Best part of the job

[xfeed]

As I have aspirations of one day being a pilot myself, I was wondering what some of you would say is the best part of being a pilot. I realise that everyone's answer will be somewhat different. Perhaps you enjoy the travel aspects or the equipment you fly.

Whatever it is I would be interested in hearing what it is that appeals to you most. On the flip side, I wouldn't mind hearing what you dislike most about the job as well. I appreciate any responses.

Cheers!

[zerozero]

Multi faceted

I personally like the travel. I have an incurable case of wanderlust. I like the first turn on course while accelerating. I like training and learning. I like the real odd ball charters. I like variety.

I dislike airport security.

I dislike stale coffee.

I dislike airport security.

I dislike stale coffee.

And I really dislike airport security.

Good luck. I hope you reach your goals.

[Rainboe]

As I have aspirations of one day being a pilot myself, I was wondering what some of you would say is the best part of being a pilot.

If it's not flying, controlling an aeroplane....ie being a pilot, then go no further! The rest of it is just what goes with flying aeroplanes.

[Earthmover]

Well rainboe is absolutely right. As to "what goes with it", have you got all day?

Here's a few samples:

Seeing Comet Hale-Bopp as a magnificent beacon in the sky for weeks on end

Eating in the restaurant with the best view in the world (once counted five countries visible from my window)

Being hand-fed by beautiful girls (well, .. almost!) - even if it is my own Sainsbury's low-fat individual Thai curry warmed up in the oven!

The best humour you can experience

The best and most loyal friends a man could have

The sheer satisfaction of a visual circuit with all the gizmos turned off

I'm stopping as I'll use too much bandwidth.

[south coast]

it is an interesting job, as opposed to sitting in an office, it pays farely well, and the best thing about it, it gives you lots of time off to persue other hobbies and interests!

and before i get the eager beavers complaining, it does not have to be your lifes' passion to be a good pilot or even to want to become one...if you want to become a pilot, do so, at the end of the day, you can dress it up all you want, it is still just a job...but a job which most of its workers enjoy, there's the difference between flying and other jobs.

[Skybound330]

Likes (many): The view, The technical side, the good atmosphere in the cockpit, The nature involved etc.

dislikes (very few): Not finding a job, investments. But at the end, it's worth it.

[TopBunk]

Likes

• The satisfaction of having delivered your poss 400 pax safely and on time half way round the world having negotiated weather, ATC etc
• The spectacular scenery and sunsets
• Getting airborne from LHR after the frustrations on the ground
• The final setting of the park brake at LHR after landing (see above)
• The fact that you don't take home a briefcase full of work after every flight

Dislikes

• Sunrises at 30W Eastbound
• Going to work at LHR (see above)
• Arriving back into LHR at any time (see above)
• The on-board rest facilities (LH)
• The unworkable shorthaul schedlues
• The internal BA politics of other departments frustrating your efforts to deliver a quality product
• Having to drop off a bunch off well-rested hosties at their hotel at LHR before we can go to the carpark to drive home (see above

.... well that'll do for starters!

[Gufo]

Er.. well... just some of 'em

I like:
• Steep turns onto final course;
• Nature all around, the colours of the Earth, in particular;
• skimming the clouds top during climb at twilight;
• if you combine clouds skimming with a climbing turn, that's ecstasy;
• managing systems properly and enjoying what they give you in return;
• visual approaches;
• low visibility operations (I grew up in Linate, hey!);
• dodging thunderstorms;
• ending rotations smoothly and perfectly on time.

This is what I don't appreciate:
• dummy ramp agents;
• dummy ramp agents in Rome FCO;
• eating in a hurry and/or turbulence and/or without a tray table (God bless Airbus);
• you often see your friends do a lot of things together, and you can't join them;
• arrogant passengers (but, okay, in most jobs you get arrogant customers, don't you?);
• sometimes the feeling that I'm not being able to achieve anything else, that I'm missing something in the time I'm given.