are you proud to be a pilot?
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 342
Likes: 1
From: right here
am I proud? actually this is a GOOD question.
most of time on duty i'm busy HATING the job. and during my off time i just don't think about it. yes, the industry has gone downhill.
but if you can get those people sitting behind you safely to any place in pretty much any wx even DESPITE of degraded working conditions where you lack even basics like food and sleep why not be proud? probably weird train of thought.
but if you can get those people sitting behind you safely to any place in pretty much any wx even DESPITE of degraded working conditions where you lack even basics like food and sleep why not be proud? probably weird train of thought.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: ... on an island!
... and think that "probably" in the future they will "probably" pay you to do it! ... just being sarcastic after the P2F thread!
It is a good job and a lot of people I know they are in the aviation business for passion and a real one! Sometimes you cannot really survive if you don't look back and follow your step again of your initial motivation! Good Luck!
It is a good job and a lot of people I know they are in the aviation business for passion and a real one! Sometimes you cannot really survive if you don't look back and follow your step again of your initial motivation! Good Luck!
PPRuNe Secret Agent!
Moderator
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,547
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From: West Sussex, UK
What the hell is that red stuff he's eating?!?
Quite a few, myself included, whilst been made redundant recently, were prepared to come out of flying, return to what we did before or take the career in a new direction if it mean't the only option to keep flying was to drag families to the Middle East...
Possibly a sign that a lot of us are no longer prepared to keep chasing this career or sacrificing other aspects of life for this career that I think we were once all as enthusiastic as IrishJason is about joining it...is this because it is no longer worth it?
I still enjoy flying a lot and am always happy, regardless of the time of day to go to work, but i'm soooo disillusioned with the industry as a whole...
Quite a few, myself included, whilst been made redundant recently, were prepared to come out of flying, return to what we did before or take the career in a new direction if it mean't the only option to keep flying was to drag families to the Middle East...
Possibly a sign that a lot of us are no longer prepared to keep chasing this career or sacrificing other aspects of life for this career that I think we were once all as enthusiastic as IrishJason is about joining it...is this because it is no longer worth it?
I still enjoy flying a lot and am always happy, regardless of the time of day to go to work, but i'm soooo disillusioned with the industry as a whole...
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: FL450
The "industry" is not some abstract entity. It is people. And it is these people that treat others so badly.
People in commercial aviation used to look after one another. Supporting each other, ( a little at least) so every improvement was in everyones interest. It was a gentleman's flying club. Knowledge was handed down.
Now it seems a race to get to the top of a collapsing ladder throwing off anyone who dares to be on "your" ladder, in your way.
Perhaps a sign of the times everywhere? In a world where standards mean nothing to anyone anymore. It's all about productivity. Pay the least, extract the most. If you don't/ won't do it, bye bye.....next!
Newbees simply can't see the wood for the trees. "Don't put your hand in the fire, it will hurt." No matter how many times you hear it you don't see it 'til you put your hand in that fire!
"Proud to be a pilot?" Well, proud for what I have achieved yes. Proud of what the job is, for what it has become? No way. Do I enjoy flying still? Yes. Do I enjoy the job? No.
If I had it all again I'd stick to flying privately and use my skills to have a career that values me and a life away from work rather than sacrifice family, relationships, hobbies, friends, home, pension, and all the things that others take for granted so I can earn a very modest income averaging one year in two-three!
Things can only get better.... everyday is a day closer to hanging up that flightbag.
People in commercial aviation used to look after one another. Supporting each other, ( a little at least) so every improvement was in everyones interest. It was a gentleman's flying club. Knowledge was handed down.
Now it seems a race to get to the top of a collapsing ladder throwing off anyone who dares to be on "your" ladder, in your way.
Perhaps a sign of the times everywhere? In a world where standards mean nothing to anyone anymore. It's all about productivity. Pay the least, extract the most. If you don't/ won't do it, bye bye.....next!
