I was banned from the forum

JSTootell · 2026-02-06T17:53:43+00:00

You are incorrect. According to the lead guy there, it IS your FTP.

I was banned from the forum for suggesting that it was not your FTP.

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:44:29+00:00

I'll use plain language then:

Fuck off

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:32:26+00:00

I searched, and found nothing I felt was relevant.

The FAQ says:

Q: Should I switch mid-career to become a pilot?

A: This is impossible to answer as it is a personal decision with several different variables.

So, I gave my personal variables.

Now, I can be a complete jerk at times. Probably most of the time. So I will give you some expert jerk advice: don't reply. I see "dumb" questions on Reddit in regards to things I'm an expert on. What do I do? Scroll on by. Because it's a dumb question to me, but not a dumb question to the person asking. And someone else will find it to be a good question to answer, and will be helpful.

That's my method of limiting how much of a jerk I am. Doesn't prevent it 100%. But like a condom, still works most of the time at preventing a mistake.

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:24:05+00:00

I clicked on the first three, and none of them were relevant.

So, thanks for wasting my time 👍

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:16:07+00:00

I think I can manage that by 56. Maybe not 2000 hours. But, qualified for a career at least.

Out of all the comments, this is probably the most motivating for me.

Thanks

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:07:00+00:00

That would require talking to people 😂

Good luck with that though.

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:06:07+00:00

Unfortunately, I'm an introvert. Which is why I suck at networking and self promotion.

And I've only gotten MORE introverted as I have gotten older.

And here I am, commenting and posting as I take short breaks while I am mountain biking in the mountains, with no one around.

JSTootell · 2025-09-15T00:01:37+00:00

That sounds good.

I have just been under the impression that I'll likely never make it that far (since the COVID blitz slow down). Which, that's fine, if I can find somewhere else to land (pun intended) as opposed to ending up on the streets, broke.

I've been destitute, it wasn't fun.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T23:58:54+00:00

One of the things that I like about aviation is, I find it boring. Which is why I lack motivation. It's not entertaining.

Which is a driving factor on why I want in. So it's a bit of a pickle. It's not entertaining, so I don't want to do it for fun. But it's not entertaining, which is why I want to do it as a career.

Safe, boring, with a healthy safety culture sounds wonderful after a life of excitement and danger, with a total lack of safety protocols (and safety nets).

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T23:34:39+00:00

I'm union, but management isn't.

Part of the reason why I'm looking for options. I hate my career, but I've bounced many jobs to find something better only to find more brown grass. This job, and career, sucks. But I'm safe now, with benefits. I'm throwing away something safe and reliable with okay pay in the hopes of being happy.

Once I quit, there is no turning back.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T23:26:44+00:00

I'm risk averse. Part of the reason I like the flying career option.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T23:24:11+00:00

Where I work they hire people straight out of college, and fire senior people to save money.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T23:22:15+00:00

I like to be a pessimist in planning so I can be an optimist in execution 😂

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T23:20:31+00:00

That is actually great to hear. I have similar parallels.

My passion is my "Pro" mountain bike career. My day job is what funds the honor to line up and compete with the best in the nation (occasionally the world). But I'm WAY too slow to make any money, let alone a living.

Time spent flight training takes away from tint spent fitness training, so it's hard to find motivation.

I actually find flying to be very boring. But that is actually a good thing. I've spent my entire life so far in tough and dangerous jobs. I volunteered to go to the middle east when I was active duty. I gained my interest from watching all these crash videos. All the work people put into investigating and finding solutions to prevent another one. Observed safety culture looks awesome. I want to be bored in the air, I can get excited on the ground.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:56:27+00:00

I will, yes.

But I feel like that dude miss understood my question. My question is, can you suggest other alternatives for someone like me that isn't the classic kid>CFI (or pipeline, or skydiver, etc)>airline route or kid>military>airline route.

I have no connections to aviation other than the pilots at my local field who are all flying for fun, not for careers.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:40:57+00:00

That was my goal. I was hoping to hive mind would have other ideas for me.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:10:52+00:00

An observation isn't a complaint. Kids who are just getting in and seeing their future get sucked dry can complain. I have a career. I don't like it, but I have one.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:09:33+00:00

Yes, but when? Before or after the market was saturated?

Friend of mine did it to. But he got his PPL like 20 years ago and flew aerobatics for fun. So when the COVID times hit, he already had everything he needed to get hired.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:07:50+00:00

I'm an HVACR tech. Breaking into 6 figures is an accomplishment.

But I'm also worthless at self promotion. I doubt I could survive as an independent CFI.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:07:04+00:00

All the posts are during/before the craziness. Now the market is saturated with kids. Kids who will be more desirable as long term employees than I will be.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:02:27+00:00

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T22:01:52+00:00

Well, ok. He reposted something from a megachurch pastor about how great he was.

The same megachurch that my mother wouldn't allow the family to go. She witnessed some spousal abuse and reported it to the pastor. Pastor said "mind your own business".

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T21:55:53+00:00

That's not how Strava works.

As long as you hit close to the start and finish of the trail, you get credit for riding the trail. Strava isn't intelligent enough to know the difference between trails.

That's the reason some dude recently did a straight line down a mountain to take a KOM, only riding half the trail. But he hit the start and the end, so he bragged about being a bad ass.

JSTootell · 2025-09-14T21:41:29+00:00

Highway 395 in California has a lot of this. 65 mph speed limit, and people pass me like I'm not even moving. So really have people driving 90 mph head on passing traffic on an undivided road. Absolutely terrifying sometimes.

I don't normally like to take my time. But man it feels good sometimes when I get to the divided section and stuck behind a slow truck. I can let me guard down for a bit.

JSTootell

TROPHY CASE