are you proud to be a pilot?
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Yes I am proud! And at least i did'nt have to or choose to take part in this pay 2 fly bull****! Pay for a TR??!! Get real!
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My version:
A) What do you do?
B) I'm an Airline Pilot
A) Oh, wow fantastic (looks suitably impressed). Who do you work for?
B) Ryanair
A) Oh. (Now looks like I just told him I'm a kiddy fiddler).
I get a similar reaction but not because of the company I work for, it's the aircraft type that draws the demoralizing reaction from people.
When I tell people and they look up "Twin Otter" on-line and see it, they're like, "you paid 80k to fly that thing?!"
I don't feel a like of pride when I get this familiar reaction I think, I'm not sure how I feel but it doesn't make it seem all worthwhile that's for sure!
A) What do you do?
B) I'm an Airline Pilot
A) Oh, wow fantastic (looks suitably impressed). Who do you work for?
B) Ryanair
A) Oh. (Now looks like I just told him I'm a kiddy fiddler).
I get a similar reaction but not because of the company I work for, it's the aircraft type that draws the demoralizing reaction from people.
When I tell people and they look up "Twin Otter" on-line and see it, they're like, "you paid 80k to fly that thing?!"
I don't feel a like of pride when I get this familiar reaction I think, I'm not sure how I feel but it doesn't make it seem all worthwhile that's for sure!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2010
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guys, you got it wrong.
you can be proud of your profession but not of "this" profession.
"this" industry think they can dictate us, they think they can control us but they can't.
any pilots should be proud of his profession regardless of how hard it is. We will survive.
Don't devalue yourself for the orange dictator...one day we will have our justice. the force is with you!
(what a load of crap!!!
)
you can be proud of your profession but not of "this" profession.
"this" industry think they can dictate us, they think they can control us but they can't.
any pilots should be proud of his profession regardless of how hard it is. We will survive.
Don't devalue yourself for the orange dictator...one day we will have our justice. the force is with you!
(what a load of crap!!!
)
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I love flying, but I think you got it all wrong.
I'm proud, but whenever I tell anyone about it, they assume I'm all cocky about it.
Tbh though, a PPL or even a CPL is all about the money, so anyone can say they can fly a plane, and then you just never specify.
It's:
a) What do you do?
b) I'm an airline pilot.
a) Who do you work for?
b) I'm unemployed.
a) Oh.
or,
b) I work for blah blah blah.
a) That's great!
(an hour later, he/she sees the basement/parent's attic that you're living in)
I'm proud, but whenever I tell anyone about it, they assume I'm all cocky about it.
Tbh though, a PPL or even a CPL is all about the money, so anyone can say they can fly a plane, and then you just never specify.
It's:
a) What do you do?
b) I'm an airline pilot.
a) Who do you work for?
b) I'm unemployed.
a) Oh.
or,
b) I work for blah blah blah.
a) That's great!
(an hour later, he/she sees the basement/parent's attic that you're living in)
Maybe it's a case of a little bit of knowledge (on the punter's side) breeds contempt. In the olden days there was a mystique about flying that engendered if not respect, then at least curiosity.
Or maybe you guys are just flying the wrong type. Whenever I've mentioned that I fly helicopters, mainly offshore; then I've never had a demeaning response and I would hazard a guess and say that's true for most chopper pilots.
Guess we're still a skills based profession as opposed to computer managers;
. Sorry, couldn't resist that!
Or maybe you guys are just flying the wrong type. Whenever I've mentioned that I fly helicopters, mainly offshore; then I've never had a demeaning response and I would hazard a guess and say that's true for most chopper pilots.
Guess we're still a skills based profession as opposed to computer managers;
. Sorry, couldn't resist that!
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Guys - don't get too sensitive about what the public think of your professional. I've watched brain surgery on the telly and it looks pretty easy - bet it isn't though. I'm retired after 40+ years, half RAF/airlines and I had a ball in both. What really matters to me is what the guys and girls, my fellow professionals, think of me - I don't care what the punters think.
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put it this way...how many accountants do you hear say 'hey guys, I'm an accountant and I LOVE IT 
'. I've been an accountant for about 10 years and I friggin hate it. Quite a number of people I started out with are all in different careers (with teaching being the winner).
At the end of the day, if you love what you do then be proud of it. If you are NOT proud of what you do (ie. where you go to every day and spend most of your adult/awake hours there) then you should be looking at yourself and thinking..."wtf am I doing?".
