Advice for anyone who cares. . . .
 

Take this as you will, but I am pretty sick to death of the negativity on PPRUNE. If you read the various threads on here SELDOM is there positive and useful information, much is just slack mouthing off from a generation of aviation professionals who seem to thrive on cutting each other down and even more so, wrongly portraying the professional aviation industry and the image of pilots. I will pass on some information imparted into to me by those who were willing to share it. . . please feel free to add your POSITIVE advice and tips for anyone to take what they want out of it.

I believe there is to much of an emphasis on using G.A as a "Get in, Get out" build hours and move on scheme. Many people are missing the point and all the bitching and moaning is making aviation a dull career full of un-happy negative people. . . I entered into aviation the usual CPL way, bright eyes and full of energy, ready for any challenge and worked hard just to clean aircraft, my folks noticed my dedication to aviation and my struggle to self fun my way, I was lucky enough to have some financial assistance from my folks for which I am ever grateful for and words can not express my appreciation. I was brought up with the morals of doing things at 110% and setting your own standards in life despite what others may do or say. I am meant to be the typical Gen Y, yet get disgusted by how many pilots think they are god's gift and should be in an airline NOW, with a command in 2 years. Where the hell did this come from? Did I miss those classes? I was told it's a hard road but a rewarding and enjoyable road that will leave you satisfied and smiling over the many memories, places and great people you will meet.

I have only been in aviation a short period of time and have worked my way up through the ranks to get my self 1000 hours of experience (which still isn't much) of which I am lucky to have made up of Turbine/Turbo-prop, Multi-engine and IFR/VFR flying, rotary and fixed-wing. There is a sense of pride and achievement on looking back over the last couple of years and knowing after gaining my CPL I have done it all on my own back, I entered into the aviation industry knowing no one and now have best friends, a solid network and many many amazing memories. I created connections out of nothing, improved my people skills and seriously changed my attitude thanks to some people who cared enough to give me a few tips. I still have a lot to learn and look forward to what may lie ahead!

If there is anything I can say to anyone starting out, PLEASE PLEASE don't miss out on G.A and don't go into G.A with the "Hour building" mentality. Yes we all have goals and want to go places but your not going to get there quicker by counting every 0.2 and you will miss out on enjoying the ride. There is WAY TO MUCH emphasis on the TYPE of HOURS you have in your log book and pilots not taking opportunities because they don't want to be a Co-Pilot on a single pilot aircraft under 5700KG or it's not multi, or it's not Cat C or Blah Blah blah. If there is one thing I have learnt it is that EXPERIENCE CAN NOT BE BOUGHT and nor can the people you will meet who are willing to share there knowledge with you.... find your self an experienced pilot and sit next to them like a sponge, soaking up information on simple things you may think that you know! Weather, thunderstorms, Low Vis, Turbulence, failures and take on board everything they know! It will help you more than you will ever imagine and the best part is these pilots are everywhere and you don't have to pay them an hourly rate or make a booking, it's FREE (might cost you a few beers at the worst!!!) Some of these tips have changed my life and stopped my from making some bad decisions in the aircraft and on the ground!

Each person is entitled to there own opinion and have there own goals in life but all I am getting at is enjoy the ride, enjoy the sunrises, the sunsets and the amazing places you will visit. Life is short and before you know it, it's over and you don't want to be left thinking "What If" . . .

The best advice I have ever been given went something like this:
" Aviation is a small industry, keep your mouth shut, Stay out of the politics and don't believe everything you read on PPRUNE, but above all it is the best career in the world if YOU WANT IT TO BE".

Aviation is what you make it, don't whine about it, don't bitch and moan, yeah life is tough and has it ups and downs but remember there are people out there who have a dream of flying and will never for-fill it for what ever reason, financial or medical. I don't want to crap on, but it is something I have thought about a lot lately and there is a very negative tone on aviation.
Maybe we can change that ?

I believe the romance of aviation has been lost and the professional courtesy has been pushed aside by ego's and people who work as individuals and not as a team. You are not better than someone because you have more hours, you fly a jet or make more money, you are not special because you are a pilot, you are just lucky that you are EMPLOYED as a Pilot, there are plenty of people who aren't. We might not be able to change the industry, but we can change our attitudes, which over time, will make a difference.

The last thing that I would recommend is to take more photos!! You will look back on them later in life. :ok: Enjoy.

JetX, That just about sums it up. I recently lost my job thanks to the bloody 'GFC' and believe me, you don't know what you've got till its' gone! I've done some amazing things in my short time in GA whilst watching mates move quickly into Dash 8's and I've now realised that I'm not ready to say goodbye to GA yet, there's a few more things I want to do.
I am no longer in a rush and thankfully after 2 months on the ground it looks like an awesome opportunity is knocking on my door!

