Job satisfaction?
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Job satisfaction?
Having recently graduated and currently working towards my PPL, I'm considering indulging my passion and working towards a career as a pilot.
However, statistically I am unlikely to get a job in the Air Force, which therefore leaves me with the prospects of commercial aviation.
However, whilst I love flying, I fear that commercial aviation would get dull quite quickly. I know quite a number of military pilots who retired and joined the airlines to leave after 12 months due to boredom.
So, any advice would be great!
However, statistically I am unlikely to get a job in the Air Force, which therefore leaves me with the prospects of commercial aviation.
However, whilst I love flying, I fear that commercial aviation would get dull quite quickly. I know quite a number of military pilots who retired and joined the airlines to leave after 12 months due to boredom.
So, any advice would be great!
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
Disgusted of Tunbridge
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Pete- you need to get your head sorted out! Is it your 'passion' or not? Ask yourself what gets you out of bed day after day at 3.30 in the morning, or working through to 11pm on a Sunday. If you would be 'left with the prospect of civil aviation.....would get dull quite quickly'- quite simply, it's not for you. Don't try and persuade yourself it is, or might be. You won't find it sensible to cough £80k for something that is not an overriding passion. You will do far better elsewhere.
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I think the only reason I'm concerned is because I've come of the back of 4 transatlantic 10 hours flights as a passenger i.e. very little hands on flying, which is surely what any pilot wants to do.
I''d probably have a ball as a crop duster or something, but my only concern is becoming someone, especially as technology improves, who watches over the systems, waiting for an error. I love tossing around little Cessnas, I have a ball flying gliders, pulling hard turns etc., but I also love just cruising over long distances too, however ultimately still flying with my hands on the yoke and feet on the rudder.
I may be massively wrong about these opinions, if so please say otherwise!
I''d probably have a ball as a crop duster or something, but my only concern is becoming someone, especially as technology improves, who watches over the systems, waiting for an error. I love tossing around little Cessnas, I have a ball flying gliders, pulling hard turns etc., but I also love just cruising over long distances too, however ultimately still flying with my hands on the yoke and feet on the rudder.
I may be massively wrong about these opinions, if so please say otherwise!
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Imagine this: You'll make a career in airline transport, making little money, reimbursing big loan for training, no way to get one for your own dwelling, be gone most of the time and missing half of life with your family and friends. You will also miss the kind of flying you do really enjoy, like glider flying, aerobatics perhaps, low level nav in Cessnas and consorts. To enjoy this "hobby", after the "bill paying job" flying, you'd have to be gone even more, to the dismay of family and friends, unless you take them with you....if they like it and have nothing else to do.
To spend hours watching, monitoring systems and waiting for an error, I suggest a job like Nuclear Power Station Scientist (They could have used a good one in Tschernobyl and Three Mile Island), which job pays a lot better than airline pilot; there are also psychiatrist or psycho-therapist jobs which allow that too, with outrageous income from fees; political journalist is another one. As the human is the one prone to error rather than machine, your choice is quite vast outside aviation. Then of course, the revenue derived from these jobs would allow you to indulge in your passion without imposing sacrifices to your family and friends, and there would be better chance of this passion remaining one!
To spend hours watching, monitoring systems and waiting for an error, I suggest a job like Nuclear Power Station Scientist (They could have used a good one in Tschernobyl and Three Mile Island), which job pays a lot better than airline pilot; there are also psychiatrist or psycho-therapist jobs which allow that too, with outrageous income from fees; political journalist is another one. As the human is the one prone to error rather than machine, your choice is quite vast outside aviation. Then of course, the revenue derived from these jobs would allow you to indulge in your passion without imposing sacrifices to your family and friends, and there would be better chance of this passion remaining one!
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Hmmm Lemper, I don't know that its all like that - I go to work about 12 days a month, plus a few home standbys, never had it easier and I get paid more than I ever have before - certainly enough to pay back the loans fairly fast and still think about a mortgage. Also, I love the job - 'watching/monitoring the systems' isn't as dull as it may seem - its just different from flying a light aircraft.
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You said it Mungo: you do not know that it is like that.
