjoy worth all the hours I am stuck in that metal tin?

I am not meaning to offend anybody, but besides the Take Off / departure and the Approach / Descent - and landing, 90% of the job is DEAD BORING! It does my head in to sit there for hours and hours, doing nothing, besides read some FCOM or some other "useful" literature, to enhance my aviation career!

Now I do admit, maybe if I got home to my family a bit more often, and maybe if the pay was better, I would not feel so let down by what I thought was my "dream" - however that does still not cover over the fact of all those hours of boredom!

But thinking about the "freedom" I have lost, the income from the job, the loss of family life, commuting lifestyle, where of course your roster will never be adapted to give you the chance to travel home on your working day, you always have to commute on your off days!

So you "older" guys specially, who are considering to follow your dream, beware - it might not be exactly as you imagine it to be! I do miss GA, and in many ways think I probably would have had more fun flying around in a small PA28 - than again back in 2006, when I started to think about startng to fly again, a friend of mine, who was a 74 captain, tried to tell me that it was maybe not as it seemed!
But did I listen? Of course - not that much, and neither will probably you either, but considering the facts with the cost of training and time lost with family and friends!

Can you imagine the pleasure and fun I could have had with my family, if I had spent the money on them, instead of CPL / ME/IR + + , do I now have regrets?

I can't have regrets, because if I had not tried I would never have known, I got what I deserved and what I asked for!
Having known the facts I know today, would have I have done something different, probably yes, but maybe not!

I am still in a very fortunate situation compared to many other people, as I still have my business running slowly above idle, and I know in myself if I feel to much BS coming my way, it will cost me nothing to say STOP! But that's not really want I want to do, I want to give it a go, until 1500 - 2000 hours TT, but if this is it, well than I am not so convinced anymore!

I would be surprised if I am the only one feeling like this, but I think many are to proud to admit it, because it would be making yourself admit that after spending all that effort, time and money, it was not just all that!

i find myself on many an occasion typing a post or a response to a post and i get partway through and i just think, oh i dont care enough / whats the point and i oft just alt f4 and go and do something else.

i got halfway through your post and wished you'd done the same.

i mean after all the time you spent writing this you could have probably earnt another 1500 quid.

if you pm me your address i'll get the miniature violinist to pop round to yours and play you the worlds saddest song.

This is an interesting thread, and have heard this view point or similar themes from a few people I have worked with.

Some of the points you have raised are facts you would or should have known about before you started the job, for example, being away, getting up at three thirty in the morning, four sector days, being in the cruise for hours etc. I cant help but raise an eyebrow to guys who moan about these issues, and your motivation to embark on the mission of becoming a pilot.

Also, the job is diverse in the sense of, are you flying cargo through the night in a clapped out turbo prop in crappy weather or are you flying for the flag carrier of your country in a wide bodied jet, the lifestyle of course is very different.

Rightly or wrongly, I always make comparisons to how my life used to be before I became a pilot, and it makes me appreciate the job because I enjoy it so much.

I cant quite get my head around why going to work at 4am or there abouts, and getting home in the afternoon from doing 4 sectors and have to do it all over again the following day is an issue? Isnt this what the majority of people do in the world, work for a few days on the trot?

I would also be interested to know, what was your dream? Why were your dreams shattered on day one just because you had to fly a four sector day?

Making comparisons about what you 'could' have earned in the same amount of time doing something as part of your business is pointless, and you are obviously disappointed. The way the industry is right now you are never going to make mega bucks flying for a living, so if that is what motivates you, you are in the wrong job.

Of course I do not know you, but it would appear you simply did not know what you were getting yourself into and had not done thorough research? Also, perhaps your heart was not in it?

I think this is a real shame, as there are hundreds of guys and girls out there, who I am sure have read this thread, are spitting blood right now knowing they would get far more out the job than you are. Perhaps you should step aside and let them enjoy it, rather than let it make you feel resentful.

I think the job and the lifestyle are great and the issues you have raised are part of the job.

This message was more towards those here, who suddenly from clear lighting have decided to become a pilot, not knowing what it really is about!

I did do my research very well, and I was very well aware of what I was getting myself into. However, and I have met many pilots already, who are in the job, and for them it is just that, a job, nothing more, nothing less!

