Why is it everyones goal to fly a big jet ??
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It wasn't an initial goal for me, more something i thought might happen in the future, a long long way in the future! Would have loved to fly a TP or piston twin as a career start, the way things worked out i ended up on the 737. Has to be said that the money (eventually) seems to be better esp with all those training loans to pay back, which is one reason peeps may want to get on jets early on.
Yes we use the automatics a lot but that's to reduce the workload and give you time to do other things, plus esp when you're knackered it's far too draining hand flying all the time. But when you want to, take the automatics out and it's just like any other plane, this morning hand flew it up to TOC out of Lut no AP, AT or Flight Director doing it all raw data for the practice. It can be fun to fly the big stuff if you want it to be.
Visual approaches, circling etc all manual if you want keeps your skills sharper. So you can still get the handling kick in the big stuff with the security of multi crew ops, getting above the wx, CAT 3 etc etc.
Still like flying the light stuff as well! Nothing like VFR on a beautiful day
WBV
Yes we use the automatics a lot but that's to reduce the workload and give you time to do other things, plus esp when you're knackered it's far too draining hand flying all the time. But when you want to, take the automatics out and it's just like any other plane, this morning hand flew it up to TOC out of Lut no AP, AT or Flight Director doing it all raw data for the practice. It can be fun to fly the big stuff if you want it to be.
Visual approaches, circling etc all manual if you want keeps your skills sharper. So you can still get the handling kick in the big stuff with the security of multi crew ops, getting above the wx, CAT 3 etc etc.
Still like flying the light stuff as well! Nothing like VFR on a beautiful day
WBV
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Originally Posted by Wing_Bound_Vortex
this morning hand flew it up to TOC out of Lut no AP, AT or Flight Director doing it all raw data for the practice.
Always thought you were nuts!
Well a jet job would be nice sometime in the future, preferably something along the lines of takeoff, turn on autopilot, turn off autopilot, land. Spend a day or 2 downroute and head on home.
But for the first few years I'd much rather fly 900hours a year in a non-glass cockpit environment.
Still cant believe I read pilots in terms and endearments complaining about the hours! Maybe they should do a full time degree while working part time at MAN, and then working 0500-2000 6 days a week during the summer hol to fund flying?
Jamo
But for the first few years I'd much rather fly 900hours a year in a non-glass cockpit environment.
Still cant believe I read pilots in terms and endearments complaining about the hours! Maybe they should do a full time degree while working part time at MAN, and then working 0500-2000 6 days a week during the summer hol to fund flying?
Jamo
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Probably most people assume there is something special or even glamorous about the notion of flying/operating jet airliners, Depending on what type of company you end up working for that particular myth soon fades. The important considerations then become, how many standby shifts must I work,will I get my expenses eventually, can I get home now and again so that I can have a life outside of aviation and many others. I have found that the most interesting jobs may not mean operating the latest offering from Boeing or Airbus but flying [ important distinction] a Chieftain or Kingair at 300ft over the sea on pipeline survey or ambulance work as an example. Once you enter this strange industry you will find its more about people and type of company than anything to do with types of machine.
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Stratman,
you are right on the money. Its not long when you start to memorise the volmet freq. that its starts to fade. Give me my first love of GA anyday. unforunately the money isn't there on the modern day of married with children secnario.
Only is I was 10 years younger and flying floats in AK.
Forgot to add though, I wouldn't trade it for the world, what I'm doing now!!!
you are right on the money. Its not long when you start to memorise the volmet freq. that its starts to fade. Give me my first love of GA anyday. unforunately the money isn't there on the modern day of married with children secnario.
Only is I was 10 years younger and flying floats in AK.
Forgot to add though, I wouldn't trade it for the world, what I'm doing now!!!
Last edited by AFCAS TARGET; 7th Jun 2006 at 10:21.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Definitely don't want to fly a big jet. In fact, I hope the biggest jet I fly is a G550. Actually, it's fuel tanks are too big.
I love flying a bizjet (Hawker 800XP) and it's avionics puts many "big jets" to shame. Flying's interesting, still get to talk to the pax and no two hours are the same.
I love flying a bizjet (Hawker 800XP) and it's avionics puts many "big jets" to shame. Flying's interesting, still get to talk to the pax and no two hours are the same.
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fun?
Hi,
I wondered why it is fun to fly a big airliner like a 737. You only need to do the take off and the landing. In fligh, you are checking your instruments and let the ap do the work. Tell me when im wrong!
I wondered why it is fun to fly a big airliner like a 737. You only need to do the take off and the landing. In fligh, you are checking your instruments and let the ap do the work. Tell me when im wrong!
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The size of the aircraft has absolutely zero to do with my satisfaction levels.
Whether you're flying a C150 or a A340, the only things that will interest you after you've got a couple thousand hours flying time are
Whether you're flying a C150 or a A340, the only things that will interest you after you've got a couple thousand hours flying time are
- Having a paycheck that gives you sufficient leverage to do the things that actually matter in life
- Having a pleasant working environment
- Having a stable roster - and a company that respects it - so you can plan your life outside of flying
- Not being too knackered to enjoy your days off when you get them
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I agree with the comments by Luke SkyToddler 100%. Sounds like the voice of experience! I have been flying a piston twin of late and the whole package is not much fun to be honest. The pay is no good, company are operating in grey areas, zero roster stability and I'm always shattered. The romantic notion of cruising around without the autopliot is not true either. The workload is too high to turn it off and you can't afford to mess up.
After a few years in the industry, I just want some stability in my life to have a life. If I could get the things Luke mentioned I couldn't give a damn what I'm flying.
After a few years in the industry, I just want some stability in my life to have a life. If I could get the things Luke mentioned I couldn't give a damn what I'm flying.
