The Public Perception of Modern Pilots

[Laker]

Some pretty shocking statements in this thread. The public ignorance of our profession is depressing. Sounds like the majority of the posters think modern airline pilots merely taxi out for takeoff and taxi back to the gate after landing. According to these guys everything else is entirely automated. We need to launch a PR campaign...lol


Are airline pilots obsolete? Yes.

[tubby linton]

Perhaps the author needs to ask every pilot who has landed on the standby runway at LGW this year about their use of automation.

[Torque Tonight]

This kind of drivel is barely worth responding to as those who write it are unlikely to listen to any counter arguments that oppose their own uninformed opinion. The public have a hugely inaccurate opinion of the job, (thinking it is glamorous, rich, easy and all done by computers), but when something goes wrong they like to know that there is a human pilot on board with a vested interest in staying alive. I barely trust automated tube trains - no way would I trust an unpiloted airliner.

[Gemini Twin]

Mike has already called his insurance carrier to see what coverage
he could get if he dumped the cockpit crew. Answer, None...ever!

[Cymmon]

As SLF I know that pilots just dress nice, press a few buttons and the aircraft flies itself to the destination.
All the pilot has to do is have a cup of tea, a meal, chat up the cabin attendant and read the paper.

No, they take highly sophisticated, technologically advanced machines into high altitude, are ready for any eventuality, good, bad and down right scary. They read charts, fly by hand, know TOD and all other abbrieviations that I wouldn't have a clue about. Sometimes they are even allowed outside the cockpit for a toilet break or a sleep on long range missions.

All praise to them, I love flying, I read alot of aircraft and airline (even technical books) books, but wouldn't have a clue. It is a very specialist occupation.

Thanks for all the pilots who have safely since 1981 got me to my destinations. Got 18 flights in this year, next April heading back to Manila on Qatar from Manchester. Again, If the pilot is happy to take his/her machine skyward, I'm happy to go with them and with FULL respect.

SLF signing out.

[PENKO]

I liked the proof of concept idea on that forum, where it was suggested to race a computerized formula 1 car against cars driven by humans. With of course the author of that thread sitting with his hands tide up in the computerized car

[mike-wsm]

I used to think that all pilots are upper-class, civilised, responsible, degree-educated, highly trained professionals.

Reading pprune may have altered my opinion.

[Basil]

I used to think that all pilots are upper-class, civilised, responsible, degree-educated, highly trained professionals.

Why would one think that pilots should be 'upper-class' or hold a degree?

[Ancient Mariner]

I suppose Joe Public's understanding of your profession equals the average Pilot's understanding of a Maritime Captain's or Chief Engineer's profession
Why are you so surprised?
Per

[Huck]

Why would one think that pilots should be 'upper-class' or hold a degree?

Because it's airplanes. Not cement trucks.

My aircraft cost my company 200 million U.S. It carries maybe 10 mil in cargo. We fly with negligible supervision to all corners of the earth. What's the market value to pay someone for that amount of responsibility?

[Perwazee]

Contrary to popular belief, being and airline pilot is a Blue Color job!

Besides, you do NOT need a college degree! Heck, you do not even need High School graduation. If you can drive a car, you can become an airline pilot. I even know someone who doesn’t even drive a car and she’s an airline pilot for a major airline in Europe.

Not that educated/smart people don’t make living as Commercial Pilots, but you truly do not need college education and degrees...like the ones required if you want to be a doctor, dentist, engineer, or a lawyer. Now, these are truly ‘White Color’ jobs!

[SR71]

They may not need a college degree, but I'd be surprised if many didn't have one.

Of the 16 letters I'm entitled to put after my name, PhD are 3 of them.

[Perwazee]

Should be:
Ph.D.

[His dudeness]

Because it's airplanes. Not cement trucks.

I fly for a Cement company....

[mixture]

Laker,

Awwww diddums...

Wonder over to FlyerTalk and you'll find people on there who will gushingly congratulate you on achieving a decent landing in 00000KT CAVOK Q1012 NOSIG conditions.

[fmgc]

I Captain a 220 seat airliner all over Europe. I passed my ATPL exams and flights tests all first time. I pass all my sim checks with good marks.

I am middle class, failed all my A levels and have no degree.

I know of many Captains with similar backgrounds to me and I know many with very different backgrounds to me. It is impossible to to pigeon hole pilots in a way that a previous poster suggests.

The posters on the forum that this thread links to are ignorant. They have their facts wrong.

I do, however, think that we will have pilotless jetliners in the future, but it is a long way off for now, there is far too much regulation and technical issues to overcome first.

[ChocksAwayChaps]

SLF here.
I don't care whether the bloke / chapess at the business end has a degree or not or A levels but I do care that he/she is rigorously tested on the ability to fly the machine.
I also like to see some grey hair. Have been known to ask the bloke in the left hand seat if the bloke on the right is on work experience from school. That went down well.

BTW, it's blue collar and white collar not 'color'

[fmgc]

Have been known to ask the bloke in the left hand seat if the bloke on the right is on work experience from school.

We do love those smart arse questions from visiting pax!!

[mixture]

I also like to see some grey hair. Have been known to ask the bloke in the left hand seat if the bloke on the right is on work experience from school. That went down well

Hmm ... that must have gone down particularly well with any P2F graduates.

[tsgas]

Pilotless airplanes will begin with the military then move on to aerial surveillance then cargo planes and eventually pax airliners. The speed of change is all a matter of dollars and cents. Backward unions like that at IB just help speed up the rate of change.