WOW..no idea this thread would get this many replies and so many supportive lol, this place is worlds better than APC, where I would have 50 responses telling me what an idiot I am and how much being a pilot sucks =P
Somebody called?
So, a place reaffirming what you want to hear is worlds better to a place where people who haven't been favored in timing the way you think you will, express their reservations in a way that makes you uncomfortable? Is that your definition of 'better'? Ok, just making sure you hear what you're saying.
One of the fundamental truths i've learned as a professional pilot is that, no matter how cool your job looks to a pedestrian, your employer can and will **ck up that two-car funeral. Professional flying, pax ops in particular, is also regimented to the point of not being creative or inspiring. There is no greater purist joy than the flying afforded on your own manner, time and dime. If part 91 didn't exist in my life, I'm not sure I'd want to be a pilot at all.
The giddiness for flying pax turbine equipment is short lived, largely devoid of hand flying in comparison to recreational flight (especially heavy flying, which I admit, BORED me to tears... and it was what finally pushed me into airplane ownership in 2009). Once that heavily standardized style of flying becomes routine, with the exception of some variety in destination (maybe), it simply becomes monotone. At which point paying the bills, taking care of the family and everything else that deals with
money and time off becomes a larger and larger share of your preoccupation. This is especially so when the conga line doesn't move as fast as you want it to. Or worse, the conga line stops again due to the economy, and now the condition you're frozen-in-place in is something that you were willing to endure for 18 months; you aren't all of a sudden willing to endure it for 4 years... or 10.
And that's what you're reading on APC, by people who have been iced for longer you've held pilot certificates. You just dismiss it because you find it implausible in this hiring scenario. Because you weren't in the industry in 2002, nor paying attention back then. I'm not a sports guy, but I think the analogy they use is 'fair weather' fan. This place is replete with them, admitted ones too, judging by their posts.
For the record I think you're approaching this in a sensible way, optimism bias notwithstanding. I think you should seek vocational contentment in life to the degree you can. I 100% agree with that; I did as much in leaving my engineering degrees behind for military flying.
I know several APCers who changed careers right around the same time I started in the military, and they're just now getting snagged by majors. That's a lot of years of making below median money, when you amortize for the tenure at the regional employer and their part 91 turbine or piston time building job. There were years, especially 5 or so ago, where they're about ready to quit. Many had working spouses and most were DINKS. So it worked out for them in that they could afford the pay cut, but they readily admit it wouldn't have gone down so well with kids in the picture. The point I'm making with that is that it's not all negative in APC; those guys are happy after being called by mainline. But they'll tell you readily that it was a quiet wait and constant introspection while they were at the regional. And yes, I do know several who couldn't wait anymore and quit. That to me is a big tell, and all it takes is one hiccup in traveler demand, and capacity shedding can wreck your world iced up at the regional, if you don't have a chair already at a 13 day/six figure 121 job. Most guys are not cool getting stuck at the regional, and consider it a non-starter. But it can happen. I love flying as much as the next guy, but I'm not defaulting on my loved ones because of a flying job.
All that said, good luck and tailwinds in your aspirations sir!
