Where have all the ladies gone??
Airbus Girl, regrettably these days very few passengers actually see the flight deck crew, thanks to the paranoia of the sick-urity dweebs.
Your airline seems to be somewhat in the dark ages if they cannot even provide you with the correct uniform. Hardly rocket science, one would have thought.
I quite like functional car interiors - and hate the move towards interiors which are like something out of Currysdigitalcometdixons with absurdly complex 'interface devices'. I once had to use a courtesy M-B when mine was in for servicing and it took me 20 minutes to find out how to set the clock.... I did laugh at a colleague who tried to show off his BMW voice-activated radio - it refused to do a damn thing. "You forget to say 'please'", I told him. That didn't work either - we had no radio for the whole journey as he didn't know what the 'direct law' was for his radio. What was wrong with just volume, tuning and waveband as we had in the old days?
But I agree that some interiors are pretty dull.
Your airline seems to be somewhat in the dark ages if they cannot even provide you with the correct uniform. Hardly rocket science, one would have thought.
I quite like functional car interiors - and hate the move towards interiors which are like something out of Currysdigitalcometdixons with absurdly complex 'interface devices'. I once had to use a courtesy M-B when mine was in for servicing and it took me 20 minutes to find out how to set the clock.... I did laugh at a colleague who tried to show off his BMW voice-activated radio - it refused to do a damn thing. "You forget to say 'please'", I told him. That didn't work either - we had no radio for the whole journey as he didn't know what the 'direct law' was for his radio. What was wrong with just volume, tuning and waveband as we had in the old days?
But I agree that some interiors are pretty dull.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In a nice house
Posts: 981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, but the passengers do see me walking through the airport at the start and end of the day and always peer through the windows/ flight deck door once we are on board.
One rude (male) passenger, who we had let visit the flight deck (not knowing he was a chauvinist pig!) said, in a very patronising way "oh, so they let women fly now do they!" so I replied "Yes they do. Why, are you a pilot? No? Thought not. Still, I guess it was a male training Captain that decided to hire me and a male training Captain that passes me on all my base and line checks - or are you saying that he is not a good training Captain?"
That one threw him and he shut up after that.
As for uniform, yes, I was pretty gobsmacked. It isn't the first time they've had no uniform for female crew, but it is the first time an airline employer has decided that it is perfectly acceptable for their female pilots to wear cabin crew jackets. If they think it is acceptable then why don't they get the male pilots to wear the male cabin crew jackets? Think of the money that could be saved....
Oh I could write an essay!!!
One rude (male) passenger, who we had let visit the flight deck (not knowing he was a chauvinist pig!) said, in a very patronising way "oh, so they let women fly now do they!" so I replied "Yes they do. Why, are you a pilot? No? Thought not. Still, I guess it was a male training Captain that decided to hire me and a male training Captain that passes me on all my base and line checks - or are you saying that he is not a good training Captain?"
That one threw him and he shut up after that.
As for uniform, yes, I was pretty gobsmacked. It isn't the first time they've had no uniform for female crew, but it is the first time an airline employer has decided that it is perfectly acceptable for their female pilots to wear cabin crew jackets. If they think it is acceptable then why don't they get the male pilots to wear the male cabin crew jackets? Think of the money that could be saved....
Oh I could write an essay!!!
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi folks!
I'm still around, and would like to confirm that my good friend Whirlygigand I are definitely different people. As you've noticed, I don't come here very often these days, so this was the first time I'd seen this thread.
My reasons for not coming here a lot...
1) Simply....lack of time.
2) I've been around since before the Private Flying Forum even existed, and I was getting bored. Time for a change. No, not off to another aviation website; there are other things in life you know.
3) Related to (2)...same old threads coming up again and again. There is a limit to how often I can get excited about hours to first solo, or even first trip to France. Perhaps I'm a bit old and jaded, but I decided to leave it to other people to answer things.
4) I work in aviation - I'm an instructor, I write for several magazines, and I recently had a book published. In my time off, I prefer to do something other than.....write about aviation! Again, there are other things in life.
5) This is probably my imagination, but I think it was more fun on here a few years ago.
However, getting back to the original post, I don't think it's just women who have left. Where are LowNSlow, Rightstuffer, and many others whose names I can't think of right now? People move on. It's natural; get used to it.
It's nice to be remembered, so thanks for asking after me. But bye for now, and I'm not sure when I'll be back...though just maybe in the next day or two to see if there's a response to this post.
I'm still around, and would like to confirm that my good friend Whirlygigand I are definitely different people. As you've noticed, I don't come here very often these days, so this was the first time I'd seen this thread.
My reasons for not coming here a lot...
1) Simply....lack of time.
2) I've been around since before the Private Flying Forum even existed, and I was getting bored. Time for a change. No, not off to another aviation website; there are other things in life you know.
3) Related to (2)...same old threads coming up again and again. There is a limit to how often I can get excited about hours to first solo, or even first trip to France. Perhaps I'm a bit old and jaded, but I decided to leave it to other people to answer things.
4) I work in aviation - I'm an instructor, I write for several magazines, and I recently had a book published. In my time off, I prefer to do something other than.....write about aviation! Again, there are other things in life.
5) This is probably my imagination, but I think it was more fun on here a few years ago.
However, getting back to the original post, I don't think it's just women who have left. Where are LowNSlow, Rightstuffer, and many others whose names I can't think of right now? People move on. It's natural; get used to it.
