A sign of the times
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A sign of the times
Just recieved this email from a very close friend who's been in aviation for longer than I have, this is not the entire content, but I think that it sums up what we all have to tolerate these days:
Things have changed inordiantely since you and I spoke every day, now I just go to work, do the job to the best of my ability, take the salary and go home.
Sadly, we can no longer do "grown up's aviation and follow common sense", we must abide safety management systems, the law of cover your six a clock and the corporate "do or be done syndrome".
What makes me angry is that the people we used to respect as regulators (for both pilots and atcos) who used to be in the field regularly and be able to offer professional common sense advice, are now just auditors at the behest of the CAA top neddys and the EASA paperpushers, and what's worse is that the people who now do that job certainly aren't in the same category of the inspectors we formerly respected.
They've made no difference other than to increase the number of ATSINS, local Supplementry Instructions or Temporary Operating Instructions we have to read and absorb on a daily basis - it would probably be of no suprise to you that I had to read 11 of these usless pieces information before taking over watch yesterday.
Anyway, enough of that nonsense, it's been a lovely day here, my rhubarb wine from last year must be approaching rocket fuel value and I look forward to your next visit, (sans le other like minded chaps), to evaluate it's quality and to reminice of the real world and how things used to be before little people with big egos. took over our world..
Sadly, we can no longer do "grown up's aviation and follow common sense", we must abide safety management systems, the law of cover your six a clock and the corporate "do or be done syndrome".
What makes me angry is that the people we used to respect as regulators (for both pilots and atcos) who used to be in the field regularly and be able to offer professional common sense advice, are now just auditors at the behest of the CAA top neddys and the EASA paperpushers, and what's worse is that the people who now do that job certainly aren't in the same category of the inspectors we formerly respected.
They've made no difference other than to increase the number of ATSINS, local Supplementry Instructions or Temporary Operating Instructions we have to read and absorb on a daily basis - it would probably be of no suprise to you that I had to read 11 of these usless pieces information before taking over watch yesterday.
Anyway, enough of that nonsense, it's been a lovely day here, my rhubarb wine from last year must be approaching rocket fuel value and I look forward to your next visit, (sans le other like minded chaps), to evaluate it's quality and to reminice of the real world and how things used to be before little people with big egos. took over our world..
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Don't think it's different on the other side of the pond. Just change the names CAA for FAA, and you get the same thing.
Small people with gigantic egos.
Truly sad what this has become.
Small people with gigantic egos.
Truly sad what this has become.
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For pretty well all my career, the thought of the Big 'R' has been something I've ignored or hoped I could put off for as long as possible. However, I'm now approaching it with something approaching enthusiasm.
I'm going to miss flying aeroplanes terribly, and realise that every time I climb from a dull European winter's day and break clear of a solid band of stratus to find myself skimming along its top at 320 knots with a glorious blue sky above, or see the northern lights, or overfly the Himilayas at F330 and see the incredible peaks only 7000' below me, close enough to see the tracks of the mountain climbers...
However, (a bit like the 'two buckets' theorm beloved of many who've spent any time living the the Middle East), all the other rubbish that has all but overwhelmed our professional lives in between flights - and the seemingly implacable desire of management to ensure we have no quality of life in between flights, with utterly crazy and (surely, in the long term), self-destructive 'rest' policies, (both in-flight and between flights), makes me realise how lucky I am to be the age I am, approaching the Big 'R'.
The saddest aspect of all is the number of colleagues 20 years or more younger than I am who profess to envy me. When I was their age, I was lucky beyond belief - I wanted it to go on forever. Thanks in great part to the factors mentioned in the first post, too many of them see the job today as a sentance, something that must be endured to put snags and three veg on the table.
I'm going to miss flying aeroplanes terribly, and realise that every time I climb from a dull European winter's day and break clear of a solid band of stratus to find myself skimming along its top at 320 knots with a glorious blue sky above, or see the northern lights, or overfly the Himilayas at F330 and see the incredible peaks only 7000' below me, close enough to see the tracks of the mountain climbers...
However, (a bit like the 'two buckets' theorm beloved of many who've spent any time living the the Middle East), all the other rubbish that has all but overwhelmed our professional lives in between flights - and the seemingly implacable desire of management to ensure we have no quality of life in between flights, with utterly crazy and (surely, in the long term), self-destructive 'rest' policies, (both in-flight and between flights), makes me realise how lucky I am to be the age I am, approaching the Big 'R'.
The saddest aspect of all is the number of colleagues 20 years or more younger than I am who profess to envy me. When I was their age, I was lucky beyond belief - I wanted it to go on forever. Thanks in great part to the factors mentioned in the first post, too many of them see the job today as a sentance, something that must be endured to put snags and three veg on the table.
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Same problem all over. As a result of liability corperations place policy and procedure over common sence. The leaders with the true ability to suceed are smart enough to not want any part of the system and those who love to abide suceed.
