The Demise of the Professional Pilot
Paxing All Over The World
HIALS
That was neatly put. I have not quoted the whole of your second paragraph but have kept it on file. I have been saying the exact same thing about the telecomms business for the past decade or so. In leaving it behind, I know that there are plenty of young [natch!] people to take my place and will work for less and make jokes about a middle aged old twit who was living in an old era.
The differance is that telecommunications does not carry the risks of an airline. Therefore, the airline world is in more serious trouble. In due course, people will die. I can say that, because that is what human beings do. They allow things to slide until ... they slide off onto the deck. The Hatfield rail crash in England is a fine example. It was all avoidable but it was not avoided and people died.
don't need to be revered or applauded. I just want some courtesy and common respect.
The differance is that telecommunications does not carry the risks of an airline. Therefore, the airline world is in more serious trouble. In due course, people will die. I can say that, because that is what human beings do. They allow things to slide until ... they slide off onto the deck. The Hatfield rail crash in England is a fine example. It was all avoidable but it was not avoided and people died.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: uk
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So TDF an airline Captain in the past was rewarded in a way that reflected his qualification and experience. But surely the laws of supply and demand must, in a free market set these levels, if indeed it was difficult and demanding to be a pilot then the qualification would be relatively scarce and thus expensive? You cannot compare flying with the professions. There are no minimum qualifications to become a pilot; indeed many would struggle to achieve A levels. A few multi question papers from the CAA or FAA hardly rank with the degrees required by doctors, lawyers and accountants most of whom regard your salaries with envy. The ‘closed shop’ fiddles, expenses and grotesque salaries of the past have been rumbled, the low cost operators have established that pilots are (almost) two a penny.
‘Selfish, Greedy Airline Owners, CEO’s and Managers’ have spoilt the party heh, well for long enough they have seen you and your unions as selfish and greedy now the boot is on the other foot and pilots like so many of the ‘protected species’ of the past have to face the real world. Companies do not exist for the benefit of their employees and airlines do not exist for the benefit of pilots.
‘Professional decision making has been taken away from the Captain’ What on earth does that mean? Since when did pilots make commercial decisions or indeed decisions on anything not directly connected with the operation of the aircraft? All you can do apparantly is throw your toys around and sabotage your company, not the way professionals behave.
Your comments on fatigue may well be valid, but you must expect the companies to work to the legislated limits they are not benevolent societies, truth be told little has changed in this respect aviation has always been hard work.
‘Many pilots in the company I’m with are angry and are looking to leave, yet they can’t find a better job to go to at the moment’ says it all really.
‘Selfish, Greedy Airline Owners, CEO’s and Managers’ have spoilt the party heh, well for long enough they have seen you and your unions as selfish and greedy now the boot is on the other foot and pilots like so many of the ‘protected species’ of the past have to face the real world. Companies do not exist for the benefit of their employees and airlines do not exist for the benefit of pilots.
‘Professional decision making has been taken away from the Captain’ What on earth does that mean? Since when did pilots make commercial decisions or indeed decisions on anything not directly connected with the operation of the aircraft? All you can do apparantly is throw your toys around and sabotage your company, not the way professionals behave.
Your comments on fatigue may well be valid, but you must expect the companies to work to the legislated limits they are not benevolent societies, truth be told little has changed in this respect aviation has always been hard work.
‘Many pilots in the company I’m with are angry and are looking to leave, yet they can’t find a better job to go to at the moment’ says it all really.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
d246, in the UK at least the Flight Time Limitations were formulated with some flex, at the behest of airlines, so that in an emergency the airline would be able to operate despite staff shortages. The idea was that a short term bug, or hiring spree by another carrier, would not cripple the companies' flying programmes. As I recall, it then took about 6 weeks before the first operators publicly stated "we roster to CAP371 limits."
Had I been in the CAA then, I would have followed this with a statement "companies who operate in accordance with the letter, but not the spirit, of safety legislation will attract extra scrutiny from the Flight Ops Inspectors."
For shorthaul operation, CAP 371 allows slightly more than a healthy amount of work- working to this level over a long enough period will seriously damage the health of many aircrew.
Had I been in the CAA then, I would have followed this with a statement "companies who operate in accordance with the letter, but not the spirit, of safety legislation will attract extra scrutiny from the Flight Ops Inspectors."
