FLYBOY

G'day, Well I'm in a very happy mood at the moment writing from my hotel room as I just got a call that we will be taking the aircraft back to home base for a couple of days, this means I can see the family! Apart from that, reality shows that salary figures you hear of + 200K is like a dream, nowadays in this economy where pilot salaries are always ever decressing + 100K is even almost becoming a dream. I have many friends who started in this industry with many hopes but those many friends are mostly gone on to do something else or still struggling flying aircraft that I would not even put my foot into. You could say I was one of the lucky ones as I decided to take the risk and go overseas, that risk was worthwhile. I was also once a uni student who was doing an Aviation degree, when I finally graduated I started looking everywhere but no luck in getting that job so I decided to become a flight instructor (something I never imagined I would do). Having to pay bills and a loan that the bank was impressed in lending me with, it didnt take long before I realised that I could not go on any longer like this, I started a night job, in short it wasnt easy to get to where I am. After seeing so many experienced guys out of a job and having an Aviation degree that didnt do anything for them I decided to invest some money into another degree that was worth something, I now have a fairly stable job, a salary that I couldnt complain about and another occupation on the side when they say 'sorry buddy we cant keep you on anymore there is someone who will work for cheaper'. In order to get to such a salary in this industry you need to think how long it will take you to get to that command position as a captain in a "good airline" while you could have been earning around 50K in civil engineering as a new grad student. Its a lot of struggle to the age of 35 to 45 in this industry, I dont want to be discouraging to any aspiring airline pilot but you need to know the truth about the Australian Aviation Industry. There are good times and bad times, as I said still become a pilot but think about that Aviation degree once again, you are going to need the other degree when your 'not flying'. :biggrin: Take care and happy flying to you all...

Im talking with experience and here is my advice, your parents seem to be on the right track by telling you to study Civil engineering, in my opinion an aviation degree is not worth much, an engineering degree in any field is better then an Aviation degree. If your thinking of making a carrer out of this your better off overseas as I have done myself, I was tired of struggling in Australia and with the low pay after so much investment and time into this occupation I didnt want to give it up. Well now im here in Europe flying full time with a great salary but I had to leave Australia behind, I havent been to Oz in 4 years now and if I was to return back there I would not get the salary I am on right now! I am hardly home but the family is just forced to accpet this, but nevertheless I love this job. Really re consider an Aviation degree, you will require that other degree in another field when you possibly get laid off from your flying job, as I said im talking with experience! Take care...