What I like about this job.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Guildford
Age: 49
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Tempered with "I've only just finished my training and don't have a job yet, so have never flown a jet for real" [anyone got a job? please? I'm nice really!]
But, even with that caveat, what floats my boat:
- Every single time you sit in whatever seat you're flying from and crank open the thrust levers/throttles and get that walloping kick in the small of your back - NEVER fails to make me smile...
- Taking off early on a rainy, crappy, grey, cold, miserable day, thinking "what the hell am I doing this for" - only to break cloud into glorious blue skies and sunshine on the climb out and thinking "that'd be it then!"
- Knowing, that even if I never get paid to fly, at least I went for my dream and gave it my best. Better to regret the things you've done than those you never did and all that...
- The amount of laughs, giggles, friends (And sunburn!) I got along the way...
But, even with that caveat, what floats my boat:
- Every single time you sit in whatever seat you're flying from and crank open the thrust levers/throttles and get that walloping kick in the small of your back - NEVER fails to make me smile...
- Taking off early on a rainy, crappy, grey, cold, miserable day, thinking "what the hell am I doing this for" - only to break cloud into glorious blue skies and sunshine on the climb out and thinking "that'd be it then!"
- Knowing, that even if I never get paid to fly, at least I went for my dream and gave it my best. Better to regret the things you've done than those you never did and all that...
- The amount of laughs, giggles, friends (And sunburn!) I got along the way...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: My house
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One from training:
Flying a route and arriving home, popping out of the cloud just above minima and kissing the runway, parking up shutting down and walking back to the crew room with a smile!
Flying a route and arriving home, popping out of the cloud just above minima and kissing the runway, parking up shutting down and walking back to the crew room with a smile!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Guildford
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One particular memory for Nick14 that will live a long time in my thoughts....a certain JK finally getting his....being taped to a pole, floured, egged, ketchupd and probably any number of other things...."Maggot..."
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: south east UK
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757-driver
thanks for coming back and picking me up again! Its tough to juggle finances, wife, kids and studies!!! only to hear from a
like beafis that after all this, I will end up with a "****ty" career.
Whilst I know it isn't true, it is something you certainly don't want to read. Hence why its been a while since I posted on PPRuNe yesterday.Too much negativity.
how old were you (if it isnt a rude question) when you first started ppl?
thanks for coming back and picking me up again! Its tough to juggle finances, wife, kids and studies!!! only to hear from a
like beafis that after all this, I will end up with a "****ty" career. Whilst I know it isn't true, it is something you certainly don't want to read. Hence why its been a while since I posted on PPRuNe yesterday.Too much negativity.
how old were you (if it isnt a rude question) when you first started ppl?
studying and exams were done distance learning - with the first module of books dropping through the letterbox the week my first son was born in april '05! (that was a busy time!)
Exams completed by Jan 06. CPL jan-mar 06, MEP mar 06, IR apr-jun 06, MCC jul 06. Then a job offer, 757 type rating and base training completed in Nov 06. Signed off from line training in Feb 07, one month before my 37th birthday.
Don't ever let anyone tell you you cannot do these things.
I did a write up for another forum a couple of years ago - if I can find it i'll post it here.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
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Excellent thread
The cloudscapes, always changing and never fail to impress
Joy of flight, thats all the bits, including the taxi, lining up, holding it on the brakes, bringing up the power levers, the rush of the wind
Cutting through cloud layers
Hand flying a procedure and hitting all the check heights
Greasing it on (Sometimes)
The cloudscapes, always changing and never fail to impress
Joy of flight, thats all the bits, including the taxi, lining up, holding it on the brakes, bringing up the power levers, the rush of the wind
Cutting through cloud layers
Hand flying a procedure and hitting all the check heights
Greasing it on (Sometimes)
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: south east UK
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Cutting through cloud layers
Coming into london the other day, ended up in the OCK hold about 50 ft above a layer of Stratus - Awesome! Our shadow flying in formation with us in the middle of a circular rainbow. I was mesmerised
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Between 2 melons
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Now the novelty of big white fluffy fings has worn off, the reasons I like this job are:
Good money (£5200pcm) - Hey I'm gonna boast!
FAF hostesses (work that acronym out yourself)
The uniform
The looks from others
Don't like greasing it. I love hard landings, windshear and turbulence. Great to give the SLF a ride. Regret never having flown Kai Tak.
Too tall for the RAF weren't I. So ended up lumbering about pushing buttons
Good money (£5200pcm) - Hey I'm gonna boast!
FAF hostesses (work that acronym out yourself)
The uniform
The looks from others
Don't like greasing it. I love hard landings, windshear and turbulence. Great to give the SLF a ride. Regret never having flown Kai Tak.
Too tall for the RAF weren't I. So ended up lumbering about pushing buttons
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Between 2 melons
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I've just posted on the Jet blast forum regarding my wildlife appreciation in Oxford circus around lunch time. Not flying out 'till tonight.
But yes, FAF when the sun is out. Can't wait 'till I get to the hotel sometime tomorrow evening- local time.
