I’ll be the outlier here. I picked up private/instrument/commercial/ME/CFI ratings for I think right around $100. The ATP was an extra $50 so I declined. I wish I would have sunk that $100 in apple, bitcoin, or google. After flying for 15 years and 3k hrs I had enough. It’s been 11 years now, haven’t flown since, and haven’t missed it for a half second. To me flying just doesn’t seem like a recreational activity, if someone’s not paying me to do it I sure wouldn’t be paying to do it myself.
If you don’t love it bail out immediately. I never cared for it one way or the other, it was just a job, so that probably explains my indifference to it.
I get that. I have several clients that are career pilots. Career military, then went to big commercial airlines or freight for the high income and padding retirement savings. They have zero interest in flying on their own time.
Being your own pilot seems pretty glamorous, all that freedom, cool shades & sunny skies..... but it comes with a lot of responsibility, tough work & baggage.
I work in the Aviation industry & thankfully i know my limits, I can build them, would not want to fly them.
Its like my dad says...... "Its not the fall that kills you..... its the sudden stop" LT.COL. USAF. Retired, Fixed Wing & Rotors, SAC/MAC, he is full of stories involving high pucker factor, & knows several top pilots that did not live to tell the tale.
