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Old 16th December 2012 | 10:37
  #10 (permalink)  
stiglet
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Joined: Sep 2009
: ATPL
Posts: 1,255
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From: UK
As-good-as-it-gets
Not wanting to sound dismissive of your post - but, yes, it is time you moved on.

I've been in easy a lot longer than you and I've been in aviation a lot longer than you and, no, I don't agree with you. Operating was a lot more challenging and the job had a lot more to it in the past; what was different was that we didn't work so many days. Once at work our job entailed a lot more: planning the flight, going to the met office, fileing our own flight plans, down route sorting out tech problems ourselves (no mobile phones for us), paying the handling and landing fees, the list goes on. We relied on the F/O to carry out many more tasks alone then.

So the job is very different and perhaps with modern reliable equipment and all the ops and engineering support we get these days operating with inexperienced F/O's is a small price to pay. Agreed some are a little wet behind the ears and occasionally a little too cocky but the majority are eager and willing to learn. These days the F/O is constantly supervised by the captain.

I've come to the conclusion we must move with the times. I wish the airline would recruit pilots from general aviation jobs and not such a high proportion straight from the training schools. I wish some individuals would have a real love of flying and aviation rather than a false impression of what the job entails. I wish the attitude of some to authority was better. I wish airmanship throughout the industry was not becoming degraded. And I wish there was more acceptance that getting an aircraft into the air and to it's destination safetly was a team effort that included: the pilots, cabin crew, engineering, ops, dispatch, the refuellers, ATC and so on.

So in my eyes the job is what you make it, just like having a command. Be professional, operate to company SOP's and then make your own decisions. As for not wearing the company supplied uniform; well that is telling in itself. I've found the tone of any duty is dominated by the attitude and demeanour of the captain, 'do-as-you-would-be-done-by'. Don't bring all your hang-ups to work; it is up to you to pace yourself and if it is too much, go fatigued or take a break.

Your next job will probably be different, as you imply the grass is not always greener, but I wish you well.
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