Damienmk.
Your post struck a chord as I have flown with ex coppers and they were good operators. They are savvy enough to grasp all the issues of commercial flying at an early stage in their careers.
( I have retired early from airline flying by the way; I want time with my young family and got fed up with issues of management and rostering . . .)
You have to appreciate that commercial flying is one of the most tightly regulated professions. Airlines are under huge commercial pressure to survive let alone compete. The friction and pressure in the job will occur when the regulations get pushed to the limit or the airline implies that the crew should 'help the company out'. You will hear similar management speak and you have to ignore it completely once the cockpit door is shut. This goes for any airline. The bean counters think they rule but actually their confidence is misplaced and quite fragile. They don't rule as they cannot possibly understand they real environment you will work in. They might, for example, prefer it if your Captain always loaded minimum fuel. You will understand that you have to load what you think is safe.
Common sense is the overriding influence on a pilot - always. The management 'game' has to be played in name only.
I think you will find one big difference in the work patterns. As a copper you generally don't know when your workload is going to peak. As a pilot (barring emergencies) it is easier to pace yourself for periods of peak activity. You will probably appreciate this aspect of the job.
No you are not naive. Quite the opposite in fact. Cutting through the bull!!!! to make that critical, life saving, decision is the whole point of the job and why the CAA gave you a licence.
Flying Quill, have a read of the following CAA commissioned Human Factors report by Icon Consulting:
http://www.icon-consulting.com/study...s/reportv2.pdf
Right, Mrs Yarpy has just given me two cheeky yelling kids to sort out. I am on the early shift so have to go!