One guy I knew, his wife was having a baby, and the company did not want to give him days off so he could help take care of his wife and his daughter during the birth period and weeks after, he decided that was enough, and left the company without any notice!
This was a guy with over 10.000 hours on various aircraft!

Furthermore I have met several both first officers and captains, who you could see was clearly tired, but this was their life, but it had taken a heavy price on their lives and specially they relationships!

In this day and age, surely I was extremely motivated, and for sure I knew I was NOT doing it for the money! For me to get such a job at my age, is extremely rare, and this is not the issue - it is the total package you let yourself into, if you decide to leave a good career, as you would have to have had a good career - to be able to afford the training - you might discover that it maybe does not stimulate the brain as much as you wish it did!

As I have said, I will give it a go, and see where it leads me - I know of guys who was miserable, and as soon as they got homebase etc. suddenly it was the best job in the world!

Also if you have the money to do the training, most likely from hard work in the past, you have learned who to appreciate the value of money, but you see clearly you are not appreciated for the work you do!
This amongst a mixture of things, devalues the job, and it makes it even more frustrating when you see there are idiots prepared to P2F - for this, just to think they will get a foot up the foodchain!

As I said, I am one of the lucky ones, no debts, nothing to really loose - after working so hard against this, it does feel like an anti-climax - be careful for what you wish for, it might not be what you thought it was!

No amount of research in advance, can prepare you for the real thing - believe me - I have been connected to aviation since I was 17 years old, and had my first flying lesson!

Maybe I am just exhausted after TR, line training and constant checking and questions for the last probably 5 - 6 months!

Truckflyer, you sound like you are in an enviable position!

If you have a business that gives you the ability to earn good money from only a few hours work and you don't enjoy the airline flying you're currently doing why on earth don't you instruct, or do some other kind of flying that doesn't force you to do long days and stop overs?

You should have gone to Africa or Alaska and done some real flying before embarking with the monotony of airlines. I suspect that if you're completely honest with yourself your dream was more focussed on the lay-mans perception of what being a pilot is rather than the reality of it, a reality that you now live. You've woken up and smelled the in flight coffee by the sound of it.

Take the kidology and huge egos out of piloting and there's not much left.

Jesus ******* Christ!!! Your first observer flight?!

Do everybody a favour (yourself, the poor crew who will have to listen to your moaning, and the wannabe whose job you are taking) and resign immediately.

This had better be a wind up. What the **** did you expect?

Removed my previous long-winded and heading towards off-topic post.

The fact is there are people far worse off out there. Yes, a lot of pilots are over-worked and underpaid these days, but then I look at my old job...

What you made in 4-5 days for a few hours work (appreciate you weren't flying or so I assume), I couldn't have hoped for in a month and I know people who are bringing up a family of 3 kids with a stay at home wife on this + appropriate benefits. The bonus for 6 months in a sandy :mad:hole away from home and civilisation, even a proper bed; often working up to 48 hours in one go with little/no sleep (yes I have fallen asleep on my feet before)...a lot of pilots will earn more in a month.

I for one will be happy (should I be lucky enough to land a job) to do something that at the moment I love, safe in the knowledge that after a day/night at work, unless something goes catastrophically wrong, I will be sleeping in reasonable comfort in a bed. To me its all about where else would I be, the answer...in a few months time I would be on my way to the sandbox once more to count down 6 months until I see civilisation again.

Sure, possibly one day this may wear off and I may tire of it all as you have; if this happens then for me it would be time to walk away, cut my losses and move on.

I'm sorry your experience of aviation hasn't quite turned out how you anticipated, but remember there will be plenty waiting behind you to take that seat in that shiny jet...

Sounds like your working for the wrong company mate.

My version of living the dream is so far exactly what I'd hoped, or even more. I fly a decent sized turboprop 4-5 days a week, nice short flights, certainly no time to think of getting bored, a mixed schedule and plenty of time to spend with my new girlfriend and disposable income to enjoy.

Perhaps you should've done more research into the day to day life of an airline pilot before you started, I went out looking for this lifestyle, and I'm happy that I finally have it.

