Harsh Realities of being an airline pilot
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Harsh Realities of being an airline pilot
when you start your career, you aren't told about the bad part of being a pilot.
the uniform, the pay, the glamour, the travel, the jets, all are cool...BUT:
this thread is to awaken new or wanabee pilots to the reality of being a pilot:
1. you can lose your job at a moment's notice
2. management will tell you everything is OK and then lock up the airline the next day.
3. a wink and a nod at flying and breaking the rules...just this once
I hope you all will add to this.
the uniform, the pay, the glamour, the travel, the jets, all are cool...BUT:
this thread is to awaken new or wanabee pilots to the reality of being a pilot:
1. you can lose your job at a moment's notice
2. management will tell you everything is OK and then lock up the airline the next day.
3. a wink and a nod at flying and breaking the rules...just this once
I hope you all will add to this.
4. It is a great job except for going out on all these trips.
5. After 45, the 6-month physicals start taking on new meaning each time.
6. No one in any other profession (craft?) has to take an exam, which can end their career, every year. Imagine lawyers under this regime.
7. Seniority, when you have it, is great, but horrible if you have to start over at 50.
8. The glamour wears off when sleeping in a crew room having commuting into the base at 3 am.
I'll stop here.
GF
5. After 45, the 6-month physicals start taking on new meaning each time.
6. No one in any other profession (craft?) has to take an exam, which can end their career, every year. Imagine lawyers under this regime.
7. Seniority, when you have it, is great, but horrible if you have to start over at 50.
8. The glamour wears off when sleeping in a crew room having commuting into the base at 3 am.
I'll stop here.
GF
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9. Rich dreamers will offer to pay your employer to do your job.
10. You will work 10 hours without a proper break.
11. You have to deal with ridiculous security on a daily basis.
12. Colleges who accept the first "offer" management proposes.
13. Training being used as an area where cut backs can be made
14. Flying with pilots who continue to whine even after the gear has gone up
10. You will work 10 hours without a proper break.
11. You have to deal with ridiculous security on a daily basis.
12. Colleges who accept the first "offer" management proposes.
13. Training being used as an area where cut backs can be made
14. Flying with pilots who continue to whine even after the gear has gone up
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Harsh realities of working in IT
Pah! You think that's going to put off any wannabees?
I know there are many people working in IT who are in the process of, or intending to, transition to a flying career.
I have helpfully compiled the following list to allow you to compare and contrast the worlds of flying and computing...
This is why we all want to switch to the easy life of airline pilots.
I know there are many people working in IT who are in the process of, or intending to, transition to a flying career.
I have helpfully compiled the following list to allow you to compare and contrast the worlds of flying and computing...
1 - You can lose your job at a moment's notice.
2 - Management will tell you everything is OK and then lock up the company the next day, disappearing with your pay, bonuses and stock options.
3 - Blatent bullying and deliberate obfuscation of working hours. "Brussels is trying to tell you what to do... how dare they! The rules aren't there for your protection, you know. They're trying to stop you from choosing how long you work. Don't let them bully you. Here, sign this mandatory opt-out form...". Working Time Directive? What Working Time Directive?
4 - It is a great job providing you like being indoors all the time. With no natural light. Or females.
5 - Any mistake at any time can end your career.
6 - Any mistake at any time by any other person can end your career.
7 - Seniority means you won't be able to get another job.
8 - Glamour? What glamour?
It is universally thought of as a boring job. Because it is.
9 - Dreamers (aka customers) will demand the impossible and will want it for free, then they'll get all upset when you tell them they can't have it and/or it will cost more than think is reasonable.
10 - You will work whatever hours you're told without any kind of break. See 5 and 6.
11 - You have to deal with ridiculous security on a daily basis.
12 - Colleagues who accept the first "offer" management proposes.
13 - Everything you knew yesterday has changed. And it will change again tomorrow. Your skills are always out of date. You have to provide your own training on a constant basis.
14 - Working with colleagues who either continually whine about how bad their job is, or insist on telling you about their final salary pension scheme (because they've been in the job since the dawn of time - see 7) or how they've paid off the mortgage on the back of some big deal that happened in 1980.
15 - You are comfortable in all-male environments. See 4.
16 - You are never off work. The company "owns" you and can therefore call you at home at any time of the day or night.
