A whole bunch of things are coming to fruition in the next few months and life is getting crazy. Sometimes I feel like the character Eddie Murphy played in the movie Bowfinger. (A brief synopsis of the film is at the end of the post) Lately I feel like I just need to keep repeating the mantra- K.I.T, keep it together, keep it together. I know that by january things will have settled again.
Coming up in the next few months for us- the wedding (in just 5 weeks, we don't even have a honeymoon booked yet!!!), M having tonsils out (6 days before xmas), an end to the escrow that would never close on our house, the end of crunch time at work for this product sale.
Despite all of the things we've got going on, I've managed to juggle them all pretty well and haven't really dropped the ball on anything yet. Thank goodness for my dayplanner. A helps out when he can, like attending a 1 day notice birthday party at Chuck E Cheese (one of my least fav. places on earth) while I attend an unreschedulable meeting with the florist at the same time. Every day we have to make choices about what is highest priority, but it all seems to be getting done. I'm still looking forward to when A will be home for a block of time, however short, and I can leave him a honeydo list.
Despite all of the rough patches we have had this year- my cancer dx and treatment, being told I might also have a brain tumor, M needing surgery, trying to sell my family home back in CA, A's moneypit of a car, adjusting to living in a totally new place with no support systems, my dad's cancer dx and and treatment, death of my favorite uncle, being perpetually broke, planning a wedding... I've never once regretted taking the leap and coming out here to do this. Every day I see how happy A is to be doing something that he had previously only dreamed of doing. Knowing that I am helping him to attain his dream and goals means so much to me. And I know that one day the favor will be returned. I realize that it will be a long hard road still to come, with many decisions still to make, but the perpetual, eternal (and admittedly sometimes annoying) optimist in me keeps me believing that everything will work out in the end.
For those who haven't seen Bowfinger, it's about two low budget producers trying to break into the movie biz. They decide they need a star in the film and try to film Eddie Murphy's character (the big movie star)without him realizing it. The big movie star is also slightly deranged and can't figure out what is going on when these weird incidents keep happening. He keeps repeating this mantra- K.I.T., kit-kit-kit, keep it together, keep it together- to remind himself that what he thinks is happening is not. A hard synopis to follow, I know, you'll just have to see the movie.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Waiting it out
On site interviews are coming up at A's school. Lo and behold, he has enough hours to meet their minimums, but we've decided not to interview with them. Several reasons behind this.
#1- They are coming out of a hiring freeze. They interviewed at the school once before and were in a hiring freeze then, but came out anyway because they had already comitted to doing it. A company with a hiring freeze doesn't look like a company with the growth that we'd like to see. I'm told they are in negotiations for more routes. But with them still in negotiations, I'm hesitant to go with them. What if they negotiations fall through? Where does that leave the newly hired pilots? If they had already contracted the routes, that might be another story, but until then?
#2- They have 3 domiciles, 2 of which are in places I could never consent to living in (too far north for me). A feels the same way. I'm told that they will guarentee you a spot at the southern one for a year, but after that, you are fair game. I'm just not up for a 60% chance that we'll get transfered to a place I can't stand for an unknown amount of time. I'd rather stick it out and wait for another airline with domiciles I can deal with.
#3- We can go somewhere else with a higher pay and the same upgrade time.
Relating to a previous post of mine- yeah, this might be one of those occasions where having a family to consider might make a person skip out on an opportunity. But the reality is, none of the single guys at the school are jumping to interview with them either.
We heard that one of the airlines we were considering has raised it's minimums by 100 hours. That means an extra 6 weeks here, if current student capacities continue. We've heard nothing but good things about them so far.
A's two half days off were much needed and appreciated. I hope he's able to work in a few more on occasion. It's nice to be able to stop and breathe on occasion.