Newbees simply can't see the wood for the trees. "Don't put your hand in the fire, it will hurt." No matter how many times you hear it you don't see it 'til you put your hand in that fire!
"Proud to be a pilot?" Well, proud for what I have achieved yes. Proud of what the job is, for what it has become? No way. Do I enjoy flying still? Yes. Do I enjoy the job? No.
If I had it all again I'd stick to flying privately and use my skills to have a career that values me and a life away from work rather than sacrifice family, relationships, hobbies, friends, home, pension, and all the things that others take for granted so I can earn a very modest income averaging one year in two-three!
Things can only get better.... everyday is a day closer to hanging up that flightbag.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: ... on an island!
JB, you got it!
and since the subject is pride...
"Philosophers and social psychologists have noted that pride is a complex secondary emotion which requires the development of a sense of self and the mastery of relevant conceptual distinctions (e.g., that pride is distinct from happiness and joy) through language-based interaction with others."
If ever exist pilot psychologists, they will agree with the fact that pilots had master that "complex secondary emotion" and transform it into a simplex, primary status of walking with 4 balls!
and since the subject is pride...
"Philosophers and social psychologists have noted that pride is a complex secondary emotion which requires the development of a sense of self and the mastery of relevant conceptual distinctions (e.g., that pride is distinct from happiness and joy) through language-based interaction with others."
If ever exist pilot psychologists, they will agree with the fact that pilots had master that "complex secondary emotion" and transform it into a simplex, primary status of walking with 4 balls!
Last edited by 169west; 29th April 2010 at 09:19.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 228
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From: ... on an island!
... the paradox of choice is a funny way to describe what we are facing nowadays and how it was much better when it was worse!
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: NL
A) so what do you do?
B) I'm an air traffic controller
A) Cool! You are one of the guys that wave the table tennis bats at the aiport
B) (heard it so many times and can't be bothered to even try to explain) ........ Yes that's what I do......
Despite lack of respect from outsiders and not being able to talk about what I do, I am very proud of my job and jump out of bed in the morning for it
B) I'm an air traffic controller
A) Cool! You are one of the guys that wave the table tennis bats at the aiport
B) (heard it so many times and can't be bothered to even try to explain) ........ Yes that's what I do......
Despite lack of respect from outsiders and not being able to talk about what I do, I am very proud of my job and jump out of bed in the morning for it
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Kerikeri, New Zealand or Noosa Queensland. Depending on the time of year!
Enough of the negativity! Remember that God only created two worthwhile jobs in this world - The first he gave to the airline captain, the other he kept for himself. 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 236
Likes: 1
From: belgium
Oh my god all this negativity makes me angry. I myself am restricted to PPL flying, never can do IMC or night flying due to vision problems. I so very much want to have my CPL but it's impossible. Sooo many friends of me have completed their ATPL, but cannot find a job as pilot for years. I suggest all pilots that hate their job quit business and make place for the ones who still can and will do it.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
From: UK
Proud - sometimes
As an FO three years into the career on a turboprop who wanted to do this all my life and only got into an airliner in his late thirties I am proud of being able to fly, still love powering down the runway and breaking through the cloud into the wild blue yonder. Many of my friends think it's cool etc etc.
However I find my love for it is inversely proportional to how hard I'm working - I enjoy it so much more when it slackens off and I get a balance of time with the family or to do other things.
I also feel somewhat humiliated by the salary I earn which (mid 30k) is less than my 28 year old plumber, the local train drivers and the fueller who fills the plane. Frankly the salary for the training, investment, unsocial hours and skill required is imho a bit of a joke.
I don't want to go back to an office, but I do want a fair wage and I don't feel I'm getting it which leads to a degree of disillusion with the industry.
Proud - yes, happy - sometimes, contented not really because right now I don't feel I'm providing as well as I should for my family. When the market improves I sincerely hope the better carriers out there (BA, Virgin, TC, TF, Monarch, Execjets) enjoy a boom and I get accepted. Then I will be proud - flying a great aeroplane - Boeing or Airbus and being paid a sensible salary to do it.
