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ExpressJet Roger · 07-09-2008

Tim, it is no problem. I try to get back to everyone as soon as possible. I generally only get on line while at home. You can always check where I am at by going onto my schedule and seeing if I’m on a trip or not.

Going into debt is always scary, especially when you have a loved one at home or worse; when that loved one is counting on your income to stay healthy.

Well there is no refuting the fact that there is a slow down in the economy and particular the rising fuel cost have both caused the airline industry to pull back and reduce flights. This means that they will be needing less pilots.

Now let’s not beat around the bush, if you were a 21 year old single kid, I would not hesitate to point out that the airline industry is a cyclical industry were they hire until they fire and they fire until they hire. Where the most important thing is to continue to stay positive and fly. Because in this industry it is the attitude and hours that provide you with the greatest satisfaction and make you marketable in the future, plus lets not forget that until you get to that job where you want to hang your hat, changing jobs and picking up and moving from location to location has to be an option you can exercise.

Ok, so where does that leave a 45 year old married man? Well that depends on you. Yes there are still a lot of jobs out there. Are they where you want to leave? Will it be at a pay that you will be happy with? Is it going to give you the time off you desire to take care of your wife? These are questions that you will have to ask yourself. I will tell you this, you have 20 years of flight time and during that time you could potentially land that job were you’re in the left seat of a 777 or A340 working 12 days a month making six figures but you will have to go through years of tough times to get there and it will not be easy. There will be times when not only everyone around you be questioning your decision to keep flying but you will begin asking yourself the same questions. The only thing I can say is that when your hands are on the controls and you just fought your way through some really bad storms to the final approach fix then to land the plane with such grace that even a 10 year captain turns to you and tells you how great of a job you did, that is when you know you choose the right career.

07-09-2008	#4 (permalink)
ExpressJet Roger Pilot Career Coach Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 561	Tim, it is no problem. I try to get back to everyone as soon as possible. I generally only get on line while at home. You can always check where I am at by going onto my schedule and seeing if I’m on a trip or not. Going into debt is always scary, especially when you have a loved one at home or worse; when that loved one is counting on your income to stay healthy. Well there is no refuting the fact that there is a slow down in the economy and particular the rising fuel cost have both caused the airline industry to pull back and reduce flights. This means that they will be needing less pilots. Now let’s not beat around the bush, if you were a 21 year old single kid, I would not hesitate to point out that the airline industry is a cyclical industry were they hire until they fire and they fire until they hire. Where the most important thing is to continue to stay positive and fly. Because in this industry it is the attitude and hours that provide you with the greatest satisfaction and make you marketable in the future, plus lets not forget that until you get to that job where you want to hang your hat, changing jobs and picking up and moving from location to location has to be an option you can exercise. Ok, so where does that leave a 45 year old married man? Well that depends on you. Yes there are still a lot of jobs out there. Are they where you want to leave? Will it be at a pay that you will be happy with? Is it going to give you the time off you desire to take care of your wife? These are questions that you will have to ask yourself. I will tell you this, you have 20 years of flight time and during that time you could potentially land that job were you’re in the left seat of a 777 or A340 working 12 days a month making six figures but you will have to go through years of tough times to get there and it will not be easy. There will be times when not only everyone around you be questioning your decision to keep flying but you will begin asking yourself the same questions. The only thing I can say is that when your hands are on the controls and you just fought your way through some really bad storms to the final approach fix then to land the plane with such grace that even a 10 year captain turns to you and tells you how great of a job you did, that is when you know you choose the right career.