Ever lose the passion? Even temporarily?

[SkyWolfe]

"I spy, with my little eye, something that is brown?" Yup, no toilet on that 172

[V1 Rotate]

This.

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

But still dreaming of a good biz jet gig. Got back into towing / gliding which has helped to lift my aviation spirits.

[Louis]

"I spy with my little eye something that is....blue"

THE SKY

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

A cloud!!!!!

This reminds me of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJSey8HRUhU

I haven't lost my passion so far. I find you get an occasional boost every now and then. Beautiful landscapes, new experiences and so on.

[Hedley]

Pilots get into aviation because they love it, but
they stick around because of the money.

If the money doesn't materialize, sooner or later,
they move on to something that pays better than
minimum wage.

Most pilots - that made it - earn more money than
they could in any other occupation.

Don't believe me? Lay off all the Air Canada pilots.
I'm not sure how many of them would ever be able
to find jobs that paid as well, for as few hours per
month of effort.

[beast]

Its true, even though many on this forum don't seem to get it - Airline pilots are amongst the highest paid professionals there are
This is the list from last years "top paying jobs" article in Forbes (This is for the Unites States):
Anesthesiologists | $184,340
Surgeons | $184,150
Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $178,040
Orthodontists | $176,900
Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons | $164,760
Internists, General | $160,860
Prosthodontists | $158,940
Psychiatrists | $149,990
Family And General Practitioners | $149,850
Chief Executives | $144,600
Physicians And Surgeons, All Other | $142,220
Pediatricians, General | $141,440
Dentists, General | $140,950
Airline Pilots, Copilots And Flight Engineers | $140,380
Podiatrists | $118,500
Lawyers | $113,660
Air Traffic Controllers | $110,270
Engineering Managers | $110,030
Dentists, All Other Specialists | $108,340
Natural Sciences Managers | $107,970
Marketing Managers | $107,610
Computer And Information Systems Managers | $107,250
Sales Managers | $102,730
Petroleum Engineers | $101,620
Financial Managers | $101,450

Now, they've got airline pilots listed at No. 13, with an average salary of $140,380 - Thats a bit deceiving, because they include all the year 1 RJ F/O's making $19,000 a year, whereas they don't include doctors working similarly paid initial internships. Also, 12 of the top 14 are different types of doctor - if they had separated pilots this way "Major Airline widebody captain" would have been at the very top of the list, above surgeons and anesthesiologists

How many of the people on this forum that constantly complain about the money, could do better? Only take about 5-12 years of additional schooling (i'm guessing a teensy bit more expensive than flight school) and you have to work long hours with ill or bleeding people...I'll take commanding a big shiny jet, thank you

[whisair]

This is an interesting topic - I am sure that most get involved with flying becuase of an inante passion. Can it last? I guess that depends upon your individual circumstances and personality. I have been fortunate to fly in an environment that is challenging and quite often awesome. Then there are the days where weather and other issues can make the day stressfull. Over all I feel privaleged to be able to derive a living doing what I do. I have to confess that it is flying VFR in the mountains, and it is the mountains, that add the passion to my flying.

[ScurvyDog]

I have worked in aviation for close 18 years. I started working ramp and worked my way into flying jobs. I eventually ended up owning a flight school and charter company. That totally burn my passion out! Transport Canada made my job impossible to do as a small business owner. I eventually let Transport win and walked away from the industry. I picked up a hammer and worked a crappy construction job for 4.5 years.

I hated going to work every morning, worked with a bunch of lowlifes, and broke up fights everyday at lunch.

One day I snapped and quit, called up an old buddy who owns an aviation business and started flying for him. I had to renew my IFR, and even rewrite the exam.

I now make less money than my crappy construction job, but love going to work, even though it may be 7 days a week. I have access to a few small planes and even catch myself on a nice evening going out to buzz around. Oh by the way, my return happened in the past 6 months has anyone noticed the economy crashed? Fortunately my passion hasn't!

[Cat Driver]

I eventually ended up owning a flight school and charter company. That totally burn my passion out! Transport Canada made my job impossible to do as a small business owner. I eventually let Transport win and walked away from the industry.

You are one of many who had that experience.

It is incredible that a government department can act in such a destructive manner against the people they are supposed to protect.

Then on closer examination one comes to the obvious conclusion that Canada is just another third world dictatorship.

[ihavecontrol]

I can honestly say I still love flying. There's still something very satisfying about taxiing out, taking off and easing the airplane into that first turn after departure. But truthfully, past hour 10 of 14 the passion is definitely gone. I still can't believe how archaic our duty rules are.

