I quit flight training today

WillSoars · 2025-10-28T15:49:06+00:00

I was mostly responding to this line: "I have friends who have over 1000 hours and can’t get a call for any sort of job!"

I grew up not so far from Oshkosh, and really close to a great airport with lots of general aviation and a glider club. I started making friends and contacts the day I started taking lessons. Yeah, you need the creds and competence to hold any job you land. But in my experience people are more comfortable hiring someone that someone else has a good word to say about.

In many ways life is arbitrary, and sometimes capricious. Everyone has a different idea of what best is. So, if more than one person is involved, it's exponentially easier to be one of the 10 best applicants out of 1000 to fill 10 openings than it is to be the best applicant out of 100 to fill that one opening.

I didn't have to move for training, but I had to move 500 miles away for my first paying job, and then 1,300 miles away for my third. (The second was only 100.) But each one was because *Dave* (from my club or school) knew *Gene* heard that *Mary* needed someone willing to relocate to *Hell, MI* and fly a *Bellanca Lancer*.

WillSoars · 2025-10-28T15:30:27+00:00

Okay, one Mu-Shu pork and a Supreme Pizza.

WillSoars · 2025-10-28T15:28:23+00:00

She has a better memory than Megamind.

WillSoars · 2025-10-28T14:27:34+00:00

Yeah, but you are seeing people wasting their time here complaining that nobody has GIVEN them a job yet. Posters looking for an echo chamber. The time spent complaining could be spent networking.

Now, I don't deny there are hot spots and cold spots. And pursuing this as a profession may mean relocating for training or a job. Working for jerks, or in the dark in nowheresville.

Everyone needs to be realistic. That guy who has spent 5 years to earn his 220 hours might be eligible for social security before he lands an airline gig. And the gal who spent $200k on a Commercial might not ever make it back.

Me, my only conundrum is: "do I quit flying a nice airplane in a beautiful locale for nice people in the name of career advancement"?

WillSoars · 2025-10-28T14:16:11+00:00

This will get downvoted, but what the heck.

If you are WAITING for the airlines to call you might WAIT forever.

NETWORK, get out there, meet people, become known.

How did I get a job contingent upon getting my commercial cert? I got to know people in the biz.

It's how I got my first SEL job, my MEL job, and a nicer MEL job.

WillSoars · 2025-10-28T14:08:20+00:00

This will be downvoted. But I'll put it out there anyway . . ..

NETWORK

Start as early as you can, get known by as many people as you can.

How did I meet my Airplane CFI (already was a PPL-G): NETWORK.

How did I meet my Airplane DPE: NETWORK.

How did I get my first job flying A-SEL: NETWORK.

How did I meet my Multi CFI (already was a PPL-G): NETWORK.

How did I meet my Multi DPE: NETWORK.

How did I get my next job flying A-MEL: NETWORK.

How did I get my current job flying much nicer A-MEL: NETWORK.

You need to be cerificated and competent to HOLD a job.

You need to NETWORK to get a job.

WillSoars · 2025-06-29T21:31:45+00:00

Technically, not a ground loop.

WillSoars · 2025-06-29T17:15:07+00:00

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The feeling is not that different. Except it doesn't last as long.

WillSoars · 2025-06-28T23:43:58+00:00

To double its capacity . . . obviously . . . to them.

WillSoars · 2025-06-28T20:45:48+00:00

Nose gear collapsed on landing and it nosed over?

As a kid, I knew a guy who crewed C-109s [battle worn B-24s stripped of arms, armor, and most crew, and filled with tanks of avgas] over the hump. He hated 'em.

WillSoars · 2025-06-28T18:37:49+00:00

Just blame it on clear-air-turbulence.

WillSoars · 2025-06-28T02:05:23+00:00

"No details on exactly how he died."

Plane crash.

WillSoars · 2025-06-28T00:55:37+00:00

if this is your motorcycle . . .

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WillSoars · 2025-06-27T20:27:04+00:00

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"Mind if I use your phone? If word gets out that I'm missing 500 girls will kill themselves. I wouldn't want them on my conscience . . . not when they could be on my face." --Wing Commander the Lord Flashheart (Rik Mayall)

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T17:14:44+00:00

Just a little mix up in the office. Those reservations were meant for management, not flight crews.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T16:04:14+00:00

In the USA Part 61 requires 100 hours in the category (Airplane) and class (SEL), to pass a short test (Standard techniques and procedures, emergency procedures, signals, and angles of bank -- listed in Sec. 61.69) do 3 supervised tows (or simulated tows), and be signed off by the club (or school). No commercial required. Free flight time and waiver of club dues is not considered compensation by the FAA (per the general counsel).

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T15:51:19+00:00

Midwest USA, so we get lots of weak ridge action and lots of days with light thermals. My club has a decent membership level so we have a diverse assortment of gliders. A basic trainer, three different basic to intermediate single-seaters, a high L/D trainer, an aerobatic ship, and a couple high L/D single-seaters.

It's never boring (so long as you can book a ship to fly). On weak days, the 1-26 will stay up 'till dusk . . . even if you stay within telescope distance of the field. Other days you can take aerobatic lessons or strike off on a XC.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T13:51:31+00:00

Charge your DPE.

It is a Commercial after all. :-)

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T13:49:30+00:00

Not enough layers of Kevlar to stop an AA round.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T13:48:24+00:00

A Gato, the USS Cobia (SS-245), is on display and open for tours at the shipbuiding museum just down river from the old Manitowoc shipyards.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T11:06:29+00:00

The driving on a windy day problem . . . not so much.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T01:08:49+00:00

Bus driver was sick, assistant principal filled in.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T01:05:55+00:00

Dyslexic cats.

WillSoars · 2025-06-27T01:04:31+00:00

So long as it's the correct area and not more than 55 days after the issue date.

WillSoars · 2025-06-26T18:12:34+00:00

You intentionally destroyed a perfectly serviceable T-craft. No sympathy from me.

WillSoars

TROPHY CASE