surreal1221
Well-Known Member
Oh yes, oops - Taxi too.
I was one of the few guys who filled out the computer flight plan (not sure what you call it now that you guys got rid of WorldFlight) and did frequent position reports, but that never stopped me from enjoying the "business section of the FOM," if you know what I mean.
I do that if it's a long flight, I'm bored and my FO is a seat warmer with the conversational skills of a turnip. We've still got WorldFlight.....for now. The Delta printers jack it up, though. Huge, 3 inch spaces spread throughout the release. Makes what is normally a long, long release even longer and harder to get info out of. They keep teasing us with going to the Aerodata system like the -900 guys have (which means no more waiting for numbers to take off), but I think they're in a bidding war to get cheap software again.....
I didn't read all the posts, just the first and last pages so sorry if this is a repeat...
I have talked to lots of pilots of all different ages and what I have noticed is that the older pilots seem to remember the airlines in a different way. It was different back then, alot different. The younger guys don't have anything to really compare the current aviation industry to so they tend to have a more upbeat view on things...
I wonder what my take on the whole aviation industry will be when I retire.
The profession has, to put it mildly, taken a huge spiral dive crashing into the ground. Which is all the more reason to strive to protect what we have and to at the very least put a strong effort into returning what we have lost.
What I'm trying to say is that as far as what things have become to date, that many in the industry now see this as "the norm" and hence just accept it...or are simply apathetic; when they should be doing all they can to make the effort to reverse that trend, and work towards what once was. I think the challenge will be educating those with the "the norm" mentality on the history of the profession and the potential it truly has, and to not simply accept it as it is now.
Hopefully that's the direction it'll head.
From another forum
Well , The good news is, Today I officially Retire from Northwest Airlines and I was hired last week for a Service Advisor job in the automotive division of Sears
Did you guys already lose the TPs? Having the MELs on your "release" page? etc.... The Aerodata is cool but the release looks like crap. Add to that when fueling, the line guy has to know (or the person telling him) that the fuel listed on top is TAKEOFF fuel, and the actual pre-blockout fuel is on the bottom of each release page.
The "downward spiral" will only last a couple more years. When the age 65 effect goes away pilots will have the leverage they've been waiting for. We already got a taste of it at the regional level pre-age 65 when Comair wanted to raise 1st yr pay to match 2nd yr. Supply and demand. The market will correct itself. Our time is coming.....
The downward spiral has been going strong since about 1984 when b-scale wages first showed up, and I don't think that's gonna change anytime soon.
You're flying for something like G-scale wages but happy as a pig in slop.
The "downward spiral" will only last a couple more years. When the age 65 effect goes away pilots will have the leverage they've been waiting for. We already got a taste of it at the regional level pre-age 65 when Comair wanted to raise 1st yr pay to match 2nd yr. Supply and demand. The market will correct itself. Our time is coming.....
What exactly are you doing to make sure that when "our" time comes that we can actually reap the largest return possible with the significant increase in negotiating capital?
The time is now to establish the best course of action for the future.
Are you guys really downing Trip7 because he enjoys his job?
I'll agree with that babycakes. I guess I'd like to see an upbeat attitude with the motive to constantly improve the industry. From the day I stepped in the door at Airnet I tried to improve that place. Unfortunetly most of that went as far as a few policies and a few JS agreements. It's too bad the new closers (owners) devoted most of their energy on shrinking a business rather than growing and as a result ran me out of town.Naw, there ain't nothin' wrong with liking what you do. Heck, if you don't you'll be miserable.
But to have your head shoved so far into the sand that you start to think you're an ostrich? That doesn't do anybody any good.
Do regional rates, for the most part, suck? Yup. Are the work rules all horrible? Nope. ExpressJet and Air Wisky have better work rules than Continental or Airways, oddly enough, and that's a big part of a contract. Do the pay rates at the bottom end need to come up? Yup.
But sitting there and acting like it's going to happen on it's own? Well that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Are you guys really downing Trip7 because he enjoys his job?
What would the best course of action be to accomplish that goal ?
What is that supposed to mean? What kind of training is an airline pilot supposed to learn to better their contracts? Other than walking out the door as a group, how are you going to bring about better pay scales and QOL?Who's downing him for enjoying his job?
I know I've said it before, but I suppose it needs repeating - you should enjoy your line of work.
But, you shouldn't be ignorant about the reality of the conditions of your employment.
Considering the context in which I said the quote you selected.
When you go to war, do you begin training for the war on Day 1 of combat, or do you train years well prior to any war knowing that one day you might have to put your training to use?
Begin training for the battle today to reap the benefits of tomorrow.
What is that supposed to mean? What kind of training is an airline pilot supposed to learn to better their contracts? Other than walking out the door as a group, how are you going to bring about better pay scales and QOL?