Pilots of reddit, are you genuinely happy with your job?
Posted by bobtramer1@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 173 comments
At the start, you may have had passion. Real passion. But do the long and frequent flying hours, and the monotone nature of the job make you feel like youre stuck in a bad job? Please shine some light on this!
surefirepigeon@reddit
I find the my enjoyment of the job is tied to how much rest I can get and how easy it is for me to exercise and eat decent. Basically I don’t want to feel like this job is making me unhealthy.
In practice, this means 3 day trips with afternoon flying and 15 hour layovers.
Although I can easily hold these trips, I bid reserve for the extra $$ and curse myself when I find myself on a trip with consecutive 3 am wakeups.
Accomplished-Edge-40@reddit
If I could be wealthy enough to never have to work again, I'd leave my job in a heartbeat and never look back. That said, if I have to go to work, it's a really, really good job to have. I can't find any other line of work that pays what this one does and has the amount of time off that you can get.
I wouldn't say I have the same passion for it that I once did, but my priorities have also shifted as I've gotten older and life happened. Got married, had kids, etc. which shifts the focal point of my world from flying to being home and being a good dad/partner.
I did recently get back into GA, which was fantastic. The passion for flying is still there, just not necessarily when it's flying for work.
SecureAsk8297@reddit
I just finished a trip that had me work 15.5 hours. This job sucks, and I am dead tired and still need to get home. This job sucks. Im a 12 year narrow body captain for a legacy US airline. Same shit food, same airports, same hotels. Retiring early when I hit 45. No way I'm doing this till 65. I know I'll get downvoted because most pilots are delusional that it's a dream job.
letsflyplanes@reddit
Have you considered not commuting? Half the month off and a mid 6 figure income isn’t a dream job? What is then?
SecureAsk8297@reddit
It really is more work than we all think. Im grateful to do it and the pay is nice. But it's exhausting. Long days and into the early mornings is not good for the body. Min rest, min sleep. Sure. I can call fatigue, and I do. But if you do it too much, it's not a good look either. WB flying is 99% red eye and then you get home wasted, and need a day or two to recover, and then back at it again. It's ok. I'll make room for the younger guys. I can say this, because I've saved up. I'll be ok and grateful, but it ain't for me as I get older.
RaidenMonster@reddit
I know some people like to shit on SWA for being a glorified regional, cool, whatever makes someone happy, but comparing my schedule against my UA buddy’s schedule makes me not feel like I chose wrong.
Being able to more or less pick AM/PM/Redeye and have a consistent sleep schedule has been a much better QOL positive than being junior and getting stuck with embedded red eyes and shit.
Not all sunshine and rainbows for sure, but that part I do like.
thanksforallthetrees@reddit
Go wide body, change companies, work overseas. You’re resume is in demand in Asia and the Middle East
SecureAsk8297@reddit
I got 2 years to 45, then I'm out. Maybe just instruct in a Sim, or work in an office
Top-Incident-6166@reddit
Lol I hear ya, not to mention the $$ game everyone has to play with instructors just to get their ratings these days it seems..
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Upvoted, thank you for sharing an honest take. I feel most people are being superfluous about their jobs
cloud5urfer@reddit
At least in the USA, Legacy jobs are some of the best paying jobs you can find for amount of time worked. Lots of time off, lots of pay, lots of valuable benefits.
Sitting in cruise might seem monotonous until you’re suddenly dealing with weather, turbulence, or a diversion. No two arrivals or departures are ever the exact same and there’s always new challenges to tackle.
ChrisCanadian_@reddit
When you get to see into the Milky Way so clearly and see all of its colours while flying at 41,000’ at 2am, that love reignites. Quickly diminishes when the fatigue sets in again
BitPumpkin@reddit
This reminds me of a thought I had. I’m not exactly interested in becoming a full-time pilot, but I do like the idea of going to pilot school just to do it. How deep into the profession would I have to go to get things like a decently high flight that shows awesome night skies?
johnnybooty2point-0@reddit
You can get your private pilot in about 2 months. It will cost about 20k. You'll have to pass a medical, buy a 1k headset among some other gear, and take online ground school as well as flight school. You'll have to build up 40 hours of flight time which will require renting planes and filling them with gas, pass the written exam, the flight exam, and the medical. After that you can fly yourself in small planes that dont exceed 12500 lbs, have only one engine, and the engine cant be a jet. These wont reach 41k feet. They will reach like 10. But if you fly in the desert or in alaska, that will be enough to show you some incredible skies and take you to some very remote places with minimal or no light polution. Once you have the private pilot, you can rent planes by the hour anywhere in the us that offers them.
