Plane Answers: So you want to be a pilot? Here's how. {Gadling}

Jan 17th 2010 10:16AM Hi Matt.......So you are lonely pursuing a flying career? Get used to it buddy, because it only gets worse. All the work studying, flying, and getting experience to try to land an airline job does not pay off today. It was always a lousy job.....long duty days and 16 days a month away from home and family. We did it because we loved flying, and the pay, time off, retirement and benefits were worth the sacrifice....looking forward to a well paid retirement was worth 25-30 years of difficult times. Today, the pay at the majors has been cut 30% to 60% due to the outsourcing of jobs to the regional airlines who now fly jets instead of turboprops, we work 3 to 4 days more per month, retirements have been eliminated in bancruptcy court, vacation has been reduced 50% per year, and I pay over $500 per month for health insurance for my family! I cannot recomment this career to anyone, and that is sad. Twenty to thirty years ago, it was a career that fathers encouraged their sons and daughters to go into........today, you will not find ONE airline pilot who would recommend this career to their children......most, like me, highly discourage it! If you want to have a family, find another career path......