Unions are a result of poor management bredrin. If the workers were treated right, there would be no need for unions.

As far as happiness goes, it's a state of mind. :) The number one seniority man at my previous company was one miserable alcoholic. He never smiled and always complained. And his roster never had less than 22 days off... all of which he spent walking around town drunk. :ugh:

Unions happened when E.L. Cord and the rest of aviation management "pioneers" put numbers ahead of safety...unions in general lost the plot on safety and turned collective bargaining negotiations into financial arguements..that being said..if you ever bend an aircraft (never did yet touch wood) you will be glad for the other benefits ALPA provides....

Thank you for your points of view.Job satisfaction is an important factor and it highly contributes to aviation safety.The last two years there was high demand and shortage of pilots,which resulted in high flying and duty hours.This added new stresses and fatigue . If you ask pilots , what kind of a job they'll choose if time goes back , many would say that they enjoy flying and they'd choose to be pilots again.Pilots are proud of their career and they have many challenges which requires high level of skill and judgment at all times and it is important that they get the right atmosphere and conditions to operate up to the highest standards.

I work for EK and I'm happy. There I said it! I feel even happier now:8. Listen guys, happiness comes from within. It's a choice you make. EK doesn't have the power over me to influence my happiness. Besides, it really isn't that bad all things considered.

Happy Safe flights to all.

HAppy QR
 

There is NO happy pilots in QR !

But there is a lot of pilots working just for money not for happines !

I'm not happy because vacation's over for me but can't wait to fly again...:)
I'm happy to fly again coz it's winter and I wish it will not end...
so please put the a/c back on mister engineer for summer :\

Happy 2008 to all:ok:
A6

Happy Pilots!
 

Someone once told me in Aviation that,

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

I am not the most experienced pilot here, but I have known many successful pilots/senior managment/CEO's and I must say the happiness plays a big part. I just wanted to say I am glad to see such a forum exists, as I feel privileged to be part of the world of Hawks & Eagles everytime I go up! The more and more I fly, the more I love it!

Hukuna Matata and a Happy New Year!

N-Man.....:)

I am happy that I had a couple of five hundred dirham notes in my wallet today as my standard shop at Choithrams cost me 988.52.A few years ago it was 550.Lucky my wife didn't raid my wallet this morning.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.
Thank you Nokyua,I realy liked that

I thought happiness for a pilot was defined as a dry f#rt at top of climb out of CCU.

We do seem to grumble a lot and there are times when its justified but I wouldn't want to do anything else.

Happy
 

Man, I have been living in this region for 3 1/2 years and I still happy, I came to the conclusion that been happy or sad its only a election that I have to do, why going for the worst option???. It is true that some times rostering, and other company staff makes you ungry but generally speaking, It is very good, my family likes this peaceful place, money is exellent, I got allways my leaves when I requested, Lots of friendly people, and lot of people that makes you sick as well, specially that people that is allways complaining abouth every thing with or with out reason . But they still here.

Apples and oranges
 

Pilots have to prove to themselves all the time. This a an aviation professional pilot forum and it sounds like a bunch of girls talking about nails, and diets. Why do you always have to conclude on the happiness subject when discussing aviation thread. Maybe a professional pilot happiness network should be formed for those who like to discuss their physiological state of mind. Pilots always seems to conclude every discussion with their happiness level. If one guy is happy in certain conditions who cares, so stop talking about girls stuff and stick to aviation please... Discuss flying conditions, fatigue related situations, airplanes, pay, good things and bad things, but please give me a break with the happiness bs... Stop mixing apples and oranges. When we discuss money or work conditions stick to the point. If the company improves it's productivity by 20% every year and my productivity goes down by 20% it is just normal to talk about facts. Not happiness. That's why managers are degrading pilots conditions all over the industry. Because we are happy... Remember this is a business and when i go to work it is for money, not to know if the guy i fly with is happy...

Typical pilot: I had a bad day at the office and it was not good, i had no support and had to deal with lots of bs... BUT I am so happy, it could be worst, i could be in a worst situation... i need to prove myself i did the right move to come here by telling everyone that when i have issues or a problem, i don't need to discuss ways of improving the situation. All I need to do is convince myself that i am so happy...

Excellent post EKpilot,

There is, indeed, a lot of confusion between feelings and business. For most expats, this is a business relationship between a company (you don't really belong to) and I contracted pilot... Not more, not less.

The company's approach is to maximize the use of automation, and force people to stick to procedures.

That way, they can recruit happy "incompetents". Skills become secondary, so pay and working conditions become secondary too...

If the job is being done by somebody that is so happy with his "privilege" of flying, that is not even asking to be paid for his work....

Hire the "happy", this is cost effective!

All this sounds silly, isn't it?

That's what happens when you mix feelings and business.

Don't let the company know your happy! :=

We cannot deny that working at certain places and companies where a good system and proceedures are followed and where all the needs for workers are addressed will create an atmosphere where all will work as a team to improve productivity.Airlines manageres have many worries to maintain the standards required with their limited budgets and the increased dry operating costs.Is there an ideal place around?. with the cost of living these days we will find that the average salaries these days should'nt be less than 30,000 $ for Captains and 18000$for co-pilots.Pilots used to be the highest paid among other Professions,try and ask any major aircraft manufacturing company for support pilots and see how much they will ask for. If pilots live up to the 5 star hotels they live in and maintain thier social immage by living in the most
luxurious neighborhoods and drive latest model cars and have a nice vacation once a year with their families , have their kids at the appropriate schools and have the most convenient insurances.How much do you think is enough for just a normal life that all executives are living. We see that pilots try always to save here and there , and lower their standard to be able to live a decent life with their income. I think this year you'll see a good salary increase everywhere in the world but remember that statistics shows that 70% of the time you don't get a raise is because you don't ask for it.Happy flights to all.