17 - You are never off work even when the company isn't encroaching on your free time. Friends, family and casual acquaintances will plague you with all their PC problems, even though you haven't actually "worked" with PCs for over ten years. And they will never ever feel that they owe you any more than a simple "thanks very much" despite the fact that you've spent the best part of a day trying to clear out all the malware and junk that their Little Jonnie has infested the computer with.
18 - You won't ever get any kind of pay rise because "the company is having a bad year".
Need I go on? 2 - Management will tell you everything is OK and then lock up the company the next day, disappearing with your pay, bonuses and stock options.
3 - Blatent bullying and deliberate obfuscation of working hours. "Brussels is trying to tell you what to do... how dare they! The rules aren't there for your protection, you know. They're trying to stop you from choosing how long you work. Don't let them bully you. Here, sign this mandatory opt-out form...". Working Time Directive? What Working Time Directive?
4 - It is a great job providing you like being indoors all the time. With no natural light. Or females.
5 - Any mistake at any time can end your career.
6 - Any mistake at any time by any other person can end your career.
7 - Seniority means you won't be able to get another job.
8 - Glamour? What glamour?
It is universally thought of as a boring job. Because it is.9 - Dreamers (aka customers) will demand the impossible and will want it for free, then they'll get all upset when you tell them they can't have it and/or it will cost more than think is reasonable.
10 - You will work whatever hours you're told without any kind of break. See 5 and 6.
11 - You have to deal with ridiculous security on a daily basis.
12 - Colleagues who accept the first "offer" management proposes.
13 - Everything you knew yesterday has changed. And it will change again tomorrow. Your skills are always out of date. You have to provide your own training on a constant basis.
14 - Working with colleagues who either continually whine about how bad their job is, or insist on telling you about their final salary pension scheme (because they've been in the job since the dawn of time - see 7) or how they've paid off the mortgage on the back of some big deal that happened in 1980.
15 - You are comfortable in all-male environments. See 4.
16 - You are never off work. The company "owns" you and can therefore call you at home at any time of the day or night.
17 - You are never off work even when the company isn't encroaching on your free time. Friends, family and casual acquaintances will plague you with all their PC problems, even though you haven't actually "worked" with PCs for over ten years. And they will never ever feel that they owe you any more than a simple "thanks very much" despite the fact that you've spent the best part of a day trying to clear out all the malware and junk that their Little Jonnie has infested the computer with.
18 - You won't ever get any kind of pay rise because "the company is having a bad year".
This is why we all want to switch to the easy life of airline pilots.
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IT vs Pilot?
Well, a job in the IT industry is definitely more *secure* than an airline job. But then in the subcontinent at least, a pilot's job pays more than an IT job.
And in the rest of the world AND here, a pilot's job is much more fun....(as I see it)
And in the rest of the world AND here, a pilot's job is much more fun....(as I see it)
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How about the emotional aspect of the whole thing?
16. You have to listen to your child say "Daddy" for the first time but it's over the phone
17. You have to listen to your wife screaming with joy on the phone as your child takes those first few stumbling steps when you are at a off-base home.
So many reasons why NOT to be an airline pilot..... but then again... would any of us actually do anything different if we were given the chance to start over?
I think NOT
16. You have to listen to your child say "Daddy" for the first time but it's over the phone
17. You have to listen to your wife screaming with joy on the phone as your child takes those first few stumbling steps when you are at a off-base home.
So many reasons why NOT to be an airline pilot..... but then again... would any of us actually do anything different if we were given the chance to start over?
I think NOT
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Get a grip !!! best job in the world, period !!
If you have that many moans about it there is an easy solution, you know where the door is & let the guys that would give their right arm to do the job we do have a go !
If you have that many moans about it there is an easy solution, you know where the door is & let the guys that would give their right arm to do the job we do have a go !
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
No "Harsh" realities but plenty of normal hassles that occur in most jobs.
Ultimately, working for an airline means being part of a commercial enterprise whose sole goal is making money, and hopefully lots of it. Anyone (I doubt there are really that many) expecting to work for a jolly old flying club needs to wake up and smell the instant coffee.
sr
Ultimately, working for an airline means being part of a commercial enterprise whose sole goal is making money, and hopefully lots of it. Anyone (I doubt there are really that many) expecting to work for a jolly old flying club needs to wake up and smell the instant coffee.
sr
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Missed the point
You guys are missing the point, with respect.
All jobs have similar risks and irritations. You're simply splitting hairs debating it in detail.