Honestly, I'm not going to lie because we all know it. I may not be the 'biggest' guy in the world, but being a pilot sure makes up for it.
Man I love this job. But I really should grow up. Mum has been on at me to "settle down with a lovely little lady and give me some grandchildren".
Sorry Mum, I'm only 28 and I'm going to be enjoying myself for a few more years!
But yes, FAF when the sun is out. Can't wait 'till I get to the hotel sometime tomorrow evening- local time.
Honestly, I'm not going to lie because we all know it. I may not be the 'biggest' guy in the world, but being a pilot sure makes up for it.
Man I love this job. But I really should grow up. Mum has been on at me to "settle down with a lovely little lady and give me some grandchildren".
Sorry Mum, I'm only 28 and I'm going to be enjoying myself for a few more years!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: south east UK
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Man I love this job. But I really should grow up
my son said to me the other day "Daddy when I grow up, I want to be a pilot"
I replied, "well you can't do both son"
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Age: 75
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It was great inviting pax onto the flightdeck in an era when it was allowed and even encouraged.
I remember chatting to an American in the cockpit of a DC10 about 8 hours out of LAX and he asked "how would you like to be in the cockpit of an L1011 right now?
I replied "not alot". When he enquired why, I said that an L1011 would have run out of fuel about an hour ago (1975 pre-500's). He looked a bit miffed and returned to the 1st class cabin leaving his card with us..... The CEO of Lockheed..........priceless!
I remember chatting to an American in the cockpit of a DC10 about 8 hours out of LAX and he asked "how would you like to be in the cockpit of an L1011 right now?
I replied "not alot". When he enquired why, I said that an L1011 would have run out of fuel about an hour ago (1975 pre-500's). He looked a bit miffed and returned to the 1st class cabin leaving his card with us..... The CEO of Lockheed..........priceless!
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: london
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What a shame that kids are no longer allowed to go the flight deck. Once in a while though with common sense we still give passengers a lift in the jumpseat although not in Europe or north America.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Between 2 melons
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I miss with a passion the 742F. To be a pilot in one was an honour. The dials made me feel like I was flying in the glamour era of the seventies. And we actually flew the thing due to the cr*pness of the autopilot.
Taking off from Jeddah 42'C OAT and landing in Anchorage at -28'C. Freight was an amazing job with proper down-to-earth pilots who did the job and didn't have to worry about corporate muppets . Flying in metallica T-shirts and shorts and using the 'other'radio for talking to other Freighters in the viscinity - south pacific flights were a non stop laugh believe it or not.
Then I was 'lucky' enough to get a 744 job with an airline. Unfortunately at 25 with 2200 hours on a 747, I was never going to get Captain anytime soon in case it p1ssed off the old timers. I make good decisions, good handling skills and am a great leader. Unfortunately I have the attitude of a London Underground Driver!
But I'm honest and i think I'm loving the job more than most.
Good money
Good Girls
No further responsibility - just how I like it!
Taking off from Jeddah 42'C OAT and landing in Anchorage at -28'C. Freight was an amazing job with proper down-to-earth pilots who did the job and didn't have to worry about corporate muppets . Flying in metallica T-shirts and shorts and using the 'other'
radio for talking to other Freighters in the viscinity - south pacific flights were a non stop laugh believe it or not. Then I was 'lucky' enough to get a 744 job with an airline. Unfortunately at 25 with 2200 hours on a 747, I was never going to get Captain anytime soon in case it p1ssed off the old timers. I make good decisions, good handling skills and am a great leader. Unfortunately I have the attitude of a London Underground Driver!
But I'm honest and i think I'm loving the job more than most.
Good money
Good Girls
No further responsibility - just how I like it!
What I like about this job is ... looking out of the window!!!!
Well, more than that really...lots in fact.
I fly Airbuses ( well, alright. operate them!) and it is everything and more I expected as a child growing up.
When I was at school, looking out of the window, bored, learning history,thinking about aircraft etc in the late 1980's all I wanted to do was be "up there" looking down on Maidstone, Kent, flying a Dover 8M or 2P from LGW and all that....
I am doing this on a regular basis and I always think of those days at school or when I worked in my local supermarket stacking shelves.
To be able to look down at the earth from 35000 feet still gives me a warm feeling inside, even today.
Well, more than that really...lots in fact.
I fly Airbuses ( well, alright. operate them!) and it is everything and more I expected as a child growing up.
When I was at school, looking out of the window, bored, learning history,thinking about aircraft etc in the late 1980's all I wanted to do was be "up there" looking down on Maidstone, Kent, flying a Dover 8M or 2P from LGW and all that....
I am doing this on a regular basis and I always think of those days at school or when I worked in my local supermarket stacking shelves.
To be able to look down at the earth from 35000 feet still gives me a warm feeling inside, even today.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Age: 75
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I have never flown behind a locked cockpit door, not sure I would like it now, great in the early 70,s having a mini skirt perched high on the jump seat! I think we had 2 jump seats so we could have 2, one for the boss and one for me!
