Pilot Vs Civil services (IAS), Vs doctor Vs other high reputation jobs

I have got questions from many friends, relatives and strangers about the specialties of pilot job or being a pilot. Many of them even asked me why I chose this career instead of other fields of high and similar (in their words) reputation? Many of our readers too might have similar question and here’s why I chose this as my destiny and why you should also do the same.

Common strengths of high reputation jobs

Jobs or career like being a doctor, engineer, pilot, ship captain, civil service officer etc. share a few common strengths. Some of them as I found are:

1. They are the top in the field: A doctor is the top most person in medical field. Nurses and druggists come under him in the hierarchy. A pilot comes in the top of ATC people, maintenance engineers, flight crew etc. and so on.
2. They have to decide what next: A doctor can decide which medicine should be given and what action to be taken. Pilots are also the same in making decisions.
3. They earn the highest salaries for same expertise and experience when compared to other people in same field.
4. Without them the industry is down. Without an engineer, there will be no building plan or building. If doctor is not there, nurses and druggists can go home. But if these helping people are not there, still the doctor and engineer can manage to do their work, as they know the entire process, in theory and practical.
5. Their mental and physical presence is important alike.

And why should you select flying career if all high reputation jobs offer same state of mind? No I didn’t say so. Each job has its own strengths and weaknesses. I told you about common strengths only. Then where do pilot career excel? Here’s the giant list.

They all stare at me. Am I an alien?

I experienced it many times in my life. When they mention me as a pilot, eyes start staring at me with jealousy, WOW feelings, disbelief etc. which a pilot only can get. You don’t have to announce it yourself as your friends will inform others that you are a pilot because they find pleasure in saying that they have a plot friend. Think about your friends who are engineers or doctors. Will they ever get advertised so, at least from your words?

The girls are all there and they’re for you only

Girls, in general are fond of adventure, no matter which age-group they fall in. Be it a school girl, a college student or a working lady in her 28 or a matured lady in her 40s, they all love adventure and the adventurer. However cheap adventurers like street bike stunters wont get much appreciation from matured females. This is not the case with pilots. In general it is believed that pilots are well settled professionals with an adventurous lifestyle. However things have changed a lot from the age of Wright Brothers; flyer. Flying modern aircrafts are simply boring and adventure is not there in the dictionaries of modern pilots anymore. Still the public and girls believe the positive side, which makes us special and turn girls vulnerable.

We are a rare species. Not an everyday touch n go person

Assume you are not a pilot (if you really are), and think now, how many doctors or engineers do you know? 10? 20 or more? Okay, now how many pilots do you know? 1 or 2? I bet you don’t know more than 3 personally. That’s why we are called rare. You cant meet a pilot in your daily life if your present career is not closely related to aviation streams.

You’re the authority all by yourself

Pilot licenses have powers as well. Once you become a CFI (Chief Flying Instructor), you can conduct exams; for example. I agree that civil service officers have better powers in this regard but pilots don’t have to take risks or their risk ratio is very low compared to govt. officials.

No headache beyond flying hours

In almost all other careers, you have to suffer job related headache even after working hours. Govt. officials cant even sleep well if their job is a demanding one. Engineers, advocates and doctors fall prey to stress and insecurities more than pilots do. If stress is there in a pilots’ job, it is there only when he’s flying.

Financial freedom- should I mention the salary of pilots?

Pilots earn far better than any other high reputation jobs, it seems. The case is same in almost all countries because experienced, knowledgeable pilots with valid medical and licenses are hard to find. If they are found free, they wish to stay so and you probably cant hire one.

The world will come to connect with you, stay cool

Unlike other jobs you don’t have to go out in search of friends. The world will come to you to make friendship with you. They have questions to ask, they wish to take selfies (you should wear uniform for that), they need your phone number to save in their phones as ‘xyz pilot’ and so on.

Every hour of flying counts

Experience of doctors are counted in years. Those of engineers in number of projects and so on. Experience of pilots are counted based on their flying hours. That is, a 25 years old pilot can be more experienced than a 45 years old. Isn’t it cool?

Money, physique, will- it all matters

Pilots are born and made. Those with money cannot be a pilot unless he’s physically fit and stay so in his entire career. Those with a good physique still need a good fortune to cover his flying fees. Will power is another part which plays like money and physique, as those who are timid cannot take decisions while in flying. Beyond all these, you need to study well to clear your exams.

Sky is your real limit and world is your playground

It is heard that sky is the limit for wishes and dreams. For pilots it is really true. Sky is your real limit, limited by factors of your aircraft. World is your playground where you take off from and land yourself. Isn’t it really cool?

I think you all admit the points I have explained here. Please share your experiences and opinions in comment box below so that others might be helped.