Need more fun
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: in the lush pastures
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Need more fun
Hi all.
I'd like to tell my story and see if anyone feels the same or felt the same during their early flying days.
It all started a few years ago with the dream of becoming an airline pilot. I did the training, paid the money did the exams and became a commerical pilot. At first the thrill of flying and the excitement was all I needed. I did all the hard yards getting hours doing various part time jobs to the point where I have now just landed my first multi engine ifr job.
After 2 weeks all I can say is that I'm bored out of my head! Averaging 4 hours flying a day in sttraight lines, trying to be smooth for passengers is absolutely mind numbing. How do airline pilots keep their sanity? Apart from the RAAF which I am no longer eligilbe for can anyone suggest a different career path in aviation that is going to be more fun than just flying from a to b. I am thinking maybe crop dusting....but does that get boring too?? Please help!!
I'd like to tell my story and see if anyone feels the same or felt the same during their early flying days.
It all started a few years ago with the dream of becoming an airline pilot. I did the training, paid the money did the exams and became a commerical pilot. At first the thrill of flying and the excitement was all I needed. I did all the hard yards getting hours doing various part time jobs to the point where I have now just landed my first multi engine ifr job.
After 2 weeks all I can say is that I'm bored out of my head! Averaging 4 hours flying a day in sttraight lines, trying to be smooth for passengers is absolutely mind numbing. How do airline pilots keep their sanity? Apart from the RAAF which I am no longer eligilbe for can anyone suggest a different career path in aviation that is going to be more fun than just flying from a to b. I am thinking maybe crop dusting....but does that get boring too?? Please help!!
Try taking up something outside of your job that is more stimulating, like aerobatics, gliding etc etc.
My job can get mind numbing too, but I do like getting into a Piper cub and just flying for the fun of going flying! Do that when finances allow and it is quite invigorating!!
My job can get mind numbing too, but I do like getting into a Piper cub and just flying for the fun of going flying! Do that when finances allow and it is quite invigorating!!
I know exactly what you mean.
Instructing was the most interesting flying I did. Especially if you get a good instructing job, teaching aero's, formation, GFPT, PPL, CPL CIR, a bit of IFR charter thrown in and you have an interesting job that requires a brain and some skill.
I hate to say this in case some simple management person is reading, BUT airline flying is boring, brain numbing no skill required crap. we deserve more $$$ just to do it. I am living proof that anyone can be an airline pilot.
I apologise in advance to those of you that believe its exzciting rewarding and we you have to be a shuttle pilot to fly one.
Instructing was the most interesting flying I did. Especially if you get a good instructing job, teaching aero's, formation, GFPT, PPL, CPL CIR, a bit of IFR charter thrown in and you have an interesting job that requires a brain and some skill.
I hate to say this in case some simple management person is reading, BUT airline flying is boring, brain numbing no skill required crap. we deserve more $$$ just to do it. I am living proof that anyone can be an airline pilot.
I apologise in advance to those of you that believe its exzciting rewarding and we you have to be a shuttle pilot to fly one.
To a certain extent I agree. Any legs longer than about 1.5hours are just boring-as. Particularly out over the desert. I am relatively lucky that the MacDonnell Ranges are so spectacular and keep the mind active just by looking at them, but heading out to a community in the middle of the Tanami or Simpson is boring as bat sh*t.
In the short term the things that keep me going are-
1. Ipod
2. Ipod
3. Ipod
Has saved my sanity so far.
Longer term I try to look ahead to the next a/c type I will be flying the next few months/years. I keep hearing the saying "always enjoy what you have now" But thats a bit hard to do sometimes when your eyes are closing from the hum of the Continental up front!
In the short term the things that keep me going are-
1. Ipod
2. Ipod
3. Ipod
Has saved my sanity so far.
Longer term I try to look ahead to the next a/c type I will be flying the next few months/years. I keep hearing the saying "always enjoy what you have now" But thats a bit hard to do sometimes when your eyes are closing from the hum of the Continental up front!
Grandpa Aerotart
Go to PNG you will NEVER get bored up there.
If you're bored now wait until you get to fly, if you ever do, a widebody...30 minutes of fun at each end interspersed with 8-18hrs of mind numbing boredom...news papers, magazines etc look after maybe 3 hrs...pray you are flying with a good convesationalist.
If you're bored now wait until you get to fly, if you ever do, a widebody...30 minutes of fun at each end interspersed with 8-18hrs of mind numbing boredom...news papers, magazines etc look after maybe 3 hrs...pray you are flying with a good convesationalist.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
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][Go to PNG you will NEVER get bored up there.
If anyone said to me that flying in PNG was boring I would conclude that they had no soul!
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Brown cow, crop dusting,(we actually call ouselves Agricultural pilots now as crops haven't been 'dusted' for decades), is not boring.
Ag. flying does have a few downsides, but boring isn't one of them.
