Why do we want to be pilots
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Why do we want to be pilots
At the Flyer wannabe show today something struck me. After talking to a few bods at OAT they seemed surprised at many justifications for wanting to be a pilot. Many people said:
"I've always wanted to fly aircraft"
"It's a childhood dream"
This post isn't a dig at other people's responces as the above statements are true for myself too. In fcat my facination starter with the book Jimbo. However, after a little maturing and a couple of years in teaching I would say being a pilot would be a good job because:
1. Everyday there will be a new challenge (new crew, new sector, random problems, weather: things which are beyond my control)
2. I get to work with lots of different people + customers
3. I have the power to provide a good ride!!! (customer service)
4. The job is mentally and physically demanding (love a challenge)
5. To suceed I will have to work well in a team (which I like doing)
6. I crave responsibility and stressfull situations and, therefore, dealing with it and overcoming them (hence I'm currently a geography teacher - 15 year olds and sex education in PSHE).
7. The job will stretch my capacity to lead, communicate, make decisions, keep my calm, play with joysticks, get along with people, provide a good service and keep costs down so that I keep getting paid at the end of each month.
What's your take on this. Why do you people want to become pilots. Discuss
"I've always wanted to fly aircraft"
"It's a childhood dream"
This post isn't a dig at other people's responces as the above statements are true for myself too. In fcat my facination starter with the book Jimbo. However, after a little maturing and a couple of years in teaching I would say being a pilot would be a good job because:
1. Everyday there will be a new challenge (new crew, new sector, random problems, weather: things which are beyond my control)
2. I get to work with lots of different people + customers
3. I have the power to provide a good ride!!! (customer service)
4. The job is mentally and physically demanding (love a challenge)
5. To suceed I will have to work well in a team (which I like doing)
6. I crave responsibility and stressfull situations and, therefore, dealing with it and overcoming them (hence I'm currently a geography teacher - 15 year olds and sex education in PSHE).
7. The job will stretch my capacity to lead, communicate, make decisions, keep my calm, play with joysticks, get along with people, provide a good service and keep costs down so that I keep getting paid at the end of each month.
What's your take on this. Why do you people want to become pilots. Discuss
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Good post and I think you have hit the nail on the head with the good bits, I was certainly impressed!
I am certainly still in the 'honeymoon' period of the job, i.e. I phone up crewing on my days off to see if there is anything that needs covering (sad, I know!!)
However, I can see there is a lot about this job that has gotten worse over the last 5 years.
I can tell you now that even at this stage, you are very much alienated from those that you carry. The only time you see them is maybe through the airbridge, or as they run onto the aircraft not to give you evena cursory glance in case they dont get a 'prime seat' on the unallocated boarding.
There is also not a lot of actual flying left. Ask most EFIS line pilots to turn the flight directors off and you will get a very stange and worried look. Forget hand flying too often, the best you can expect most of the time is a landing from about 9 miles out on a nice autopilot stabilised approach.
I know many of you are hankering after jets, but I would imagine there is a lot of fun to be had poling a king air or seneca around before you look up to the 'mighty' 737 or Airbus with too much adoration, they are designed to be flown by autopilots, not idiots like me!!
Dont get me wrong, I love the job, just I wouldn't mind a partial refund on my IR, if we ever had to revert to single needle as well as an engine failure as in your skills test now, I think it would fall to ratsh*t quite quickly!!
I am certainly still in the 'honeymoon' period of the job, i.e. I phone up crewing on my days off to see if there is anything that needs covering (sad, I know!!)
However, I can see there is a lot about this job that has gotten worse over the last 5 years.
I can tell you now that even at this stage, you are very much alienated from those that you carry. The only time you see them is maybe through the airbridge, or as they run onto the aircraft not to give you evena cursory glance in case they dont get a 'prime seat' on the unallocated boarding.