People at A's school have figured out who I am and ask him questions about things I've posted on forums and here. I think it's funny. He's too busy to keep up with what I'm writing about so it always comes as a suprise to him when it happens. It doesn't seem to bother him too much though. So if you read this and know him, give him a shout out for me. And tell him to share the snacks I brought in...
#1- They are coming out of a hiring freeze. They interviewed at the school once before and were in a hiring freeze then, but came out anyway because they had already comitted to doing it. A company with a hiring freeze doesn't look like a company with the growth that we'd like to see. I'm told they are in negotiations for more routes. But with them still in negotiations, I'm hesitant to go with them. What if they negotiations fall through? Where does that leave the newly hired pilots? If they had already contracted the routes, that might be another story, but until then?
#2- They have 3 domiciles, 2 of which are in places I could never consent to living in (too far north for me). A feels the same way. I'm told that they will guarentee you a spot at the southern one for a year, but after that, you are fair game. I'm just not up for a 60% chance that we'll get transfered to a place I can't stand for an unknown amount of time. I'd rather stick it out and wait for another airline with domiciles I can deal with.
#3- We can go somewhere else with a higher pay and the same upgrade time.
Relating to a previous post of mine- yeah, this might be one of those occasions where having a family to consider might make a person skip out on an opportunity. But the reality is, none of the single guys at the school are jumping to interview with them either.
We heard that one of the airlines we were considering has raised it's minimums by 100 hours. That means an extra 6 weeks here, if current student capacities continue. We've heard nothing but good things about them so far.
A's two half days off were much needed and appreciated. I hope he's able to work in a few more on occasion. It's nice to be able to stop and breathe on occasion.
People at A's school have figured out who I am and ask him questions about things I've posted on forums and here. I think it's funny. He's too busy to keep up with what I'm writing about so it always comes as a suprise to him when it happens. It doesn't seem to bother him too much though. So if you read this and know him, give him a shout out for me. And tell him to share the snacks I brought in...
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Finally, a break
A has been instructing non-stop, nearly 12 hours a day for almost 2 months. It's been wearing on us. I come home angry because he used dishes but didn't have time to wash them and doesn't have time to do his laundry. But then I think about how he has run himself ragged trying to do this and reel myself in, a bit. He knows it the situation I'm frustrated with, not him. He does what he can, like helping get M ready and taking him to school in the mornings and filling my gas tank at 10pm at night so I don't have to do it. I could get up at 6am on saturday and spend time with him while he is getting ready for work, but frankly, I'm too lazy. So instead I just holler at him from bed.
Yesterday and today he's been able to get the mornings off to have some much needed personal time and run some long awaited errands. He would have the entire day off, but someone else is sick and he needs to build up some good karma. He's going to need time off for our wedding and also when M has his tonsilectomy.
In some ways, it's harder to plan things now than if he were working for a regional. At least then he could try to bid around the time we need off. And if he wasn't going to get it, we'd know ahead of time. Right now, it depends on the student loads and the school doesn't seem to know those until 2 days ahead of time. (My personal feeling is that the school could do a better job with scheduling, but that's another story...) Of course there's always the issue of commuting and flight availability to throw into the mix, but still... it's awful hard to plan anything right now.
I don't know who's going to need more sympathy- the 4 year old getting his tonsils out or the mama who has to stay home all day with the angry 4 year old...
Yesterday and today he's been able to get the mornings off to have some much needed personal time and run some long awaited errands. He would have the entire day off, but someone else is sick and he needs to build up some good karma. He's going to need time off for our wedding and also when M has his tonsilectomy.
In some ways, it's harder to plan things now than if he were working for a regional. At least then he could try to bid around the time we need off. And if he wasn't going to get it, we'd know ahead of time. Right now, it depends on the student loads and the school doesn't seem to know those until 2 days ahead of time. (My personal feeling is that the school could do a better job with scheduling, but that's another story...) Of course there's always the issue of commuting and flight availability to throw into the mix, but still... it's awful hard to plan anything right now.