ChrisCanadian_@reddit
It’s taken me 8 years to get to this, I fly a 757 for FedEx. I could have done it a little faster but girlfriends got in the way. If you living in Europe I swear people get onto gets right out of flight school it seems lol
FrankCobretti@reddit
Private pilot oughtta do it. Or you could simply go to the mountains.
andrewbt@reddit
If you have the money be a private pilot and buy yourself a Vision jet or something and fly yourself up to see the Milky Way
Least-Size-8807@reddit
I see we both flew redeyes this week lol
Lost_Cockroach6702@reddit
And then reignites when the direct deposit hits.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Thanks for your input. Maybe those two things compliment each other haha
unable_compliance@reddit
It’s a fine balance between I can’t believe I get paid to do this shit, and I do not get paid enough to do this shit.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
😭😭😭thats reasonable af. Compared to the training fee, salaries are kinda on the lower side
unable_compliance@reddit
Honestly my pay is pretty decent, but it only feels worth it on the good days.
Add some mild inconveniences, it becomes meh.
Chuck in some bad weather, delays, maintenance issues, airborne faults, and I am now reconsidering my life’s choices.
22Planeguy@reddit
Huh, maybe I'm weird but the days where there's issues I have to deal with are the ones where I actually feel like I'm doing something. Depends on the delay but if it's not being caused by gross stupidity, I appreciate the challenge sometimes. When whatever the world decides to throw my way isn't enough to majorly delay or cancel a flight, it gets very satisfying.
Rainebowraine123@reddit
They days we have to deal with shit are why we get paid so much. Anyone can follow a checklist and fly on autopilot.
22Planeguy@reddit
I'm gonna get on my soap box and say that *not* everyone can follow a checklist and manage the autopilot. Shit, every once in a while I see an actual pilot struggling with certain aspects.
Airline pilots do get paid a lot because of the days shit goes wrong though, I won't argue that.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Well, atleast ive got a different perspective from you. Thanks
haveanairforceday@reddit
Look at home much a doctor makes with 8 years of challenging college, a million or so in education bills, and a couple years of job experience, working 12 hour days 5 days a week. I personally think airline pilots make pretty good money for the amount of time, effort, and money invested in comparison to this
Useful-Wash5488@reddit
training costs like 50k salary 300k. i think its a fair trade off.
Mattrix97@reddit
More like only in specific places in the whole world
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
More like $150k
Gentleman_Jim_243@reddit
Interesting. What are some of the downsides that make you question if it's worth it?
capn_davey@reddit
Nailed it.
rickmaz@reddit
Retired pilot here: it was a great ride!!! Every other job in the world is just as repetitive, and once you learn how to keep complacency from setting in, you are good to go . Always be open to learning something new. In general 90% of the pilots you fly with are interesting people, with the occasional dick thrown in
CaptPaulie@reddit
Love/hate relationship for 36 years. Miss it now since I’ve retired.
ParkingOpportunity39@reddit
I think it’s a great job most days, but I’m about to go to work later and I already see a shit sandwich in BNA in my future, because of the weather.
canyoutriforce@reddit
I‘m flying for 3 years now and i still love it, maybe even more. Its my absolute dream career
Angel_sexytropics@reddit
how did you save for the ppl lol
Wafer420@reddit
You work and save money. Smh.
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
Like it's that simple smh.
Wafer420@reddit
Life isn't supposed to be easy.
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
It isn't "supposed" to be anything. You're one of these insufferable types that tries to assign intrinsic meaning to struggling when there isn't any? Easy to say that from your position of privilege in dystopian unchecked capitalism. Other countries education doesn't cost a house.
-yourproblemnotmine-@reddit
>How did you save for the PPL
And you’re make this comment “A white female boeing 787 pilot. It’s not fair. She had it so easy”. Are there racial injustices in the workforce? Yes, but not nearly to the extent you are describing. If you had a burning passion for flying you would have made it happen by sparing your money carefully from your teenage years like myself and all others do. Being white does not give an automatic advantage, many pilots I know work 9-5s to pay for their training. I wish you the best in your endeavours, I believe that you can make it you just need to put in the effort.
rilessrh@reddit
I’m studying for my written tonight soley based on this comment
MaybeBowtie@reddit
Ooo. Which one?
Fast-Body-6059@reddit
3 years of flying and in an airbus, I’d be happy too
canyoutriforce@reddit
i mean 3 years of flying an airbus. i am from europe and got my cpl/ir and then into the bus
Bluzzard@reddit
You’ve been flying for 3 years and you’re now flying the A320?
VisualApproach17C@reddit
Been doing it over 20 years, first baby on the way, and I'm tired, boss. Love flying/aviation, grateful to have made it to a legacy, have done many other things in the industry, money is good, but flying is no longer the 'it' thing for me. It's a means to an end. Not much different than an office job just better views. Easy work most of the time, but the hours are crazy. TAFB is the only bidding preference that matters to me anymore.
Not eligible for retirement for another 10 years and I ask myself at the end of every trip if it's even worth it anymore. With that first baby coming at a not-so-young phase of my life, I see a major decision coming in my not-so-distant future. I want to watch my kid grow up as it's likely my only child, be present, and not have my marriage suffer because of it - a story as old as time in this profession.