There is also not a lot of actual flying left. Ask most EFIS line pilots to turn the flight directors off and you will get a very stange and worried look. Forget hand flying too often, the best you can expect most of the time is a landing from about 9 miles out on a nice autopilot stabilised approach.
I know many of you are hankering after jets, but I would imagine there is a lot of fun to be had poling a king air or seneca around before you look up to the 'mighty' 737 or Airbus with too much adoration, they are designed to be flown by autopilots, not idiots like me!!
Dont get me wrong, I love the job, just I wouldn't mind a partial refund on my IR, if we ever had to revert to single needle as well as an engine failure as in your skills test now, I think it would fall to ratsh*t quite quickly!!
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I think, in my humble opinon that if you want to become a commercial airline pilot you must ask yourself one question:
Have I reached a point in my life where I now truly belive that if my Captain died of a heart attack and an engine fire occured I am mature, competent, composed and have the ability to instill that belief in those around me to bring a 737 home safely?
If there is any doubt what so ever you need not apply. Flying a commercial jet aeroplane is not a Playstation 2 game. My research has led me to beleive that successful Cadet applicants do not turn up to interviews in a F/O frame of mind but, instead, convince selection panels that one day they will indeed have the skills to be not only a Captain but also a valubale Senior Manager post 55-60years.
In short, I'm sure many Cadets strait from Uni have the required skills and will and have made great pilots. I just think the risk is higher due to the fact that workload and pressure in pilot training and Uni are incompatable.
This post is certainly not meant to offend any Uni students and I can only talk from my own experince. I just think a couple of years in the real world helps you to be able to answer the above question with a yes.
Have I reached a point in my life where I now truly belive that if my Captain died of a heart attack and an engine fire occured I am mature, competent, composed and have the ability to instill that belief in those around me to bring a 737 home safely?
If there is any doubt what so ever you need not apply. Flying a commercial jet aeroplane is not a Playstation 2 game. My research has led me to beleive that successful Cadet applicants do not turn up to interviews in a F/O frame of mind but, instead, convince selection panels that one day they will indeed have the skills to be not only a Captain but also a valubale Senior Manager post 55-60years.
In short, I'm sure many Cadets strait from Uni have the required skills and will and have made great pilots. I just think the risk is higher due to the fact that workload and pressure in pilot training and Uni are incompatable.
This post is certainly not meant to offend any Uni students and I can only talk from my own experince. I just think a couple of years in the real world helps you to be able to answer the above question with a yes.
Last edited by RPeagram; 7th Nov 2004 at 13:02.
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Sorry, I am not sure I get your point RPeagram?
You say that a few years in the real world help you to say that should the sh*t hit the fan you would be able to deal with it and a guy from Uni broadly speaking would not?
It is not so much about this these days as I hate to break it to you, but you are talking about a situation that people dont generally bank on happening. What we train for in the sim and brief on the line for is a worst case scenario i.e. Engine Failures, not the other guy at that point keeling over. It is not tested at interview and what is increasingly becoming more prevalent in today's pilot recruitment is CRM. Or will a guy want to be locked in a brrom cupboard with you for an 11 hours duty day?
Now whether some Uni-Cadet whizz kid or 20 year man and boy worked-his-fingers-to-the-bone-to-pay-for-licence pilot is going to be better than the next is neither here nor there and we could argue the toss about all day.
There will be and are so many pilots from so many backgrounds flying today. It's one of the first questions you get asked when you meet a new captain, simply because there is no one path into aviation as there used to be, so to say a few years in the Real World is going to up your chances is not really a valid argument. Although, as it seems you have done this, it is not going to count against you!!
When all is said and done and you start sending out your CV, getting the PFO's you will start wondering why dont these people recognise my obvious skills, but on the flipside you are just another piece of paper to them, another bit of work they have to do before they go out on a Friday night to meet 'Dave' their baggage handler boyfriend. Little to many realise the jump in heartbeat as the letter from Crawley arrives on their doorstep and you wonder what might be and how you would ove to work for this airline, only for it to be a PFO.