[iflyforpie]

Over all I feel privaleged to be able to derive a living doing what I do. I have to confess that it is flying VFR in the mountains, and it is the mountains, that add the passion to my flying.

I know what you mean!

[Four1oh]

every once in a while something happens that I ask myself wtf I'm doing here, whether it's getting the anal probe in uniform while wearing a worthless red pass, having a flock of geese in my windscreen, psycho passengers, or the pungent smell of old man ass an hour after the plane emptied. But luckily I also know how shitty a real job is, whether it's in a sunless cubicle, serving food to scum who treat you even worse, construction, or you name the minimum wage job here:___.
The day the bad outweighs the good, I'm outta here, but so far so good.

[X Driver]

I've been at it for 40 years, and still fly for a living and for fun. Its what you make of it. I see lots of folks that shouldn't be in it, I don't know what they were expecting when they learned to fly.

[MichaelP]

Anyone with any question about passion should look at what this thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=53083&start=25 has become

[Captain 152]

To be honest, the passion left me a long time ago. The job becomes repetitive and is not that exciting anymore. Would I ever do anything else? No way in hell. The money is still not great (gets better eventually) but I have half the month off and the lifestyle flying provides is better than most jobs. Whenever I get tired of it, I just remind myself that other people have to battle through traffic 5 days a week to go sit in an office and push paper. Then I order another coffee from the flight attendant and life is good

ANY job would get boring after a while. I bet Ron Jeremy doesn't even get that excited about going to work anymore! At the end of the day, we work to live, not live to work and, when we do work, it's still not a bad gig

[CL-Skadoo!]

Thanks for your replies guys, I don't feel so alone about it. You have to admit the job is a lot easier to do when you're just so absolutely in love with flying that you do not notice the -45 temperature or not seeing your family for a month in a half...etc. We all know the song.

Keep er' safe.

[scm]

Different people will like different things. If you think you'll be happier in a different career, why not go for it? No sense in slogging through a job if you're not completely satisfied and have other options available.

Myself, i've decided to pursue another career. It's not like aviation is going to disappear, and the thousands of hours in the logbook will still be there if I decide to come back to flying.

[ajet32]

Been at it since 1983. Got up Monday morning at 0400 to go fly on a day off for someone else on contract. Its a great contract gig a beautiful corporate Regional Jet. They even pay me to do it. The second approach today was to minimums. I guess I still have the passion. Either that or " I am too lazy to work and too honest to steal". Not sure which it is anymore but it sure is fun.

[nekomimi]

Every now and then I get confuse if I really like to fly or what. Nothing is better than that in terms of good experience but if that is what you always do we cant always say we like it.

[flyinthebug]

Only once. Back in 1997 when I lost 4 co-workers in a tragic and unnecessary accident. I quit flying for 2 months and swore I was done defying gravity. All it took was a call from a friend who was also a CP at a respected airline in Northern Ont.. and I was back in the saddle the next week. The passion has never left since. Even after putting a -2 in the trees last summer.. couldnt take the true passion I have for aviation.

For some it will come and go.. and for others it will never ever leave. Aviation gets in your blood and will never release you.. even when you think it has.

Fly safe all

[Jastapilot]

Pilots should be paid more than doctors, after all we kill far less passengers than they kill patients!

[northern33]

The passion temporarily leaves every time I get another bill on the plane

It's a great way to rid yourself of some unwanted $$$$

[Hvd2Pilot]

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

Now that's funny. Keep trying Hedley, the fun is in the numerous auditions.

I'm not sure if I should respond here as I don't fly for a living. I have more passion than I know what to do with. I've recently started a career change and am now in University. I thought about changin into a flying career, but it would entail a lot of time away from my family while establishing this new career. Flying DC-3's out of Northern Canada or A-26's out of Red Deer would be a dream come true...maybe after the kids are gone. In the meantime, I try to gather the endorsements in the event an opportunity arises. Besides, its a great excuse --> "But Honey, I gotta go get these hours for my Commercial. It's only another 15!"

[Randleman]

Sometimes the discouragement of not actually having a job nor the money to rent gets at me.

That being said, I wouldn't trade it.

[sky's the limit]

I have to admit that the lust wore off for me some time ago, around the 4th funeral actually. I still enjoy what I do, but I don't think "passion" is necessarily the word for it anymore.


stl

[ywg9]

its funny me and my F/O were just talking about this the other day lol. We figured that some days its hard to get out of bed just like any other job but, when you level off and the sun is shining and you look around your great office view it reminds you why it is such a great job. Plus how many other jobs could you talk with coworkers, eat meals when ever you want and do cross words (not that i do that...cant cheat and use google in the air) all well on the clock plus give you great time off. So no never lost the passion

YWG