On the other hand yesterday we carried a 3yr old little girl on her birthday. I made a special PA for her, put her in my seat for photos when we landed and I hope made her and her Mum's day. Apparently the other pax clapped when I made my PA and I must confess I felt proud of being able to give them a great experience. Sometimes I guess you have to appreciate the small things that give you job satisfaction.
One thing I find odd is that air travel is one of the few services that seems to be suffering a huge decline in service standards - even McDonalds is getting better and better nowadays (wifi, healthy meal choices, better decor). I just don't see why airline companies are taking away free newspapers, free drinks, generous baggage allowances and replacing them with swingeing baggage charges, crap expensive food when the cost of doing it right is so low and would add so little to the overall ticket price. Given the quantities airlines buy newspapers and food/drink in it should only add say £5 per head per sector to the shorthaul ticket price. Surely if we reintroduced these things we would become carrier of choice on a given route - provided the price only goes up a little. Once the competition responded you'd be competing again on quality of service and maybe flying would become a pleasure again.
Wouldn't it be nice for cabin crew, customers and pilots to go home feeling you'd given great service today?
Desk-pilot
However I find my love for it is inversely proportional to how hard I'm working - I enjoy it so much more when it slackens off and I get a balance of time with the family or to do other things.
I also feel somewhat humiliated by the salary I earn which (mid 30k) is less than my 28 year old plumber, the local train drivers and the fueller who fills the plane. Frankly the salary for the training, investment, unsocial hours and skill required is imho a bit of a joke.
I don't want to go back to an office, but I do want a fair wage and I don't feel I'm getting it which leads to a degree of disillusion with the industry.
Proud - yes, happy - sometimes, contented not really because right now I don't feel I'm providing as well as I should for my family. When the market improves I sincerely hope the better carriers out there (BA, Virgin, TC, TF, Monarch, Execjets) enjoy a boom and I get accepted. Then I will be proud - flying a great aeroplane - Boeing or Airbus and being paid a sensible salary to do it.
On the other hand yesterday we carried a 3yr old little girl on her birthday. I made a special PA for her, put her in my seat for photos when we landed and I hope made her and her Mum's day. Apparently the other pax clapped when I made my PA and I must confess I felt proud of being able to give them a great experience. Sometimes I guess you have to appreciate the small things that give you job satisfaction.
One thing I find odd is that air travel is one of the few services that seems to be suffering a huge decline in service standards - even McDonalds is getting better and better nowadays (wifi, healthy meal choices, better decor). I just don't see why airline companies are taking away free newspapers, free drinks, generous baggage allowances and replacing them with swingeing baggage charges, crap expensive food when the cost of doing it right is so low and would add so little to the overall ticket price. Given the quantities airlines buy newspapers and food/drink in it should only add say £5 per head per sector to the shorthaul ticket price. Surely if we reintroduced these things we would become carrier of choice on a given route - provided the price only goes up a little. Once the competition responded you'd be competing again on quality of service and maybe flying would become a pleasure again.
Wouldn't it be nice for cabin crew, customers and pilots to go home feeling you'd given great service today?
Desk-pilot
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: sussex
I can remember Mohammed Ali being interviewed and asked if he was "proud" of being the best boxer in the world. He replied that he was, but he'd have been equally proud of being the best bin-man in the world.
Being "proud" of your job has got nothing to do with what the job is but EVERYTHING to do with how you do it.
If you're actually talking about a job that makes you feel good or attracts the envy of blokes down the pub..................that's something different, but it's not "pride in the job"
Being "proud" of your job has got nothing to do with what the job is but EVERYTHING to do with how you do it.
If you're actually talking about a job that makes you feel good or attracts the envy of blokes down the pub..................that's something different, but it's not "pride in the job"
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: uk
Absolutely agree virgo, some of the people i have seen who have been most proudest of their jobs are some of the most menial jobs around. They dont earn a lot and yet are as happy as larry.
Lesson to be learnt there...................
Lesson to be learnt there...................