Has the glamour gone...
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"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
A First Officer said to me many years ago, "you had the golden age of aviation". My reply was "no, I had the silver age. I'm afraid you are going to have the bronze age".
That must have been over twenty years ago and it seems to have got worse since then.
That must have been over twenty years ago and it seems to have got worse since then.
Dunno why anyone would pursue flying as a career these days myself. I gave it away over a decade ago when I saw what lay in store for a career, and I don't regret it in the slightest.
In talking to two different 737 pilots recently on opposite sides of the country and neither would recommend it as a career knowing what they now know. They still like what they do, but neither would do it again.
As I tell people who ask me about flying now, if you want to enjoy flying, get a good-paying job doing something you'll enjoy, and fly for fun, when you want, where you want.
In talking to two different 737 pilots recently on opposite sides of the country and neither would recommend it as a career knowing what they now know. They still like what they do, but neither would do it again.
As I tell people who ask me about flying now, if you want to enjoy flying, get a good-paying job doing something you'll enjoy, and fly for fun, when you want, where you want.
Yes mostly all gone now - unless one is very senior in a legacy carrier. I mean, yes, when one has finally got airborne and is in the cruise on a clear morning over the Bay of Biscay, or coasting in over northern Spain, then, yes it is still lovely. But those moments are relatively brief and becoming increasingly rare.
Problem is, we didn’t stand up for ourselves:
When the new FTL regulations came in, did we all go on strike?
When our pensions were reduced, did we all go on strike?
When our Ts & Cs were cut back, did we all go on strike?
When zero hours contracts and/or very low wages for new F/Os came in, did we all go on strike?
With our aircraft carrying more and more ADDs*, do we go on strike?
With (frankly foolhardy) fuel saving practices, do we all go on strike?
Answer; No.
*”acceptable deferred defects”
Problem is, we didn’t stand up for ourselves:
When the new FTL regulations came in, did we all go on strike?
When our pensions were reduced, did we all go on strike?
When our Ts & Cs were cut back, did we all go on strike?
When zero hours contracts and/or very low wages for new F/Os came in, did we all go on strike?
With our aircraft carrying more and more ADDs*, do we go on strike?
With (frankly foolhardy) fuel saving practices, do we all go on strike?
Answer; No.
*”acceptable deferred defects”
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BALPA - membership 10,000
URTU - membership 14,000
ASLEF - membership 21,000
BMA - membership 160,000
Unite - membership 1,400,000
Perhaps time to be fully affiliated with Unite. If red Len can choose the leader of the opposition, perhaps prime minister in future, I'm pretty sure he could have kept CAP371
URTU - membership 14,000
ASLEF - membership 21,000
BMA - membership 160,000
Unite - membership 1,400,000
Perhaps time to be fully affiliated with Unite. If red Len can choose the leader of the opposition, perhaps prime minister in future, I'm pretty sure he could have kept CAP371
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Air travel has been commoditised to the point where a trip to ALDI is more glamorous than a trip to the airport. How can anyone connected to such an event be regarded as glamorous?
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We're in the aluminium stage, with plastic on the horizon. 
It might help to begin with the truth.
Demand for transport pilots is rising and they cannot seem to build aircraft fast enough, so I discount the latter part of this excerpt from this oddly written FG piece. The pension reference, however, is spot on - too often traded down the road in exchange for corporate profits and C suite dweller bonuses.
Originally Posted by Flight Global
Recruitment is a challenge, even for exotic, glamorous and desirable jobs such as pilot, engineer or air traffic controller.
It might help to begin with the truth.
That sounds not so much like a career that ends with a generous pension, as a recipe for being left with nowhere to go when the next technology revolution – or the whim of a cost-cutting boss on a huge salary and hefty bonus – leaves you unemployed.
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Not really rumours or news. Other sites are showing the same dissatisfaction. Just look at the CX lot on "Fragrant Harbour" with comments from , those who dare , asserting that the golden era is well & truly gone.
My dad has been flying for 61 years including a full airline career then as a flying instructor post retirement. Ive been airline flying for 30 years and we have the same number of flying hours. I think its safe to say he had the best years of aviation.
Avoid imitations
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I enjoyed flying a lot more when the fear of being shot down by the Warsaw Pact was less than today's fear of being grounded by EASA for misinterpreting one of their ever increasing number of rules.
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I spent the best part of a decade working in an office before becoming disillusioned with the monotony of getting up at 7 to commute to work, sitting next to the same people, having the same moaning conversations over water cooler/coffee machine/urinal then commuting home and getting ready for the same level of excitement tomorrow.
12 years after making the somewhat controversial and almost incomprehensible, to family and friends, decision to pack it all in and learn to fly I now spend 2 weeks a month flying to places I would never have visited and experiencing people and cultures so far removed from my previous life. It’s been hard work getting here but with some great flying experiences along the way - SEPs, multi pistons, SETs and multi turbines. Sure the money’s worse than my previous job but that’s about it.