So passion: I don't really know if I've got it anymore. I am good at my job, friendly to everyone, but have ridden through wild ups and downs, apologized for missing major events more times than I could count, and sick of spending half a year alone in a shitty hotel room next to the airport especially when I've got a kid growing up at home without me there half the time.
What I've seen having been in it this long is there are 3 types of pilots when they retire: 1. Every flight is still as exciting as the first and would keep going until I die on the flight deck if they'd let me, 2. It's a means to an end (a good paycheck) but not much else, or 3. It's all I know, I couldn't afford to retire early, and I will never touch another airplane ever again now that it's over. I'm #2 trying to avoid going to #3 so I can get out early!
Lucky_Income_4053@reddit
Absolutely love the flying! The stuff before and after the flying sucks. RIP my sleep schedule.
cptalpdeniz@reddit
Who said I have a job?
Desperate_Exercise13@reddit
It’s a great job but the career sucks. Timing is everything. With that said love my job now in my 50s but I’m also tired as shit most times. 🤷🏻♂️
canyonblue737@reddit
I’ve been flying as an airline pilot for 27 years and I absolutely love it.
Ok_Bar4002@reddit
The only job I’ve ever missed while on my time off. Sure, it’s faded a little on my off days or when fatigued. I also miss it less since I’ve been use to so much time off. But the flying seat on wide body still goes senior even though it’s more work for the same pay as the bunky. Why? Because you get to fly.
bclz@reddit
What did you fly in the military?
Mr-Plop@reddit
As a Flight Instructor, sometimes i wonder how my students are gonna try to kill me today or lose my license.
ConnorDGibson123@reddit
I had an engine failure last month and now I’m paranoid not just the student trying to kill me but now the plane is also trying to kill me
Mossieoak@reddit
I just got hired as an instructor. It begins
Business-Station-933@reddit
I'm so sorry.
Objective-Winter-512@reddit
Congrats !
sakonnet91@reddit
It’s not perfect. There are long days, late nights, times where it feels like that 6-9 hour crossing of an ocean never ends.
However, I come from a blue collar family where the alternative was busting your ass doing manual labor from sun up to sun down. Of course there were a lot of other things I could’ve done. In my perspective I have it pretty damn good.
gromm93@reddit
This right here. I can't believe some of the complainers.
Boredlslander@reddit
Any prior military folks that can weigh in on how the sleep schedules/fatigue of being a pilot compare to the fatigue in the military? Looking to get a baseline expectation
thanksforallthetrees@reddit
Lmao the combination of the amount of money and time off with my family is incredible and better than any job I know by itself. You can look up the salary for wide body pilots at legacy airlines in the US and Asia. I have layovers in popular vacation destinations, and have condos in 2 of the most desirable tourist cities in the world. I fly a very pleasant modern wide body at a 5 star skytrax airline . I have zero complaints other than a few redeye flights. I travel with my family on my extensive time off using the unlimited 90% off zed standby tickets.
The actual job is mostly easy, with good coworkers from all over the world. We hang out and explore on layovers. I’ve taken vacations with coworkers, and made some good friends.
Monotone? I watched some volcanoes erupting near Papua New Guinea last week, fly past Mount Fuji every flight, weather is always changing (typhoon, hurricane, lightning, windshear, snow, icing, and I still take pictures of clouds, mountains and sunsets. Always some new maintenance or passenger issue to deal with. Company is adding new destinations soon, I’m stoked. We have wifi in the cockpit. Always something new to learn keeping me interested and engaged.
“I have to sit on my hands and close my mouth to keep from clapping and yelling woohoo every time I go to work”
gromm93@reddit
The kinds of adventures that Canadian aviation offers is unmatched by nearly anywhere else in the world, if you ask me!
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Hey! Thank you for the detailed comment. I loved hearing about your job.
thanksforallthetrees@reddit
NP I’m happy to talk about it if you have any questions. I really feel like I won the lottery and it’s not polite to brag but since you asked. And I’m not even a plane nerd type (couldn’t tell you what a Fokker looks like), but I still like watching them take off and land, marvels of modern engineering. Still can’t believe they let me fly big jets.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
May i dm you then?
thanksforallthetrees@reddit
Any time
Marcuuspolo@reddit
May I also dm you?
thanksforallthetrees@reddit
Yes sure
Many-Fly7326@reddit
This is beautifully written. I am a cadet pilot right now and I would love to learn more from you! Can I DM you?
thanksforallthetrees@reddit
Sure go ahead.
FNGforlife@reddit
I’m 4.5 years into my first jet job. Starting to like it less and less. I’m cursed with having a wife I love and liking my hobbies and home life. Looking for that one in a million part 91 job.