Go you good thing
 

JET X,

You have my full support for your post. It is brilliant and hits the target spot on. I too have recently stopped posting on PPrune because regardless of the comment and intent of my posts I get shot down by people who espouse to be smarter, more intellegent, etc. Mind you I will say they are a minority as you see the same 'handles" appear time and again. It is a free world and they are entitled to their two bobs worth but it does get a bit over the top. I guess you can sit back and think, like I do, that I would love to be conducting a base check on these people to see just what they really do know. Good luck to you & fly safe.

Groggy.

You are young grasshopper......

JetX, wonderfully put, you are spot on. I couldn't add anything extra to your post, other than congratulating you for putting it out there.

Amen!
 

Very well said JetX (shouldn't it be GenY)! Guys like yourself, relatively new to the industry are few and far between. Unfortunately there are still some people who wouldn't be happy if they were put straight into the RHS of a 777 on $145k pa.
Don't tell everybody about the sunrises, sunsets and amazing places, they might spoil the view!

A must read for EVERYONE in aviation, let alone life in general:D
Nice work:ok:
And Tin your old....so:confused:
How do we make this a sticky?

You're missing the point old chap, if we all appear to be enjoying ourselves then every man and his dog will want to be a pilot, that means more competition for jobs. So keep your dour face on and don't let anyone see you smile!

Well I guess a career as an English teacher was not an option.
Remain passionate and positive and take the highs with the lows.

:D Awfully well said jetex.
You sound like many of the blokes from the era when Tinpis and I were competing with others to wash aeroplanes for half an hour's flyin' and gettin' severely p*ssed off at the attitude of the Qantas cadets who "deserved" the good GA jobs.
There's always been guys like you and the other mob who are up 'emselves.
My father was in your group in 1938. Rode a bike to Mascot while the showponies wore their leather coats and flyin' helmets in the tram to impress everybody.
You are RIGHT about taking photos. Get PLENTY of people. Pilots, hosties, ground staff, and anything that's ordinary that you laugh about or hate.
In about thirty years you'll take your photos to reunions and EVERYBODY will say, "Thank God you had that camera all the time. You used to p*ss us off with it"
or, "I wish I'd have thought to take a photo of that".
or, "Him! gawd I've forgotten about him. Remember the time he... "
They'll ask for copies ... (thank God for scanners; it's easy now)
I've got photos my uncle and father took in New Guinea before the war when the great big, THREE engined planes (with one big round engine on the nose and whopping great steering wheels like we see in busses now) were equivalent to today's Jumbos.
Better still, my uncle took colour movies there for the last two years before the Japs got annoying.
A couple of years ago, I noted some young bloke wearin' a pilot's uniform climb into a DC-3 that had just arrived to be based in Perth to the joy of many.
He had a look in the cockpit and was a bit dismissive. When asked why he wasn't impressed, he announced that HE was getting endorsed in a Bandit soon... like THAT was the pinnacle that anyone could reach.
He said it in front of one pilot who'd finally acheived his life's dream of a DC-3 endorsement and had just flown the aeroplane across OZ, an old bloke who flew 'em for eleven years and had just told the TV interviewer he'd loved every minute in the old girls, and a second generation DC-3 pilot who'd spent fourteen hours of bliss oozing across Oz at altitudes that people on the ground can be seen from.
That three just looked at each other and smiled.
They wondered if he will ever have any happy memories of actually flying planes.
To-day you operate 'em. The autopilot gets to do the flying.

TAKE PHOTOS
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...elic/carib.jpg
The Bou only lasted a short time in PNG ops. Recently a model maker was wrapt to find that one pilot took many photos from different angles. There's an accurate model of her now

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...rrierogers.jpg
Catch them bein' themselves. His kids and grandkids didn' see him this way.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...relic/prop.jpg
DC-3 pilots get all fuzzy seeing photos like thissy

Another reason why you should take photos is, a subsequent generation may be able to use technology to doctor your stuff.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...relic/ju31.jpg

This is three still frames of a movie, stitched together in a computer to make probably the only colour photo of a Junkers 31 in New Guinea.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...fjunkpilot.jpg

When boys were men.
He's a sixteen or seventeen year old un-licensed "Cadet" who started the three engines by winding a big handle that spun a fly wheel and helped fly the Junkers 31 in Guinea Airways.
Note NO roof and the beaut steering wheel. They're at altitude here (the coat) There's a another one of him low land flyin in a singlet.
He's probably dead now or in his nineties. Wish I could find out who he was and send pictures to him or his family.

brilliant thread, sixtiesrelics post made me smile, and people ask me why im happy just flying around in little Jabirus! they are FUN! and others reel in horror when i tell them i have gone back to flying RRAus, its the modern equivalent of the tiger moth era! basic manual slow and low flying! always bring a smile to my face.. and i cant wait to get my Tiger moth endorsement!