Of course this is my opinion, but dont bank on your chosen path as the best as I would say that there is no 'right route'!!
TRon
You say that a few years in the real world help you to say that should the sh*t hit the fan you would be able to deal with it and a guy from Uni broadly speaking would not?
It is not so much about this these days as I hate to break it to you, but you are talking about a situation that people dont generally bank on happening. What we train for in the sim and brief on the line for is a worst case scenario i.e. Engine Failures, not the other guy at that point keeling over. It is not tested at interview and what is increasingly becoming more prevalent in today's pilot recruitment is CRM. Or will a guy want to be locked in a brrom cupboard with you for an 11 hours duty day?
Now whether some Uni-Cadet whizz kid or 20 year man and boy worked-his-fingers-to-the-bone-to-pay-for-licence pilot is going to be better than the next is neither here nor there and we could argue the toss about all day.
There will be and are so many pilots from so many backgrounds flying today. It's one of the first questions you get asked when you meet a new captain, simply because there is no one path into aviation as there used to be, so to say a few years in the Real World is going to up your chances is not really a valid argument. Although, as it seems you have done this, it is not going to count against you!!
When all is said and done and you start sending out your CV, getting the PFO's you will start wondering why dont these people recognise my obvious skills, but on the flipside you are just another piece of paper to them, another bit of work they have to do before they go out on a Friday night to meet 'Dave' their baggage handler boyfriend. Little to many realise the jump in heartbeat as the letter from Crawley arrives on their doorstep and you wonder what might be and how you would ove to work for this airline, only for it to be a PFO.
Of course this is my opinion, but dont bank on your chosen path as the best as I would say that there is no 'right route'!!
TRon
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No; in fact I agree with you Tron. All I was saying is that, for me, exeperince in a profession has not given me the edge in any interview or assessment but has given me a taste for what hard work is all about. The ability to keep going when the chips are down, people are continually assessing your performance, etc, etc.
The ability to work alongside different people; for example, year teams, subject teams and pupil teams has given me the chance to reflect on teamwork whilst dealing with parents has allowed me to reflect on customer satisfaction; especially angree customers. Explaining complex ideas to young people has certainly allowed me to improve communication skills since I left Uni too.
I should have made it more clear on my previous post. I'm not saying that my question is the selection criteria but I am saying is the applicant ok with the fact that as an airline pilot you carry a huge responsibility. I must add that I didn't, at any point, imply that someone strait from Uni could not deal with a critical problem. As you said, there is no winning formular.
Finally, back to the original question. Why do we want to be pilots?
The ability to work alongside different people; for example, year teams, subject teams and pupil teams has given me the chance to reflect on teamwork whilst dealing with parents has allowed me to reflect on customer satisfaction; especially angree customers. Explaining complex ideas to young people has certainly allowed me to improve communication skills since I left Uni too.
I should have made it more clear on my previous post. I'm not saying that my question is the selection criteria but I am saying is the applicant ok with the fact that as an airline pilot you carry a huge responsibility. I must add that I didn't, at any point, imply that someone strait from Uni could not deal with a critical problem. As you said, there is no winning formular.
Finally, back to the original question. Why do we want to be pilots?
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How about:
- It beats working in an office ( and the view out the window constantly changes ).
- The irregular hours ( i.e. it’s not the 9-5 rat race and / or commute required thereof ).
- The money is reasonably good ( even though it’s been reducing in real-terms over the last decade or so ), and this gets better as you progress up the aviation ladder.
- The professional discipline required.
- Training others ( the sim can be fun ).
- Having my health checked every six months ( and the company pay for it ).
- The folks I work with.
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RPeagram,
I am sorry if this post seems negative,but I am trying to give you a bit of a conflicting view from my experience-your reasons for becoming a pilot seem a bit like the info BACX used to put out about its ideal flying candidate- which seemed like Superman and chuck yeager rolled into one,Taking your points:
1)'Everyday there will be a new challenge'-to a minor extent,one day you may have a 10 knot crosswind the next a 15knot !remember flying is HIGHLY repetitive-we follow the same departures etc.over and over.
