"As a kid I never wanted to grow up. I was scared of needing to act like an adult and having to work for a living. Then I decided to become a pilot!"
Did Michael and Stefan get it right? These two cartoon masters of aviation lore and satire have found humor in many corners of the aviation world, and their delightful works can be found online (www.chickenwingscomics.com). But, is their tongue-in-cheek assessment of flying airplanes for a living spot on?
There’s been lots of grumbling lately on the flight decks of Boeing and Airbus airliners and, perhaps, justifiably so. During those long hours aloft at cruise levels, pilots have plenty of time to gripe about cruddy schedules, short layovers, pay cuts, decimated pensions, and management that doesn’t seem to give a hoot. Even the “hero of the Hudson,” Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger, took his moments basking in the media sunshine to warn starry-eyed young aviators to stay away from the industry.
For those fortunate to have tasted the good life of airline flying in its heyday, with $200,000 annual salaries and almost a godlike respect—and now facing 40-percent salary reductions and airline board members committed to squeezing every ounce of productivity out of its workforce, the sour grapes attitude is almost understandable—almost.
Out in the real world, Ed Phillips was a vice president of sales for a large communications firm for almost 20 years. A 40-hour work week was a luxury that he rarely saw; 60 hours was more like it.
Month after month, sales goals loomed over him that required long hours of preparation, prospecting, and travel. At the end of the day, he would churn his brain into the night on how best to motivate a quirky sales force, tend to fickle clients, and generate that extra buck in revenues. And, to the corporate big shots, it was never enough. “Congratulations on increasing sales 10 percent! Let’s make it 12 percent next month!” Years later, he took a pay cut, invested in training, and ultimately found work flying for a regional airline. “It’s a grind at times,” he says. “The view is great, the flying is fun, and the pay is lousy. But, the psychological income of being able to leave my work at the flight-deck door and spend family time for three to four days in a row after flying a multiday trip makes up for the downsides. Compared to what I was doing, can I say that I’m happy? Absolutely!”
For those on the way up, it is easy to be mentally poisoned by the negativity of the old guard. But, when pushed, even the veterans have to agree that flying is not a bad gig at all. Dig up the July 2007 Flight Training feature “Three Wise Men.” The words of wisdom and genuine love of flying from three veterans present a valuable lesson.
Certainly, the investment in time and money is daunting, but think of medicine or law. Consider huge up-front educational expenses, long hours, and a pittance for wages initially. What professional career track gives instant gratification without substantial dues-paying? But, imagine, with time and commitment, earning $100,000 per year for guiding an airplane through the skies 14 days a month. It really does beat working for a living!
