Mr. Hat moves on.
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Location: Australia
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Wow never thought I'd get this many well wishes! I'm very flattered.
The letter was a good one. No emotion, no names, no companies mentioned. Just some facts combined with my work history and how I made it to an Airline after 15 years and 5000 hours of lessons written with my own blood, sweat and tears (literally). I also paid tribute to those collegues of mine who are no longer with us due to accidents in the industry.
The Senator would now have a reasonable appreciation for the level of motivation required to make it to an Airline via the ga route. I also explained that whilst having been trained in an ab-initio Airline scheme of my own funding, I found the experience in ga complimented Airline training rather than detracting from it as popularly touted in the media by some stakeholders. The training gave me discipline, structure and respect. The years in ga gave me stick and rudder, command decision making and a good dose of close shaves with grey hairs and scars to proove it! By the time 180 people were sitting behind me and I was handed the microphone for the first time into Sydney on the 16L ILS all the hard work was done. Fresh out of flight school it would have been a bit of a stuggle for me! Experience made it nearly easy and I enjoyed the process.
For those of you still waiting for that moment, I can confirm it's exactly as you dream it is every night before you go to sleep (keep going).
What I also wrote was nearly a defence of people that I often gave a bit of a roasting on prune. I pointed out that the government policies of the last 15 years were a direct contributor to a reduction in safety. The goverment squeeze and the share holder cries left todays CEOs and managers in an impossible catch 22. I said "if the government doesn't take its foot of the throat of our industry" the perfect record will eventually choke.
I made it clear I was paid pretty well, was very happy with my employer and my motivation was based on safety. I stated that I didn't want to be trying out single pilot in a 180 seat jet whilst at night into a non controlled aerodrome with bad weather. I've done enough time in a multicrew environment to know that the role of the FO is a an important one. And the role of experience played is what has made the difference for myself when things have gone wrong.
I wanted to publish it but decided not to. I got a very positive response from the Senator. It blew me away, I felt it was worthwhile. I was a fan before his spotlight on our industry and I share his views on many other issues. Unfortunately he will never be Prime Minister - he's just too well educated and well spoken. He's very very bright and that doesn't appear to be a "must have" for senior government positions in our country.
Promise to go now. Tailwheel feel free to pull the plug.
All the best.
The letter was a good one. No emotion, no names, no companies mentioned. Just some facts combined with my work history and how I made it to an Airline after 15 years and 5000 hours of lessons written with my own blood, sweat and tears (literally). I also paid tribute to those collegues of mine who are no longer with us due to accidents in the industry.
The Senator would now have a reasonable appreciation for the level of motivation required to make it to an Airline via the ga route. I also explained that whilst having been trained in an ab-initio Airline scheme of my own funding, I found the experience in ga complimented Airline training rather than detracting from it as popularly touted in the media by some stakeholders. The training gave me discipline, structure and respect. The years in ga gave me stick and rudder, command decision making and a good dose of close shaves with grey hairs and scars to proove it! By the time 180 people were sitting behind me and I was handed the microphone for the first time into Sydney on the 16L ILS all the hard work was done. Fresh out of flight school it would have been a bit of a stuggle for me! Experience made it nearly easy and I enjoyed the process.
For those of you still waiting for that moment, I can confirm it's exactly as you dream it is every night before you go to sleep (keep going).
What I also wrote was nearly a defence of people that I often gave a bit of a roasting on prune. I pointed out that the government policies of the last 15 years were a direct contributor to a reduction in safety. The goverment squeeze and the share holder cries left todays CEOs and managers in an impossible catch 22. I said "if the government doesn't take its foot of the throat of our industry" the perfect record will eventually choke.
I made it clear I was paid pretty well, was very happy with my employer and my motivation was based on safety. I stated that I didn't want to be trying out single pilot in a 180 seat jet whilst at night into a non controlled aerodrome with bad weather. I've done enough time in a multicrew environment to know that the role of the FO is a an important one. And the role of experience played is what has made the difference for myself when things have gone wrong.