For shorthaul operation, CAP 371 allows slightly more than a healthy amount of work- working to this level over a long enough period will seriously damage the health of many aircrew.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: southwest
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
D246, HIALS,
You have both put, eloquently and without agression, the sentiment I was trying to express. For many, flying is a passion, for others a worthwhile and valuable profession. For a few, it is a refuge for the dusty soul and the empty head.
I do fly for a living, I do love my job, but I will stop, without complaint, the moment it becomes my prison.
You have both put, eloquently and without agression, the sentiment I was trying to express. For many, flying is a passion, for others a worthwhile and valuable profession. For a few, it is a refuge for the dusty soul and the empty head.
I do fly for a living, I do love my job, but I will stop, without complaint, the moment it becomes my prison.
Flying can also be a refuge for those who don't want to work for a real boss, and can't stand the idea of office politics and kissing someone's bum (ass) to get ahead. Seniority creates a numerical sequence as a substitute for social cliques and company politics, even "affirmative action". There have been some smaller US airlines, both passenger and freight, where seniority was not always used. But these were non-union.
Airline pilots have no liability insurance, which has become almost unaffordable for thousands of US doctors. If we screw up bad, or even try to cover something up which ended ok for the plane and passengers, our career is over.
Airline pilots have no liability insurance, which has become almost unaffordable for thousands of US doctors. If we screw up bad, or even try to cover something up which ended ok for the plane and passengers, our career is over.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: last time I looked I was still here.
Posts: 4,507
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
d246;
I have no idea where your I.D comes from: but I do see your registration is this week. Thus I conclude you are a newbee. From your comments you are also a knobee: i.e. someone who knows diddly squat about what they are talking.
If you have ever read the conditions, or needed to apply for the job of an airline pilot with a major company in any major developed country, you will have noted the need to have substanstial academic qualifications, as well as considerable personal characteristics of team skills, good communications, leadership qualities, ability to digest mulit-path data and arrive at a concise decision. These are the requirements listed in the advertisments and application forms for the above mentioned airlines. Often, a higher than normal level of education, even university, is also required. After achieving all that at your own expense & endeavour, there is the hurdle of gaining the pilot qualification at your own expense. At the end of that, the selection subjects you to a process consisting of physco tests, team tests, coordination tests, flying ability tests, multiple interviews and more. The whole process can take 5 days or more over a period of 4 weeks, also at your own expense.
If you are lucky enough to jump through these hoops you might earn your wings and be lablled as a co-pilot. and depending on the airline, be entrenched there for many a year.
When, after some years experience has been gained, and the promotion tests have been passed, you then win your command. This is s stressful pass/fail matter. It can effect your whole future. If you fail you cannot just jump ship and go somewhere else. For many reasons you may be stuck where you are; a middle manager for life. If you succeeed, you will then be tasked to make most of the decisions about the operation. True, on the ground, most commercial decisions will be made by ops, but once in the air you are on your own. You call it as you think fit; and live by it afterwards. That is what you are paid for. The buck stops in the left seat, and don't forget it. Commercial decisions as well.
So, in the light of the above, let us once again review your statement:
"if indeed it was difficult and demanding to be a pilot then the qualification would be relatively scarce and thus expensive? You cannot compare flying with the professions."
"There are no minimum qualifications to become a pilot; indeed many would struggle to achieve A levels. A few multi question papers from the CAA or FAA hardly rank with the degrees required by doctors, lawyers and accountants most of whom regard your salaries with envy."
"Professional decision making has been taken away from the Captain’ What on earth does that mean? Since when did pilots make commercial decisions or indeed decisions on anything not directly connected with the operation of the aircraft?"
By these statements, full of twaddle, you identify yourself as ignorant, biased, anti pilot and woefully misinformed. I stop short of pronnouncing you crassly pathetic as this would lower myself to your level, and I would hate for this discussion to enter the realms of personalities rather than issues. Thus I will keep it at the level of hoping you spend a some more time at the coal face and discussing matters with the troops, before you belittle their contributions. It is sad that one so self procaliming as you can not understand that the one group of employees who will work their damndest to keep a company going are the flight crew. It is the arogant management, with short-term imagination, who tip airlines over the cliff, not the crews with long-term careers at stake.
