"Glorified bus drivers"
Nice-but-dim
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"Glorified bus drivers"
Once heard a commercial pilot air his feelings that he and many colleagues felt that they were no more than glorified bus / train drivers, but differed in that they regularly did not get home at night.
Does this (IMHO negative) viewpoint pervade the circles of the professional commercial pilot? Is it more prevalant now with the short haul, fast turnaround environment of the low cost carriers..or is it a feeling generally held by a cynical older few who have found that the pride and responsibility aspects jade over time.
Tim
Does this (IMHO negative) viewpoint pervade the circles of the professional commercial pilot? Is it more prevalant now with the short haul, fast turnaround environment of the low cost carriers..or is it a feeling generally held by a cynical older few who have found that the pride and responsibility aspects jade over time.
Tim
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I rather think it's the view of a jaded minority of industry insiders, be they pilots, cabin crew or otherwise. Most people I talk to outside the industry seem to think it's fascinating, especially if they're afraid of flying!
PPRuNe Handmaiden
One of Australia's Prime Ministers (and I use that term very loosely) called the striking pilots in 1989 "glorified bus drivers".
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When I see a large red object in the sky, sporting wings and a cockney yabber calling " All Fares Please!!". Then I may start to belive it, but then Im not a pilot.....................Yet!!
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You can call us what you like, just don't take our money or criticize our landings!!!
Taken out of context it does sound like a criticism of the job but on the other hand, and if you got to question him closer, what glorious busses to drive.
Taken out of context it does sound like a criticism of the job but on the other hand, and if you got to question him closer, what glorious busses to drive.
My wife described my job as the best paid part time tour guide of all time. Can't understand what she could mean by that.
1/Best paid, questionable?
2/Part time, nearly right, I do read the papers to ensure inflight entertainment is suitable.
3/Tour Guide, probably, always asked about destinations, whats there, where and when to go etc etc
what time etc
1/Best paid, questionable?
2/Part time, nearly right, I do read the papers to ensure inflight entertainment is suitable.
3/Tour Guide, probably, always asked about destinations, whats there, where and when to go etc etc
what time etc
Join Date: Dec 1999
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Ex Australian PM? That wouldnt be a certain Silver Bodgie who did a few hours in a chipmunk at university and thereafter held forth as an expert on all things to do with aviation?
You get jaded in any job. I get paid less than I earned working night shift in factories, theres no prestige, every customs officer thinks Im smuggling dairy goods, the stewardesses think Im a pain and the passengers sneer at my PA's. The only reason I still fly is because theres no other job I can see myself doing without hating it. Plus I get to put 'captain' now on my mailbox, my emails, my letterheads, my coffee mug....
You get jaded in any job. I get paid less than I earned working night shift in factories, theres no prestige, every customs officer thinks Im smuggling dairy goods, the stewardesses think Im a pain and the passengers sneer at my PA's. The only reason I still fly is because theres no other job I can see myself doing without hating it. Plus I get to put 'captain' now on my mailbox, my emails, my letterheads, my coffee mug....
And Engineers are boiler-suited semi-literates capable only of wielding simple tools to fix things to the instructions of a manual. (Then again, many pilots think that too).
G
G
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It is true, we are loosing our perks.
You have to work for a third world country to get the treatment our forerunners had.
I recently took my partner on a flight with no upgrades offered at check even though I the captain was with her as she checked in.
Business class was only half full too.
Once onboard after no upgrade from the cabin manager I upgraded her into the empty crew rest seat in 1B.
However the cabin crew ignored her even telling her that she only had an economy seat so would only get economy food.
When I went for my inflight rest I noticed that there was 16 in business when only 10 was planned, I checked the passenger list to find 6 had been upgraded and they had been given Business class attention and food.
My next flight will cost the company involed big time when I take more fuel and leave the frieght behind.
You have to work for a third world country to get the treatment our forerunners had.
I recently took my partner on a flight with no upgrades offered at check even though I the captain was with her as she checked in.
Business class was only half full too.
Once onboard after no upgrade from the cabin manager I upgraded her into the empty crew rest seat in 1B.
However the cabin crew ignored her even telling her that she only had an economy seat so would only get economy food.
When I went for my inflight rest I noticed that there was 16 in business when only 10 was planned, I checked the passenger list to find 6 had been upgraded and they had been given Business class attention and food.
My next flight will cost the company involed big time when I take more fuel and leave the frieght behind.
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timmcat's phrase "jade over time" is a good one. It's easy to forget, particularly when you've done the job for a while, the level of skills, knowledge and experience required to do the job well. (NB - to do the job well).
That aside, one really earns one's money when something goes wrong. There are no lay-bys at 35000 ft !
That aside, one really earns one's money when something goes wrong. There are no lay-bys at 35000 ft !
Pilots' Pal
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Some of you need to review what you have posted and realise how stupid it all seems.
Pilots are not gods. A bus or train driver has the same duty of care and responsiblity.
Some of those employed as commanders of aircraft (I think the UK ANO does not refer to "captains") insist on their being addressed as "Captain" outside their vocational environment. I may be corrected, but I thought this title only applied to ranks supported by a Queen's Commission. I think Salvation Army officers also have the right to be addressed by rank.
I wonder at the mentality demonstrated in some posts. For example, the forum related to the tragic crash of the Fairy Firefly at the weekend has degenerated into a slanging match.
GET A LIFE!
Pilots are not gods. A bus or train driver has the same duty of care and responsiblity.
Some of those employed as commanders of aircraft (I think the UK ANO does not refer to "captains") insist on their being addressed as "Captain" outside their vocational environment. I may be corrected, but I thought this title only applied to ranks supported by a Queen's Commission. I think Salvation Army officers also have the right to be addressed by rank.
I wonder at the mentality demonstrated in some posts. For example, the forum related to the tragic crash of the Fairy Firefly at the weekend has degenerated into a slanging match.
GET A LIFE!
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My first job, at the age of 13, was delivering newspapers.
Funny how 15 years later, my first flying job was.....delivering newspapers.
I got more tips at Christmas when I was on me bike!!!
Funny how 15 years later, my first flying job was.....delivering newspapers.
I got more tips at Christmas when I was on me bike!!!
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On the subject of calling ones self 'captain'. my opinion is that if youve earned it, flaunt it. I know of people who send back paperwork if their full honors title isnt included, such as MBE, KBE etc. The captain tag? I worked in everything from factories to graveyards to cattle stations for years to subsidise aviation studies and training. I flew awful aircraft with awful loads over awful routes for awful pay for awful years, and after twenty years of defying aviation, I finally get to call myself Captain in a real airliner. I paid for it. Its mine. Im wearing it.