2)You get to work with one other person normally-cabin crew are too busy to popin all the time and the locked flightdeck doors policy means they cannot stay for a chat,yes you get to work with other groups but the interaction is limited:a brief 'thanks mate !' to the refueller when hes done !!
3)Possibly
4)'mentally and physically demanding':Maybe the first and last 15 minutes is mentally demanding ,the several hours in the middle are dull.Physically?Only through what your companies'rostering system can do to you with earlies,lates,nights etc....
5)yes
6)If you'crave responsibility' you will have to wait a long time to get it-as an FO you have close to zero.The captain will ask you how much fuel you want,at least 50% of the time you will be overuled as he/she thimks you are being too stingy/generous-remember you have not signed anything and the aircraft is not your ultimate responsibility-you only time you really have responsibility is if the other pilot keels over -then it is all down to you.....
7)Not as an FO- I have never really had the chance to lead,mainly what you become is the firing line between cabin crew and the captain- If they don't like him/her they will whinge to you,vice versa he/she will slag them off.
Sorry if this seems negative-reminds me of a post from a disgruntled BA cadet on pprune a few years back,'decision making ?shall i take 6 tonnes or 6 and a half-I knew I should have become a doctor !'
there are of course a fair few positives- you cannot recreate the thrill of flying your first visual approach into somehwere like Corfu,no autopilot,flight director or autothrottle- areal sense of achivement,
the view of course is excellent and the spirit of cameraderie cannot be recreated in other jobs I have had,
regards,
FTG
I am sorry if this post seems negative,but I am trying to give you a bit of a conflicting view from my experience-your reasons for becoming a pilot seem a bit like the info BACX used to put out about its ideal flying candidate- which seemed like Superman and chuck yeager rolled into one,Taking your points:
1)'Everyday there will be a new challenge'-to a minor extent,one day you may have a 10 knot crosswind the next a 15knot !remember flying is HIGHLY repetitive-we follow the same departures etc.over and over.
2)You get to work with one other person normally-cabin crew are too busy to popin all the time and the locked flightdeck doors policy means they cannot stay for a chat,yes you get to work with other groups but the interaction is limited:a brief 'thanks mate !' to the refueller when hes done !!
3)Possibly
4)'mentally and physically demanding':Maybe the first and last 15 minutes is mentally demanding ,the several hours in the middle are dull.Physically?Only through what your companies'rostering system can do to you with earlies,lates,nights etc....
5)yes
6)If you'crave responsibility' you will have to wait a long time to get it-as an FO you have close to zero.The captain will ask you how much fuel you want,at least 50% of the time you will be overuled as he/she thimks you are being too stingy/generous-remember you have not signed anything and the aircraft is not your ultimate responsibility-you only time you really have responsibility is if the other pilot keels over -then it is all down to you.....
7)Not as an FO- I have never really had the chance to lead,mainly what you become is the firing line between cabin crew and the captain- If they don't like him/her they will whinge to you,vice versa he/she will slag them off.
Sorry if this seems negative-reminds me of a post from a disgruntled BA cadet on pprune a few years back,'decision making ?shall i take 6 tonnes or 6 and a half-I knew I should have become a doctor !'
there are of course a fair few positives- you cannot recreate the thrill of flying your first visual approach into somehwere like Corfu,no autopilot,flight director or autothrottle- areal sense of achivement,
the view of course is excellent and the spirit of cameraderie cannot be recreated in other jobs I have had,
regards,
FTG
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I wanted to be a pilot because a friend took me flying in America, and although I felt sick by the time we got back to Rio Linda, I thought, "Hey, that's something I could enjoy doing". What a fun way to spend a weekend.