Rant over, and I'm going to bed. Over the years I've debated much on this subject. Nothing seems to have improved, but these henious commencts of d246 could not go unanswered. I am now going on holiday for 7 weeks, and when I return I hope NOT to read similar threads on prune. They have been going on for years. PLEASE, direct your energies to doing something to right these wrongs on the front line. Prune has just replaced all the bar-room B.S. I heard for 25 years. A great place to let off steam and achieve naff all. Be BOLD & stick you head above the parapets, or shut up. Do not vote with your feet. That is not democracy. The bad guys should walk the plank.
I have no idea where your I.D comes from: but I do see your registration is this week. Thus I conclude you are a newbee. From your comments you are also a knobee: i.e. someone who knows diddly squat about what they are talking.
If you have ever read the conditions, or needed to apply for the job of an airline pilot with a major company in any major developed country, you will have noted the need to have substanstial academic qualifications, as well as considerable personal characteristics of team skills, good communications, leadership qualities, ability to digest mulit-path data and arrive at a concise decision. These are the requirements listed in the advertisments and application forms for the above mentioned airlines. Often, a higher than normal level of education, even university, is also required. After achieving all that at your own expense & endeavour, there is the hurdle of gaining the pilot qualification at your own expense. At the end of that, the selection subjects you to a process consisting of physco tests, team tests, coordination tests, flying ability tests, multiple interviews and more. The whole process can take 5 days or more over a period of 4 weeks, also at your own expense.
If you are lucky enough to jump through these hoops you might earn your wings and be lablled as a co-pilot. and depending on the airline, be entrenched there for many a year.
When, after some years experience has been gained, and the promotion tests have been passed, you then win your command. This is s stressful pass/fail matter. It can effect your whole future. If you fail you cannot just jump ship and go somewhere else. For many reasons you may be stuck where you are; a middle manager for life. If you succeeed, you will then be tasked to make most of the decisions about the operation. True, on the ground, most commercial decisions will be made by ops, but once in the air you are on your own. You call it as you think fit; and live by it afterwards. That is what you are paid for. The buck stops in the left seat, and don't forget it. Commercial decisions as well.
So, in the light of the above, let us once again review your statement:
"if indeed it was difficult and demanding to be a pilot then the qualification would be relatively scarce and thus expensive? You cannot compare flying with the professions."
"There are no minimum qualifications to become a pilot; indeed many would struggle to achieve A levels. A few multi question papers from the CAA or FAA hardly rank with the degrees required by doctors, lawyers and accountants most of whom regard your salaries with envy."
"Professional decision making has been taken away from the Captain’ What on earth does that mean? Since when did pilots make commercial decisions or indeed decisions on anything not directly connected with the operation of the aircraft?"
By these statements, full of twaddle, you identify yourself as ignorant, biased, anti pilot and woefully misinformed. I stop short of pronnouncing you crassly pathetic as this would lower myself to your level, and I would hate for this discussion to enter the realms of personalities rather than issues. Thus I will keep it at the level of hoping you spend a some more time at the coal face and discussing matters with the troops, before you belittle their contributions. It is sad that one so self procaliming as you can not understand that the one group of employees who will work their damndest to keep a company going are the flight crew. It is the arogant management, with short-term imagination, who tip airlines over the cliff, not the crews with long-term careers at stake.
Rant over, and I'm going to bed. Over the years I've debated much on this subject. Nothing seems to have improved, but these henious commencts of d246 could not go unanswered. I am now going on holiday for 7 weeks, and when I return I hope NOT to read similar threads on prune. They have been going on for years. PLEASE, direct your energies to doing something to right these wrongs on the front line. Prune has just replaced all the bar-room B.S. I heard for 25 years. A great place to let off steam and achieve naff all. Be BOLD & stick you head above the parapets, or shut up. Do not vote with your feet. That is not democracy. The bad guys should walk the plank.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: edge of reality
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For those not qualified to sit in the front two seats of a passenger carrying aircraft there are two types of pilots:
Type 1: The dinner party pilot..... Overpaid, underworked, glamorised, spoon-fed and dependant on automated electronics to do the job..........
Type 2: The pilot who is flying these d*ckhead wallys to their holiday destinations when the weather is totally crap, the aircraft is suffering a major systems failure and there is still four hours to go over a gale swept ocean.....