Traditional-Oil2580@reddit
It depends how long you can force your brain to cover up the abject horrors of the conditions and sacrifices of having the job itself with some moments of great achievement, exploration and really neat people that are sprinkled in. Aviation is an industry that has attitudes and management styles teleported in-kind from the 1960s, and it does not hold up today. It has been a totally feudalistic and defeating journey for me since I started. Since I’m in Canada, and the pay is much less of a factor in my decision than in places like the USA, I quit in March after 6 years and am pursing my other area of education closer to my family. I plan to fly for fun.
fflyguy@reddit
Im very happy with my job. But I’ll be honest, there are plenty of days where we are right up on the duty limits, back-to-back and I’m exhausted with minimum rest and it just feels like a job. The magic of flying doesn’t always cut through. And then you get a flight to one of your favorite destinations, and it can all come back.
It ebbs and flows, but yes I’m happy with my job and don’t miss desk work or my corporate job from before.
gromm93@reddit
I love hearing comments like this, from people who aren't grouchy and entitled because this is all they've known. You have a point of comparison.
Personally, I know what the working conditions of the ground crew and the loaders is like, and you'll never hear me bitching about my job as a result, nevermind whenever they're around. I can't even with that level of disrespect.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Ah, thank you for the input. Do you prefer domestic a320 routes (you can come home to family) or international routes on, suppose, the a350?
fflyguy@reddit
Firstly, I don’t swap airplanes depending on mission. Secondly, on domestic routes, I don’t get to come home. Maybe certain airlines allow that option, but I work for a fractional company. I’m out on the road for 5-6 days at a time and don’t see my family any of that time
tacomasgrande@reddit
This sums it up well! In the past year I’ve had more than one trip that have brought me to my absolute lowest point emotionally. I’ve also had amazing trips to exotic foreign destinations where I’ve had plenty of time off to explore and have great experiences. Ebbs and flows.
PlaneShenaniganz@reddit
There are brief moments of happiness and satisfaction, but overall, no
SirCioppalot@reddit
Good question… I sit in the 737’s left seat and do short and medium haul for a big European low cost carrier. It’s ups and downs for me too. Love the fact that I come back home 99% of my working days despite being in this industry. Happy with the wages despite cost of living. Still enjoy the flying itself and doing 4 landings a day at all sorts of places. Not happy with 0 profit share at my airline. Not happy with the extreme fatigue the summer schedule and the usual last minute fuck-ups can induce. All in all, I consider myself the luckiest amongst my friends, considering even doctors and the likes of them are struggling more and more with a world where profit is always first and staff is always overworked…
the_silent_redditor@reddit
I’m a doctor who always wanted to be a pilot, but it just never really happened for a few reasons.
Honestly, I resent the fact I never tried harder.
I hate my job and have pilot friends who work less than me, and earn more. I am so, so tired and burnt out. My sleep schedule is totally fucked, and I work in emergency and trauma where fatigue and impaired decision making actually kills people. It’s just not good.
Grass is always greener but, man, how I dream.
gromm93@reddit
This... still beats being an airline pilot, where fatigue and impaired decision making kills you and 200 people right next to you, and probably some others on the ground for good measure.
But it's also worth noting that this is also the reason that rules about said fatigue are baked into law, no matter how much the corporation profits from saying "fuck you, keep working you lazy bastard".
Novel-Experience9945@reddit
Exactly my situation. I said fuck it and now I’m doing my flight training. Life’s too short to not do what you love. Can’t imagine being a doctor for 30 more years.
THevil30@reddit
I'm a lawyer who somehow (despite my dad holding a PPL) just never considered this as a possible career one could have. I think back when I was younger the regional pipeline was still poverty wages so it didn't seem appealing to me. Now I have kids and a family and switching to this as a career probably isn't feasible until maybe I'm 50, but cest la vie. At least I bought my own plane this year.
SirCioppalot@reddit
Well, as I said I’m a 737 captain in Europe and I can’t afford a private plane 😂
SirCioppalot@reddit
I don’t know what do you mean exactly with “trying harder”, in my eyes becoming a pilot is a lot easier than becoming a doctor. Anyway, pilots are also often tired and burned out, and don’t let me start on sleeping schedules. I don’t think your life would have been that different in these regards. What I can see with a couple of doctor friends is that regulations are actually implemented more reliably in aviation therefore giving us a stronger safety net. I am often overworked but I’ve never seen anyone going above the legal limits. And if it’s the fun of flying you want to know about I promise you a PA28 and a PPL are the most fun you can have on the civil aviation side…
dopexile@reddit
Sounds like you need to switch jobs or start a practice. I don't think I would last a week working in the ER, but my mom did it as a nurse(Lots of gunshot/stab victims from North St louis) for decades and loved the excitement.
I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS@reddit
Why not do it? The best time to start was before you went into medicine; the second best time is now.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Thanks for your input. Do you feel that the pros triumph over the cons for you?
