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  #341  
Old 07-20-2012, 08:15 AM
Tram Tram is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Florence, AL
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Originally Posted by rvsxer View Post
Homer Simpson! Doh!
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  #342  
Old 07-20-2012, 11:24 AM
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Mark Albery Mark Albery is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Warwickshire UK
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Hi Tristan,

Are you at Spacex Hawthorne?

If so, I'm next door at the Tesla design studio and an RV-8 hangared at KHHR.

Do you know Jeff Richichi?

Mark
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  #343  
Old 07-20-2012, 12:51 PM
swixtt swixtt is offline
 
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Location: CAD
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tram View Post
Being an airline pilot was a miserable career choice, so now I'm running a nuclear reactor.
you aren't kidding are you!
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RV9.... Tail done. Inspection done! Wings pre-cover MDRA inspection done. Closing them up now. Fuse underway.
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  #344  
Old 07-20-2012, 01:03 PM
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jmbrwn jmbrwn is offline
 
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Location: Carrollton, GA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tram View Post
Being an airline pilot was a miserable career choice, so now I'm running a nuclear reactor.
Maybe your quote should say "Being a commuter airline pilot was a miserable career choice,....someone wise once said "Life is like a box of chocolates..."
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  #345  
Old 07-20-2012, 03:18 PM
2bolts 2bolts is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 120
Default My story

I was an auto mechanic for 22 yrs. Then changed to I.T. as an application repackager (modifying standard installs to fit in with various environments for the MOD), 10 years. Now in printing, 18 months.....Don't like it so will be looking for something else.
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Roger
A Brit in Texas
RV8 N886LH (Reserved) BuNo 83320
Collecting books/info/tools.
Tail kit arrived! 9/30/2012
Construction started

"The engine's overheating, and so am I! Either we stand down, or blow up! Now which do you want?" Sqn Ldr Canfield.
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  #346  
Old 07-21-2012, 09:46 PM
Tram Tram is offline
 
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Location: Florence, AL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmbrwn View Post
Maybe your quote should say "Being a commuter airline pilot was a miserable career choice,....someone wise once said "Life is like a box of chocolates..."
Pretty sure I meant what I said. I also happen to know a handful of "real deal" airline pilots who agree wholeheartedly with me, however, they're stuck. Golden handcuffs.

Obviously, being a.. commuter airline pilot.. (nice attempt at a dig, btw.) wasn't my goal, my father is at FDX and I thought one day, I'd fly purple too. However, sometimes things happen. Best laid plans and all that. Shame I couldn't be a "full fledged airline pilot" such as yourself. Oh well.

I had the option to change to a career that came with better QOL than what I had and even what I would have if I made it to "legitimate airline pilot" status, so I took it and couldn't be happier.

Last edited by Tram : 07-21-2012 at 10:44 PM.
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  #347  
Old 07-21-2012, 11:05 PM
aerhed aerhed is offline
 
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Location: Big Sandy, WY
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Take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning?
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  #348  
Old 07-22-2012, 06:26 AM
60av8tor 60av8tor is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Harrisburg, Pa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tram View Post
Pretty sure I meant what I said. I also happen to know a handful of "real deal" airline pilots who agree wholeheartedly with me, however, they're stuck. Golden handcuffs.
Day job for the next 3 years until retirement. Actually I fly a desk at this point, but that wouldn't make for too good of a pic.



Tram, I'd be interested in hearing your advice/experience. When I think what I'll be doing for my "second career," I know it will involve aviation; just not sure in what form. For a while I thought I would pursue the airlines, but not so sure. I know some of the objective things - horrible initial pay, schedule, etc, but haven't talked to anyone recently in the game. One thing is for sure. EVERY time I set foot in an airport, 99% of the pilots look like they'd rather shoot themselves in the face than be where they are. The ones that don't look like that look to be about 21, fresh out of EAU, and thanking God to have landed the job. You can put up with a lot at that age. I guess everything's relative. I'll no longer be living in the desert in a tent for a year at a time right..?
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Last edited by 60av8tor : 07-22-2012 at 06:31 AM.
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  #349  
Old 07-22-2012, 08:29 AM
Tram Tram is offline
 
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Location: Florence, AL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 60av8tor View Post
EVERY time I set foot in an airport, 99% of the pilots look like they'd rather shoot themselves in the face than be where they are. The ones that don't look like that look to be about 21, fresh out of EAU, and thanking God to have landed the job. You can put up with a lot at that age. I guess everything's relative. I'll no longer be living in the desert in a tent for a year at a time right..?
That's because most of them had. The career for me, was miserable. A lot of that had to do with the pay. A lot of that had to do with the time away from home and I was pretty senior in my position and base.

For me, it boiled down to looking at the options..

My "plan" was to leave the regionals and eventually go to FDX or SWA. FDX was the goal since my pops works there and it's a 2.5 hour drive from my house.

I refuse to commute. A personal limitation.
I refuse to move. Another personal limitation.

So I started looking at a career change. What could I do and expect a better QOL than I currently have.

When I was considering changing careers I asked every guy who stepped into our cockpit the same question - "If you knew then, what you know now, would you still do this job?" Not one time did I get a yes. Literally. In almost 2 years of asking, no one said yes. The only person I met who thought I was out of my gord for trying to get out was an FO who has AVGAS in his veins and refuses to believe that the airlines are headed in a downward spiral.

My father is a wide-body CA at FDX. He cannot wait to retire. I was recently at a fly-in put on by FDX pilots and one guy made a joke about how "I needed to be nice to him or they wouldn't recommend me for a job there.." and I told the guy I didn't want to work there. Instantly about 6 heads whipped around and looked at me...

"What?"

"I don't want to work there.. I'm getting out of the 121 spiral ASAP."

There was a bit of an awkward pause and this one guy looked at me, reached out his hand and shook mine and said "That is the best thing I've heard all week!" and then it began a moan fest about the airlines and how they all wish they were getting out..

Sure, there are guys who love the job, obviously I stepped on one such fellow's toes a few posts up. His opinion will be vastly different from mine, I'm sure.

I was fortunate enough to be blessed with the opportunity to change careers, gain an instant improvement in my QOL and have the opportunity to surpass my "potential" earnings in the airlines, so I left and I couldn't be happier.

The truth is however, had I not found a viable option to leave, I'd still be an airline pilot plodding through the airport wishing I was anywhere but there. Fortunately I had an option. My .02 from playing pretend airline pilot for the last decade.
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  #350  
Old 07-22-2012, 08:36 AM
2bolts 2bolts is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 120
Default Lets change it a bit

What I wanted to do is what I call 'bush flying'. You know turning finals at 200ft to a grass strip 300-400yrds long. But still have a civilised 'home', no tents/mosquitos thank you.

But my colour vision wasn't/isn't good enough for a 'commercial'.
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Roger
A Brit in Texas
RV8 N886LH (Reserved) BuNo 83320
Collecting books/info/tools.
Tail kit arrived! 9/30/2012
Construction started

"The engine's overheating, and so am I! Either we stand down, or blow up! Now which do you want?" Sqn Ldr Canfield.
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