If the self loading cargo were told that only by offering a vast financial incentive to the guys at the front could their quivering backsides be saved I wonder how much the pilots would be worth then......
Type 1: The dinner party pilot..... Overpaid, underworked, glamorised, spoon-fed and dependant on automated electronics to do the job..........
Type 2: The pilot who is flying these d*ckhead wallys to their holiday destinations when the weather is totally crap, the aircraft is suffering a major systems failure and there is still four hours to go over a gale swept ocean.....
If the self loading cargo were told that only by offering a vast financial incentive to the guys at the front could their quivering backsides be saved I wonder how much the pilots would be worth then......
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: MAN
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rat 5,
You beat me to it. D246 is replying to his own posts
Liked the bit about not being comparable to the professions. I know a number of people over the years whom have come from the professions to pursue an ATPL qualification and had to work has hard as the rest of us to acheve the desired results. In fact, one doctor told me it was the most inhumane exam process he had ever experienced.
I think pilots have earned their place in history. The public love their pilots! Love their Lawyers... I think not
You beat me to it. D246 is replying to his own posts
Liked the bit about not being comparable to the professions. I know a number of people over the years whom have come from the professions to pursue an ATPL qualification and had to work has hard as the rest of us to acheve the desired results. In fact, one doctor told me it was the most inhumane exam process he had ever experienced.
I think pilots have earned their place in history. The public love their pilots! Love their Lawyers... I think not
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Far Side
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What surprises me is how quickly all the pontificators on the "pilots are busdrivers" subject become instantly tongue tied and subdued when the aircraft does anything in the slightest bit unusual.
Having sat next to a pilot basher whilst returning from duty, I was highly amused to see him stop in mid-sentence grip the seat-arm, and tense up with just a slight shake from CAT.
He stayed quiet for the rest of the flight, which was most welcome.
Having sat next to a pilot basher whilst returning from duty, I was highly amused to see him stop in mid-sentence grip the seat-arm, and tense up with just a slight shake from CAT.
He stayed quiet for the rest of the flight, which was most welcome.
...the thin end thereof
Join Date: Jun 1998
Location: London
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Although the grass is always greener, take a step back and you will see you do a job most people (like me) would have loved to have done.
It's the best job in the world, bar none. And the SLF still think of pilots as pretty sexy people actually
It's the best job in the world, bar none. And the SLF still think of pilots as pretty sexy people actually
Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RAT 5
Well said old man.
Your posts are always well researched and most informative.
You don't have to say you have experience in this business, it SHOWS from your wise words.
Enjoy your holiday.
d246
Yours is a world where twaddle takes precedence over facts.
You are over-misinformed enough for me/us not to be able to debate anything with you.
Why not sit back and read a bit about being a pilot, a captain, and what it's REALLY like to break into this profession, then staying with it! The best sources for you to read from are the very contributors to this forum the real boys and girls that fly for a living. It's very easy to tell which ones are genuine and which aren't!
Well said old man.
Your posts are always well researched and most informative.
You don't have to say you have experience in this business, it SHOWS from your wise words.
Enjoy your holiday.
d246
Yours is a world where twaddle takes precedence over facts.
You are over-misinformed enough for me/us not to be able to debate anything with you.
Why not sit back and read a bit about being a pilot, a captain, and what it's REALLY like to break into this profession, then staying with it! The best sources for you to read from are the very contributors to this forum the real boys and girls that fly for a living. It's very easy to tell which ones are genuine and which aren't!
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Far Side
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have said it before and I will say it again. Being a pilot is easy, but then so is being a doctor, accountant, lawyer, or businessman.
How hard is it to say take two aspirin and call me in the morning, I could do that.
How hard is it to add up columns of numbers, I used to do that all the time.
How hard is it to dress up in a frilly wig and say I object. I could do that.
And to sit behind a big desk, look fierce, and say more productivity, less cost. Heck I could do that.
Then again, I always wanted to play with rockets, and I can count backwards from 10 to 1, I think I'll just be off to the launch pad.
I really don't know what all the fuss is about.
;-)
How hard is it to say take two aspirin and call me in the morning, I could do that.
How hard is it to add up columns of numbers, I used to do that all the time.
How hard is it to dress up in a frilly wig and say I object. I could do that.
And to sit behind a big desk, look fierce, and say more productivity, less cost. Heck I could do that.