I wanted to publish it but decided not to. I got a very positive response from the Senator. It blew me away, I felt it was worthwhile. I was a fan before his spotlight on our industry and I share his views on many other issues. Unfortunately he will never be Prime Minister - he's just too well educated and well spoken. He's very very bright and that doesn't appear to be a "must have" for senior government positions in our country.
Promise to go now. Tailwheel feel free to pull the plug.
All the best.
Last edited by Mr. Hat; 6th Jul 2011 at 07:42.
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Mr.Hat, thank you. You really helped me (a complete stranger) when I was struggling to decide which path to take, to become a pilot. Not just through the posts in response to my queries but I have learnt a lot about the aviation industry through all your other posts on this forum. I really do appreciate it. Good luck to you Sir! 
Happy Landings
Happy Landings
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eeeh wawa
Really sad to see that you're moving on from here. I wish I had time to go through all the posts you wrote about looking for work in the GA days and repost some of the gold that lies in beneath. What I reckon that is most important for the guys on here to know is that the guy that stands behind the Mr Hat persona is a 100% genuine bloke, that just like on here tells it how he sees it, is always ready with some timely and sage advice, and can back up his stories with some hard-knock experience that I just know will go over the heads of many readers on this site (I'm looking firmly at you cadets).
Once you go the signal to noise ratio on here will deteriorate just that little bit more.
You'll be missed on here mate
P.S. Enjoy the extra time with the missus
P.P.S. To PappaJo registered Feb '11 with 27 posts, when you've contributed as significantly, maybe we'll listen. Otherwise, go **** yourself.
Really sad to see that you're moving on from here. I wish I had time to go through all the posts you wrote about looking for work in the GA days and repost some of the gold that lies in beneath. What I reckon that is most important for the guys on here to know is that the guy that stands behind the Mr Hat persona is a 100% genuine bloke, that just like on here tells it how he sees it, is always ready with some timely and sage advice, and can back up his stories with some hard-knock experience that I just know will go over the heads of many readers on this site (I'm looking firmly at you cadets).
Once you go the signal to noise ratio on here will deteriorate just that little bit more.
You'll be missed on here mate
P.S. Enjoy the extra time with the missus
P.P.S. To PappaJo registered Feb '11 with 27 posts, when you've contributed as significantly, maybe we'll listen. Otherwise, go **** yourself.
Sorry to see you go.
It's sad, all the straight shooters are disappearing (The Hat, J3pipercub etc)
Do what I did and rebranded yourself every couple of years. Dr Octopus is looming for me
If I don't see you again on here, thanks for all your work with the senate enquiry. I hope through your efforts the up and coming won't be subjected to a reaming by the likes of the incumbent airline managers.
I think it's time we put the broom through the lot of them.
Airlines where traditionally run by people with a passion for aviation, not the accountant stockbroker bean counter types.
They belong in banks, passionate aviation professionals should be running airlines. Not dropouts who didn't cut the mustard for a bluechip multinational.
It's sad, all the straight shooters are disappearing (The Hat, J3pipercub etc)
Do what I did and rebranded yourself every couple of years. Dr Octopus is looming for me
If I don't see you again on here, thanks for all your work with the senate enquiry. I hope through your efforts the up and coming won't be subjected to a reaming by the likes of the incumbent airline managers.
I think it's time we put the broom through the lot of them.
Airlines where traditionally run by people with a passion for aviation, not the accountant stockbroker bean counter types.
They belong in banks, passionate aviation professionals should be running airlines. Not dropouts who didn't cut the mustard for a bluechip multinational.
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Mr Hat, I do believe that we have had our differences and agreed on many things.
Would like to know though next time your in the good ole local I do believe its your round!
Raise your Glass Sir! Buottoms up ole Chap!
Would like to know though next time your in the good ole local I do believe its your round!
Raise your Glass Sir! Buottoms up ole Chap!
THANKYOU, Mr Hat, for your effprts, your well thought out pieces, and your getting thru to the Senator - in that you have accomplished much more than most of us combined......
Happy ILS'ing, and do just 'look in' .....occasionally....
Cheers
Happy ILS'ing, and do just 'look in' .....occasionally....
Cheers
