Working Life After Flying
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Well, I’m sorry to hear that. TBH flying as a career , is probably best as a hobby ....get a high paid city job, and fly for fun at weekends. After all we can’t go fly where we want, when we want.
I think Pilots have a lot of transferable skills , the problem is those already in other jobs also have those skills but have the specific work experience thrown in .
Anything else WILL feel mundane after flying a jet worldwide , but if the glamour days are over, I’ll try not to become that old f@rt down the pub boring people with tales of flights.
What I really miss, only two months into this grounding, is the actual routine. Starting out at set times, knowing the procedures, the hotels, buying my shopping etc.....I miss the cheap stuff I used to buy abroad....etc
I think Pilots have a lot of transferable skills , the problem is those already in other jobs also have those skills but have the specific work experience thrown in .
Anything else WILL feel mundane after flying a jet worldwide , but if the glamour days are over, I’ll try not to become that old f@rt down the pub boring people with tales of flights.
What I really miss, only two months into this grounding, is the actual routine. Starting out at set times, knowing the procedures, the hotels, buying my shopping etc.....I miss the cheap stuff I used to buy abroad....etc
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 336
Likes: 3
From: somewhere in the middle
No, they are good ideas, if you are planning a move out of aviation. The problem is, we’re having this situation thrust upon us. It’s the situation that’s crap. Maybe I should have articulated it better.
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: Europe
On the subject of office roles being stimulating (or not) - unless you work in a couple of very limited fields which actually create new things, pretty much every job becomes routine and mundane quite quickly. Just as flying an aircraft involves SOP, facilitating most processes in the majority of businesses relies heavily upon set procedures and protocols. So, whatever you end up doing in that office - chances are that you won't reinvent the hot water, just as you won't by flying commercially. Therefore, any long-term choice boils down to desired lifestyle, income and prospects.
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: N/A
God I love seeing absolutely DELUDED pilots saying stuff like that. Tell me what other career has you getting paid that much and working 3-4 days a week.
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 91
From: Somewhere
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 704
Likes: 0
From: Europe
Did we leave out the catch that "company phone included" will likely mean "you'd better be available 24/7/365, be it during your commute, at 9 PM after a working day or on the weekend"? Did we mention that you'll see loads of people who spend most of their working day on Facebook while someone else, who might as well be you, gets one task after another thrown at them just because you appear to be taking things a bit more seriously than the average Joe on the adjacent desk? Did we also comment on the lovely attitude of "there's no going home until the project is finished, even if that means staying until 10:30 PM for little to no overtime payment"? And the time which will be simply wasted for nothing in return in traffic jams and supermarket queues because you're always travelling to and from work just when everyone else is and you are shopping for groceries just when everyone else is?
If you think that this is better than the average flight ops department - well, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Both can be great places to work at, but both can also be a mess. Neither flying, nor office work are inherently good or inherently bad in terms of how you will be treated. There are toxic companies with a terrible working environment and non-existent work ethics in every branch you can think of. So, if you turn your back to the "horrible and inhumane airlines" in hopes for getting better treatment elsewhere, you might be in for a nasty surprise.
If you think that this is better than the average flight ops department - well, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Both can be great places to work at, but both can also be a mess. Neither flying, nor office work are inherently good or inherently bad in terms of how you will be treated. There are toxic companies with a terrible working environment and non-existent work ethics in every branch you can think of. So, if you turn your back to the "horrible and inhumane airlines" in hopes for getting better treatment elsewhere, you might be in for a nasty surprise.
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,605
Likes: 154
From: Having a margarita on the beach
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: N/A
I'm only bitter because I just got made redundant down under (got my 3 month notice) and prior to that flew with plenty of Captains who were fed up with flying and thought they could just waltz off and make 200k NZD+ just like that, while working 3-4 days a week, 6 weeks annual leave +++. Guess what pumpkin, ya can't.
Anyway I'm off to brush up on my Python and JS which I haven't touched in a production environment for over 8 years. Also be weary of IT professionals who claim that they "CAN" make more money than flying but only working 2 days a week, on a professional pilot forum of all places. Okay mate sure ya can
Educated Hillbilly
Joined: Dec 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 13
From: From the Hills
"Also be weary of IT professionals who claim that they "CAN" make more money than flying but only working 2 days a week, on a professional pilot forum of all places. Okay mate sure ya can"
Depends what you compare it with. If you are flying a turboprop or a light jet even as a Captain you are unlikely to be earning much above 50k a year. So yes it is quite feasible that certain IT consultants could earn as much in 2 days.
Depends what you compare it with. If you are flying a turboprop or a light jet even as a Captain you are unlikely to be earning much above 50k a year. So yes it is quite feasible that certain IT consultants could earn as much in 2 days.
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Uk
Whilst I’m grateful for any ideas , I hate to say it, but flying isn’t all about money .
You have to earn enough but, the excitement level of taking off in a large jet is still there and sure as hell beats the excitement of “ who borrowed my stapler and didn’t return it “, that’s partially why the readjustment would be so great. It’s still a coveted and unusual job and not only that , the routine and lifestyle is very different to a 9-5 existence
You have to earn enough but, the excitement level of taking off in a large jet is still there and sure as hell beats the excitement of “ who borrowed my stapler and didn’t return it “, that’s partially why the readjustment would be so great. It’s still a coveted and unusual job and not only that , the routine and lifestyle is very different to a 9-5 existence
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: CA
My wife is director of recruitment in a large famous IT firm and I have first hand info about the salaries in consultancy. Some are pretty descent I admit but way below mine and many of my colleagues in terms of hourly rate (A330 Captain/+300k per year working 8 days per month). I will never trade my job for an IT job...
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 919
Likes: 6
From: uk
The trouble is that your extraordinary pay is already an outlier statistically in the aviation world where a 330 skipper would command less than half the money and be quite grateful to have it. You must surely wonder how 300k for 8 days work a month is sustainable? If I had to bet on the sustainability of a career over the next 40 years, IT would seem a better bet than aviation.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Button Moon
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Button Moon
When I said do your research I didn't mean me or others spoon feed you info. 
But anyway, as you're all ears .....if you seriously think we're all swanning around doing 3-4 days a week on "that much money" (in your words) I think it's you that "DELUDED".
Not sure what T's and C's are like where you are but over here in Blighty they're nothing like that. Unfortunately!
But anyway, as you're all ears .....if you seriously think we're all swanning around doing 3-4 days a week on "that much money" (in your words) I think it's you that "DELUDED".
Not sure what T's and C's are like where you are but over here in Blighty they're nothing like that. Unfortunately!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 352
Likes: 1
From: on a beach
My wife is director of recruitment in a large famous IT firm and I have first hand info about the salaries in consultancy. Some are pretty descent I admit but way below mine and many of my colleagues in terms of hourly rate (A330 Captain/+300k per year working 8 days per month). I will never trade my job for an IT job...