[leetrout]

I’ve had a fantastic career which I am thankful for. My dream job is to be a pilot which I accept I will never do and can imagine the aspects that make it “just a job”.

More relatable, in my experience, is the dream company. Accepting that you are committed to software development as a career different companies then take the place of a dream job. Google with all their perks of working on site. 37Signals / Basecamp and the remote culture. Fog Creek and “everyone gets an office with a door”.

What I’ve found is that at the end of the day they are still just jobs. It’s the management and the coworkers that make a place great.

I wish I could figure out how to interview for that because it is far more elusive to detect accurately than all the technical interview hoops we all love to complain about.

[drsim]

> It’s the management and the coworkers that make a place great.

I've stayed in mediocre jobs because of a great team, and left 'dream' jobs because of people I don't like working with.

> I wish I could figure out how to interview for that [...]

I can get a good vibe in interviews, but it's unreliable, especially remote. As is 'we do drinks at 3pm on Friday'.

[mhh__]

Having recently got hooked on DCS, I've subtly fallen in love with the idea of being a fighter pilot. I'm the right age to apply, but my eyes aren't even close to good enough, so I'm so glad I've had that particular epiphany after starting a degree and having other interests and all that jazz.

[bumby]

If you’re in the US, I believe most military services now allow LASIK and PRK

[flurdy]

I am surprised by that, but I guess most pilots are not exposed as much as I thinĸ to open cockpits or windows that can blow your cornea flap open...

[bumby]

I think the original ban was due to worry that the corneal flap couldn’t withstand the g-forces. As more data came in, it seems like it’s a pretty low risk. Same with the pressures exerted while diving underwater

[mhh__]

I'm in the UK (I think the US has more reserve slots than the RAF has active duty), and I think my eyes are probably beyond saving in that regard, unfortunately.

[throw1234651234]

I don't understand "pilot" as dream job. You basically take off and land once you hit commercial.

I get the learning part - the first time you learn how redundant and simple Cessna engines are, the first time you realize how light and simple it really is, how to tie it down, your first time trying to fly with instruments only, your first crosswind landing, etc. But after that? Really seems like "just a job".

Btw, not a pilot in any sense, just took some very discounted classes.

[leetrout]

There are some really good corporate pilot gigs flying business jets (or event just turbo props) and back country flying in the pacific northwest of the US. Bush flying in remote areas... firefighting flying as someone else mentioned. Ag pilot is also pretty awesome on video but the exposure to chemicals is concerning. There are a lot interesting piloting jobs other than commercial. But even with "just" commercial at the majors the travel and salary is amazing (after a lot of crappy pay at regional outfits).

[throw1234651234]

I thought all the "amazing" pilot jobs were gone now that all the airlines are saving money and it's pretty much ~100k. I am pulling that number out of my ____, but my understanding was that it's a good job, but not FAANG / med school "good" in terms of salary, with rare unicorn exceptions, i.e. private rotary in Dubai or something.

[leetrout]

Could be. Couple quick googles with glassdoor data...

Pilot salaries at FedEx can range from $108,918 - $377,643

The typical Delta Air Lines Captain salary is $279,152. Captain salaries at Delta Air Lines can range from $97,342 - $443,133

[austincheney]

I recently had a coworker whose dream job is to be a pilot, specifically for fire rescue services. This coworker is a military officer who is intentionally taking a large demotion to become a military pilot in furtherance of that dream. They also had to fulfill a huge amount of nonsense, more than administrative actions, to ensure they had access to that opportunity.

[leetrout]

Those pilots do some of the most dangerous and impressive flying. I hope it works out for them!

[segmondy]

Is your dream job to be really a pilot or to be able to fly a plane? Those are different things and you can probably take flying lessons and get your pilot license.