Author Topic: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...  (Read 885 times)

Offline Cobra516

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #15 on: February 26, 2009, 10:21:38 PM »
I'm making it a career.  I'm confident it will work out for me.  It certainly isn't for everyone.  If for some reason it doesn't work, I've got a degree to fall back on.

Aviation is always up and down, just have to catch it at the right time - it will turn around, and I'm planning to be ready when it does.       
Slipping the surly bonds.

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Offline Sandman

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #16 on: February 26, 2009, 11:51:23 PM »
If there is a shred of doubt that this flying isn't the only thing you'd enjoy and couldn't find happiness through any other lot in life do as Casca said.  Go get a degree, get a good paying job which will have you home with your family and fly for fun. 

That's what I do. I'm a student pilot... working on cross-country training... all Part 61 stuff. It's a hoot.
sand

Offline Cobra516

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #17 on: February 27, 2009, 12:47:55 AM »
all Part 61 stuff. It's a hoot.
Yea I've done all of my training at a 61 school - lots of fun.  Enjoy the cross countries!
Slipping the surly bonds.

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Offline Dawger

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #18 on: February 28, 2009, 07:57:24 AM »
I've flown for the best and worst aviation has to offer.

I wouldn't recommend it as a career choice.

Flying isn't exciting anymore. Too damn easy to tell you the truth. It's about as intellectually stimulating as cutting grass and pays about the same on an hours away from home basis.

When I started flying I picked jobs that still had a bit of the romantic edge to them. Old technology (Pre WWII) airplanes pushed to their limits. It was dangerous as hell and a challenge everyday. And great fun except for the funerals.

That stuff doesn't exist in the US. Maybe outside the US if you are willing to go that route. (Africa and pars of South America).

It's more fun teaching in a full motion jet simulator than actually flying the real airplane.

Offline Roundeye

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #19 on: February 28, 2009, 10:29:23 AM »

Flying isn't exciting anymore. Too damn easy to tell you the truth. It's about as intellectually stimulating as cutting grass and pays about the same on an hours away from home basis.


Wow.  Tell us how you really feel. :D

I never went past Private, as I never planned on flying for food.  True, it is not what it used to be, but it is still a blast every time I depart the Earth's surface. :aok  I'm speaking of general aviation, of course.  I cannot see flying heavies as "fun".

It's true though that aviation has gone down hill over the years.  The only way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start out with a large fortune. :rofl

If someone wants to fly and get paid good for it, it's a looooong road.  Full of sacrifice.

 :salute
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Offline Casca

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #20 on: February 28, 2009, 11:46:31 AM »
My flying is plenty fricken exciting.  I was born for this job and love it.  I would discourage anyone with a casual interest from going into aviation but there is a subset of folks, as Golfer and Wolfala alluded to above, for whom flying is a passion, and to those I would say:  Go for it.  For what are we even on the earth for if not to be fully invested in something we find worthwhile?  At its best aviation can be inspiring and ennobling.  At its worst it can be pedestrian and hazardous.

The following is the sonnett that the immortal John MaGee might have written if he had flown Air Tractors instead of Spitfires:


Low Flight

Oh! I've slipped through the swirling clouds of dust,
a few feet from the dirt,
I've flown the Pawnee low enough,
to make my bottom hurt.
I've sprayed the deserts, hills,
valleys and mountains too,
Frolicked in the trees,
where only flying squirrels flew.
Chased the frightened cows along,
disturbed the ram and ewe
And done a hundred other things,
that you'd not care to do.
I've smacked the tiny sparrow,
bluebird, robin, all the rest,
I've ingested baby eaglets,
simply sucked them from their nest!
I've flown through total darkness,
just the other guy and me,
And spent the night in terror of
things I could not see.
I've turned my eyes to heaven,
as I sweated through the flight,
Put out my shaking hand and touched
the chip detector light.

Apologies to the anonymous F4 driver from whom I ripped off much of the poem.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2009, 11:50:22 AM by Casca »
I'm Casca and I approved this message.

Offline Dawger

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #21 on: March 02, 2009, 08:43:30 AM »
Wow.  Tell us how you really feel. :D

I never went past Private, as I never planned on flying for food.  True, it is not what it used to be, but it is still a blast every time I depart the Earth's surface. :aok  I'm speaking of general aviation, of course.  I cannot see flying heavies as "fun".

It's true though that aviation has gone down hill over the years.  The only way to make a small fortune in aviation is to start out with a large fortune. :rofl

If someone wants to fly and get paid good for it, it's a looooong road.  Full of sacrifice.

 :salute

I should have clarified a bit.....Flying a modern Jet is what I was referring to. I still enjoy flying a small airplane with a propeller and a map on my knee. I leave the GPS in the backpack in case I manage to get myself completely lost. I like flying at a thousand feet and looking out the window. One of my retirement plans is a tour of all 50 states in a 2 place tail dragger. I have a feeling that dream will be crushed by an avalanche of new regulation that will suck all joy out of even that simple freedom.

Maybe not. Anything more on the subject will violate the TOS so I'll shut up now.

Offline cpxxx

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #22 on: March 02, 2009, 09:17:16 AM »
Frenchy said and he's right:
Quote
Don't do it for the money, if you want to feel like a pilot fly for the airlines, if you want to be a pilot fly cargo, make sure u get a wife that makes more money than you, don't plan on raising kids you'll be away at best 75H+ hours per week.

I have a wife who makes more than me, but we have two boys. If I have anything to do with it, they won't become pilots. All my relatives buy them little presents of airplanes or clothes with aircraft on them. I won't.

Right now as I sit here typing this, my wife is sitting there sighing, after having just asked again, irritatedly, when I'm going to start earning again. As a skydive pilot. I don't get much flying in Winter but even in Summer it's tough in this country. But I still get paid more than most skydive pilots in the USA. One recent job offer, I saw was for a skydive job in the US, flying a Twin Otter, seven days a week all year round. When you total up the pay, it would amount to $20,000 per annum. :O Oh and you would be expected to wash the airplane every week as well.

What I'm saying is that often the so called fun jobs are not fun at all, unless you like being poor. The boring airline jobs are not so boring when you realise you can eat every now and then. But if you saw Sullenberger's statement to Congress last week. You can see that even airline pilots don't have it easy anymore.

But if you want to fly, you'll find a way. Just don't have any illusions.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2009, 10:38:19 AM by cpxxx »

Offline B17Skull12

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #23 on: March 02, 2009, 05:44:43 PM »
i AM probably wrong here but if you want work in avaition in general ATC maybe the way to go.  I've heard that the FAA is desperate for controllers all over the US at radar positions such as tracon and enroute.  I think most towers these days are contracted to private companies, but not sure.  Talking to some buddies who go to Embry Riddle for ATC CTI program, i heard Socal Tracon hrs.  10hr days, 6 days a week MINIMUM.  Gotta have nerves of steel though.
II/JG3 DGS II

Offline Golfer

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Re: Question for You RL Pilots Out There...
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2009, 07:46:48 PM »
ATC has their own whole set of issues that make pilots seem that they have it easy.  I have some very good friends that work in ARTCCs throughout the country and if you knew you'd wish that the TV installed in front of you was a TCAS screen.