It's nice to be remembered, so thanks for asking after me. But bye for now, and I'm not sure when I'll be back...though just maybe in the next day or two to see if there's a response to this post.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Norfolk UK
Age: 81
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whirlybird,please don't go.
There's so much dross ,pedantry and nitpicking on here it's important to me,and I'm sure lots of others ,that we have balanced input from experienced pilots.
So please give it a bit more time before pulling the plug.
Lister
There's so much dross ,pedantry and nitpicking on here it's important to me,and I'm sure lots of others ,that we have balanced input from experienced pilots.
So please give it a bit more time before pulling the plug.
Lister
Hi Whirlybird, it's been a while since I soaked your shoes with Avgas in Welshpool!! Still around when work is boring but mostly lurking rather than posting. Haven't been on a Private Flying Bash since the Fly! exhibition in 2004!
PompeyPaul, they really are two different people honest. One likes wine, the other likes beer!!!
PompeyPaul, they really are two different people honest. One likes wine, the other likes beer!!!
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lister, I'm not going anywhere, though on re-reading it does sound like that. I just lurk now and then, and post very occasionally, instead of being a PPRuNe addict who annoyed people because I never stopped posting...that happened at one point, honest! Anyway, it's nice to be wanted, so if you keep asking so nicely I'll definitely stick around.
LowNSlow, great to hear from you! Actually, I thought Whirls and I would both drink anything going, but there you are - learn something new every day. But even though we fly the same type of aircraft, have similar PPRune names, and even look a little bit alike, there honestly are two of us. And she's a lot younger than me. Anyway, LowNSlow, if you ever fancy spraying Avgas all over me again, fly into Tatenhill or Derby or somehere else in that area and we can meet up. Or even...another fly-in?
LowNSlow, great to hear from you! Actually, I thought Whirls and I would both drink anything going, but there you are - learn something new every day. But even though we fly the same type of aircraft, have similar PPRune names, and even look a little bit alike, there honestly are two of us. And she's a lot younger than me. Anyway, LowNSlow, if you ever fancy spraying Avgas all over me again, fly into Tatenhill or Derby or somehere else in that area and we can meet up. Or even...another fly-in?
Moderator
Thank you to those experienced and helpful contributors, be they experienced at aviation, or just experienced at helpful contributions. Our industry will be safer and more enjoyable if we contribute to each other's learning, which will only happen if we tell our stories, and answer the questions. I've got a lot to learn, and some to teach, so I'll be around for a while. I hope the other "experienced" PPRuNers will stick around, if for no other reason than to see that some of the wisdom passed along actually made a difference!
I'm off to teach aviation to a class full of 11 year olds this afternoon... Let's see if they slag!
Pilot DAR
I'm off to teach aviation to a class full of 11 year olds this afternoon... Let's see if they slag!
Pilot DAR
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by LowN'
PompeyPaul, they really are two different people honest. One likes wine, the other likes beer!!!
However, there are a few people here who have seen us in the same room together and can confirm we are not alter egos!!
Cheers
Whirls
Oh Shazbat!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Leeds, UK
Age: 64
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Truth is out there...
However, there are a few people here who have seen us in the same room together and can confirm we are not alter egos!!
Some say that there are two Whirls, identical twins born of different sets of parents on different days.
Some say that Whirls & Whirly are actually clones (which would explain the drinking habits as per post #71), but they also suggest that there may be a little known third clone, WhirlyRound&Around, who flies <hushed tones>Fixed Wing<gasp!> but has been banished to the far North. However others feel that this was actually Whirly in a F-reg Robin of some sort
Some even say that Whirls & Whirly are actually matter & anti-matter versions of each other (evidenced they say that one likes "Beer & Wine" and the other "Wine & Beer". See symmetry) and that should they ever meet they will cancel each other out.
Either way, Whirls & Whirly, us novices do appreciate your help & comments in these pages so I hope that you do hang around & continue to offer all of that useful advice.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kent UK
Age: 70
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Either way, Whirls & Whirly, us novices do appreciate your help & comments in these pages so I hope that you do hang around & continue to offer all of that useful advice.
A 'Meet the Whirlies' bash! What a great idea! (I also like beer - real - and wine.)
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Batninth,
Er ...we have met ... severral times but I suppose that could explain the gravitational black hole that surrounded us
Cheers
Whirls
that should they ever meet they will cancel each other out.
Cheers
Whirls
Whirly, maybe another Fly-In to Duxford so that ATC can tell you to park next to the B-17 and you'll know which big, green, 4 engined WW2 bomber it is
Once the sun has got his hat on again a venture up to the Midlands sounds like a great plan.
Talking about names from the past, have you heard from Aerbabe recently?
Once the sun has got his hat on again a venture up to the Midlands sounds like a great plan.
Talking about names from the past, have you heard from Aerbabe recently?
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had an email from Aerbabe a couple of months ago so she's still with us!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
Red On, Green On
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Between the woods and the water
Age: 24
Posts: 6,487
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Aerbabe is now on the staff of the ATC squadron nearest to the secret Oxfordshire heli-base
It took a while for my plan to bear fruit, but she's been around for a month or so. Pretty busy with work, and also working with the ATC Wing organisation quite a bit too.
It took a while for my plan to bear fruit, but she's been around for a month or so. Pretty busy with work, and also working with the ATC Wing organisation quite a bit too.