Dreams
Joined: Jul 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 508
Likes: 31
From: UK
I very rarely remember dreams when I wake up so this thread is a bit of a revelation for me. Having read your accounts, it's unlocked my own memories and indeed, I too have the wires and Fred Flintstone dreams. Another one is the ability to walk on water - but maybe that's not a dream after all. 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 1
From: UK
Wow didnt realise it was so common.
I have the low level flying bit in a seaking flying under power cables and street wires and between street houses and not hitting anything BUT the fear of impact is always there. I never actually get out of that threat zone.
Second recurring dream: i am on shift dressed and ready to launch at very short notice. Everyone is trained and ready but i haven't told them my license has lapsed and i havent flown for some time. I keep hoping that if there is a call out, i will remember all the checks!!!
Any psychologists out there?
I have the low level flying bit in a seaking flying under power cables and street wires and between street houses and not hitting anything BUT the fear of impact is always there. I never actually get out of that threat zone.
Second recurring dream: i am on shift dressed and ready to launch at very short notice. Everyone is trained and ready but i haven't told them my license has lapsed and i havent flown for some time. I keep hoping that if there is a call out, i will remember all the checks!!!
Any psychologists out there?
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: On the Beach
Dreams and Company Safety Policy
Just cracked 20000 hours, ten years rotary and twenty fixed wing, and life takes a funny turn. Never had many concerns over bad dreams previously but now starting to have some fairly unpleasant nights as the brain goes into overdrive whilst I sleep, or more accurately try to sleep.
This mostly started when my operator (large Middle East plank-wing airline) began pursuing an evermore penalising and punitive policy against its pilots. The company takes the view that operational errors and incidents can be regulated against, and punishment continues as a way to improve their safety record - I kid you not, we seem to genuinely have a management belief that mistakes can be avoided by enhanced levels of punishment and retribution.
I know, I know, why come and work for a Middle East operator stuck in the middle ages, as far as its safety policy goes? Still, here we are, and as regards the dreams is it too simple to draw any causal link? I consider myself no more than an average operator at best, and as yet I have fortunately escaped any incident and associated retribution -- but several others here have had issues, in some cases leading up to them being at best 'resigned' by the company, and in a few cases fired.
Time to give it up and head for the garden?
This mostly started when my operator (large Middle East plank-wing airline) began pursuing an evermore penalising and punitive policy against its pilots. The company takes the view that operational errors and incidents can be regulated against, and punishment continues as a way to improve their safety record - I kid you not, we seem to genuinely have a management belief that mistakes can be avoided by enhanced levels of punishment and retribution.
I know, I know, why come and work for a Middle East operator stuck in the middle ages, as far as its safety policy goes? Still, here we are, and as regards the dreams is it too simple to draw any causal link? I consider myself no more than an average operator at best, and as yet I have fortunately escaped any incident and associated retribution -- but several others here have had issues, in some cases leading up to them being at best 'resigned' by the company, and in a few cases fired.
Time to give it up and head for the garden?
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 3
From: NEW YORK
Just cracked 20000 hours, ten years rotary and twenty fixed wing, and life takes a funny turn. Never had many concerns over bad dreams previously but now starting to have some fairly unpleasant nights as the brain goes into overdrive whilst I sleep, or more accurately try to sleep.
Time to give it up and head for the garden?
Time to give it up and head for the garden?
Can you afford to head for the garden? It matters, because if you cannot, you'll need to live with the bad dreams. At most, you can remonstrate gently, pointing out that mercy is a huge virtue according to the Koran and tying that in to current best practices.
Obviously if you have the garden fund overflowing, you can be more explicit, but skilled marketing remains essential if you want to do more than just quit.
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Northamptonshire, England
I regularly dream of being stuck under power cables but put it down to living as a child in Southall where trolley buses ran up and down the high street powered by overhead power lines. My worst dream is dreaming I have just woken up to find I am in bed with my mother in law !!!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: Do I come here often?
Joined: Mar 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 153
From: Brisbane, Qld, Australia
I used to dream about flying a shovel around when I was a kid. Later during my flying career, I dreamt about flying between powerlines.
After retiring, I have dreamt that I have been rostered to do a flight but realise that my medical and IR have expired.
One thing different, I never flew helicopters.
After retiring, I have dreamt that I have been rostered to do a flight but realise that my medical and IR have expired.
One thing different, I never flew helicopters.
Howcanwebeexpectedtoflylikeeagles
whensurroundedbyturkeys
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Over the years I have regularly dreamt of being trapped by wires. The scenario is usually trying to take off along a street with lots of wires crisscrossing it. My worst one was finding myself hovering in the middle of the Rugby radio station aerial array at night, which, in its day, had 12 aerial masts up to 800 feet high held up by lots of guy ropes and supporting long aerial wires between them. It was thick fog and I knew where I was but couldn’t see a thing.
Having retired three years ago, my aviation related dreams have changed. They tend to be about finding myself about to go flying when I shouldn’t be. My last one was going in to work as a retired pilot and being asked if I could do them a favour and doing a flight because they had run out of pilots. Next thing I am in the cockpit with passengers being loaded and realising I had never flowed this type of helicopter before. Not wanting to let everyone down, I’m thinking as long as I can work out how to get the engines going I should get away with it.
Glad to hear I’m not alone with my dreams but I do resent dreaming about work when I am retired.
Having retired three years ago, my aviation related dreams have changed. They tend to be about finding myself about to go flying when I shouldn’t be. My last one was going in to work as a retired pilot and being asked if I could do them a favour and doing a flight because they had run out of pilots. Next thing I am in the cockpit with passengers being loaded and realising I had never flowed this type of helicopter before. Not wanting to let everyone down, I’m thinking as long as I can work out how to get the engines going I should get away with it.
Glad to hear I’m not alone with my dreams but I do resent dreaming about work when I am retired.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: Edinburgh
Have also had similar dreams. Mainly flying around under high trees looking for a way out.
Never seem to find it.
I also have dreams where I run fast and then start flying and once gained enough height gliding around towns and countryside.
Then comes a recurring nightmare... I crawl through a tunnel for miles and miles eventually seeing a small shaft of light, continue crawling and find its too small to get through and I'm stuck and it ends there.
Whats the gliding or tunnel all about ?
Never seem to find it.
I also have dreams where I run fast and then start flying and once gained enough height gliding around towns and countryside.
Then comes a recurring nightmare... I crawl through a tunnel for miles and miles eventually seeing a small shaft of light, continue crawling and find its too small to get through and I'm stuck and it ends there.
Whats the gliding or tunnel all about ?
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