I fly corporate not airlines. When making the decision of which route to take I couldn’t substantially differentiate between the monotony of my office job and the potential monotony of an airline career. I can fly anywhere, often at a few hours notice and have a much more rounded job than I perceive an airline job to be (I’ve no airline experience but you lot aren’t exactly gushing with positivity).
I’m sure back in the ‘golden era’ when there was a fight in pilots’ pockets between cash and hosties life was peachy. But I would rather fly my 2 year old Global Express at FL450 for a few quid less than transport myself back in time (I’m not sure exactly when this fabled ‘golden era’ was) to fly less reliable aircraft, with less reliable/accurate navigation systems into unknown/unseen weather conditions all in the name of glamour. When I walk through an airport in some far flung part of Africa or the less developed parts of the Far East the respect and ‘glamour’ (if that’s what you’re after) is palpable. Admitted going through security at the Signature FBO in Luton is a massive counter balance ��
Maybe it’s not so much ‘aviation’ that’s the problem but which part of aviation you’re in and how you got there.
12 years after making the somewhat controversial and almost incomprehensible, to family and friends, decision to pack it all in and learn to fly I now spend 2 weeks a month flying to places I would never have visited and experiencing people and cultures so far removed from my previous life. It’s been hard work getting here but with some great flying experiences along the way - SEPs, multi pistons, SETs and multi turbines. Sure the money’s worse than my previous job but that’s about it.
I fly corporate not airlines. When making the decision of which route to take I couldn’t substantially differentiate between the monotony of my office job and the potential monotony of an airline career. I can fly anywhere, often at a few hours notice and have a much more rounded job than I perceive an airline job to be (I’ve no airline experience but you lot aren’t exactly gushing with positivity).
I’m sure back in the ‘golden era’ when there was a fight in pilots’ pockets between cash and hosties life was peachy. But I would rather fly my 2 year old Global Express at FL450 for a few quid less than transport myself back in time (I’m not sure exactly when this fabled ‘golden era’ was) to fly less reliable aircraft, with less reliable/accurate navigation systems into unknown/unseen weather conditions all in the name of glamour. When I walk through an airport in some far flung part of Africa or the less developed parts of the Far East the respect and ‘glamour’ (if that’s what you’re after) is palpable. Admitted going through security at the Signature FBO in Luton is a massive counter balance ��
Maybe it’s not so much ‘aviation’ that’s the problem but which part of aviation you’re in and how you got there.
Last edited by Humpmedumpme; 9th Apr 2018 at 10:24.
My dad passed away last year at age 85, having flown professionally for 46 years, both military and civil. He spent all his civilian career flying round the world, drinking beer and chasing women- he told me that he really was in the golden age in the 60's and 70's- after that, it stopped being fun for him...
As Opic Nerve says!!
I have a Relative who works for a big airline in the UK. Only has to navigate the motorway to work 4/5 times a month, quite often to nice warm places.
Stays in 4/5 * accommodation in town, with at least two nights off on the longer trips.
Flies nearly new big jets, with all the gizmos, including a nice rest area for the long trips. Comes complete with bunk and a Club type seat, and if you can't sleep now and again, there's an IFE screen plumbed in too.
Crewed up with reasonable blokes/lasses, all fully trained P2's, no partially trained Second Officer /Cruise Only pilots, as some Asian airlines.
Easy trip swapping to help plan family life when home.
And on hols, recently got a F/C return seat to S Africa for less than £200.
Obviously some disadvantages in frequent night flying and family 'disorganisation'. But earns quite a bit more than most friends in really boring pastimes.
"Horses for Courses" but probably better than a proper job!
I have a Relative who works for a big airline in the UK. Only has to navigate the motorway to work 4/5 times a month, quite often to nice warm places.
Stays in 4/5 * accommodation in town, with at least two nights off on the longer trips.
Flies nearly new big jets, with all the gizmos, including a nice rest area for the long trips. Comes complete with bunk and a Club type seat, and if you can't sleep now and again, there's an IFE screen plumbed in too.
Crewed up with reasonable blokes/lasses, all fully trained P2's, no partially trained Second Officer /Cruise Only pilots, as some Asian airlines.
Easy trip swapping to help plan family life when home.
And on hols, recently got a F/C return seat to S Africa for less than £200.
Obviously some disadvantages in frequent night flying and family 'disorganisation'. But earns quite a bit more than most friends in really boring pastimes.
"Horses for Courses" but probably better than a proper job!
Last edited by cessnapete; 9th Apr 2018 at 16:35.
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BALPA - membership 10,000
URTU - membership 14,000
ASLEF - membership 21,000
BMA - membership 160,000
Unite - membership 1,400,000
Perhaps time to be fully affiliated with Unite. If red Len can choose the leader of the opposition, perhaps prime minister in future, I'm pretty sure he could have kept CAP371
URTU - membership 14,000
ASLEF - membership 21,000
BMA - membership 160,000
Unite - membership 1,400,000
Perhaps time to be fully affiliated with Unite. If red Len can choose the leader of the opposition, perhaps prime minister in future, I'm pretty sure he could have kept CAP371
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