Ever lose the passion? Even temporarily?

[CL-Skadoo!]

Perhaps this is a sensitive subject, but I sure would like to hear some of your thoughts.

[rightseatwonder]

theres a little blue pill for that now you know....

[nookie201]

Yes, when I flew commercially every paycheck.....

[Check Pilot]

Yep - after 40 years of flying - The passion is kinda long gone. There are few challenges left. Space and LEO - Like Des Brophy maybe will do, I'll not make it because I'm too old vs Jets, turboprops and piston engines that are now long gone forgotten experiences I'd rather just forget anyways. Gotta leave them to the new "kid line". I'm done with the passion , except for the wonderful experience of getting into my neighbours C-150 and just going "flying" after all these years..

Here's to Des's competition to get to LEO. Three beers kid. Best of luck.

DW

[Red1]

Passion.. what passion, it's a great job, with a descent pay and good fringe benefits..... plus I just wasn't smart enough to do anything else..

[Cat Driver]

For me there are two distinct types of flying.

Flying commercially for a living and flying for fun.

The passion for flying for a living burnt out of me about three years ago, it was a gradual thing the flame just started getting less and less and one day it went out. Have to admit though it must have been quite a strong flame to have taken fifty years to extinguish.

The flame for flying for fun is still as strong as ever...

[SkyWolfe]

Not yet... However, I am looking for other temporary options to help my family...

My husband has had moments, I think many people have moments, but for him it always returns

Wolfie

[captain_dc]

Pasion for flying?

I became a pilot to pick up chicks and impress everyone at the bar with my shiny epaulets. Unfortunately everytime I go to the bar there are more pilots then girls with big spare tires and northern gunts.

Screw it.....I still love flying, and I'm still thrilled that someone else is paying for it..and they are even paying me to do it. Best job in the world on a good day, then ther are those moments that I lose my pasion for a few seconds, but they pass!

DC

[GFJH]

Perhaps this is a sensitive subject, but I sure would like to hear some of your thoughts.

could be touchy to some, but if you start a thread on this, why don't you start with your own temporary loss of love for flying... every dream jobs goes through tough times

[Hedley]

My passion for becoming a porn star has never
abated. However, even after decades of persistence,
that big commercial breakthrough still eludes me!

[N2]

Yep the flame went out when I found out what a stab in the back industry it was.

Mind you I still love to fly but only for fun.

[MichaelP]

I'm done with the passion , except for the wonderful experience of getting into my neighbours C-150 and just going "flying" after all these years.

Check Pilot's comment.

In my opinion this is PASSION and clearly it has not left him.

It never left me either...
But I don't confuse passion for flying with the 'business' of flying... Yes we can all get fed up with what goes on on the ground, but except for the occasional fright I know of no pilot who isn't happy in the air with his/her problems on the ground forgotten.

[GilletteNorth]

Yup. At one time I was in the process of ordering a kitfox to build while I spent my time doing a northern posting in Tuktoyaktuk. Then a pilot friend of mine died one cold winter night in an BN2 Islander crash just south of town with all the passengers. After they recovered the bodies there wasn't anywhere to store them so they left the wooden coffins on the ramp for a few days. I cancelled my order and it took a long time before I wanted to go flying again.

[Dash-Ate]

Ever lose the passion? Even temporarily?

Usually every 2 weeks when I look at my paycheque.

[SkyWolfe]

But I don't confuse passion for flying with the 'business' of flying...

I think that's more of what the hubby is sick of. It's never the actual flying itself.


Wolfie

[RVR6000]

Only 3 years into the industry and I've lost the passion. The pay sucks, work is too repetitive and its boring sitting at FL's with the autopilot.

[beast]

What would kind of job would you consider less boring, RVR6000? Lion taming was your second choice, I suppose?

In my years in the industry, I've found that the pilots who are always so "bored" with flying, always seem to be the marginal ones - I've yet to encounter a truly skilled, talented professional who complains constantly that the autopilot does everything - usually, it seems, because they are actually brave enough to try hand flying once in a while

[Oliver Close-off]

In what ways does your experience differ from the expectations you had when you got into it, that leads you to feel less than satisfied?