SirCioppalot@reddit
Also not a definite answer. Would I do it again? Yes. Would I be happy if my children also wanted to do it? Yes. Would I rather be a millionaire, retire and fly with a PA28 in my free time instead? Also yes.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
That does make sense. Thanks
PuzzleheadedCar4276@reddit
I’ve been a professional helicopter pilot for 7 years, but I do have my fixed wing private license and know many airplane pilots. The first half of my career was one of the best times of my life. The second half, not so much. I’ve been very successful in the industry, but I’m pretty sick of it. I’m looking to get out of the industry, and luckily I have the financial ability to be picky. The 2 things I would encourage you to reflect on are:
1) Do you really love airplanes and flying for what they are? I was never into helicopters or airplanes, but always loved the idea of flying like Superman. People ask me all the time “what helicopter is that” as they point upward and I don’t even look. I probably don’t know what it is. I don’t care. Helicopters don’t interest me. Flying did…now it doesn’t. I got it out of my system. Would I do it again? Maybe.
2) What sort of lifestyle do you want? It’s possible to find a flying job that caters to the lifestyle you want, but sometimes can be very difficult. Pilots and relationships and family don’t exactly go together super easy. It’s not impossible…it’s just not always available either. This industry can really force your lifestyle sometimes…or oftentimes.
If you don’t absolutely have a passion for the machine and for being in the air, the bad days will really tear you apart. It’s not a bad industry/profession by any means. Just consider the things that come along with being in this industry.
Also, do you get bored easily? Expect a lot of that. Even this industry gets repetitive.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the honest and real guidance mate. I appreciate it
srbmfodder@reddit
It's better than sitting in an office all day every day hearing people chomp
ThrottleWeeee@reddit
I didn’t know you could fly for Reddit
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Petition to start reddit airlines
SierraHotel199@reddit
Yes. The job is amazing. But it’s still a job. It’s a an old corny joke, but it really does have its ups and downs.
Sheriff_Walrus@reddit
I'm currently at year 3 at a Regional. Like every job out there, you have good days and bad days. At all of the flying jobs I've had, there's long hours, challenges that make me say "I don't get paid enough for this shit", garbage schedules, and coworkers/clients/passengers that I hope never to see again, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. The views that I have at work and the sense of accomplishment I get when I nail a challenging approach or finding a way to arrive on-time when the cards are stacked against me and my crew are what makes this job worth it.
The biggest thing for me is to not ever let the next step in your career (ex. getting your first CFI job, getting your first jet job, upgrading to captain, going to a major/legacy, ect) get in the way of enjoying where you're at now. Each step in the process has parts of the job that sucks, but enjoy the parts that are able to be enjoyed or you'll lose your mind.
rcbif@reddit
Yes.
I work in Engineering, and fly for fun 😛
If I'm in an airplane, I'm going wherever I want, and having fun doing it.
-Sm00th-0perat0r-@reddit
20 years now since pilotschool, Still love it!!
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Insane. Why am i not hearing a single hate comment 😭 when i search it up on google, i hear that 70% of the pilots are unhappy or something along those lines.
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
This sub is extremely biased, also insane the amount of people who try to make it seem like it's financially feasible for most people (you have to already be extremedy financially well off to train for this job). Wish there was a General Aviation flying sub that was less insufferable this way, this sub might as well be Rich 2.0
Reputation_Many@reddit
If you’ve never worked a manual job like ac technician in the middle of the summer in the south or pipeline or something awful you will never know great flying is. Or even an IT job like I had makes flying look amazing. Multiple bosses micromanaging you at work sucked. Unless you’re flying with a dick no one micromanages you as a pilot. You’re held to a higher standard and expected to get it done the correct company way but no one is micromanaging you.
I’ve had all the sh!t jobs. Flying is the best job I’ve ever had. A lot of down time to do my side project.
Love it. Miss it. Ready for it again.
Worried-Ebb-1699@reddit
There are days you hate the job with all your passion.
Be it, a shitty crew member, sloppy flying, bad hotel or something.
But then there are moments that will make you pause and realize how your hard work and sacrifice allowed you to be in that moment.
Last week I did first my Maui overnight. I rented a scooter and went to this beach with an awesome trail. It was at that moment I realized how blessed we are to do all we do.
Here I am in literal paradise and my only expense? Poke, scooter and a few beers. Yet every tourist around me saved for ever and spent untold money.
And I get to do it again next week.
Point is- if you don’t stop and pause and recognize how incredible this job is, it’ll eat your soul and make you miserable.
Every single one of us have endured, stressed, sacrifice in so many countless ways to get here.
I make it my mission to never forget that and I hope so many others will, too.
So, remember- we earn(ed) our first wings. And every set we’ll ever wear from there on.
Drunkenaviator@reddit
Legacy widebody driver here, fuck yeah. The path to get here sucked at times, and the near death experiences were not fun. But holy shit is the payoff worth it.