Survey the job situation around the world, and in UK too BTW, and reconsider your own situation as a non significative sample, compared to the one of young people entering the job market.
It is like Brad Pit telling a crowd of actors wannabees how piece of cake is life is!
Personally, I see myself extremely lucky to have survived my youth crazy days, to fly the Queen of the skies, to have no more mortgage on any of my houses nor boat, and to be able to look forward going to work.
But then I started flying when sex was safe, flying dangerous and both fun. From what I see in the young generations, things have changed a bit, not to say swapped!
Survey the job situation around the world, and in UK too BTW, and reconsider your own situation as a non significative sample, compared to the one of young people entering the job market.
It is like Brad Pit telling a crowd of actors wannabees how piece of cake is life is!
Personally, I see myself extremely lucky to have survived my youth crazy days, to fly the Queen of the skies, to have no more mortgage on any of my houses nor boat, and to be able to look forward going to work.
But then I started flying when sex was safe, flying dangerous and both fun. From what I see in the young generations, things have changed a bit, not to say swapped!
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
In commercial flying you'll face different problems and dilemmas than you will polling around in a cessna. There are many different constraints and expectations you'll have to cope with. However, one year in I still struggle to hide my enthusiasm as I go to work at five in the morning. My experience so far is that commercial aviation is less about hands on flying skill and more about applying good sense and judgement. A good, safe landing in difficult conditions is nonetheless rewarding.
sr
sr
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houses nor boat, and to be able to look forward going to work.
But then I started flying when sex was safe, flying dangerous and both fun. From what I see in the young generations, things have changed a bit, not to say swapped!
But then I started flying when sex was safe, flying dangerous and both fun. From what I see in the young generations, things have changed a bit, not to say swapped!
Oh puuurlease
. Cliche or what?Back to topic.... mate if you think commercial aviation is dull then try working as a recruitment consultant, or any other office job.... that'll really give you an insight into the definition of dull.
Commercial aviation isnt probably what you would expect with regards to hands on flying (specially if your on l'airboos) however it has many plus points. You never ever stop learning, even captains I fly with who have been in the game for 20 years still haven't reached the peak. Further to this you dont really ever have a boss... in fact no one has told me what to do, got on my case etc since I left my job in the city.... I turn up do an enjoyable job and go home (unfortunately not to my yacht or my bevvy of beautiful model girlfriends....)
At the very worst, least the view from my office window is pretty good in the morning. regardless of the weather. Dull.... not on your life.
happy landings all.
Tacho
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I started off just like you, I wanted a PPL for some fun flying but very quickly got bitten by the flying bug, I decided to sell my business and everything else I had to get a commercial lisence, after my ATPL I got a flying instructor rating and spent 2 years instructing which I enjoyed hugely but it nearly bankrupted me due to the poor pay.
I was then lucky to get my first airline job flying a Saab 340 in the highlands of Scotland right seat, great fun, 18 months later I had a command and six months later I got my first jet job, I'm now in a position where hopefully within 12 months I will have command of an A319 which is the goal I've been working towards.
It's not been an easy road, has required huge commitment, but I can honestly say that the most fun i've had, and the most job satisfaction was when I was instructing, if only the pay was better.
Flying a jet is good don't get me wrong but yes eventually it can become a little bit mundane but so will any job, but would I rather by at an office desk? No way, I guess it all depends upon just how much you want to do it and how much you're prepared to sacrifice in the process. It's a long road with no guarantees but if it's what you really want to do you'll get there in the end.
regards
I was then lucky to get my first airline job flying a Saab 340 in the highlands of Scotland right seat, great fun, 18 months later I had a command and six months later I got my first jet job, I'm now in a position where hopefully within 12 months I will have command of an A319 which is the goal I've been working towards.
It's not been an easy road, has required huge commitment, but I can honestly say that the most fun i've had, and the most job satisfaction was when I was instructing, if only the pay was better.
Flying a jet is good don't get me wrong but yes eventually it can become a little bit mundane but so will any job, but would I rather by at an office desk? No way, I guess it all depends upon just how much you want to do it and how much you're prepared to sacrifice in the process. It's a long road with no guarantees but if it's what you really want to do you'll get there in the end.
regards