'. I've been an accountant for about 10 years and I friggin hate it. Quite a number of people I started out with are all in different careers (with teaching being the winner). At the end of the day, if you love what you do then be proud of it. If you are NOT proud of what you do (ie. where you go to every day and spend most of your adult/awake hours there) then you should be looking at yourself and thinking..."wtf am I doing?".
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I remember feeling very proud when I landed after my initial instrument rating test for the CPL/IR and the examiner said: "Congratulations, you passed", also when I was down at the CAA to get my 737 rating on the licence or on my first line training flight landing in Malaga....oh and dealing with the odd emergency. Other than that, I feel, and airline managers/general public make me feel like a glorified bus driver (no disrespect to bus drivers intended).
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As technology improves, required piloting skills decrease
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Agree with mra4eng...you want to talk about bein under-respected...try Enginering...ask Jo Bloggs what an Engineer is, the conversation is likely to be:
What is an Engineer?
-Someone who repairs cars
No, thats a mechanic
-Someone who repairs your house boiler
No, thats a technician
Atleast you cant misuse/abuse the word "I'm a pilot"!!
Under-respect as a pilot does not come anywhere near under-respect for Design Engineering.
Whats the difference between an airline pilot and a Jet Engine?
- The Jet Engine stops whining after the flight!
What is an Engineer?
-Someone who repairs cars
No, thats a mechanic
-Someone who repairs your house boiler
No, thats a technician
Atleast you cant misuse/abuse the word "I'm a pilot"!!
Under-respect as a pilot does not come anywhere near under-respect for Design Engineering.
Whats the difference between an airline pilot and a Jet Engine?
- The Jet Engine stops whining after the flight!
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Whats the difference between an airline pilot and a Jet Engine?
- The Jet Engine stops whining after the flight!
- The Jet Engine stops whining after the flight!
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Whats the difference between an airline pilot and a Jet Engine?
- The Jet Engine stops whining after the flight!
- The Jet Engine stops whining after the flight!
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I always thought that was the punchline to the 'Whats the difference between a Harrier and a Harrier pilot!' joke.
Again, if you look at Engineering...100 years ago, the Engineers were paid handsomely and were wealthy, I.Brunel, Lord Pirrie, T.Andews etc etc...now look at us :P obscurity and not razzle-dazzle!!
If i can have a job for the same money and having a more regular job, i would not hesitate for a second.
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Am i proud to be a Pilot.
Pride isnt my yardstick for measuring my profession.....Happiness is. And im bloody happy.
Im sorry to say this but the one thing that really made me want to shoot myself in the head when i flew in the airlines.......was my colleagues! Whinging whining negativity at every opportunity. Bitch Bitch Bitch. Pilots are their own worst enemies.
The reason the PROFESSION is going to pot is because of the present incumbents reluctance to stand up and make it better for the next generation. Im all right jack, sod the rest.
This profession has given me so much, i feel duty bound to give something back. Due to the negativity of the people that populate the profession, its going to be like pushing s**t uphill but i'll find a way.
Pride isnt my yardstick for measuring my profession.....Happiness is. And im bloody happy.
Im sorry to say this but the one thing that really made me want to shoot myself in the head when i flew in the airlines.......was my colleagues! Whinging whining negativity at every opportunity. Bitch Bitch Bitch. Pilots are their own worst enemies.
The reason the PROFESSION is going to pot is because of the present incumbents reluctance to stand up and make it better for the next generation. Im all right jack, sod the rest.
This profession has given me so much, i feel duty bound to give something back. Due to the negativity of the people that populate the profession, its going to be like pushing s**t uphill but i'll find a way.
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... it's a cycle?
All of you must admit that being a pilot 20 years ago was a bit better then in those days in both the military and civilian aviation (economic crash and volcanos apart)! Said that the question is how can we bring new vigor to todays aviation?
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Im sorry to say this but the one thing that really made me want to shoot myself in the head when i flew in the airlines.......was my colleagues! Whinging whining negativity at every opportunity.
How do we bring back the vigor? Well the word "vigor" implies energy and I would say that we need to look at who we employ first. The FTO's have built up the expectation that every wannabee who pays their fees are deserved of a RHS position on a 80T jet within 3 months of completion.
