Trying to stay engaged in this profession, but I find the risk outweighs the benefit. Made more money than ever in 2023 and trying to decide when to retire. Been in HAA for over 25 years and loved the early years of actually saving lives. The nonsense today is like driving for Uber. Patients are rarely critically ill, just a never ending game of chess to create ICU bed space.

Seeing the loss in Oklahoma really caused me to pause. Mutual friends told me I should think of retiring.

Is it time to go when it ain't fun anymore?

ems is one big waste of time that pays well

I haven't flown in a week due to weather...guess what, No risk at all and still collect my paycheck...

12 hour shifts for 7 sucks 

nights

med crews

not complaining as I chose this but 40 hours in a normal job with no risk, no nights, weekends off and a schedule that agrees with a family and the rest of the world is absolutely the better choice in the long run. just because we sit around most of the time may mean the job itself is easy but the lifestyle sucks. it's ok for a few years but a career of this is a waste. 

in the beginning, all I wanted to do was fly helicopters but after 20 years of offshore, utilty and ems, I've had enough of this sh*t. 

it is an annoying challenge.  Good luck.

Seriously? What's exciting about the same route thousands of times.

and buy a paramotor.  do some adventure flying.  If you hit a bird....no big deal.  Most see you coming and unless you have an advanced wing.....you can't even run them down.   Trust me I try every time I fly.  Cow birds are pretty quick.  Faster than you'd think they'd be.

retired from flying helicopters and especially HAA the best and only decision one can make. No BS and best no stab in back medical crews. Stated 1966 retired 8 years ago. 

The "problem" is that we love to fly! It beats a lot of other things we could be doing. On my first day, the Director of Training got up in front of my new-hire class and said, "You're all a bunch of underachievers.  You could be doing something else, but you choose not to."  I was highly insulted.  But it turned out to be true - he was right.  I only planned on spending five years, tops, at PHI, and then I'd go do something more interesting and fun and challenging.  Fifteen years later, I finally said, "Okay, that's enough," and left for pastures that didn't turn out to be any greener.  See, it's just too easy to do what we do once we get good at it and comfortable in it.  We see friends and cohorts die all around us and we go, "Glad that wasn't me!"  And we stop short of thinking that one of these times, it's gonna be me.  Even highly experienced, high-time pilots make stupid, fatal mistakes.  Eventually we learn that we are not immune, that it could happen to us.  Still, we stick with it.  Not because there aren't other things we could do, but because there's really nothing else that we want to do.  The bad part is, our employers know it.  And for people who love to fly, this isn't ever going to change.  The cycle continues.

great roger that

the rest is bullsh*t

But you won't, because you're just another keyboard warrior/loser with nothing substantive to say.

This profession is fine as long as you keep your own head wired tight.

After 45 years of flying.  Thought I would miss it.  I don't.  Move on, it's really nice.

a big part but the critical one for me was becoming slowly disinterested.  Aviation has no mercy for those with one foot 🦶 in, and one out.  That said I flew for 55 years.

Same with me.  I was getting really bored and complacent.

slope I noticed starting up though checkrides we're still not a problem at all.   It all kinda started getting very mildly concerning/scary.  It was time for sure.  No regrets about any of it.  Far better than an office or whatever.

After two decades in the industry, what once felt like a blessing now leaves me torn between professional achievements and personal sacrifices. The last eight years have been a struggle, as I've missed key moments in life, questioning the worth of it all. Despite seeking guidance from above, the relentless demands and exploitation within the industry have left me exhausted. It's a constant battle between valuing my accomplishments and grappling with what I've lost along the way.

Not sure about what accomplishments you're speaking of.  I can assure you no one else cares about "how experienced you are" and "how long you've done this job".  When you leave, they move on.  You're history to the program.  Admit it and don't look back.

you think you're in a minority look around and talk to those in other lines of work.  There are plus and minus everywhere.  Balance is always tricky and always will be.  Grass is always greener elsewhere until reality sets in.