Iron Maiden star is commercial jet pilot
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Iron Maiden star is commercial jet pilot
From Ananova
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson has a secret second career as a commercial jet pilot. He flies jets carrying thousands of holidaymakers a week for the airline Astraeus during his breaks between tours.
Dickinson is based at Gatwick and flies to European, North African and Middle East destinations. He flies as first officer on the planes - the second in command - and was on duty today flying to Greece and back.
An airline spokesman said: "Not many people know, but with the band resting between tours Bruce is enjoying the ultimate boy's toy. "He started flying single engine planes in the early 90s and now flies Boeing 737 passenger jets."
Story filed: 02:30 Saturday 7th September 2002
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Ozzy Osbourne as a hosty serving the meals!
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson has a secret second career as a commercial jet pilot. He flies jets carrying thousands of holidaymakers a week for the airline Astraeus during his breaks between tours.
Dickinson is based at Gatwick and flies to European, North African and Middle East destinations. He flies as first officer on the planes - the second in command - and was on duty today flying to Greece and back.
An airline spokesman said: "Not many people know, but with the band resting between tours Bruce is enjoying the ultimate boy's toy. "He started flying single engine planes in the early 90s and now flies Boeing 737 passenger jets."
Story filed: 02:30 Saturday 7th September 2002
What next?
Ozzy Osbourne as a hosty serving the meals!
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Well, Bruce probably had to find something else exciting to do now that he is a bit old to compete in the top levels at fencing (the sword thing, not the thing you put round the garden.) He once ranked in the top 10 in Britain at the sport.
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EGLD
My company has been recruiting 737 rated pilots for a little while now, and I can tell you that most the "unemployed" 737 rated pilots are either with a raw type rating ( zero hours on type) or are deemed unsuitable by virtue of interview/sim assessment. And with 737 rated pilots being the most sought after in Europe, there must be good reasons why they are still unemployed.
As Brenoch says, surely anyone can apply for vacancies irrespective of previous careers or other business activities.
My view is that Bruce is a good example to those "older" candidates who wonder if it is too late to start a career in flying.
PP...I think most of the radio shows are taped...could be wrong.
My company has been recruiting 737 rated pilots for a little while now, and I can tell you that most the "unemployed" 737 rated pilots are either with a raw type rating ( zero hours on type) or are deemed unsuitable by virtue of interview/sim assessment. And with 737 rated pilots being the most sought after in Europe, there must be good reasons why they are still unemployed.
As Brenoch says, surely anyone can apply for vacancies irrespective of previous careers or other business activities.
My view is that Bruce is a good example to those "older" candidates who wonder if it is too late to start a career in flying.
PP...I think most of the radio shows are taped...could be wrong.
Last edited by ADC; 7th Sep 2002 at 12:27.
Love it.......good luck to him.
Fantastic. Thrashin a guitar around on stage has the same vibes as bashing a 737 down to the minima and revving it up over 8/8ths of SC at 3000'.
Good luck to him.............should be more of it.
Cheers.......A p!ssed Al.
Fantastic. Thrashin a guitar around on stage has the same vibes as bashing a 737 down to the minima and revving it up over 8/8ths of SC at 3000'.
Good luck to him.............should be more of it.
Cheers.......A p!ssed Al.
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I'm curious re the statement "doesnt financially need to work is doing so as a hobby"
How do you draw the conclusion that it's only a "hobby" for him? I would say that anyone who has never forgotten his lifelong goal and passion, and managed to gain experience all these years while working in his original career, is not much different from many other professional pilots. Sure he has money, but so do a lot of other pilots (or their families), which mean they don't have to work.
The lack of a financial "need to work" does not make him a "hobbyist". It's all about attitude and competence; if his attitude, drive, and dedication is professional, and if his competence reflects that of a professional pilot, then he is most definitely a professional.
Sounds like a bit of simple envy or jealousy to me
How do you draw the conclusion that it's only a "hobby" for him? I would say that anyone who has never forgotten his lifelong goal and passion, and managed to gain experience all these years while working in his original career, is not much different from many other professional pilots. Sure he has money, but so do a lot of other pilots (or their families), which mean they don't have to work.
The lack of a financial "need to work" does not make him a "hobbyist". It's all about attitude and competence; if his attitude, drive, and dedication is professional, and if his competence reflects that of a professional pilot, then he is most definitely a professional.
Sounds like a bit of simple envy or jealousy to me
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Good luck to Bruce! What a versatile guy.
I know there's no chance, but I wish he'd join EK. I would love to fly with him! Trouble is though we'd have to change our flight numbers to EK 666 whenever he was operating!
I know there's no chance, but I wish he'd join EK. I would love to fly with him! Trouble is though we'd have to change our flight numbers to EK 666 whenever he was operating!
Chief PPRuNe Pilot
EGLD, I and indeed most people don't financially need to work because we could all go on to state benefits or cash in pensions or whatever. So, that makes all of 'hobbyists' then?
May I suggest you contain the Green Eyed Monster within you and get on with achieving your goals through your own merit and not the displacement of those who have already proved their competence and professionalism.
May I suggest you contain the Green Eyed Monster within you and get on with achieving your goals through your own merit and not the displacement of those who have already proved their competence and professionalism.
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Hey, EGLD, I’ve just checked your profile..... and guess what ? I'm an IT Manager too, albeit that I also fly a B737.
So, using your logic, maybe I should give one of them up in order to give someone else a chance ?
Of course life's not fair, never was and never will be ( and I should know ! ) and ADC was quite correct ( as are the sentiments of the others above ) in that, whilst it's maybe a somewhat unpalatable truth, it pays to remember that just because you've got a professional pilots license ( and / or maybe a shiny new jet type-rating to go with it ) this is NOT an instant passport to employment, the only door that it opens is that it allows you to apply for a job with an airline - of course whether (or not) you subsequently secure that coveted position is very much down to how you present yourself at the interview, how you then fair in any subsequent simulator assessment - and of course a certain amount of luck.
That said, and for the record, I'm delighted to report that Bruce is a good pilot, thoroughly nice bloke, and total aviation person - and he's also rated on the B757 as well ( the lucky ****** ! )
So, using your logic, maybe I should give one of them up in order to give someone else a chance ?
Of course life's not fair, never was and never will be ( and I should know ! ) and ADC was quite correct ( as are the sentiments of the others above ) in that, whilst it's maybe a somewhat unpalatable truth, it pays to remember that just because you've got a professional pilots license ( and / or maybe a shiny new jet type-rating to go with it ) this is NOT an instant passport to employment, the only door that it opens is that it allows you to apply for a job with an airline - of course whether (or not) you subsequently secure that coveted position is very much down to how you present yourself at the interview, how you then fair in any subsequent simulator assessment - and of course a certain amount of luck.
That said, and for the record, I'm delighted to report that Bruce is a good pilot, thoroughly nice bloke, and total aviation person - and he's also rated on the B757 as well ( the lucky ****** ! )
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757 rating as well!
I was going to suggest that DHL are looking for rated guys who like to 'stay up all night burning the candle at both ends', but on reflection I think there are probably too many hotel rooms around Europe that would just protest too loudly at the prospect............................! Best stick to the 'out and back' world of charter!
Good luck to him.
PP
I was going to suggest that DHL are looking for rated guys who like to 'stay up all night burning the candle at both ends', but on reflection I think there are probably too many hotel rooms around Europe that would just protest too loudly at the prospect............................! Best stick to the 'out and back' world of charter!
Good luck to him.
PP