What Have You Learned
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Australia
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What Have You Learned
It comes as no surprise that most of us in the aviation industry have either been stood down, about to lose jobs or worst case, already lost jobs. I was just pondering, what have I personally learned during these difficult times, and what choices will I make going forward. To all of you I ask, do you regret becoming a pilot? Do any of you have other qualifications to fall back on? What will you do differently from now on in regards to your careers?
This thread is just for some self reflection, maybe an outlet for those who need to write what they feel or brainstorming ideas with like minded people in a similar situation. In these dark times, I guess the best we can do is hear each other out and support each other in whatever ways we can. If I have broken any rules, mods please alert me.
Cheers
This thread is just for some self reflection, maybe an outlet for those who need to write what they feel or brainstorming ideas with like minded people in a similar situation. In these dark times, I guess the best we can do is hear each other out and support each other in whatever ways we can. If I have broken any rules, mods please alert me.
Cheers
Well, I've learned that in order to judge a person, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
......at least then, you will be a mile ahead, and have their shoes.
But seriously, if I had a dollar for every company I was working for that went tits up (no fault of my own), I'd have......um...7 bucks.
We all move on, man, it's a part of life.
Soon, some of us will have to pack our bags and go overseas in search of more fertile offerings. Sure it hurts, but a lot of us have done exactly that in the past. You've heard the stories, I'm sure. Aviation has a fun and interesting way of making these stories come to life for every generation.
Well.....here we go again.
......at least then, you will be a mile ahead, and have their shoes.
But seriously, if I had a dollar for every company I was working for that went tits up (no fault of my own), I'd have......um...7 bucks.
We all move on, man, it's a part of life.
Soon, some of us will have to pack our bags and go overseas in search of more fertile offerings. Sure it hurts, but a lot of us have done exactly that in the past. You've heard the stories, I'm sure. Aviation has a fun and interesting way of making these stories come to life for every generation.
Well.....here we go again.
I’ve learnt that:
I like spending time with my partner,
I like having normal sleep patterns,
I like having hobbies and the time to actually indulge, and I especially learnt that I only do this job for the money as airline management have removed every ounce of satisfaction and lifestyle from the industry.
I hope that:
this whole sh!tty mess has made us all realise that the most important things we have are our family, health and the pursuit of happiness over what has become a dead end career.
Stay safe and check in on yourself during this time.
I like spending time with my partner,
I like having normal sleep patterns,
I like having hobbies and the time to actually indulge, and I especially learnt that I only do this job for the money as airline management have removed every ounce of satisfaction and lifestyle from the industry.
I hope that:
this whole sh!tty mess has made us all realise that the most important things we have are our family, health and the pursuit of happiness over what has become a dead end career.
Stay safe and check in on yourself during this time.
I learnt not too complain.
I learnt to be happy when I was tired after pulling a long day because - I was flying.
I also learnt that it’s a privilege to wear the uniform, so I’ll wear it properly if I get to put it on again.
I learnt to be happy when I was tired after pulling a long day because - I was flying.
I also learnt that it’s a privilege to wear the uniform, so I’ll wear it properly if I get to put it on again.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I learnt not too complain.
I learnt to be happy when I was tired after pulling a long day because - I was flying.
I also learnt that it’s a privilege to wear the uniform, so I’ll wear it properly if I get to put it on again.
I learnt to be happy when I was tired after pulling a long day because - I was flying.
I also learnt that it’s a privilege to wear the uniform, so I’ll wear it properly if I get to put it on again.
And for all the nay sayers, if the job is as bad as what you profess, now is the perfect opportunity to go and do something else. Leave the seats for those of us who truly want to get back in one.
I don't regret having well paid flying jobs at all. I've a well stocked life boat but who knows if it can survive our current heavy seas?
I would have terrible regrets of aviation if my position hopeless or I'd been lured beyond my means. Perhaps Ansett's demise taught me a number of lessons. Perhaps too, the number of disappointing characters I've met in the industry. I feel terrible for the good folks at Virgin and elsewhere. However, I do vividly recall the behaviour of many Virgin staff at Ansett's collapse. It was quite a shock. Maybe just a bitter overspill from 89 though some of these clowns were not involved and just caught up in their Branson-cult. Hope they enjoyed their staff island!
A few months ago, I did a visual approach in a wide body, just like the old domestic days. Nothing terribly skilful, just felt nice to roll wings level at 2 miles after a high speed descent and calculating my three times tables. For the whole return flight I perused ever changing electronic manuals for nuances of illegality in the approach. Red wine and substitution tests later with colleagues and still confusion. Weeks later probing managers and one "felt" the interpretation of our manuals in favour though the regulator grey. All this stress for trying to do your job well? It is not worth low pay.
Another tip, the manager today telling you to hold firm, everything is OK, he may already have another job. So be wary of group think and fill your life boat!