I never really wanted to be an airline pilot until someone told me I could get paid for flying, and that BA would pay for the training. I was lured by the image, the thought of the lifestyle, the girls and the money.
What I discovered upon doing my PPL was that my airline dream and flying itself were two totally separate things which I kept apart. I absolutely loved the PPL because it was fulfilling, slightly dangerous but most of all fun. I've lost that in recent times as my currency (£'s and hours!!) has waned and I've discovered that airlines have sod all to do with flying, and everything to do with making rich people richer. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you understand it.
I never really wanted to be an airline pilot until someone told me I could get paid for flying, and that BA would pay for the training. I was lured by the image, the thought of the lifestyle, the girls and the money.
What I discovered upon doing my PPL was that my airline dream and flying itself were two totally separate things which I kept apart. I absolutely loved the PPL because it was fulfilling, slightly dangerous but most of all fun. I've lost that in recent times as my currency (£'s and hours!!) has waned and I've discovered that airlines have sod all to do with flying, and everything to do with making rich people richer. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you understand it.
Hi all
Why do I want to be a pilot?
Because I have a major pain in me bollix being an aircraft engineer, the truly thankless part of the airline industry.For one, I'd like to go home clean, not scented with "eau de kerosene",with clean nails/fingers/extremities and no skin rashes from Skydrol or grease. Also, being treated/regarded as "trade" by cabin-crew(only a very few, in fairness)and some of the younger FOs (did I mention that a first-year FO, in our airline) earns more than I do, after six years service??).The promotion is glacial and based on grace and favours.I am truly demotivated to stay working as an engineer and want a change of job, workplace, smell, uniform,etc as soon as I can, please. I do not want to be changing brake units in the rain when I'm 55. I'm not afraid of hard work, I'm a team-player in the real sense(not in management or HR-guru speak), I am technically trained and aware and get on with most people I meet.I don't drool in public, don't fart in company(or don't get caught, which is it again?) and polish up well(despite the best efforts of Avtur and Fluid 41).So who do I have to sleep with or kill to get a job as a pilot? That's what it seems to need these days to get a start.
The bottom line is;be nice to your engineers,you pilots and potential pilots. They have a hugely responsible job for often shockingly bad pay and conditions and know far more about aircraft than you'll ever know.
rant mode disabled(for now)
regards
TDD
Why do I want to be a pilot?
Because I have a major pain in me bollix being an aircraft engineer, the truly thankless part of the airline industry.For one, I'd like to go home clean, not scented with "eau de kerosene",with clean nails/fingers/extremities and no skin rashes from Skydrol or grease. Also, being treated/regarded as "trade" by cabin-crew(only a very few, in fairness)and some of the younger FOs (did I mention that a first-year FO, in our airline) earns more than I do, after six years service??).The promotion is glacial and based on grace and favours.I am truly demotivated to stay working as an engineer and want a change of job, workplace, smell, uniform,etc as soon as I can, please. I do not want to be changing brake units in the rain when I'm 55. I'm not afraid of hard work, I'm a team-player in the real sense(not in management or HR-guru speak), I am technically trained and aware and get on with most people I meet.I don't drool in public, don't fart in company(or don't get caught, which is it again?) and polish up well(despite the best efforts of Avtur and Fluid 41).So who do I have to sleep with or kill to get a job as a pilot? That's what it seems to need these days to get a start.
The bottom line is;be nice to your engineers,you pilots and potential pilots. They have a hugely responsible job for often shockingly bad pay and conditions and know far more about aircraft than you'll ever know.
rant mode disabled(for now)
regards
TDD
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In short, I'm sure many Cadets strait from Uni have the required skills and will and have made great pilots. I just think the risk is higher due to the fact that workload and pressure in pilot training and Uni are incompatable.
That comment got me wound up so had to say something! Sorry!
As for why I want to be a pilot.... as has already been said, responsibility, challenge, unexpected situations... just the sheer trill of flying a plane!!! Also because it's not your average 9-5 desk job... it's something different and would be an amazing experience.