MartonianJ@reddit
I am very happy with my job. I’ve been at the same Part 91 gig for 18 years. Great company and people. I usually only do 1 or 2 overnights a month. Pay is good (though not as good as airlines). Never fly on holidays and rarely on weekends. The only time that it starts to suck a bit is when there’s a string of long days together but that doesn’t happen very often. Typical schedule is 3-4 out and back days per week.
Chunks1992@reddit
Yes. If I could do it all over again I would. It’s a great career but there are days it is very much a job
Impressive_Fig_7812@reddit
it's good when you can see the horizon at 39000' while getting pay to appreciate the view, it's kinda bad when the fatigue set in and you made 1 or 2 mistakes at short final and having to write reports explaining those mistakes to your fleet manager
swakid8@reddit
It’s a job at end of the days. It has its great, good, uneventful, bad, terrible days… For every crappy layover, there is an awesome layover. For every hard duty day, there’s an easy one. There are days i look forward to working and days when i don’t even want to pack….
Overall job satisfaction is still positive.
ntroopy@reddit
I f’ing love going to work. Except for redeyes, but i rarely do those.
BigJellyfish1906@reddit
At a legacy, you can fly as much or as little as you want and live comfortably. Taking away the pressure of needing to grind makes going to work very much enjoyable.
markeymarkbeaty@reddit
Best job I’ve ever had. Quality of life is amazing, benefits and pay are incredible, and flexibility is mind boggling. I feel so lucky to have chosen this career, and for the timing to have worked out so well so far.
NoobSov@reddit
It has its ups and downs
LarreaT@reddit
😂😂😂
554TangoAlpha@reddit
Ya it’s dope, for a job.
Prof_Slappopotamus@reddit
Outside of night flying, I get to see the sun Every. Single. Day. You have no idea how good that small thing is for the soul, especially during the dreary winter months.
Turkstache@reddit
I started flying with the goal of flying fighters. I got that, it was awesome. Now that I'm out, I don't get that anymore.
Turns out all the jobs with the flying I'm attracted to are region-locked or require long stints away anyway. I promised my wife we live where she wants to live after the military, and where her family is at (where we nee support for kids) is in one of the absolute farthest away places in the country from any of that kind of flying. I'm talking fire, film, reserve/guard, NASA, mil contracting, "fighter experience" companies, etc. Even other aviation like gliding, skydiving, hang glaide, paragliding... it's mostly beyond day trip range. I can't afford my own plane or to rent for aerobatics... and flying is so much more fulfilling with a mission anyway.
I'm an airline pilot now. The job is easy and because of that it's not what I ever desired or have a passion for. It honestly makes me sad to put on the uniform, to arrive at the airport, to walk up to the plane. Occasionally I have a nice landing or the crew is cookin' and the CRM is fun. Occasionally I look out the window and see something cool. But If I could do any other job with the same pay potential and workload, it wouldn't bother me much to do that instead. At this point I would work harder for less if it meant I didn't have to add to the stress my family feels by being gone all the time.
I feel like I atrophy every day. Not just in hand-flying but in situational awareness and CRM and decision-making. It's the fact that there's 1/10th the stimulation split amongst two people.
It's a job with great pay and perks. I'm truly grateful for that. But the loss of access to the flying I did have passion for has got me seeking radically different experiences.
jetstrea87@reddit
When I was in the majors internationally, I was bleased to see the curveture of the earth twice. One during sunrise where you can see the division of day/night. The other was during sunset, seen the sky turned to a nice soft purple, yellow, and Gold with some pinkish. I really miss it but now have a significant other, did not want to fall in the statistic of going thru 4th marriage.
skyHawk3613@reddit
It’s ok. Only thing I’d rather be doing. Currently getting paid $1600 to sit in my hotel room and scroll through reddit
TheBuff66@reddit
I’ll vent for a second. My personal life has been in limbo for years due to flying. Had to move in with my mom to go through flight school, then I couldn’t move out as a CFI because I made absolutely nothing working 6 days/week. At my first real flying job I didn’t make a ton as an FO and was gone half the year anyway so it didn’t make sense to move out. Now that I can finally afford to, some opportunities may be materializing. If I move to where I want to live now I’ll likely have to pack up and leave again to a domicile that I don’t particularly want. 4 years of being stuck and I’m still years away from an end destination. During my 7 off I have no desire for personal travel since I was just bouncing around the US for 7 on. There’s a balance in there somewhere and I have yet to find it. But… the journey has been rewarding and I wouldn’t want to do anything else
WIS_pilot@reddit
Yes.
snuepe@reddit
I am not happier now than I was when I was making 1/3 of what I make now. Some things are easier but overall just same. Happiness comes from other things. The job is quite mind numbing for me personally.
FrankCobretti@reddit
I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I still love it.