I don't know who's going to need more sympathy- the 4 year old getting his tonsils out or the mama who has to stay home all day with the angry 4 year old...
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Considerations
A is near ready to begin applying to real, actual airlines. It's funny to hit this milestone because it always seemed so far into the future. He's been working 7 days a week for weeks now. I can't remember the last time he had even a 1/2 day off. I do the best I can to help him out (including suprising him with snacks at the airport on the weekends occasionally) and don't expect too much of him at home and we seem to be doing fine. It will be a relief to get through this, but the next stage, him gone for weeks on end for training is going to be just as difficult. In a different way though.
He's got some thing lined up on monday to talk to an airline that is considering doing onsite interviews at his school. He volunteered to be trotted out like a show pony to talk about the program and his training and all that stuff. His training partner volunteered too. It's a regional that's hired guys out of his school previously, but never interviewed there. I'm leaning against them myself, I've heard some mixed reviews about them.
In a few weeks another airline will be doing onsite interviews at his school as well. Again, he and his friend signed up. I think they are still short in hours, but it will be a good experience for them. And at best, they'll be issued a conditional offer based on their continuing to instruct and gain the hours. Again thought, I'm not sure it's an airline "we" want to go with.
Maybe it's just the control freak in me, but I insist on having a say on what airline he finally takes a job with. It's going to effect me in a big way after all! Not only where he'll be based, but where we might live, how much time he'll spend commuting (if we go that route), whether his health insurance will cover all of us or just him, how long he might be on reserve and where, upgrade time... so many details to consider.
And I really do think that you have to look at things holistically. One airline might pay $2 more per hour, but not cover health insurance for dependants and in the end, wind up costing you a few hundred per month. The additional hourly salary may not make up the difference. How happy are we going to be in Newark vs. Salt Lake City vs. Houston? Is it worth it? How long can we anticipate being there?
We are still trying to decide whether I will stay here in Jax while he does his reserve training or whether we will go with him. On one hand, it's nice to stay where we are settled and have friends. He can commute back down here on his days off. On the other hand, he may have very few days off and I would prefer to be able to live with him and see him as much as possible instead of the few random days he can get down here. I guess too, it depends on the city he ends up doing his reserve time in as well.
So much is still in the air and we all just kind of have to go with it.
He's got some thing lined up on monday to talk to an airline that is considering doing onsite interviews at his school. He volunteered to be trotted out like a show pony to talk about the program and his training and all that stuff. His training partner volunteered too. It's a regional that's hired guys out of his school previously, but never interviewed there. I'm leaning against them myself, I've heard some mixed reviews about them.
In a few weeks another airline will be doing onsite interviews at his school as well. Again, he and his friend signed up. I think they are still short in hours, but it will be a good experience for them. And at best, they'll be issued a conditional offer based on their continuing to instruct and gain the hours. Again thought, I'm not sure it's an airline "we" want to go with.
Maybe it's just the control freak in me, but I insist on having a say on what airline he finally takes a job with. It's going to effect me in a big way after all! Not only where he'll be based, but where we might live, how much time he'll spend commuting (if we go that route), whether his health insurance will cover all of us or just him, how long he might be on reserve and where, upgrade time... so many details to consider.
And I really do think that you have to look at things holistically. One airline might pay $2 more per hour, but not cover health insurance for dependants and in the end, wind up costing you a few hundred per month. The additional hourly salary may not make up the difference. How happy are we going to be in Newark vs. Salt Lake City vs. Houston? Is it worth it? How long can we anticipate being there?
We are still trying to decide whether I will stay here in Jax while he does his reserve training or whether we will go with him. On one hand, it's nice to stay where we are settled and have friends. He can commute back down here on his days off. On the other hand, he may have very few days off and I would prefer to be able to live with him and see him as much as possible instead of the few random days he can get down here. I guess too, it depends on the city he ends up doing his reserve time in as well.