It boils down to where do you want to spend MOST of your life and doing WHAT.
In other words, what's your "calling" and which job will give you the most "colourful" life.
Some people argue that with a good, well paid, job you can do anything. True...with one small problem...you don't have any time in which to do it.
All jobs have similar risks and irritations. You're simply splitting hairs debating it in detail.
It boils down to where do you want to spend MOST of your life and doing WHAT.
In other words, what's your "calling" and which job will give you the most "colourful" life.
Some people argue that with a good, well paid, job you can do anything. True...with one small problem...you don't have any time in which to do it.
Last edited by XX621; 16th Jun 2008 at 21:05.
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To continue with the emotional aspect:
18/ Having to accept that you will hardly ever be there for your family. For example, working on Christmas Day, when other fathers/mothers are at home with their families.
19/ Having to listen every night to the same old moans from your partner. These include "Oh it would be nice to have a dinner party in September, we'll have it round here! - Oh, what do you mean you haven't got your roster yet? Oh what do you mean that you might not even be at this airport then?", "I wish that we were more like other couples", "I wish our relationship has the same priority as your job" etc...
And then it comes down to the dreaded: "Oh, I'm going off for a meal with Jim - you remember Jim right? He's the guy that looks like a cross between a brick house and Brad Pitt. You know I always fancied Brad Pitt didn't you?".
18/ Having to accept that you will hardly ever be there for your family. For example, working on Christmas Day, when other fathers/mothers are at home with their families.
19/ Having to listen every night to the same old moans from your partner. These include "Oh it would be nice to have a dinner party in September, we'll have it round here! - Oh, what do you mean you haven't got your roster yet? Oh what do you mean that you might not even be at this airport then?", "I wish that we were more like other couples", "I wish our relationship has the same priority as your job" etc...
And then it comes down to the dreaded: "Oh, I'm going off for a meal with Jim - you remember Jim right? He's the guy that looks like a cross between a brick house and Brad Pitt. You know I always fancied Brad Pitt didn't you?".
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yeah either an independant/faithful wife or just none at all.
then again you could do the whole 'different area codes' rule.
what you reckon? if you had the choice would you be single whilst being a pilot? is it worth missing those qualities of life?
xx621- I totally agree, if being a pilot isn't for you- then find something that is. follow your dreams, be what you want and who you want! (just keep in mind the pro's and con's)
then again you could do the whole 'different area codes' rule.
what you reckon? if you had the choice would you be single whilst being a pilot? is it worth missing those qualities of life?
xx621- I totally agree, if being a pilot isn't for you- then find something that is. follow your dreams, be what you want and who you want! (just keep in mind the pro's and con's)
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Having done a 'real' job, 9-5 boredom, for the best part of a decade prior to being an airline pilot, I wouldn't change a thing now, best job in the world and I spend **** loads of time at home with my wife and son. Not many dads get to take and pick their kids up from school, and spend time with them during the day on work days.
I second the anti whingers sentiment. It's the people who whinge in the flight deck from report to off duty who haven't done anything else. If you don't like spending time away from home, then don't go long haul. Simple!!
I second the anti whingers sentiment. It's the people who whinge in the flight deck from report to off duty who haven't done anything else. If you don't like spending time away from home, then don't go long haul. Simple!!
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I would never do anything else but that doesn't mean I'm going to just accept whatever gets put my way by somebody who has very little understanding of line flying or in-flight risk assessment (AKA the beancounters). In the case of the UK (and US) airline industry, it's certainly far from peachy for many pilots at the moment!
And to those who don't think this is a "real" job, I think you need to start taking your career a little more seriously! For most of us It's not just some flying club, we train hard, it's how we earn our living and we want be treated like the professionals we are and not some easily replaced button pusher.
But I guess this is all fairly irrelevant considering its in the wannabes section, the harshest reality of being an airline pilot is that many people simply just don't make it.
Regards
MP
P.S. Can't somebody start a positive thread on here for once? You lot are starting to get me down now!
And to those who don't think this is a "real" job, I think you need to start taking your career a little more seriously! For most of us It's not just some flying club, we train hard, it's how we earn our living and we want be treated like the professionals we are and not some easily replaced button pusher.
But I guess this is all fairly irrelevant considering its in the wannabes section, the harshest reality of being an airline pilot is that many people simply just don't make it.
Regards
MP
P.S. Can't somebody start a positive thread on here for once? You lot are starting to get me down now!