Then again, I always wanted to play with rockets, and I can count backwards from 10 to 1, I think I'll just be off to the launch pad.
I really don't know what all the fuss is about.
;-)
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: MAN
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ZQA297/30,
I hear what you are saying but you guys must be SkyGods. I have flown heavies around the world for 7 years now and I must say there have been many times when I have been under pressure and well tested. Even flying around Europe has its own challenges.
Maybe I am just unlucky, but it is in my view a very demanding career
I hear what you are saying but you guys must be SkyGods. I have flown heavies around the world for 7 years now and I must say there have been many times when I have been under pressure and well tested. Even flying around Europe has its own challenges.
Maybe I am just unlucky, but it is in my view a very demanding career
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Far Side
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry Dogma, you missed the irony.
My point is that flying is only easy to those who have little or no in depth knowledge.
Like saying I can drive a Metro so I could be Schumaker if I wanted, all you have to do is steer and keep hard down on the accelerator. How hard can that be?
My point is that flying is only easy to those who have little or no in depth knowledge.
Like saying I can drive a Metro so I could be Schumaker if I wanted, all you have to do is steer and keep hard down on the accelerator. How hard can that be?
Moderate, Modest & Mild.
Yes, I`m in total agreement with you, ZQA297/30, ANY job is easy when you watch professionals who have been trained, and then done it for years.
Thje difference between a professional pilot`s daily routine, and other professionals, is that generally, the daily routine for a pilot is not routinely the same.
It`s as changeable as the weather.
And for our poster who seems to have a few feather ruffled, MY exams were not all multi-choice.
The majority required the old-fashioned, long-winded calculations and/or essays.
Yes, some have been "dumbed down" to multi-choice status, but then so have many other professions` exams!
Thje difference between a professional pilot`s daily routine, and other professionals, is that generally, the daily routine for a pilot is not routinely the same.
It`s as changeable as the weather.
And for our poster who seems to have a few feather ruffled, MY exams were not all multi-choice.
The majority required the old-fashioned, long-winded calculations and/or essays.
Yes, some have been "dumbed down" to multi-choice status, but then so have many other professions` exams!
Psychophysiological entity
Suddenly there was the explosive tearing of metal, and the flesh of two hundred and sixty nine people was instantly compressed into the forward cabin of the stricken airliner. Two huge engines, sheared from their mountings, reached Mach 1.4 before exploding into a densely populated part of the city. The remaining debris and fuel started fires over five square miles of housing. The remains of the other aircraft spiraled onto a hospital, causing the almost complete destruction of the building.
It is thought that one of the pilots made an elementary mistake in selecting what is know as an assigned altitude. "It's the sort of mistake I make daily, while working on my office computer." said one observer.
Money for old rope, this job of ours.
It is thought that one of the pilots made an elementary mistake in selecting what is know as an assigned altitude. "It's the sort of mistake I make daily, while working on my office computer." said one observer.
Money for old rope, this job of ours.
As I said earlier, you guys make it look too easy. The times I've visited a cockpit (as I sit in the back) all I've seen is a couple of apparently bored pilots filling out paperwork and trying to change altitude to get better winds. The autopilot is doing the flying, the INS is doing the navigating, the autothrottle is auto throttling and so on.
Little did I know until I read this thread that this was all a carefully staged illusion to bolster the travelling public's sense of wellbeing.
I didn't realise that underneath the light and casual banter about the size of the new young FA's **ts, two steely eyed professionals were engaged in a knife edge balancing act to get us to LHR in one peice... Or something like that anyway.
Maybe you need to "jazz up" the cockpit act so that the bean counters think they are getting value for money. .
Little did I know until I read this thread that this was all a carefully staged illusion to bolster the travelling public's sense of wellbeing.
I didn't realise that underneath the light and casual banter about the size of the new young FA's **ts, two steely eyed professionals were engaged in a knife edge balancing act to get us to LHR in one peice... Or something like that anyway.
Maybe you need to "jazz up" the cockpit act so that the bean counters think they are getting value for money. .
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Far Side
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not a staged illusion sunfish, but the result of careful planning and preparation by a team of pros.
Most eventualiities have been thought of and planned for before the aircraft started to move.
Even the unplanned will cause no more than the obligatory expletive, and to the casual observer, a few terse words and some calm and measured actions.
