Trouble is most humans will do more to avoid pain than to gain pleasure.

Many are stuck in the "comfort-zone", which actually isn't a comfort zone at all.

Suggest you start dreaming again! Here's my favourite self-development question:-

"What would you choose to do if you knew you could not fail?". Suggest you spend some time on this and write the answers down. My belief is that whatever your answer to this question is you are capable of doing.

Also, how about getting some life coaching?

ZFT

Prey tell, and just what the hell is wrong with being 'North of Watford'?

Ayn Rand was right
 

Right up to this point:And the suggestion is that we are to draw no distinction between Marie Curie, Alexander Fleming, and some bloke who buys some stuff cheap and sells it expensive.
(Grammatically blunted for impact).

Saddest Aviator
Keep us posted as to what new career you choose, but I'll bet a pound to a penny that you do not quit.The reason? We all chose this career because we love flying. We still love flying but the bull **** really has taken its toll on us. Try and put all the crap into one compartment of your brain and then the other parts of your brain will love flying again. One trick is to never complain and never moan, not even to your colleagues, that really upsets the bull ****ters. Just do your job in the most competent and professional manner you can; smile at the security staff and secretly be grateful you do not have to do their job.Offer to do a day a month in the ops office to see the other side of the coin, I promise you that will be a revelation!! When you get a 20 year old space cadet next to you, teach him some old tricks. I remember when I was 20 and sat next to the guys who had flown to Berlin. I wsh I had respected them more rather than keeping to my own agenda.
Good Luck.

hawker750

Excellent post! I agree with everything you write!

Hawker 750 has it spot on. I moan about this and that, but still giggle like a girl when i fly over fields i visited when i was hour building etc.

I do agree with you hawker750,as long as the bull ****ters leave you a lone. You have reminded me of these guys who flown in to Berlin ,I have flown with some of these old boys , they are not many like them now unfortunately .:ok:

You are suffering from stress and as such should not be on the flight deck of a public transport aircraft. Take time off, get professional help and get better.Good luck.

I went head-to-head with a speeding truck and had 18 months off. Fan-bloody-tastic. Felt great after about 12 months and had 6 months summer leave for free. Lost a lot of income and a command course but still live well within my means.
Have you thought of asking for a year off? Maybe the employer would bite your hand off? Also, go to night school for a completely different career path or become a day-off instructor in something. I now teach, plus I have a very handy tech skill that earns me some extra cash. Most fulfilling.

After 40 odd years of flying I can understand the sentiments expressed on this thread and find the level of empathy quite touching. However once locked into this business it is very hard to get out , many have tried but few succeed and then often return years later .Pilots do not make great businessmen - too naive. Ask anyone who has lost their licence how it feels to be unable to fly , and the relief when it is regained.
Flying commercially still offers reasonable remuneration , a fun day out (if you make it one) and no real problems to take home . Ignore the management messages and the doomsters on this website , live for the day. (OK 3am sucks)

So what to do ? Well start by taking 3 months out ill health, sounds like you need a break , stop drinking , get some exercise. When you return to work (with a sun tan and leadened heart at the prospect of another 20 years in the flight deck) , fill out a right to request flexible working form , obtainable from the HR dept. This assumes dependent kids under 17 , or rustle up an elderly demented relative or unwell spouse. If non of the above are readily available then no problem, you could try a "request part time" , which would eventually be granted.

Work 50% ,allowing you to look at alternative employment , at least you will have regained a degree of control of your life , which is probably the underlying issue.

For the vast majority of the workforce our jobs are from time to time boring , pointless, we are undervalued , exploited , unrecognised , the bigger the company the worse it gets .
Last of all be grateful in the current economic climate that you are still employed and as you know, I'm sure, aviation can suffer abrupt and unexpected reversals. Better to have income than a cardboard box.
Good luck!

Hi Craggs, I'm well thanks!

And you'll be glad to know it's now The Times instead of The Daily Mail :ok:

"Have a break, have a Kit-Kat"
 

Rather, I'd say:

"Have a break, have some unpaid leave"

The Swiss call it "UBO".
Colleagues in their late 30s, early 40s have done 3 months unpaid leave learning Japanese in Japan, skiing in Siberia or walking across the Alps.

They've all come back mentally and physically refreshed.
It's harder to organise if you're married with kids, but it can be done.

I'm glad someone brought some perspective to this thread!!!!!!!

Followed by No matter how 'bad' flying an aluminium cigar tube may seem - just try spending 8 hours a day in an office......................

Get a grip man. Once you pushback you're your own boss. Slipping the surly bonds of Earth is still (or was) a pleasure for me.... Climbing sunwards beats office gossip and politics.... Chasing the shouting winds beats preparing a PowerPoint or Word document.

Trust me on this:hmm::hmm:

As wise council once said to me .... "only fight the battles you can win" . No matter where you are in the World you will not change the system that has led to your deep despair. To varying degrees our good nature and professionalism are taken advantage of as commercial pilots, by people who neither understand the role and who do not live/work to the same standards.

I freely admit I am a "one trick pony" (maybe 2 with helicopters), as this is what I am trained to do. I try ( with varying degrees of success, due to my less than "easy" nature sometimes) to ..

1. Ignore/ laugh off things that make you angry/ frustrated at work ..
2. Always, always do your job to the very best of your ability (including commercially) for your own esteem and self respect.
3. Concentrate on pleasures and rewards outside the cockpit, and do not dwell on work issues. There will still be an aircraft fueled, catered and serviceable ready for your attention when you next check in .....

Good Luck ....

I.Duke

A Foul and Pestilent Congregation of Vapours
 

Many Ryanair pilots especially Brookfield pilots have also had enough. Recent developments appear to have been the straw that has broken the camels back. Old members are returning and new guys are taking an interest in their future.

See and discuss what is happening at REPAweb.org

I hate these pilots who pay to work.500h line training,..
it s with pilots like them, we have problems.
many guys send me their CV asking me how much it cost to work!:{

seems to me there is less and less pilots visiting this website.
are pilot runing away from this profession? it would be a good thing to see people back for flying for passion instead of these teenage monkeys who think to come for the quick dream of 100'000$ yearly cash!

you will never make any money in this profession, just forget it!training is nowadays too expensive, and getting a good paid job (no LCC BS)can take over 20 years without any guaranty of success.

this profesion has no futur if we continue on this track (P2F)and the first one who will suffer are the pilots, then the flight schools and at the end the airlines.

i do agree, It seems flying is rich people game mostley.
Pay thousands of ££££ to be pilot then further TR with hours, it sucks.
I hat this indrustry.
For those who want to learn think before you start training. have unlimmited cash:O and good links, thats all. i hat it every time I think about it.:bored:

I hope someone fix this ****:bored:

Good Call Captain:ok:
My better nature forces me to merely suggest more than a few weeks of sabbatical for reflection!!
Apologies if your post is a wind-up; if so, "fair cop" took the bait.
If not ..... Sheeesh:confused:

I would love to have more than a few weeks/one month but I will struggle to achieve that! However a few weeks is better than nothing and I intend to make the most of every minute of it! :)