So much is still in the air and we all just kind of have to go with it.
Monday, October 2, 2006
Are single pilots really better off?
This is a topic that irritates me like no other. I see/hear a lot of students talking about how it's better to be single when first starting out because of all the uncertainty, low wages, moving around ect. I simply don't aggree. It's not that I think attached pilots are better off, they have their pitfalls too; but I don't think that one trumps the other. There are so many variables involved in each scenerio and so many pros and cons to each, that's it's impossible to make a singular conclusion.
Last week I got peeved enough to break my cardinal rule (of not posting about hot topics on forums because I always get flamed and regret it) and posted on jet careers. I also forgot to take into account that I am probably dealing with someone who is young and thinks they know everything just as well as they might know airplane systems.
It started when I saw this post by Beechboy85:
well hopefully the "poverty" will only last 2-3 years as an FO, then at least ur making a living. I mean you can't go into this with a family, house, etc. and think ur going to be making loads of money. I think my chances are better going into this as a single guy, with few ties, and the ability to make sacrifices/accomidations for awhile at least.
Why is it better going into this (aviation) single. If you are in a position where you can share finances with someone else, wouldn't that HELP you? Make it less of a stretch to make that starting F/O salary work? So I posted this:
I hope you aren't implying that people who already have families and houses shouldn't get into aviation. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you mean that they should know that there will have to be a standard of living adjustment.
Going into this as a single guy isn't always best. Those who have wives/serious girlfriends who work are able to have that additional income and aren't so poverty stricken. The key is to find a partner who is willing to make some sacrifices in the short term for long term gain.
I should have just bit my tounge. I knew it. It's better to spend my time helping someone who has a family find a way to make it work then it is to try to make any headway with someone who obviously believes otherwise. So I got this post back by Beechboy 85:
Obviously I don't believe that those with a family shouldn't "get into this business." There have been, and will continue to be, many people who are sucessful in aviation with a family. All I'm saying is that a single male/female who can take on employment opportunties that they may or may not be able to take on with a family, may have more opportunties to advance quicker or be in a position to take a job with higher pay. There's no arguement that potentially moving to a new location once,twice, or more a year with a family is tough! Plus, should parents be home for their children, rather then being away four nights a week?
Second, there are VERY few people who are guareented anything in avaition (notice i say "aviation" and not "airline"). With that said, a person can put themself into a position where it is more practical to enter the industry. If someone wants to go out and sign there name on a $50,000+ loan with an interest rate of Prime + 1-9% (no particular companies mentioned), then HAVE AT IT!! What concerns me are those who go into this industry with tunnel vision of flying the "heavy metal", without any clear plan on how to pay this off and put food on the table in the process. The math is simple:
Family (spouse and children) + Large Flight School Debt (70,000+ w/interest) + No B.S. degree (or more student loan debt) + Low F/O beginning pay + Rent, utilities, etc. = DISASTER!!!
Third, I don't believe there is any "best" way to enter the industry. I chose to go to college first, getting a fall-back degree, then go to a professional flight school. All this while working my a@@ off in "other jobs" to have minimal debt. Some will go get a combined degree/flight training, some will "screw" the degree and go right to their local FBO (forget the majors and even some regionals now!). Whatever someone decides to do, I think the biggest thing is that they look at the future. Just because you want to fly more then "anyone", doesn't mean you should put yourself in a position where you simply can't cut the financial mustard. Doesn't this boil down to the fundimentals of RESPONSIBLITY...
I decied right then that the topic better belonged in another forum/post and I wasn't going to hijack the thread. This person OBVIOUSLY knows the one true way to make it work and wasn't going to be interested in what I had to say.
But I do feel the need to get out what my responses to this would be. Because I do firmly believe that there is more than one way to get through this. Here's my thoughts on this response:
All I'm saying is that a single male/female who can take on employment opportunties that they may or may not be able to take on with a family, may have more opportunties to advance quicker or be in a position to take a job with higher pay.
