My First Line Flight
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: On the side of the pitch!
Age: 47
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great post CAT3, will see you in the Queens Building or Stockley from June. Just received the dreaded forms this morning......what a nightmare!!
Can't wait now!!
Can't wait now!!
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Leicester
Age: 37
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well Done CAT3CAUTOLAND Great post I have just completed my ppl and have aspirations of becoming an airline pilot, your post certainly beats all the negative stuff that goes on here, so well done for that and well done with the job.
Supercharged PPRuNer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Doon the watter, a million miles from the sandpit.
Posts: 1,183
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done CAT3C, and thanks for sharing the experience - it's inspiring reading for the rest of us. 
I can picture the grin . . .
I can picture the grin . . .
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ask Crew Control
Age: 47
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done ASWAD. Great post and bought back memories of my first line flight. Dont worry about Average Bloke...........we will take him down in Camberley!
The Cav
The Cav
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: In the SIM
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey Guys/Gals,
Its great to have so many responses, didnt expect this.
To answer some questions, PML, I remember when I did my PPL some 12 years ago, it was all very exciting, I still have on my PPL pictures, god I was alot thinner in those days
.
Bri, all Airbus's in the series, A319, A320 and A321.
Cav, nice to hear from you mate, when are you coming home again?
Anyway, must get some sleep, have to be up at 03:50 for the early Amsterdams.
Its great to have so many responses, didnt expect this.
To answer some questions, PML, I remember when I did my PPL some 12 years ago, it was all very exciting, I still have on my PPL pictures, god I was alot thinner in those days
.Bri, all Airbus's in the series, A319, A320 and A321.
Cav, nice to hear from you mate, when are you coming home again?
Anyway, must get some sleep, have to be up at 03:50 for the early Amsterdams
.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Block
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done lad.
But I must say that reading dartagnan's posts is like reading my mind!! I'm not long in the job and I am glad i've done it but by god it is boring. Doesn't matter where your flying to, every god damn trip is the same. Cant wait to find a job on a light twin!
But I must say that reading dartagnan's posts is like reading my mind!! I'm not long in the job and I am glad i've done it but by god it is boring. Doesn't matter where your flying to, every god damn trip is the same. Cant wait to find a job on a light twin!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: In the SIM
Posts: 976
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TolTol,
Its an interesting point I guess. My heart really is in this game, has been for a long time. Even when I was flying the same routes, teaching the same lessons whilst I was a flying instructor, I can put my hand on my heart and say I never went to work and didnt enjoy it. Actually, tell a lie, I wasnt impressed when I would turn up on a Saturday to learn I have a full day on Terrahawk doing trial lessons. God I hated that plane, especially when it was windy 
. I am sure it will be the same for flying Airbus's, enjoying it that is.
Anyway, hope you get your job on your light twin.
All the best.
Its an interesting point I guess. My heart really is in this game, has been for a long time. Even when I was flying the same routes, teaching the same lessons whilst I was a flying instructor, I can put my hand on my heart and say I never went to work and didnt enjoy it. Actually, tell a lie, I wasnt impressed when I would turn up on a Saturday to learn I have a full day on Terrahawk doing trial lessons
. God I hated that plane, especially when it was windy . I am sure it will be the same for flying Airbus's, enjoying it that is.Anyway, hope you get your job on your light twin.
All the best.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While I can't say I share dartagnan's desperation, I empathise with Tol Tol. I spent years dreaming of flying, and my ultimate aim was to land a jet at LHR. Now thats accompished I can hardly beleive I made it, however, I have to say it was ever so slightly anticlimatic. Flying straight down an ILS somehow doesn't match the gratification I used to get from nailing a demo glide approaches in a light single onto a short grass strip in gusty winds. I really miss the oppourtunity to really manoeuvre a plane as I wish. On the other hand I get a kick out of seeing all the passengers get off and thinking I've just landed this jet with all these people on board and yet not long ago I was doing trial lessons in a cessna! I also love sitting in the cruise enjoying the view, feasting on all the data presented infront of me, all whilst sipping my cup of tea and earning in an hour what I was getting for a days work!
I certainly shan't be giving up my new position however, I simply spend some of the money I now have on flying for pleasure! Best of both worlds!
I certainly shan't be giving up my new position however, I simply spend some of the money I now have on flying for pleasure! Best of both worlds!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Cloud Cookoo Land
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done CAT3C, your enthusiasm for flying shines through.....it's hardly suprising that a positive fellow like yourself has landed a job in the RHS for a major UK operator. Keep your stories coming, I for one (and I'm sure many others) would love to hear some more as you go through your line training.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ask Crew Control
Age: 47
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great post from Mungo Man. I have great empathy with what he says! Also having worked with CAT3 I remember the days when he used to beg me to give him lessons in the Tomahawk. Especially stalling part two!
And average bloke who said anything about tranquilisers! You will be on your knees at the end of this footy season..........ha ha ha ha
Fly safe
The Cav
And average bloke who said anything about tranquilisers! You will be on your knees at the end of this footy season..........ha ha ha ha
Fly safe
The Cav
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Where its at
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think people are being unfair regarding Dartagnan, if not openly dismissive - I for one would applaud him for having the strength of character to admit he doesn't enjoy what he's currently doing. He's right, and I'm sure when you reach the level of experience that I'm presuming he has, you too may come round to his point of view. For now of course, if only weeks or months into it - sure, at the moment you may be full of arrogance and dismissal around such views and people - however, he is correct in that -especially big jet - airline flying is inherently dull by its very nature, as alas, are many of the people you will work alongside. You know that already but it's too early to face it. Telling him to go elsewhere won't change that fact. The trouble is, by nature you're bound to be bright people - in which case the cockpit of an airliner is perhaps the most stultifying place to be, unless given to ops-manual related pedantry.
On the other hand it's got many positives, the most immediate of which spring to my mind aren't even to do with flying, such as - in my case at least - rarely, if ever being stuck in endless rush hour traffic before you get stuck in endless aeroplane rush hour traffic. No regualar 9-5, and it goes on.
On balance, worth it - especially given the alternatives. Certainly not the be all and end all.
And finally, my congratualations.
On the other hand it's got many positives, the most immediate of which spring to my mind aren't even to do with flying, such as - in my case at least - rarely, if ever being stuck in endless rush hour traffic before you get stuck in endless aeroplane rush hour traffic. No regualar 9-5, and it goes on.
On balance, worth it - especially given the alternatives. Certainly not the be all and end all.
And finally, my congratualations.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm smiling for ya
CAT3C,
Quality post.
I'm soon to embark on quitting work and starting training, and am presently going through the rollercoaster of emotions of pride, excitement, pensiveness and sweaty-palmed fear, depending upon which aspects of past events and those yet to come I am thinking of.
Reading your post was a big reminder of what I have to work towards and look forward to.
Well done to you for your dogged determination and hard work, and thanks for sharing.
Just goes to show what can be achieved.
Best of luck to you and yours.
Quality post.
I'm soon to embark on quitting work and starting training, and am presently going through the rollercoaster of emotions of pride, excitement, pensiveness and sweaty-palmed fear, depending upon which aspects of past events and those yet to come I am thinking of.
Reading your post was a big reminder of what I have to work towards and look forward to.
Well done to you for your dogged determination and hard work, and thanks for sharing.
Just goes to show what can be achieved.
Best of luck to you and yours.