Gabriel_Owners@reddit
I used to be an engineer working in an office. I make way more money and have way more free time now. So yes, it is objectively better for my life. Do I enjoy all the same airports and hotels and mundane shit? Absolutely not. But it's a JOB, not a CALLING.
ananajakq@reddit
Yes. It’s the best
redditburner_5000@reddit
I was a pilot, but left. I work with a former majors pilot who bailed as well. We both are senior office guys now and we both independently concluded that returning to flying during the hiring wave was not a good move. For us, the career isn't a good fit. It works well for some but it's far from a dream job.
Flying itself is awesome. I loved the flying part. Setting power on the takeoff and the satisfaction of fighting down a difficult approach in terrible weather cannot be replicated anywhere else. But the other aspects of the job aren't good (for me). I had a decision tree that I worked through, and it concluded that an exit from aviation was the right move since the bad decisively outweighed the good (for me).
If you can be happy with the routine nature of the job, being gone from family (which will hit harder with your first kid), and the persistent low rumble of career risk, then you'll enjoy it! And that's great! Everyone should enjoy their career! But do not confuse "I like planes and I like flying them" with "I like flying professionally." Those are very different things.
Ultimately, my general, baseline opinion is that if you have a way to make good money in a traditional career, you should really consider committing to that path and keep flying a business/recreation tool.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your input and the honesty mate, i really appreciate the guidance
boobooaboo@reddit
Back at big yellow, absolutely. My new job? No.
Pinecone1000@reddit
Hang in there. WN here and we are all rooting for you. Love flying with prior NK peeps. Cultures match up.
jman014@reddit
Every response on here sounds objectively better than being a nurse.
Pinecone1000@reddit
My fiancé is a nurse. She can’t wait to get married for the insanely better pilot health insurance if that tells you anything.
Mancunian1987@reddit
Genuinely, why you asking randoms on the internet? If you don't like it, find out why, figure it out and move on, don't abdicate to a bunch of strangers on the internet. Have more control of your own life.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
I was asking this because im planning to pursue aviation myself, but my dad tells me otherwise. He tells me that flying is a boring job and ill want to quit once im a pilot. I wanted to know the reality, because i want to pursue aviation no matter what. Hence im asking pilota since im in no direct contact with a pilot
Pinecone1000@reddit
No harm in asking. Keep researching. It’s time and money to get into any profession. So you want to be confident in your choice to start. No different than researching college choices. You don’t just jump into an archeology major only because Indiana Jones was a cool movie.
Oregon-Pilot@reddit
The fatigue is the worst part. No matter what I’ve tried, being alive is shit when you’re exhausted, and I mean that in how I feel physically mentally. I just feel like hell, can’t perform to the level that I feel it is warranted, and it seems no physical or mental prep or perspective shift can really affect that in a meaningful way. It’s the absolute and effectively the only factor in determining if I like or despise my job. So when you’re stuck flying transcon redeyes week after week, it’s kind of shit. But if you can get in some nice short trips with commutable daytime flying and solid layovers, it’s pretty great.
notagreatpilot@reddit
Fuck no why else would I be here
Least-Size-8807@reddit
Flying for my airline lately has become a paid side gig for me. I've been on a reserve schedule for months but trending at working between 3-10 days a month. At this point I've got way too much time for my hobbies/passions and side hustles lol. So the answer is yes, I'm loving this job and its lifestyle it brings me!
andrewrbat@reddit
I love my job. Its not always sunshine and rainbows but i do like it.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
What are your thoughts on the work life balance and airline policies?
andrewrbat@reddit
No complaints at my legacy. I worked too much at the regionals. Which “policies”?
clon2645@reddit
I make shit money, It’s dangerous, it can be very stressful, but despite all that, I fucking love my job.
Working a 9-5 cubical job for 30 years sounds like hell on earth.
I_said_wot@reddit
I just landed from a West to East Coast red eye, and right now; no, I do not like my job.
I'll feel better after some sleep.
MachoTurnip@reddit
last week we were delayed three hours after pushing for maintenance and had to return to the gate, deplaned everyone, and waited for contract maintenance at an outstation before finally re-boarding and pushing off around midnight to get to ORD and crash at the hotel. Still the best job I've ever had.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Sounds like a damn journey 😭
MachoTurnip@reddit
CA and I are both prior military and were laughing about it saying it's still better than being wet in a field rucking through the night lol
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Fairs tbh
UNDR08@reddit
It’s become just another job. Thankfully it pays very well, which allows me to dabble in antique airplanes which is where my passion truly lies.
dopexile@reddit
Happy with my job. Also not flying as a career, lol.
dragonguy0@reddit
Medevac guy here:
It has it's ups and downs but yeah, I fucking love seeing my crews while I'm on hitch, I -largely- enjoy our equipment, and I enjoy all the responsibility.
Management tries it's best to make me hate it, but I'm still here...
etch-bot@reddit
Also medical side. My med crew rocks and we just workout and dine together. I only fly a few times a month on average so I don't get bored of the flying yet.