The hollywood stereotype of two agitated pilots (wearing headsets over caps) industriously jiggling controls, and yelling into handmikes at even more agitated tower controllers is more like your staged illusion.
The lack of drama does not mean it is easy, but is the result of much professional training and experience.
Most eventualiities have been thought of and planned for before the aircraft started to move.
Even the unplanned will cause no more than the obligatory expletive, and to the casual observer, a few terse words and some calm and measured actions.
The hollywood stereotype of two agitated pilots (wearing headsets over caps) industriously jiggling controls, and yelling into handmikes at even more agitated tower controllers is more like your staged illusion.
The lack of drama does not mean it is easy, but is the result of much professional training and experience.
Moderate, Modest & Mild.
You need to concentrate on going first solo, Sunfish...but you`re right, with exposure to the job - any job - a professional is able to watch for trends, whilst carrying out other chores.
We review regularly, during EVERY flight, items that might need "jazzing up", or others that demand more immediate attention.
Just because the aircraft is established in cruise/climb/descent, there`s no guarantee that the status quo will remain so, either by choice, or out of necessity.
Two days ago, due to a sudden wind change - but with no physical effect felt - the airspeed increased by some 40 knots during cruise in a time frame of 4-5 seconds, and required IMMEDIATE, ACTIVE intervention on the part of the crew
to override the autothrottle, to prevent the aircraft exceeding MMo.
The pax, of course knew nothing - however, had our attention NOT been on what was going on - as it probably would have appeared, to the casual cockpit visitor - this was another instance for the possibility of structural aircraft damage, at the least.
Reckon I`ll do some music conducting on my next day OFF - haven`t had any training, but anyone can hold a baton, and wave his arms arounds - after all the orchestra already knows what they`ve got to do!!
We review regularly, during EVERY flight, items that might need "jazzing up", or others that demand more immediate attention.
Just because the aircraft is established in cruise/climb/descent, there`s no guarantee that the status quo will remain so, either by choice, or out of necessity.
Two days ago, due to a sudden wind change - but with no physical effect felt - the airspeed increased by some 40 knots during cruise in a time frame of 4-5 seconds, and required IMMEDIATE, ACTIVE intervention on the part of the crew
to override the autothrottle, to prevent the aircraft exceeding MMo.The pax, of course knew nothing - however, had our attention NOT been on what was going on - as it probably would have appeared, to the casual cockpit visitor - this was another instance for the possibility of structural aircraft damage, at the least.
Reckon I`ll do some music conducting on my next day OFF - haven`t had any training, but anyone can hold a baton, and wave his arms arounds - after all the orchestra already knows what they`ve got to do!!
Last edited by Kaptin M; 4th Feb 2005 at 08:45.
Hardly Never Not Unwilling
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In my 28 years of flying I have:
Travelled to just about every corner of the world
Flown combat lit by enemy radar
Commanded an air force flying squadron
Lived on peanuts and spaghetti waiting for the airlines to hire me
Flown overnight freight days on end, fatigued as a zombie
Had an engine explode at max gross weight at 800 feet
Had friends die
Lost captain seat in company downsizing
Got hired into dream job with a major in my 40's
Got furloughed to the street after 9/11
Loved every minute of it
Would I trade my experience with flying for anything else?
Absolutely not.
Would I, as a young man today, given current prospects go into professional aviation?
Absolutely not.
An interesting feature of the pilot profession is how some guys go straight through to the wide-body left seat with no turmoil while others have a career with nothing but setbacks and uncertainty. All this having nothing to do with talent.
Travelled to just about every corner of the world
Flown combat lit by enemy radar
Commanded an air force flying squadron
Lived on peanuts and spaghetti waiting for the airlines to hire me
Flown overnight freight days on end, fatigued as a zombie
Had an engine explode at max gross weight at 800 feet
Had friends die
Lost captain seat in company downsizing
Got hired into dream job with a major in my 40's
Got furloughed to the street after 9/11
Loved every minute of it
Would I trade my experience with flying for anything else?
Absolutely not.
Would I, as a young man today, given current prospects go into professional aviation?
Absolutely not.
An interesting feature of the pilot profession is how some guys go straight through to the wide-body left seat with no turmoil while others have a career with nothing but setbacks and uncertainty. All this having nothing to do with talent.