What employment opps are these? According to the federal gov't, discrimination based on marital status is illegal in companies that have 15 or more employees. And most smaller business don't have the HR skills to know that they can legal ask this question. So marital status would not preclude someone from pursuing any job. If they didn't take it, that would be up to them, but any single person would face the same decision.
There's no arguement that potentially moving to a new location once,twice, or more a year with a family is tough!
Moving really isn't that difficult. Thanks to this here interweb thing, moving is a lot easier now. Online reservations for a moving truck, online apt., daycare, job search, craigslist to get rid of possestions and hire people for truck loading/unloading. Fax machine to fax medical record and other requests as needed. I got us set up in less than a week for a move from CA to FL. One 3 day trip to Jax to visit my preselected locations and interview and about 8 hours online otherwise. And one pretty cool 5 day drive. I don't anticipate our next move will be any more difficult. And yes, I did it all with a 3 year old child.
Plus, should parents be home for their children, rather then being away four nights a week?
Hmmm, perhaps all those kids who are subject to custody aggreements can answer this one. They see one parent for less than 4 nights a week. Literature on the effect of this on kids is mixed at best. What about parents who work 60-80 hour weeks and barely see their kids. Yeah, they are home every night, for about 6 hours while their kids are asleep. How about firefighters? No one gives them shit when they do their shift at the station. Should they not have children either? As long as the child's routines are consistent and the child knows that the parent has not abandon them, I see no problem in it. The negligible custody that my ex has (9%) hasn't effected my son's feelings (of love)towards him.
Second, there are VERY few people who are guareented anything in avaition (notice i say "aviation" and not "airline"). With that said, a person can put themself into a position where it is more practical to enter the industry. If someone wants to go out and sign there name on a $50,000+ loan with an interest rate of Prime + 1-9% (no particular companies mentioned), then HAVE AT IT!! What concerns me are those who go into this industry with tunnel vision of flying the "heavy metal", without any clear plan on how to pay this off and put food on the table in the process. The math is simple:
Family (spouse and children) + Large Flight School Debt (70,000+ w/interest) + No B.S. degree (or more student loan debt) + Low F/O beginning pay + Rent, utilities, etc. = DISASTER!!!
Hmm, this equation seems not to take into effect the possibillity of the spouse/partner working as well. Or other variables. We rent out our house in CA and it pays for itself and then some. It's making us money. We used a home equity loan to pay for school and have a better interest rate than a traditional loan. BS degrees were earned with scholarships and grants; no money to pay back. Right now, we are able to live just on my salary and anything A earns is dessert. Doesn't seem like we are headed for disaster at all. Plus, you can't get approved for a loan if they don't think you will be able to repay it. So those truely in danger probably wouldn't get approved anyway.
Third, I don't believe there is any "best" way to enter the industry. I chose to go to college first, getting a fall-back degree, then go to a professional flight school. All this while working my a@@ off in "other jobs" to have minimal debt. Some will go get a combined degree/flight training, some will "screw" the degree and go right to their local FBO (forget the majors and even some regionals now!). Whatever someone decides to do, I think the biggest thing is that they look at the future. Just because you want to fly more then "anyone", doesn't mean you should put yourself in a position where you simply can't cut the financial mustard. Doesn't this boil down to the fundimentals of RESPONSIBLITY...
If you have a family, you won't be able to "cut the financial mustard" and it is irresponsible to go into the profession? But really, there doesn't seem to be any basis for it at all. Yeah, not all people will be able to go about it the way we have, but to make a blanket statement is just wrong. None of this argument takes into account the positive ways that having a partner would contribute to finances. Are all the sacrifices a burgeoning pilot has to make financial?