You had better get used to it for the rest of your career mate! Dear oh, dear, what a load of nonsense.

CAT 3C


"Why were your dreams shattered on day one just because you had to fly a four sector day?"


Nowhere near as hard as 5, 1/2 hour trial lessons in a row!!!

If you are "bored" then you are not doing your job properly.....think about it!

Wow, you state you did your research, I beg to differ.

If you are unhappy now, you've got a lot of years ahead of you, change companies is probably the best option, if the kind of flying you're doing does not suit there are many other options, like a previous post said, instruct, I did that for a few years and its fun, and you are home every night, but I'm sorry to inform you, this may also cause your delicate body to become tired?

I agree with this, maybe you should try another company if you can ? Well either way, doing something you don´t like or get bored at doing it can be very frustrating. What I would say is move to perhaps smaller company, that´s based closed to you and fly smaller aircraft and less often as you fly now. I guess that would be ideal for you ? Either way, I hope you get your love back for flying again, good luck ;)

As you can see from the thread, specially for older guys, looking to change career!

Now here are a few things, how many of you who make these comments have children?
I guess not many, however..as we know, no experience no job, so of course I also see future in another company in the long run, it's not that I am unhappy with the company, they have done whats written on the tin!

Doing something wrong, because I am bored??? Really???

I wonder how you explain that, what is there really to between TOC and TOD? Not really much, preparing the approach and briefing takes about 5 minutes, so yes on long flights I really get bored!

Of course it still feels good when you make a perfect descent and land with maximum crosswind nicely! But it's like standing in cue for a funride, you stand there waiting for 2 -3 hours or more, and thrill lasts you around 10 minutes!

End of the day, it is what it is, it is just a job, nothing more, nothing less! Like any job you do, it will become - just that!

I have had much experience from other "jobs" in my life, and of course it has it's attractions, but for somebody who has experienced many other things in life, it's become a job with mixed emotions!
Of course if I had chose to re-locate some things would have been easier, but when you have children it is not that simple to re-locate!

How that part will feel, is not that easy to research, as your mind is so focused on passing training and getting a job, however when you discover your life has less meaning and more metal, well you have to wonder, is it really all that?


By the way the remark "Why were your dreams shattered on day one just because you had to fly a four sector day?"

First the jump seat is extremely uncomfortable place to sit for 14 hours, delays, thunderstorms, the whole crew was exhausted, shattered - meant in this context it was a very heavy day, being your first proper introduction to the job. And it took away many illusions I had had regarding the job! It did not make me quit, but made me think of damn lucky I had been in my life until now!

I know I was also "lucky" to be in the company with a job, that was not the issue! And I do not go around moaning about the job, but give a reflection of what it is about, specially for some of you looking to change career, and have never been into aviation yet!

Personally I would not like to do instructing, as I do not want to sit and watch others fly or try to kill me, however yes, more basic hands on flying would be more fun, instead of AP ON at 800 ft!
But what can you do, that's the SOP's, and you do as you are told!

Oh, one more thing, I have been self-employed for over 20 years, nobody has ever needed to tell me what I should or should not do! For you have not had this experience, it is difficult for you to understand, the freedom of being your own boss, it is a huge contrast, and maybe unique situation for me, I don't know, just the way it is!

Truckflyer

From reading your posts above there seem to be two issues that are causing you grief.
For the record, I am an aspiring career changer myself and I have limited knowledge of item 1 but expert knowledge of item 2.

1) The job is not as you expected it to be.
I find this hard to believe as from reading some of your previous posts you seem to have been pro-active for quite some time in trying to secure an airline position. There are any number of posts, blogs etc on the internet that provide an insight into a 'day in the life of a pilot'. You must surely have spoken to several pilots along the way that would have given you an insight into the job.
I think that you have done remarkably well to secure a job in the current market, especially when you are at the slightly older end of the hiring spectrum (I will be approaching 37yo when training complete). I would give it time, perhaps you are still adjusting to the change in home lifestyle and working environment which is skewing your view of the job.