Money is not too bad either, in an 'average' year (haven't had one for about ten years) 70k would be nothing unusual flying a piston aircraft, possibly double that for a turbine.
If it ever rains again there will be a shortage of Ag. pilots as alot have moved on or retired due to the drought. Two jobs have been advertised recently for Ag2's (beginner) and the same guy got both of them!
Ag. flying does have a few downsides, but boring isn't one of them.
Money is not too bad either, in an 'average' year (haven't had one for about ten years) 70k would be nothing unusual flying a piston aircraft, possibly double that for a turbine.
If it ever rains again there will be a shortage of Ag. pilots as alot have moved on or retired due to the drought. Two jobs have been advertised recently for Ag2's (beginner) and the same guy got both of them!
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Im impressed....! after 2 weeks on the chieftain you have completely mastered the Aircraft, route, ATC and company procedures...well done...
After more decades than weeks, Im still working on it.
Be very careful
After more decades than weeks, Im still working on it.
Be very careful
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Ah yes...the Birdscaring Wanderin Dave...what a gig hey...chasing various bird species out of million dollar almond orchards....good times!!!!
Not having worked for them..yet..but I'd say the RFDS would be challenging, adrenalising and varied. Nice planes...70k a year. One of those guys may like to comment!
PA
Not having worked for them..yet..but I'd say the RFDS would be challenging, adrenalising and varied. Nice planes...70k a year. One of those guys may like to comment!
PA
Join Date: May 2005
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Took the words right out of my mouth Sunfish.
Get a hobby Brown Cow. Next time you're bored just remember that a superior pilot is one that uses his superior judgement to avoid the use of his superior skill. Hopefully that will always be the case for you.
D
Get a hobby Brown Cow. Next time you're bored just remember that a superior pilot is one that uses his superior judgement to avoid the use of his superior skill. Hopefully that will always be the case for you.
D
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Photography Flying does it for me.
No chance to get bored when you're continually working out how to stop hitting hills or wires. And get the perfect shot. And trim the plane when the photographer's ass is over the trim wheel. And answer ATC when they ask for a position report just as you're plotting a spot on a GPS or a map. And your map has just blown out the door (haha!)
And putting on lip gloss to look gorgeous when you land
You get my point. Love it.
No chance to get bored when you're continually working out how to stop hitting hills or wires. And get the perfect shot. And trim the plane when the photographer's ass is over the trim wheel. And answer ATC when they ask for a position report just as you're plotting a spot on a GPS or a map. And your map has just blown out the door (haha!)
And putting on lip gloss to look gorgeous when you land
You get my point. Love it.
BC,
Congratulations. You've made it over all the other fences and have found yourself in an even more rewarding paddock. What's that you say? The grass is even greener over there? Whoa, slow down Daisy, and take your time and get a proper bellyful of what you are in right now.
Sure, your job might be boring, however even you must realise that it's more rewarding and satisfying than a job at the bank, holding a Stop/Go sign for the Main Roads Dept, or cleaning toilets at the pub. If a flying job has it's low points, then so be it - live with it. Nobody ever promised that it would be all sexy hosties and stripes on shoulders and free cocktails and leather jackets and bouncing a four ship of Hornets... All jobs have their low points, you will grow up one day and accept that there is no perfect job out there, and that almost all of them involve rolling up your sleeves sometimes and trying not to nod off on the desk.
If you want to enjoy the thrill of flying again, get out and do some aeros in an exciting machine. Or go skiing.
Congratulations. You've made it over all the other fences and have found yourself in an even more rewarding paddock. What's that you say? The grass is even greener over there? Whoa, slow down Daisy, and take your time and get a proper bellyful of what you are in right now.
Sure, your job might be boring, however even you must realise that it's more rewarding and satisfying than a job at the bank, holding a Stop/Go sign for the Main Roads Dept, or cleaning toilets at the pub. If a flying job has it's low points, then so be it - live with it. Nobody ever promised that it would be all sexy hosties and stripes on shoulders and free cocktails and leather jackets and bouncing a four ship of Hornets... All jobs have their low points, you will grow up one day and accept that there is no perfect job out there, and that almost all of them involve rolling up your sleeves sometimes and trying not to nod off on the desk.
If you want to enjoy the thrill of flying again, get out and do some aeros in an exciting machine. Or go skiing.
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PNG would certainly cure the flying boredom, but the income might be a bit boring.
When the Ag scene picks up chances are there will be a bit of a shortage, if you like the country life, and got the discipline, highly rewarding.
Aerial Bird Scaring is as boring as bat **** until you do it in a good stick and rudder ultalight with a forward firing shot gun mounted through the nose. Then it's nearly as rewarding as Ag.
M
When the Ag scene picks up chances are there will be a bit of a shortage, if you like the country life, and got the discipline, highly rewarding.
Aerial Bird Scaring is as boring as bat **** until you do it in a good stick and rudder ultalight with a forward firing shot gun mounted through the nose. Then it's nearly as rewarding as Ag.
M