Like I said, I would rather spend my time helping someone else figure out how to make it work with a family then debating my prior made choices. After all, there are so many varibles for each person that there is no one path to success. And who but that person can determine what "success" is? And if one way were determined to be better, would the people who then found themselves not on the best path act to remedy that (ie get married/divorced)? I doubt it. So really, for me, there is no point in aruging the case any further. But it still irritates me to hear people with self righteous beliefs about this.
Last week I got peeved enough to break my cardinal rule (of not posting about hot topics on forums because I always get flamed and regret it) and posted on jet careers. I also forgot to take into account that I am probably dealing with someone who is young and thinks they know everything just as well as they might know airplane systems.
It started when I saw this post by Beechboy85:
well hopefully the "poverty" will only last 2-3 years as an FO, then at least ur making a living. I mean you can't go into this with a family, house, etc. and think ur going to be making loads of money. I think my chances are better going into this as a single guy, with few ties, and the ability to make sacrifices/accomidations for awhile at least.
Why is it better going into this (aviation) single. If you are in a position where you can share finances with someone else, wouldn't that HELP you? Make it less of a stretch to make that starting F/O salary work? So I posted this:
I hope you aren't implying that people who already have families and houses shouldn't get into aviation. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you mean that they should know that there will have to be a standard of living adjustment.
Going into this as a single guy isn't always best. Those who have wives/serious girlfriends who work are able to have that additional income and aren't so poverty stricken. The key is to find a partner who is willing to make some sacrifices in the short term for long term gain.
I should have just bit my tounge. I knew it. It's better to spend my time helping someone who has a family find a way to make it work then it is to try to make any headway with someone who obviously believes otherwise. So I got this post back by Beechboy 85:
Obviously I don't believe that those with a family shouldn't "get into this business." There have been, and will continue to be, many people who are sucessful in aviation with a family. All I'm saying is that a single male/female who can take on employment opportunties that they may or may not be able to take on with a family, may have more opportunties to advance quicker or be in a position to take a job with higher pay. There's no arguement that potentially moving to a new location once,twice, or more a year with a family is tough! Plus, should parents be home for their children, rather then being away four nights a week?
Second, there are VERY few people who are guareented anything in avaition (notice i say "aviation" and not "airline"). With that said, a person can put themself into a position where it is more practical to enter the industry. If someone wants to go out and sign there name on a $50,000+ loan with an interest rate of Prime + 1-9% (no particular companies mentioned), then HAVE AT IT!! What concerns me are those who go into this industry with tunnel vision of flying the "heavy metal", without any clear plan on how to pay this off and put food on the table in the process. The math is simple:
Family (spouse and children) + Large Flight School Debt (70,000+ w/interest) + No B.S. degree (or more student loan debt) + Low F/O beginning pay + Rent, utilities, etc. = DISASTER!!!
Third, I don't believe there is any "best" way to enter the industry. I chose to go to college first, getting a fall-back degree, then go to a professional flight school. All this while working my a@@ off in "other jobs" to have minimal debt. Some will go get a combined degree/flight training, some will "screw" the degree and go right to their local FBO (forget the majors and even some regionals now!). Whatever someone decides to do, I think the biggest thing is that they look at the future. Just because you want to fly more then "anyone", doesn't mean you should put yourself in a position where you simply can't cut the financial mustard. Doesn't this boil down to the fundimentals of RESPONSIBLITY...
I decied right then that the topic better belonged in another forum/post and I wasn't going to hijack the thread. This person OBVIOUSLY knows the one true way to make it work and wasn't going to be interested in what I had to say.
But I do feel the need to get out what my responses to this would be. Because I do firmly believe that there is more than one way to get through this. Here's my thoughts on this response:
All I'm saying is that a single male/female who can take on employment opportunties that they may or may not be able to take on with a family, may have more opportunties to advance quicker or be in a position to take a job with higher pay.
What employment opps are these? According to the federal gov't, discrimination based on marital status is illegal in companies that have 15 or more employees. And most smaller business don't have the HR skills to know that they can legal ask this question. So marital status would not preclude someone from pursuing any job. If they didn't take it, that would be up to them, but any single person would face the same decision.