AdParticular3832@reddit
I’m a A321 captain at a US major and it’s overall positive. I’ve been doing this job for 20+ years and I can tell you it’s all about the layover and the days off. If you’re junior and can’t take off holidays/birthdays etc it can be very hard on the family. If you’re senior and can take off almost any day you want it’s great. Plus I get to fly to my favorite destinations. Being junior means crappy trips with crappy layovers. Plus at this point I make 400+ and can’t complain.
Cxopilot@reddit
Yeah. I stay off the union forum. Stay off the Facebook pages ( out side the meme page) clock in clock out. Vote fo what’s best with my family and not give two shits what the 1 percent of the disgruntled pilots yell about. This job is cool. Pays for a great life.
cttime@reddit
Happy with my job, unhappy with my employer.
4thafter3bans@reddit
Hate the scheduling but in general, I am happy with it. Sleep patterns and lack of socialising are issues, happy with money.
Frosty_Piece7098@reddit
If you have to have a job, this is about the best damn one I can think of. Now if I had a trust fund, there’s no way I would be putting up with this shit.
ConorLyons18@reddit
It definitely ebbs and flows from day to day depending on who im flying with. However, I still ask myself if i won the lotto would I retire and the answer is still no.
Cougarb@reddit
I work in the bush with floatplanes. It’s a lot of long long days. Hauling boat motors, lifting drums, and stuff other than flying. But I have never had a day where I wake up and DREAD the day like I used to when I was in construction/oilfield. Just counting the seconds till my breaks, or when I’m off. It’s hard work and may pay is (relatively) bad but I’m around floatplanes all day and surrounded by people similar to me and that makes it all worth it.
Stenneke32@reddit
Nice to see the love for the job here in the comments. I’m currently grounded with no medical due to type 1 diabetes here in Europe. Current foresight is 2028/2030 to start flying again. Until that time I work at an airline and love it most of the time! Can’t wait to get back in the flight deck though. Sometimes being able to ever fly again feels so far away and I don’t even feel like a pilot anymore…
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
I can’t imagine doing anything else and I will be sad when I have to retire since I still enjoy the job.
ronerychiver@reddit
Comparison is the thief of joy. And I think the only thing pilots do other than fly is comparison to other pilots’ careers. That can be hard to reconcile sometime.
I’m fortunate enough to be home near every night, fly out of the airport close to home, fly a wide range of aircraft with a great flight department, and be able to set my own schedule for the most part with just a text group with the other pilots.
Is it airline pay? Nowhere close. But I get to be with my family more than I have to be in a cockpit and that where my value truly is. Every time I look at other jobs that friends have, I have to remind myself they could lead to me sitting on a pile of money at 65 with no time left to spend it.
I wish aviation was looking for a Mike Rowe who could just do each job for a week just to say they’ve done it but you kinda have to pick a path and accept that many other will go untraveled.
Accomplished_Beat418@reddit
This is like the 8th doomer post on the sub I’ve seen in 24 hours. I firmly believe we’re being raided and invaded at this point.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Sorry mate. Just wanted to get opinions from real pilots!
J33v35@reddit
Yes, after more than a decade of pain.
jp60397@reddit
30+ years. Flown everything from Piper Cubs banner towing to A350-1000 Long Haul around the world. It still has days where I’m glad it’s what I chose. I really couldn’t imagine doing anything else. There are bits I’ve loved, and there are bits that have plumbed my worst feelings of absolute despair.
Whenever I have a youngster ask me about getting into flying, I always say it’s a career that you’ve got to want, almost as much as breathing, because it takes as much as it gives.
There are things in my life that I genuinely regret (2nd wife!) but flying is definitely not one of them.
As you stroll through the positive and negative responses to your post… just remember one thing someone said to me years ago, and has stuck with me..
‘Give a pilot a bag of gold, he’ll complain it is heavy’ 😉
Big-Carpenter7921@reddit
I'll let you know when I start getting paid to fly
J3ansley@reddit
I’ve only been professional since ‘99 but I love it.
Plus, I’m too lazy to work. And too scared to steal.
pilotryan1735@reddit
I’m at my dream legacy airline, however, Just like any job there is times where you may wish you weren’t at work.
With that said, it’s still the best job in the world in my opinion.
LowSodiumStock@reddit
I appreciate this question might be more aimed at the 121 world, but I fly helicopters and I absolutely love it. As a bonus I get to come home at the end of every day to my beautiful family. I can’t imagine doing anything else in life.
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
Also, what do you fly helis for? Is it commercial, or military?
bobtramer1@reddit (OP)
That sounds beautiful. Happy for you!
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
At the start, you may have had passion. Real passion. But do the long and frequent flying hours, and the monotone nature of the job make you feel like youre stuck in a bad job? Please shine some light on this!
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