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The size of the aircraft has absolutely zero to do with my satisfaction levels.
Having a paycheck that gives you sufficient leverage to do the things that actually matter in life
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I've just been offered a job flying RHS with a regional turboprop operator. I'm obviously over the moon with the result but I'm in no hurry to progress onto large shiny jets just yet. Ive been instructing for nearly 2 years and I can still confidently say that my ambition is to earn enough money to own and operate my own microlight.
My main motivation is the freedom that light aircraft flying brings. You cannot gain that freedom in an airliner. Just imagine the thrill of being able to carry yourself around the country as and when you please.
Some have that ambition, some don't.
To me, thats what flying's really about.
Just a thought
My main motivation is the freedom that light aircraft flying brings. You cannot gain that freedom in an airliner. Just imagine the thrill of being able to carry yourself around the country as and when you please.
Some have that ambition, some don't.
To me, thats what flying's really about.
Just a thought
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Don't make em work hard
I bet "Luke and "Fair" really hate been too tired to get the most out of their precious leisure time.
It shouldn't be allowed that peoples work generates fatigue or anything like that.
After years and years of of pilots been able to be precious the arrival of low cost operators who get 5 days work out of them should not be tolerated.
Hard work should be left to others and it is vital that we pilots are able to look sophisticated, relaxed and superior on our 6 days off out of 7, say.
It should be strictly for manual workers and the self-employed to get exhausted and needing to catch up on their sleep on their days off - in fact if they worked just a little bit harder and voluntarily paid a bit more for their tickets - the halcyon days of the "Precious poncy pilot" would surely return? We should UNITE to turn back the clock i say.
On the other hand couldn't you guys just go try a really menial, physically demanding job for a week (it'd make a great reality TV show) and bring a bit of work ethic back to your employers! Poor luvs.
It shouldn't be allowed that peoples work generates fatigue or anything like that.
After years and years of of pilots been able to be precious the arrival of low cost operators who get 5 days work out of them should not be tolerated.
Hard work should be left to others and it is vital that we pilots are able to look sophisticated, relaxed and superior on our 6 days off out of 7, say.
It should be strictly for manual workers and the self-employed to get exhausted and needing to catch up on their sleep on their days off - in fact if they worked just a little bit harder and voluntarily paid a bit more for their tickets - the halcyon days of the "Precious poncy pilot" would surely return? We should UNITE to turn back the clock i say.
On the other hand couldn't you guys just go try a really menial, physically demanding job for a week (it'd make a great reality TV show) and bring a bit of work ethic back to your employers! Poor luvs.
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Well, Id have to agree with Luke on this one (how goes the 319 course mate?)
Picture what I did today.....
Top of descent FL380....all the automatics out, flight directors off.
320kts indicated down to FL120, reducing to 290 through FL100, then back to 250kts through 3000 and level on a right base 7 miles from the extended centreline.
Cleared for a visual approach.....back to 180kts and flap 5, descend to 1500ft, rollout on the centreline extending the gear and Flap 20, bleed the speed back to Vref+5 (133kts) and landing flap (flap 30)...all spooled up and stable at 1000' radio.
Touchdown on my aiming point so softly that the only give away is the rumble and the spoilers extending......even the nosewheel kissed the concrete like feather....220 pax and 85 tonnes 757 arrive in perfect harmony.
Thats why I love flying (a biggish jet) ..and its why I get goose-bumps every time I strap the 757 on
Its only now at home when I appreciate the roster stuff..and a decent paycheck.
Picture what I did today.....
Top of descent FL380....all the automatics out, flight directors off.
320kts indicated down to FL120, reducing to 290 through FL100, then back to 250kts through 3000 and level on a right base 7 miles from the extended centreline.
Cleared for a visual approach.....back to 180kts and flap 5, descend to 1500ft, rollout on the centreline extending the gear and Flap 20, bleed the speed back to Vref+5 (133kts) and landing flap (flap 30)...all spooled up and stable at 1000' radio.
Touchdown on my aiming point so softly that the only give away is the rumble and the spoilers extending......even the nosewheel kissed the concrete like feather....220 pax and 85 tonnes 757 arrive in perfect harmony.
Thats why I love flying (a biggish jet) ..and its why I get goose-bumps every time I strap the 757 on
Its only now at home when I appreciate the roster stuff..and a decent paycheck.
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I can understand your point Sperkney; flying 5 days a week sounds pretty tame as its the same as what most (none flying) people do. Unstable rosters can mess you up more than you would believe though. A mixture of day flying and flying in the middle of the night is worst as your body doesn't know if its coming or going. Irregular sleep patterns are a killer. Once upon a time I worked shifts, fetching and carrying in a factory but always felt fine in my leisure time. This was because I was able to take regular rest. Now I work half the hours of the average bloke but am knackered all the time
With the bigger aircraft comes better operators and with better operators, the rosters are more stable. I'm sure there are exceptions though.
With the bigger aircraft comes better operators and with better operators, the rosters are more stable. I'm sure there are exceptions though.
Last edited by Fair_Weather_Flyer; 11th Jun 2006 at 22:32.
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"Fair"
I know, mate - my tongue was in my cheek and i was trying to be a bit naughty. It's bizarre how fatiguing flying can be sometimes and not others. It is hard to put your finger on how it can be so cumulatively exhausting. I had to take a day out today after been in a Cesspit for 38 hours this week. Brain still thinks it's orbitting after a good night's sleep. Reckon with air taxi its all the other **** you have to field that makes it hard - the flight is the easy bit!
Happy , safe flying to all(whatever you fly).
Happy , safe flying to all(whatever you fly).