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1) because it is cool
2) beacuse chicks dig it
3) the pay is great
4) it beats working for a living
5) get into airshows for free
............do you need any more?
A little boy says to his mum,
"Mummy when I grow up I want to be a pilot"
she replies
"Dont be silly darling you cant do both"
Kind of sums it up
Mr dead dogs
I should jolly well hope that you know a lot more about aircraft that pilots, that is after all what you are paid for, to make an equally obvious comment, Pilots know a lot more about flying them than you do. Kind of goes with the job title.
2) beacuse chicks dig it
3) the pay is great
4) it beats working for a living
5) get into airshows for free
............do you need any more?
A little boy says to his mum,
"Mummy when I grow up I want to be a pilot"
she replies
"Dont be silly darling you cant do both"
Kind of sums it up
Mr dead dogs
I should jolly well hope that you know a lot more about aircraft that pilots, that is after all what you are paid for, to make an equally obvious comment, Pilots know a lot more about flying them than you do. Kind of goes with the job title.
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For someone who has jumped over the fence and is now in the right hand seat of an EFIS prop, I thought I would share my views on this topic.
What gets me out of my bed is the thought of doing a tight visual approach or doing a raw data ILS and seeing the needles stay more or less bang on in the middle. The buzz of working as a team (with Capt & Cabin Crew) and having a laugh as well is a good point. The views can be good but generally one cloud looks like the same as an other, if the weather is crappy.
I have been right round Europe in my job but my most memorable and exhilarating flight was flying into runway 33 at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands. For those of you that might not know, there is a large hill near the threshold on the extended centreline requiring a tight curved approach. It puts the old Hong Kong Kai Tak approach in the 'girls blouse' league!!! Rolling wings level at less than 100 feet after a tight 30 degrees AOB turn nearly had me speechless when taxying in!!! Coupled to the fact that I had a full load of punters on board make it even more memorable! Before I said anything the captain said to me - 'You enjoyed that didn't you!'
Is suppose that sums it up for me - the hands on flying is what I love. Even at this stage I still find it hard to wipe the grin of my face when I get out of a Cessna 152 whenever I fly for fun or instruct! The cruise can be tedious at times on longer sectors since the autopilot is engaged leaving you with not a lot to do. It is certainly not as glamorous as it used to be - or was it ever glamorous?? Ultimately the public see you as a paid professional who is paid to provide a service - no different to a Lawyer or Doctor. Pay and conditions are going downhill even faster with the 'will fly for nothing' approach that airlines are now using when recruiting. There are not many flying jobs where the money is fantastic but you can live reasonably well on most salaries - however if I wanted a job that paid really well then I would be doing something else!
What gets me out of my bed is the thought of doing a tight visual approach or doing a raw data ILS and seeing the needles stay more or less bang on in the middle. The buzz of working as a team (with Capt & Cabin Crew) and having a laugh as well is a good point. The views can be good but generally one cloud looks like the same as an other, if the weather is crappy.
I have been right round Europe in my job but my most memorable and exhilarating flight was flying into runway 33 at Sumburgh in the Shetland Islands. For those of you that might not know, there is a large hill near the threshold on the extended centreline requiring a tight curved approach. It puts the old Hong Kong Kai Tak approach in the 'girls blouse' league!!! Rolling wings level at less than 100 feet after a tight 30 degrees AOB turn nearly had me speechless when taxying in!!! Coupled to the fact that I had a full load of punters on board make it even more memorable! Before I said anything the captain said to me - 'You enjoyed that didn't you!'
Is suppose that sums it up for me - the hands on flying is what I love. Even at this stage I still find it hard to wipe the grin of my face when I get out of a Cessna 152 whenever I fly for fun or instruct! The cruise can be tedious at times on longer sectors since the autopilot is engaged leaving you with not a lot to do. It is certainly not as glamorous as it used to be - or was it ever glamorous?? Ultimately the public see you as a paid professional who is paid to provide a service - no different to a Lawyer or Doctor. Pay and conditions are going downhill even faster with the 'will fly for nothing' approach that airlines are now using when recruiting. There are not many flying jobs where the money is fantastic but you can live reasonably well on most salaries - however if I wanted a job that paid really well then I would be doing something else!
