Just approaching 30 years of being a pilot in the RAF, love the actual flying side of the job other bits are harder work. I've been flying helicopters since 97 non stop, no ground tours, in fact longest I've not flown is about 3 months with a damaged neck. When I was younger I flew on ops in Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Iraq. Had some brilliant times doing the sort of flying that makes you grin one moment, laugh with the rest of the crew the next and then nearly shit yourself as someone decides to try and take you out and it all gets way more serious.
Now I'm older I've been instructing people to fly both early on and on the front line and its really rewarding to do both. Still enjoy the flying and also in a lucky position that whilst I have no senior rank, my knowledge (at that age where you've accumulated lots of knowledge but not too old that you start forgetting it!) means I can gob off to way more senior officers about flying related stuff.
The pay is good, my job is very secure, apart from students occasionally trying to kill both of us and the crewroom banter is still very enjoyable and way more inclusive than it used to be.
Bad side, been to way too many funerals of friends but thankfully this job is getting safer, flying training no longer starts with the course photo and then someone saying "Statistically, one of you will die during your flying career"
Its been a bit of a generational thing, my great grandfather was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, my grandfather flew Hurricanes, Spitfires and Mosquitos and I've done over 30 years of flying. My eldest is on officer training now and will start his flying career early next year so I haven't put him off.
Much like the surgeon said about the NHS is the same with the RAF, we have some great kit, just not enough of it and we do not care properly for our people. Way too much pointless repetitive non military training and not good enough housing or heating.
I would however stop with a Euromillion lottery win and fly something very modern and well kitted out with another pilot to fly it back for me so I can enjoy a very good glass of wine or beer.
Also living up to the cliche - how do you know I'm a pilot, I just told you!!
Work in a specialist part of the dredging industry, have done for over 30 years. Been all over the world, some really good places and some right shitholes.
I could probably give it up tomorrow and as long as I found something part time my life style wouldn’t change, that probably tells you whether you love you job or not, you keep doing it even though you don’t need to.
I am however meant to be going to Australia next year, where I will be travelling back and forth more regular than I am used to, all that travelling might mean the end for me, will need to see how I cope now I’m getting on a bit. The wife might have other ideas about that though.
I was enjoying my role in Finance (P&L / BS reporting etc) for a major telecoms company, but the last 2 years have been awful.
I was made redundant from my role back in Aug last year as it was being offshored (typical large company) so went internally for a role in a Data team which started when my old role ceased back in March this year.
This was great as I have gained greater knowledge and understanding of VBA/VBS, SQL, Microsoft Access etc that I never had before and is a good addition to my CV.
I was always given the impression that this role would go permanent.
Fast-forward to Aug this year and was told that the whole of the Data team that I am in is to also be offshored. Gutted to say the least.
Had a chat with a friend of mine last week and he has offered me a job in his engineering business. Completely different role, much more hands on than computer based although I will be doing some of the office work.
Really looking forward to the challenge. Plenty of opportunity for travel as well as picking up new skills etc.
I am lucky in that I have a very good redundancy package which will be useful if I don't get on with this new role etc.
Wish me luck!
Mark