There's no arguement that potentially moving to a new location once,twice, or more a year with a family is tough!
Moving really isn't that difficult. Thanks to this here interweb thing, moving is a lot easier now. Online reservations for a moving truck, online apt., daycare, job search, craigslist to get rid of possestions and hire people for truck loading/unloading. Fax machine to fax medical record and other requests as needed. I got us set up in less than a week for a move from CA to FL. One 3 day trip to Jax to visit my preselected locations and interview and about 8 hours online otherwise. And one pretty cool 5 day drive. I don't anticipate our next move will be any more difficult. And yes, I did it all with a 3 year old child.
Plus, should parents be home for their children, rather then being away four nights a week?
Hmmm, perhaps all those kids who are subject to custody aggreements can answer this one. They see one parent for less than 4 nights a week. Literature on the effect of this on kids is mixed at best. What about parents who work 60-80 hour weeks and barely see their kids. Yeah, they are home every night, for about 6 hours while their kids are asleep. How about firefighters? No one gives them shit when they do their shift at the station. Should they not have children either? As long as the child's routines are consistent and the child knows that the parent has not abandon them, I see no problem in it. The negligible custody that my ex has (9%) hasn't effected my son's feelings (of love)towards him.
Second, there are VERY few people who are guareented anything in avaition (notice i say "aviation" and not "airline"). With that said, a person can put themself into a position where it is more practical to enter the industry. If someone wants to go out and sign there name on a $50,000+ loan with an interest rate of Prime + 1-9% (no particular companies mentioned), then HAVE AT IT!! What concerns me are those who go into this industry with tunnel vision of flying the "heavy metal", without any clear plan on how to pay this off and put food on the table in the process. The math is simple:
Family (spouse and children) + Large Flight School Debt (70,000+ w/interest) + No B.S. degree (or more student loan debt) + Low F/O beginning pay + Rent, utilities, etc. = DISASTER!!!
Hmm, this equation seems not to take into effect the possibillity of the spouse/partner working as well. Or other variables. We rent out our house in CA and it pays for itself and then some. It's making us money. We used a home equity loan to pay for school and have a better interest rate than a traditional loan. BS degrees were earned with scholarships and grants; no money to pay back. Right now, we are able to live just on my salary and anything A earns is dessert. Doesn't seem like we are headed for disaster at all. Plus, you can't get approved for a loan if they don't think you will be able to repay it. So those truely in danger probably wouldn't get approved anyway.
Third, I don't believe there is any "best" way to enter the industry. I chose to go to college first, getting a fall-back degree, then go to a professional flight school. All this while working my a@@ off in "other jobs" to have minimal debt. Some will go get a combined degree/flight training, some will "screw" the degree and go right to their local FBO (forget the majors and even some regionals now!). Whatever someone decides to do, I think the biggest thing is that they look at the future. Just because you want to fly more then "anyone", doesn't mean you should put yourself in a position where you simply can't cut the financial mustard. Doesn't this boil down to the fundimentals of RESPONSIBLITY...
If you have a family, you won't be able to "cut the financial mustard" and it is irresponsible to go into the profession? But really, there doesn't seem to be any basis for it at all. Yeah, not all people will be able to go about it the way we have, but to make a blanket statement is just wrong. None of this argument takes into account the positive ways that having a partner would contribute to finances. Are all the sacrifices a burgeoning pilot has to make financial?
Like I said, I would rather spend my time helping someone else figure out how to make it work with a family then debating my prior made choices. After all, there are so many varibles for each person that there is no one path to success. And who but that person can determine what "success" is? And if one way were determined to be better, would the people who then found themselves not on the best path act to remedy that (ie get married/divorced)? I doubt it. So really, for me, there is no point in aruging the case any further. But it still irritates me to hear people with self righteous beliefs about this.
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