Thank You, AA - (story)
- Thread starter killbilly
- Start date
P&H
Well-Known Member
Let me get this right. You were "inspired" by an F/O who has been yanking gear for SIXTEEN years and still can't hold a Captain position?Whatever torques your wrench. :cwm27:
I don't know what era you fly in Velocipede, but my captain pulls gear as much as I do. I know a few pilots who could have upgraded years ago, but decided that their seniority as F/Os is as valuable as their ability to choose their schedules and days off.
Either way, right now is a great time for killbilly to get into the game. Everyone is hiring, even the majors, imagine that.
Killbilly, how old are you and have you started flying yet? If this is what you really want to do for a living, you won't be happy until you do it. Just don't compromise your dignity when you do decide to take the plunge and work for some outfit like gojets. Otherwise, good luck.
Velocipede
New Member
You might be surprised. And besides that, you can try to open the window or doors all you want at FL 340, but they ain't coming open. Even for you, Superman.
Actually, my glass is fine. Its just a LOT of youngsters on this board either don't want to recognize reality or are afraid to admit reality. And the reality is that, for the most part, they're going to be stuck slogging along in the regionals for a LONG time. Now, that's one thing if you're at Horizon and knocking down a decent Captain's wage. Most of those guys won't leave because life at QX is too good to go to the right seat for 1/4 of what they're making. But that's an individual decision.
You HAVE to recognize the fact that there are a lot of AA furloughees who, like AAA guys, will never see the left seat. Is that really your aspiration? To be a permanent F/O? If so, most Major airlines don't want you. They only hire Captain material, even if you'll never get there.
And how many command decisions do you make during the day? No, don't answer. ZERO. That's what "yanking the gear" refers to. But, you knew that. Admit it. F/Os are basicly safety pilots. Realisicly, your input is limited to safety of flight questions. Do you really expect us to believe you are co-equal in the cockpit? Of course you're not. Unless a Captain is incompetent, dangerous or incapacitated, you are pretty much limited in what you can do. Try this next time you're flying. On your next takeoff, go for an unannounced low transition to a max performance climb and see how long it takes your Skipper to say, "I've got the jet."
You know its true. That's why the F/O's mantra when asked a question like "How much fuel do you want?" is (while pointing to his stripes) "One, two, three, don't ask me!"
ready2fly
Well-Known Member
And you would know this.....how?
re: bolded section:