Our society is in a state of regression (the most technologically advanced first). The layman term is we are being dumbed down.
There is no pretty fix for the mess we have gotten ourselves into. Slapping a lawer around a bit may make you feel better though.
Our society is in a state of regression (the most technologically advanced first). The layman term is we are being dumbed down.
There is no pretty fix for the mess we have gotten ourselves into. Slapping a lawer around a bit may make you feel better though.
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The big "R"
I spent 37 years airbourne. Thought it would never end. Have seen a lot in that time.
Ditto to all said above. Can't believe I'm admitting this, but when an 'early buyout' was offered two years ago, I took it. My salary at retirement bought 6 newbies.
Do I miss the flying? Yes.
Do I miss the travelling? Nope.
Do I miss my years of friends? Yep, every day.
Do I miss what commercial aviation has become? I despise it.
Would I do it again (retire early)? Probably.
The bull droppings got out of CG. The accidents/incidents are saying something to everyone if you are far enough away to see it. Lack of BTDT.
I retired right under J7, just west of Mt. Lassen, CA. Every day at 1300-ish local, a lot of my old flights go overhead (Europe to SFO/LAX).
Seeing the 4-engine wake curl back on itself and debrade into rings is not quite, but almost the perfect reward for all the lessons learned.
Every once in a while, one of my crews will make a small S-turn overhead to say hello.
Ditto to all said above. Can't believe I'm admitting this, but when an 'early buyout' was offered two years ago, I took it. My salary at retirement bought 6 newbies.
Do I miss the flying? Yes.
Do I miss the travelling? Nope.
Do I miss my years of friends? Yep, every day.
Do I miss what commercial aviation has become? I despise it.
Would I do it again (retire early)? Probably.
The bull droppings got out of CG. The accidents/incidents are saying something to everyone if you are far enough away to see it. Lack of BTDT.
I retired right under J7, just west of Mt. Lassen, CA. Every day at 1300-ish local, a lot of my old flights go overhead (Europe to SFO/LAX).
Seeing the 4-engine wake curl back on itself and debrade into rings is not quite, but almost the perfect reward for all the lessons learned.
Every once in a while, one of my crews will make a small S-turn overhead to say hello.
I would endorse everything Wiley has said. I have just reached 60 and have been in aviation for 38 years. If you had asked me when I started if I would be happy to retire at age 60 I would have laughed at your silly question. However, things have changed beyond anything I could have imagined: poor rostering to sqeeze the max out of the min, being treated like a piece of crap by security, especially in the US and UK are but two of the reasons that I am now very happy to say "no more". I will miss flying and my friends badly but it just isn't worth it any more and I feel so sad that the young aviator today will never know the joys that we old farts knew in our heyday. I wish them well and that things will, at the very least, not get any worse.
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It's overwhelmingly depressing to read this stuff from people who should be among the most respected professionals in our society. Sadly, the "dumbing down" is happening in many other areas (perhaps most) of human activity.
The simple truth is that regulators will tend to regulate more and more in order to justify and perpetuate their existence. And the blindingly obvious (at least to me) consequence of ever-burgeoning regulation that seeks to prescribe how humans 'must' behave is that those who are regulated will become less able and/or willing to think for themselves.
I'm sure you all see the pattern.
The simple truth is that regulators will tend to regulate more and more in order to justify and perpetuate their existence. And the blindingly obvious (at least to me) consequence of ever-burgeoning regulation that seeks to prescribe how humans 'must' behave is that those who are regulated will become less able and/or willing to think for themselves.
I'm sure you all see the pattern.
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I too retired early at 59 even with a reduced/frozen pension. Fortunately my cost of living is low.
I don't miss it. For me it was like a light switch turning off. I distinctly remember climbing thru 10K feet one day thinking I no longer enjoy this. Funny thing is I thought I had won the lottery when I was hired...happiest guy in the world.
There is life after the airlines.
I don't miss it. For me it was like a light switch turning off. I distinctly remember climbing thru 10K feet one day thinking I no longer enjoy this. Funny thing is I thought I had won the lottery when I was hired...happiest guy in the world.
There is life after the airlines.
Last edited by Springer1; 11th Apr 2009 at 06:48. Reason: added emphasis
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Yes, much of the trivia to which we are subjected is tiresome in the extreme, sometimes irritating and sometimes downright insulting (so called "security" being just one). However I still regard it as a privilege to be still doing the job at 62 with hopefully a couple more years to go.
Nil Desperandum Illegitimae Carburundum !!!
(Don't let the Bastards grind you down)
Nil Desperandum Illegitimae Carburundum !!!
(Don't let the Bastards grind you down)
Last edited by nil desperandum; 11th Apr 2009 at 10:42.
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I am on the ground operations side of commercial aviation and completely agree. "All the fun has gone out of the industry." Totally for safety but over regulation introduces dangers all of it's own. I to am about to retire and although I will miss handling the flights I feel for the younger generation with all they now have to put up with.