I would have terrible regrets of aviation if my position hopeless or I'd been lured beyond my means. Perhaps Ansett's demise taught me a number of lessons. Perhaps too, the number of disappointing characters I've met in the industry. I feel terrible for the good folks at Virgin and elsewhere. However, I do vividly recall the behaviour of many Virgin staff at Ansett's collapse. It was quite a shock. Maybe just a bitter overspill from 89 though some of these clowns were not involved and just caught up in their Branson-cult. Hope they enjoyed their staff island!
A few months ago, I did a visual approach in a wide body, just like the old domestic days. Nothing terribly skilful, just felt nice to roll wings level at 2 miles after a high speed descent and calculating my three times tables. For the whole return flight I perused ever changing electronic manuals for nuances of illegality in the approach. Red wine and substitution tests later with colleagues and still confusion. Weeks later probing managers and one "felt" the interpretation of our manuals in favour though the regulator grey. All this stress for trying to do your job well? It is not worth low pay.
Another tip, the manager today telling you to hold firm, everything is OK, he may already have another job. So be wary of group think and fill your life boat!
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’ve fought hard to get into aviation and I’ll flight hard to stay in it, even though I no longer have an airline job I’m staying optimistic because the other option is to get bitter and angry. I love flying and can’t envision anything else. Haven’t flown in over a month and I’m truly missing it. I really don’t want to go back to driving trucks or warehousing but if that pays the bills in the mean time that’s what I’ll do. I’ll keep my class 1 current, I’ll try to organise a CPC on the 73 to stay current and keep moving forward. Another thing... I’ll never again complain about a BOC flight ever again!
I’ve spoken to a few “BUTTSCRATCHER”s that have lost their jobs multiple times, a few with Ansett and the biggest take away is... air travel will come back, there will be jobs again, just need to be patient in the meantime. Easy to say, hard to do but that’s the goal!
I’ve spoken to a few “BUTTSCRATCHER”s that have lost their jobs multiple times, a few with Ansett and the biggest take away is... air travel will come back, there will be jobs again, just need to be patient in the meantime. Easy to say, hard to do but that’s the goal!
I have learnt that even on my worst day flying I get paid exceptionally well for what I do. Working a normal job is hard and the pay is low, I have loved having a normal sleep pattern and I find my kids have loved having me at home. I hope that if I get back flying I will be able to look back on this and realise how lucky I am.
I learned the hard way that no flying job is totally secure
I learned that when unstable fanatics get guns, it is time to run
I learned that when running from nutters with guns, leave your car at the airport with the keys in the ignition, pour sand in the sump and leave them to it - you will never return
I learned never to look back - something might be gaining on you
I learned (from watching others spin out) that the higher you go, the longer the drop
I learned that what you fly is not as important as where you fly - the more challenging the better
I learned (from watching others) that driving big aeroplanes does not enhance your sex life, but may attract 'high maintenance' members of the fair sex
I learned (from watching others) that said high maintenance types often depart the fix at the first sign of hard times
I learned that good layovers with the right crew may attract...well...'nuff said!
I learned that it is better to earn a little less as a trade-off for a healthy lifestyle - your earning years are directly proportional to your health
I learned that as soon as the pay check bounces, check out & find another flying job
I learned that all contracts and agreements become null and void the day your pay is late
I learned that in lean times, any job on even a sh!tbox aeroplane that allows you to maintain flying proficiency, is better than no job
I learned that occasionally going back from airline flying to GA is actually good fun, reawakens old skills, improves tolerance and teaches you aviation economics like no classroom could
I learned that when the recovery comes, a current pilot will get the drop on those that sat waiting for their ship to come in
I learned that if your employer treats you right, better you reciprocate - you never know what lies ahead
I learned that when unstable fanatics get guns, it is time to run
I learned that when running from nutters with guns, leave your car at the airport with the keys in the ignition, pour sand in the sump and leave them to it - you will never return
I learned never to look back - something might be gaining on you
I learned (from watching others spin out) that the higher you go, the longer the drop
I learned that what you fly is not as important as where you fly - the more challenging the better
I learned (from watching others) that driving big aeroplanes does not enhance your sex life, but may attract 'high maintenance' members of the fair sex
I learned (from watching others) that said high maintenance types often depart the fix at the first sign of hard times
I learned that good layovers with the right crew may attract...well...'nuff said!
I learned that it is better to earn a little less as a trade-off for a healthy lifestyle - your earning years are directly proportional to your health
I learned that as soon as the pay check bounces, check out & find another flying job
I learned that all contracts and agreements become null and void the day your pay is late
I learned that in lean times, any job on even a sh!tbox aeroplane that allows you to maintain flying proficiency, is better than no job
I learned that occasionally going back from airline flying to GA is actually good fun, reawakens old skills, improves tolerance and teaches you aviation economics like no classroom could
I learned that when the recovery comes, a current pilot will get the drop on those that sat waiting for their ship to come in
I learned that if your employer treats you right, better you reciprocate - you never know what lies ahead
Last edited by Mach E Avelli; 21st Apr 2020 at 02:30.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: .