Therefore, its a possibility that a lot of new guys are entering the industry for the wrong reasons ("dont I look good in uniform" mentality). If we could just sort those guys out then we might be able to bring back some integrity to our profession....
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Well, 30 years ago, the sun came up and breaking through the clouds on a dull day to be greeted by glorious sunshine still remains.
However, the profession itself is in the gutter. Airline management is doing its best, I'm sure across the globe, to reduce salary costs and associated T&C's.
Unfortunately, the glamour still remains in misty eyed wannabes, with seemingly endless amounts of cash.
Pilots themselves are their own worst enemy - each will accept something to further themselves and no thought for others or the impact beyond even the end of the month. At my airline we had summer-only contracts, 70% contracts, and people were queuing up to take them - 100s of applications. Unfortunate consequences for those in the company who are now in the accountants gun-sights.
We are all becoming blue-collar workers. The job is hard, and it's getting harder. The only really depressing thought is the complete idiots who run the company.
However, the profession itself is in the gutter. Airline management is doing its best, I'm sure across the globe, to reduce salary costs and associated T&C's.
Unfortunately, the glamour still remains in misty eyed wannabes, with seemingly endless amounts of cash.
Pilots themselves are their own worst enemy - each will accept something to further themselves and no thought for others or the impact beyond even the end of the month. At my airline we had summer-only contracts, 70% contracts, and people were queuing up to take them - 100s of applications. Unfortunate consequences for those in the company who are now in the accountants gun-sights.
We are all becoming blue-collar workers. The job is hard, and it's getting harder. The only really depressing thought is the complete idiots who run the company.
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I have to agree with GW. Some people just dont know how lucky they are...or perhaps they just took up flying for the wrong reasons (lots of them about)?
On a glorious sunny afternoon a man is sat in his deckchair, surveying his freshly mown lawn as a light aircraft flies overhead. "Man, I wish I was up there, I bet it's a beautiful day to fly" he thinks. Not long afterwards, the light aircraft pilot happens to spot a 747 flying far overhead on the way to some exotic location. The light aircraft pilot thinks to himself "Damn, I can't wait for the day when I get to fly a big jet like those guys. I bet they have such an amazing lifestyle, constantly jetting off to amazing places." Up in the 747 cockpit the eagle eyed F/O happens to spot the Space Shuttle zoom across the sky on the way to the International Space Station. He thinks to himself "That has the be the ultimate job. I wish I was onboard up there, floating around in space, looking down on the world. I bet they don't have all the hassle and politics we get. Those guys are sooo lucky.". Up on the International Space Station, a homesick astronaut looks down to see his hometown through the crystal clear skies and thinks to himself "Man, I can't wait to go home. If I was at home now, I'd be sat in my lawnchair enjoying some late afternoon sun with my family. Those guys down there are soo lucky."
I think the gist is that the grass always seems greener on the other side, especially in aviation (I think another version has somebody on the Space Shuttle wishing they were bimbling around in a spamcan).
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Each to his own...
Great anecdote and soooo true
Most pilots aspire to reach the "Next Level". Wannabees should have a lot of aspirations as they are right at the bottom but they seem to be so intently focussed on jumping past a few levels without progressing naturally and enjoying the experience of each level. It just takes some money to get ahead and then - there goes the industry's integrity.
Getting back to the nub of this thread though: Personally, I enjoy flying immensely and I fly a variety of types including jet and piston. I cant wait to get up in the morning and fly (whatever it is). "Next Level"? The only "Next Level" for me is the next FL going up or down.
Perhaps the FTOs should introduce more of the stick and rudder aspect of flying? Perhaps like the good old days when we had to do aerobatics
OTOH that'll mean reducing their margins...
Most pilots aspire to reach the "Next Level". Wannabees should have a lot of aspirations as they are right at the bottom but they seem to be so intently focussed on jumping past a few levels without progressing naturally and enjoying the experience of each level. It just takes some money to get ahead and then - there goes the industry's integrity.
Getting back to the nub of this thread though: Personally, I enjoy flying immensely and I fly a variety of types including jet and piston. I cant wait to get up in the morning and fly (whatever it is). "Next Level"? The only "Next Level" for me is the next FL going up or down.
Perhaps the FTOs should introduce more of the stick and rudder aspect of flying? Perhaps like the good old days when we had to do aerobatics
OTOH that'll mean reducing their margins...