Cheers
Cheers
Last edited by aboyd; 11th Apr 2009 at 09:29. Reason: spelling
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Go for the throat!
Following the CAA's latest act of stupidity over maintenance programs I have decided to give up talking to them.
I will be writing to my Euro MP and taking on the CAA from the top down rather than the bottom up.
EASA are bad enough without the EASA local office (CAA) making up rules that the rest of europe dont have to observe.
I will be writing to my Euro MP and taking on the CAA from the top down rather than the bottom up.
EASA are bad enough without the EASA local office (CAA) making up rules that the rest of europe dont have to observe.
now I just go to work, do the job to the best of my ability, take the salary and go home.
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Sadly, your comments reflect what is happening in most major industries. I have been retired about 8 years and met an old mate yesterday who retired in january.He is overjoyed with retirement and said that in the few years that i have been gone i probably wouldn't recognise the business anymore. Individual decisions are frowned upon you just follow the party line and hope you are keeping your nose clean, learn the politics and try and follow them without getting too depressed. That more or less sums it up.
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Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose...
I quote from the Baz Luhrman song 'Everybody's free (to wear sunscreen)'
Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young
prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
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hi folks,
sorry to be harsh, but for all those who are complaining, I've got a simple question ?
Do you vote for anti-establishment party ? if yes you're on the right track. If no, you get what you deserve.
sorry to be harsh, but for all those who are complaining, I've got a simple question ?
Do you vote for anti-establishment party ? if yes you're on the right track. If no, you get what you deserve.
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............if you vote for this so called anti-establishment party and they get in, guess what?
... they just became the establishment
remember, engage brain, then type
... they just became the establishment
remember, engage brain, then type
I dont think you need to be in your 50`s or 60`s to see the changes. i agree there is probably more change to see, but in my mid 30`s, thoroughly enjoying my flying career, so far left to go, so much left to do, but i have been involved in aviation since 18 and even i can see the changes for the worse, terms and conditions whittled away, red tape and new legislations over the top.
Makes me wonder where it will all end up in 20 years time and i find myself in your positions, will i just want to escape? I do hope that i will still miss it all when i retire!!
Makes me wonder where it will all end up in 20 years time and i find myself in your positions, will i just want to escape? I do hope that i will still miss it all when i retire!!
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I began flying at age 20 and have just retired at 58. The first 20 years were great, the next 10 pretty good, the last 8 pretty awful.
Flying to the maximum allowable duty, frequent minimum rest, incessant pressure on quick turn arounds, constant squeezing on fuel reserves with the published league tables, the unending and demeaning passage through so-called 'security', the lack of choice for MY leave, allocated with no discernible logic, the annual alteration (reduction) to the 'five year plan', the reduction in salary due to unforeseen circumstances, the incessant and shrill notices in the pigeon holes on a daily basis, the constant sniping from the 'management' to do more for less, led me to resign last year and leave it all behind in Feb this year.
Do I miss the flying? Yes
Do I miss the colleagues? Yes
Do I miss much else? No
I was lucky in that I had a pension in the UK taken when I was 55.
If I took the same pension now, it would be worth about one tenth of the value in 2005. Annuity rates being now less than 1%
I was advised by financial experts that I was stupid to take it then and should have left it until I actually retired at 60.
Don't listen to the experts, they know eff all.
Sad to say, it ain't what it used to be!
You might be surprised to know that you can happily live very comfortably on £500 a month in the Land of Smiles, among many other countries where the inmates don't run the asylum.
Here no-one runs the place!
It is not without irony that an advert for a change of career to become a plumber appears at the top of the page on PPrune!
Flying to the maximum allowable duty, frequent minimum rest, incessant pressure on quick turn arounds, constant squeezing on fuel reserves with the published league tables, the unending and demeaning passage through so-called 'security', the lack of choice for MY leave, allocated with no discernible logic, the annual alteration (reduction) to the 'five year plan', the reduction in salary due to unforeseen circumstances, the incessant and shrill notices in the pigeon holes on a daily basis, the constant sniping from the 'management' to do more for less, led me to resign last year and leave it all behind in Feb this year.
Do I miss the flying? Yes
Do I miss the colleagues? Yes
Do I miss much else? No
I was lucky in that I had a pension in the UK taken when I was 55.
If I took the same pension now, it would be worth about one tenth of the value in 2005. Annuity rates being now less than 1%
I was advised by financial experts that I was stupid to take it then and should have left it until I actually retired at 60.
Don't listen to the experts, they know eff all.
Sad to say, it ain't what it used to be!
You might be surprised to know that you can happily live very comfortably on £500 a month in the Land of Smiles, among many other countries where the inmates don't run the asylum.
Here no-one runs the place!
It is not without irony that an advert for a change of career to become a plumber appears at the top of the page on PPrune!