Good post JetX!

Your thoughts struck a chord with me, although from a slightly different perspective - because the only reason I fly is to enjoy myself and the company of others who share my passion for flying.

I'm way too old to be considering a career in aviation, but now have the time and resources to indulge a lifelong ambition.

And it's fun!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...craftscout.jpg

Naa Ultralights. THIS was basic flyin'.
It was when "Minimum aircraft" were let loose in OZ in the seventies.
No instruments and no performance. We disgarded the crash helmets so we could hear the wind wafting past our ears to gauge the airspeed.
This was about as high as we got.
This was how a couple of Electra and jet pilots got their thrills actually flying and not just operating an aircraft.

Yes the old Dh 82. Yes That's flying. You get the extra thrill from your sense of smell.

JetX

It may surprise you, but the Moderators are sympathetic to your comments. How often do we open a thread only to think “Not again…..!” :ugh:

The negativity is appalling – and it seems to be something relatively new in aviation, mostly from today’s Generation Y just starting their career in aviation. I often feel they don’t know what they don’t know and are unwilling to learn from their more experienced colleagues. Maybe our generation was also like that – it is too long ago for me to remember! :{

How often have you wondered where a thread went? Threads about Hevilift, SkyAirWorld, Woollongong Airport to name just a few, usually head downhill after the second post! The deplorable number of Qantas whinging threads that are started every time a minor event occurs. The Qantas -versus- Virgin threads. The anti media threads - don't post media errors on PPRuNe - write to that media's Editor direct as he/she probably does not read PPRuNe!

The number of negative posts, irrelevant posts, vindictive posts, unacceptable language and meaningless posts are too time-consuming to clean up, so threads are moved out of sight or get locked.

Then we get a “Where is my thread” email, or quite common “Who got to you” email!! No one has ever “got to a Mod”! You would not believe the number of PMs and emails Mods receive! Quite simply, the thread has passed it's use by date, the mess becomes too time consuming to clean up and the thread gets removed or locked.

It seems some of today’s younger PPRuNe users are simply unable to debate a topic and accept another user’s opinion, without resorting to vindictive, negative and often, worthless comment.

I know the problem. I do not have the answer! :{

Feel free to click on the "Report This Post" icon to the lower left of each post if you believe the post inappropriate. This action often saves us a lot of time and effort searching out unacceptable posts.

Tail Wheel

P.S.

triton140
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia
Age: 59
Posts: 30

59 old??? There are some us here that will never see that age again! :{

60s. I remember the AN DHC4 in PNG! I'm guessing you were one of the pilots?

I suspect the photo of the G31 (at Wau perhaps?) came from film taken by Mick Leahy? Mick's wife Jeannette is still alive. I may know people who can identify that pilot, send me a PM and I'll send you some contact details.

Flying
 

Remember flying is a wonderful Gift..........use it don't abuse it.!

Thinks.. http://www.augk18.dsl.pipex.com/Smileys/think.gif good subject for Archibald...

60's, Have you got a photty of Manser propped at the bar with his tin of Craven A and a glass of Buka Meri?

JETX,

I cannot tell you how pleasing it was to read something who has positive things to say about the industry. I'm Gen X and only getting into one facet of the industry later in life. Having read a number of forum pages, one would get the impression that the sky is falling in and every company, government entity or other was closing down due to lack of interest. If you don't take time to enjoy the journey (or stop and smell the roses) along the way, you shouldn't be in any industry let alone this one. :D

And that's my two cents worth.:ok:

Puts the vote in for the best thread yet on PPRuNE.

It has always made me wonder what those people who rush through GA in a hurry are thinking when they get into their Shiny Jet before they are 30... Welcome to the next 35 years of your life, going city to city, country to country.. Are they going to have those great stories you hear from senior pilots about their time in a C207, with back dragging through the dirt, struggling to get airborne, or all the experiences they have had single pilot night IFR?

It would be fun to get into a jet, but half the fun is getting the experience and skills behind you, and enjoying the fact you're there! I think too many want everything right now, and aren't prepared to work hard to get it. Is it some in the younger generation who have had everything in their lives handed to them on a silver platter? I don't know.