2) Absence from Family Life.
This is something that I know very well. I have a wife and two young children, I work and live away from home (family life and comforts) for an average of 250 days per year. I have done this for 10 years now, with the days away getting more and more each year and it is hard, it does get easier with time but the key is to have a solid family unit. The most important point for me is to ensure that when I am at home I make sure that the time spent with my family is of good quality and lots of fun. Plus it's a good excuse for not doing the DIY jobs:)

Anyone considering a career change will likely be self-financing (as you pointed out) and should be able to put together a base case plan for moving forward prior to spending circa £50k on training.

This should include at least the following:
1) Why do you want a career change?
2) Do you really want it?
3) How will you pay for it?
4) Risks to Family life, financial security, lifestyle change
5) Job Prospects and lifestyle (See 4)
6) Long term opportunities
7) Back-up plan if it doesn't work

I am sure that you considered all of the above and were prepared to make the necessary sacrifices from the outset. I would suggest re-visiting all of the above to help take stock of your journey so far and where you go next. I find with some guys coming into my industry later in life that they really do struggle with being away from home, so you need to find something that works for you.

From my own point of view, when I qualify I would like to have any flying job, just being paid to fly (I imagine that's what most people think when they are starting out). However, the reality is that I have a family to support, mortgage to pay etc so I do not have the luxury that I would have had many years ago. That is the main issue for a career changer with commitments and I know (from my planning) that I will be able to spend a couple of years in a low paid job before funds will run out and I will either need to have secured a better paid flying job by then or return part-time to my current industry to keep things ticking over.

Truckflyer,

No offense mate but, if you don't like instructing and you don't like airline flying, maybe you just don't like flying full stop!? In which case being a pilot is probably a bad career choice. :ugh:

Time to cut your losses and pursue other avenues?

DCS136, thoroughly sensible advice in your post, and that's roughly my plan. Get on with the training, but don't burn your bridges with your current career, so you can ride it out if you don't get a flying job in the short/medium term.

If you feel like that and you're not even on the line yet, then you are screwed!

I am a career changer of similar age with a young family. I changed careers last summer and now fly a bizjet. I earn about 25% what I did in my previous career. As we flew over the Alps this morning, I still considered myself a lucky bastard. I have long since stopped wondering what I would be doing if I was still stuck in an office as it seems like another life to me now. But I am continually thankful that I don't have to endure the 9 till 5 commute.

The flying is varied and we can do plenty of hand flying if we want. I consider myself fortunate not to have to park miles away from the 'office' and rarely have to endure main terminal security. If we have to hang around at an airport for any length of time, it's normally in a nice FBO.

I work for a small to medium size operator, so we have the luxury of an Ops department with ground handling etc. But we have to get our hands dirty and I enjoy every aspect of my non flying duties whether it's restocking the aircraft with drinks or covering and securing it for the night. I still take photos of other aircraft when I am on the apron and feel privileged to be on the other side of the fence.

Is it all brilliant, well no of course not. I get loads of time off, but I can't do any thing with at as I am effectively on call within reason, most days. Do I feel lucky and have to keep pinching myself when we are in the cruise and I get the chance to admire my view from my office window, you bloody bet I do! I am ways looking to do things in the cruise, no matter how minor they are. It is worrying that you say you are already bored in the cruise but are you still in the jump seat or actually in the rhs?

Before, during and post training my goal was always GA. If I was 20 something, then my goals would probably have been very different. I can understand your reasoning for posting but think you are going to get plenty of flack for doing so. I am really sorry to hear that it's not all you imagined it to be, but I just wish I could have changed careers years ago. But I couldn't afford it then.

Stop flying for a while and you will start missing it again and give it the respective value.
Also, try aerobatics on the weekends, and you never be bored again !

Regards

If you wanted hand flying, you should've taken your £60k+ training expenses and bought a pitts S2, and had a lot of fun every weekend, and toured the country every year attending each aerobatics competition.

Airline flying is very little to do with hand flying. It's all about decision making, knowledge of rules and regularions and above all professionalism. It can be a hard lifestyle for some perhaps, but for most of us it's exactly what we want, lots of variety, never knowing what the day will bring, just when you think you're bored you hit a thunderstorm, or get an unusual caution to keep you guessing.

Perhaps take another career change back to whatever you did before, and free up that right hand seat for someone who really wants it.