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Mister Geezer
Agree with you on pay and conditions.
In my opinion Airline Pilots are very, very, very highly skilled professionals, who have their skills checked out every 6months.
They also have the responsibility for thousands of peoples safety and lives every year. Yet the pay is now peanuts.
No other profession ie doctors, lawyers etc has their skills tested so regularly, probably don't have the responsibility for as many peoples lives but get paid mega-bucks.
Doctors and lawyers probably on a par with airline pilots though when it comes to pullin the chicks !!!!
Agree with you on pay and conditions.
In my opinion Airline Pilots are very, very, very highly skilled professionals, who have their skills checked out every 6months.
They also have the responsibility for thousands of peoples safety and lives every year. Yet the pay is now peanuts.
No other profession ie doctors, lawyers etc has their skills tested so regularly, probably don't have the responsibility for as many peoples lives but get paid mega-bucks.
Doctors and lawyers probably on a par with airline pilots though when it comes to pullin the chicks !!!!
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I agree with you on the fact that there are not many professions where we are poked and prodded by a doctor every year or 6 months and thrown into a simulator every six months to refresh our skills. I have my sim check coming up soon! 
However as I said the public are not really aware of all the hoops we have to jump through every year when compared to other white collar jobs. Hence I said that in the eyes of Joe Bloggs, we are no more special to your average consultant or solicitor. Flying is now like catching a bus due to the low cost alternative that now exists and flying is now looked upon as a necessity for many when it used to be a novelty!
However as I said the public are not really aware of all the hoops we have to jump through every year when compared to other white collar jobs. Hence I said that in the eyes of Joe Bloggs, we are no more special to your average consultant or solicitor. Flying is now like catching a bus due to the low cost alternative that now exists and flying is now looked upon as a necessity for many when it used to be a novelty!
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Great Post - it is rare to get some posts on Pprune which are well balanced on the negative and positive fronts of this job.
I got my first job earlier this year and I would echo a lot of what people have said. I wanted it for all the reasons so far mentioned and then once I got it I found what the reality was.
Don;t get me wrong I love the job and would not do anything else (having had an office job for ages). However, it is so true what many posters have said about life in a jet. I remember when I first started doing approaches and left the a/p in till 500 rad alt as I thought - do not want to **** it up - I'll let the a/p do it. After six months I could not wait to take everything out - there is nothing to beat the thrill of putting the a/c safely down (note - I did not say softly!) after flying visual approach with manual thrust into some hole of a greek airport!
However, the majority of the time it is repetitive approaches and departures (although needing to be closely monitored). The a/c has been designed to be flown via the a/p ot by hand. A lot of skippers look at you oddly when you want to take the works out!
My mates who are lawyers and the same age earn £70,000 and up and don't do any more testing in their life! What happens if they muck up a contract? Just a lawsuit and costs - what happens if we muck up - potentially a hundred bods in a river or elsewhere. Not sure that the industry t's and c's are headed the right way considering the job.
Oh and I think engineers deserve all the praise they get - can not believe it when flight deck are rude to them. Don't they realise how important their work is!!
In summary - I love my job and having tried other things could not imagine doing anything else - however it aint what is used to be and t's and c's are gradually going down hill. People should keep coming into the industry but just not with the rose tinted glasses of many a flight school!
I got my first job earlier this year and I would echo a lot of what people have said. I wanted it for all the reasons so far mentioned and then once I got it I found what the reality was.