Age: 25
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I’ve learnt I was fortunate to never take out a bank loan or mortgage, and I was fortunate that as soon as I had my first decant salary (which took over ten years in the aviation industry) I built up and maintained a year’s living expenses in cash for ‘emergencies’.’ And I’ve learnt the first thing I’ll put money into again as soon as I am paid is my 'emergency’ fund.
And I hope that all pilots will learn from this that management has only one goal and that is maximize their own gains. So must we. Get organized, join the unions, create unions, don't let them bull**it you. Yes, there are some exceptions and some companies will do whatever they can do keep you employed and paid, but they seem to get less and less.
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I learned not to put all my eggs in one basket.
I learned to do the job and enjoy life outside of aviation.
I learned that your job is only secure as your next medical.
I learned that aviation is about as secure as a keg of dynamite.
I learned not to light the fuse.
I learned to recognise the writing on the wall.
I learned to know when it was time to leave while I had the choice.
I learned......I learned! -)
I learned to do the job and enjoy life outside of aviation.
I learned that your job is only secure as your next medical.
I learned that aviation is about as secure as a keg of dynamite.
I learned not to light the fuse.
I learned to recognise the writing on the wall.
I learned to know when it was time to leave while I had the choice.
I learned......I learned! -)
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Fiji
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've learned how easily Governments can usurp our freedoms. I've learned how quickly a population can succumb to fear and not reason. Ive learned how quickly science and decades of epidemiology can be ignored out of fear. I've I've learned how quickly opinions that don't fit government narrative can be stomped out (Facebook...Google..all censoring information of a differing opinion). I've learned how easily humans can fall into a herd mentality due primarily to social media (look at past epidemics...the one ingredient that stopped this world shutdown from happening in the past, was that social media was not prevalent). I've learned that hundreds of thousands will die who would not have died before...they will die from suicide, starvation, riots, forced imprisonment, racial hatreds (see China and their treatment of Africans...when it was China that incubated the virus). Seek out knowledge.. learn about epidemiology... virology...how viruses are really stopped. Protect the old and the ones with underlying conditions. The rest need to develop a herd immunity...if that had been allowed to happen.. this would all be over by now or within another week. But no. We had to destroy economies, lives, imprison children in cruel lockdowns (DUBAI) for a virus that most people have contracted and don't even know it. Each death is a tragedy.. but more will die because the cure is worse than the disease. And now these TV "experts" are saying just because you have the antibodies, it doesn't make you immune. Ludicrous! If that's true then a vaccine is worthless, because that's what a vaccine does..create antibodies to give you immunity!!
Educate yourself.
Remember 250,000 to 500,000 die every year from the normal flu..and the world does not shut down.
And what happens the next time a flu comes along.. destruction of our way of life AGAIN?!?
Regain your reason! Fight for freedom again, because the governments won't forget how easy this was...to subjugate an entire world out of fear.
South Korea got it right...
Educate yourself.
Remember 250,000 to 500,000 die every year from the normal flu..and the world does not shut down.
And what happens the next time a flu comes along.. destruction of our way of life AGAIN?!?
Regain your reason! Fight for freedom again, because the governments won't forget how easy this was...to subjugate an entire world out of fear.
South Korea got it right...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Remember 250,000 to 500,000 die every year from the normal flu..and the world does not shut down.
But the over-arching point you make is in my view a valid one: Like everything else, it’s just a cost/benefit equation. The response depends on the value placed on a life - or perhaps 50,000,000 lives. If a life is considered by a society to be ‘priceless’ then that society cannot function: it’s entire treasure would be consumed in the impossible endeavour of ensuring that nobody dies.
As to the broader lessons learned, much has been said earlier. Anyone who wants to pursue a career as a commercial pilot should plan on at least a couple of periods of involuntary unemployment. (Not the kind of gig I’d pursue.). This is a consequence of a broader lesson I’ve learned: Any business that requires payment for services before they are provided or payment for goods before title passes to the buyer is usually the equivalent of a person who lives from payday to payday. All it takes is a change in a bunch of variables over which the business/person has little-to-no control and either the whole thing collapses or they start down the slippery slope of ever-increasing debt that usually ends in tears.
I’ve learnt that there is nothing more stable than essential services and government jobs. And whilst they may not be the most high paying, there will always be a need for:
Teachers
Police Officers
Nurses
Teachers
Police Officers
Nurses
I’ve learnt that there is nothing more stable than essential services and government jobs. And whilst they may not be the most high paying, there will always be a need for:
Teachers
Police Officers
Nurses
Teachers
Police Officers
Nurses
What have I learnt? Nothing in life is guaranteed and roll with the punches.
I had already learnt 19 years ago that as an airline pilot you are qualified for nothing when the noise stops.