What are the odds?

[Grant]

Could you give us a snapshot of the current condition for aspiring
airline pilots in this economy and what it might entail?

[Parvaz]

Grant,

Everything I wrote 2 years ago (August 2007) to a previous career
question of yours remains the same.

On the positive side:

1. Demand for travel should continue to increase, especially in Asia
and the Indian sub continent. Over the long term that will drive up
the demand for pilots. Time is valuable and that is what this
industry sells: time. People choose to fly, or send freight by air
because they want to get there or their goods as soon as possible.
They don’t want to wait 2 weeks or 6 months by boat.

2. Technology is advancing rapidly paving the way for increased
capabilities and a higher standard of safety. (That is not to imply
that more advanced technology automatically equates to greater safety,
there are many variables).

3. There are few/no contrasting options. How does one get where they
want to go? If time is a consideration most will opt to fly.
Especially if you must cross oceans or cover vast areas. Riding
horses took the place of walking, the automobile displaced horses, and
the airplane displaced trains and ocean liners (for the most part).
There is nothing on the horizon, that I am aware of, that threatens to
make air travel completely obsolete (key word: obsolete).

On the negative side:

1. The profession has lost much of its luster. Many people no longer
respect or admire the work of the airline pilot (glorified bus
driver). This has, and is, contributing to downward economic
pressures the profession has experienced.

2. Pay, work rules, retirement have all suffered since the peak back
in the 1960-1970’s. Turmoil, consolidation, misguided management,
misguided unions, government interference and poor business practices
have all accounted for the decrease in compensation, increase in
responsibility and negative outlook for the profession.

3. Consolidation and tough economic conditions will continue to put
pressure on pilots who are often faced with being pitted against other
pilots/airlines for flying. Bitter fighting takes place when work
groups are forced to merge. People want the best for themselves at
virtually any cost. Management uses this lever often to divide and
inflict pain.

4. It is extremely expensive to gain the necessary training. Then it
is extremely time consuming to acquire the necessary experience.
Working conditions and pay are poor for years while you pay your
dues. The “huge salaries” of the past are virtually gone now.

5. There is no guarantee you will be “happy” with your flying job.
Nor is there any guarantee you will ever be well compensated. Nor is
thee any guarantee you will have a job or career as airlines often go
out of business. When that happens you loose just about everything
and have to start over at the bottom somewhere else – if you can get a
job.

6. The job market right now stinks, it is extremely difficult. And
there is no end in sight.

7. Forget about dependability or normality for your work schedule.
You will work weekends, on the back side of the clock, holidays,
summers. You will miss most of the birthdays that are important to
you and other significant times.

8. The job is hazardous to your health on many levels; disrupted sleep
patterns, multiple time zones, exposure to noise, chemicals, germs/
disease, public transportation, and poor eating and exercise patterns,
on top of the aviation hazards. Next time you are at the airport take
a look at the old pilots, especially the “long haul pilots”, few of
them look healthy or happy.

I am glad that none of my children are showing any interest in being a
pilot.

In spite of my negative outlook, I am glad I am a pilot, I like my
job, I am well compensated and I even like my company/management and
union most of the time. I “made it”, but it was tough, really tough.
I spoke to a physician earlier this month. We are within 6 month of
each other, and been in our profession almost exactly the same amount
of time, and we make about the same amount of money. He hates his
job, I complain about the negative points of my career, but when push
comes to shove I still like being a pilot. It’s what I do, and I am
fairly good at it. I really can’t see myself doing anything else.

Like I said before; it comes down to you. Do you want to fly more
than anything and are willing to pay the cost? What about your
family? Have you considered what it will cost them? I was single for
most of my early career. We did not have children until much later.
I have been gone at least half of their lives. What did that cost me?

Grant, if I remember correctly you are already a licensed pilot. You
could become a CFI (I) (instructor) and become a professional pilot on
the side to satisfy your desire to be in the air. You don’t have to
fly all the time to be a professional aviator. I will close with a
quote from my earlier answer.

Your question is more complex
than "go for it; it's great" or "it stinks dude do something else".
It depends on your motivation, expectations, temperament, risk
tolerance and financial needs.
I have seen more than one coworker buried leaving behind a
grieving
young wife and a few devastated kids with little or no financial
resources because he got killed trying to gain experience. If you
need a steady paycheck, a predictable career path, weekends and
federal holidays off then it isn't the job for you.
If on the other hand you have the disposition of a linebacker,
have
tungsten for a spine, are not afraid of responsibility, demand
nothing
but the best from yourself and everybody else around you; and you are
prepared to ride out the best and worst of times with no guarantee of
a happy financial ending and you can't possibly see yourself doing
anything else for a living then welcome aboard. It would be a
privilege to share the flight deck with you.