[Doc]

I enjoy flying for myself. I'm a little disillusioned with some of the total jerks the industry seems to attract. Thinking of making it a little more..."just for me." Working for some of the companies out there must be like trying to "put a shine on a turd."

[Mig29]

yes, from time to time...that's when I remind my selft to take time off and go travel somewhere, visit relatives, friends...or just take a break and go relax on a beach miles away from here....and then the passion is back.

But, I must say I lost that innocense about this industry in general. Had too many dissapointments, tough times, moments when you wonder how long will you go like this, but then you push them aside and look on the positive side...because it's the only way you can live.....even though complaining is in our genes...especially in this industry. Having said that...I have a time limit in my head to which point I will tolerate this low pay/high pressure/never ending b.s./job loss fear feeding frenzy that seems to surround us here in N.A. on monthly basis....once I reach that point, it will be a time to put my shirt and tie in the closet and do something that might actually prolonge my life

[1000 HP]

I doubt I'll ever lose the passion, but I have plans to build my own machine from scratch, which would be in my opinion, way more interesting than flying some rich dude to a lake. I still like the flying, but I've come to appreciate the freight loads more and more...

[27pilot]

From my experience, the happiest pilots I met are the ones who work in another industry, and fly their own planes privately. When I guy makes a good income in another industry, he can afford to operate his own C185 turbo or whatever it is. He flies where he wants, when he wants. And lots of these guys incorporate their operating costs into their "business expenses". In oilfield I've met lots of construction propietors and oilfield consultants with their own helicopter or Super Cub or Bellanca Scout. They will fly to the destination and then land on the lease road.

[iflyforpie]

Not really.

I guess I am still pretty new at this whole flying thing and I don't fly all that many hours a year, so flying is still exciting for me. I like to tinker with planes too so it isn't all just flying.

Sure I could whine about the wages and the hours and the industry; but so can lots of people who barely work and make more than me. I do alright as far as making a living, and I work for some pretty good people.

I too have looked longingly at the lives of those professionals and business owners that have the shiny aircraft that they get to have fun in, but that is only when they can get away from their businesses (and averaging the annual usage of the private aircraft I maintain, that isn't too much). I get to do my hobby for a living, and then get to do other hobbies on my days off.

[canpilot]

Yup!

One year into flying commercially.. amidst the industry slowdown..and no jobs in sight ..and potentially returning to the ramp (6.5 years already on the ramp)ya.. not gonna like ..kinda wondering why I'm here. As Doc said.. I get a little choked with the " jerks" and " turd operators." Truthfully, I don't look forward to maybe leaving aviation for 5 years until this economy picks up..then getting a job for a year while the industry booms ...until we hit another recession for 5 years...and yet again I am laid off. I hope things aren't truly as bad as they seem..

At the same time.. once I get that bird off the ground and get talking to the passengers ..or have a look out of the window on a nice day, over snow-capped mountains or into the setting sun I remember why I love flying.. Or have a great flight where nothing goes wrong and have one heck of a greased landing then ya.. I couldn't be happier! I also think there is some satisfaction that comes with the pride/professionalism that comes with flying for a career..

So i'm kinda in limbo at the moment...



Have I lost the passion..? dunno.. am i getting disgruntled.. OH GOD YES

[Invertago]

What would kind of job would you consider less boring, RVR6000? Lion taming was your second choice, I suppose?

In my years in the industry, I've found that the pilots who are always so "bored" with flying, always seem to be the marginal ones - I've yet to encounter a truly skilled, talented professional who complains constantly that the autopilot does everything - usually, it seems, because they are actually brave enough to try hand flying once in a while

When I'm board in a flight, I turn to my passenger and play a game...
"I spy with my little eye something that is....blue"


THE SKY

"I spy with my little eye, something that is white"


A cloud!!!!!


You can go for hours and this shit never gets old!!!