Don;t get me wrong I love the job and would not do anything else (having had an office job for ages). However, it is so true what many posters have said about life in a jet. I remember when I first started doing approaches and left the a/p in till 500 rad alt as I thought - do not want to **** it up - I'll let the a/p do it. After six months I could not wait to take everything out - there is nothing to beat the thrill of putting the a/c safely down (note - I did not say softly!) after flying visual approach with manual thrust into some hole of a greek airport!
However, the majority of the time it is repetitive approaches and departures (although needing to be closely monitored). The a/c has been designed to be flown via the a/p ot by hand. A lot of skippers look at you oddly when you want to take the works out!
My mates who are lawyers and the same age earn £70,000 and up and don't do any more testing in their life! What happens if they muck up a contract? Just a lawsuit and costs - what happens if we muck up - potentially a hundred bods in a river or elsewhere. Not sure that the industry t's and c's are headed the right way considering the job.
Oh and I think engineers deserve all the praise they get - can not believe it when flight deck are rude to them. Don't they realise how important their work is!!
In summary - I love my job and having tried other things could not imagine doing anything else - however it aint what is used to be and t's and c's are gradually going down hill. People should keep coming into the industry but just not with the rose tinted glasses of many a flight school!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Age: 61
Posts: 223
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I can remember wanting to be a pilot ever since I was 5 years old, (Possibly earlier) I still have vivid memories of taking out the christmas tree lights and laying them out on the floor to make runway lights so my mates and I could play "airport".
It took another 30 years but eventually my dreams of coming a proffessional pilot came true. In a way I am glad that I had to work 70+ hour weeks in an office for 17 years in order to pay for the training (1 lesson every Sunday on my one day off) as it really makes me appreciate what I have. I must admit that I sometimes grumble about salary, benefits, schedule, etc, just like many others do, but then I remind myself that I could still be grumbling about these things and be working in a job that I hate.
As for variety I don't think you can beat the corporate / charter gig; I get to fly to a great variety of airports, anywhere from LAX to Aspen, CO or some small strip in Kansas or Mexico where all the locals stop by to check out the "Jet". Not to mention all the overseas destinations; Hawaii, Cannes for the film festivals, the Carribean etc.
I get to meet some really cool people as well, being based in Los angeles I get to fly many big name celebrities, politicians and regular business folks who are just really neat people.
I get to hand fly as much or as little as I want, the last leg we flew was a night LOC only approach with the DME and approach lights out of service down to minimums in the rain, great stuff!
The down side to this is the lack of schedule and time away from home, although I average only 11 overnights a month I am fortunate to have a wife that understands and puts up with my absences because she knows how much I like my job. I am considering a move to the Airlines but frankly I think I would miss this lifestyle, besides, now management is dangling a G-IV or G-V in front of me.
It took another 30 years but eventually my dreams of coming a proffessional pilot came true. In a way I am glad that I had to work 70+ hour weeks in an office for 17 years in order to pay for the training (1 lesson every Sunday on my one day off) as it really makes me appreciate what I have. I must admit that I sometimes grumble about salary, benefits, schedule, etc, just like many others do, but then I remind myself that I could still be grumbling about these things and be working in a job that I hate.
As for variety I don't think you can beat the corporate / charter gig; I get to fly to a great variety of airports, anywhere from LAX to Aspen, CO or some small strip in Kansas or Mexico where all the locals stop by to check out the "Jet". Not to mention all the overseas destinations; Hawaii, Cannes for the film festivals, the Carribean etc.
I get to meet some really cool people as well, being based in Los angeles I get to fly many big name celebrities, politicians and regular business folks who are just really neat people.
I get to hand fly as much or as little as I want, the last leg we flew was a night LOC only approach with the DME and approach lights out of service down to minimums in the rain, great stuff!
The down side to this is the lack of schedule and time away from home, although I average only 11 overnights a month I am fortunate to have a wife that understands and puts up with my absences because she knows how much I like my job. I am considering a move to the Airlines but frankly I think I would miss this lifestyle, besides, now management is dangling a G-IV or G-V in front of me.
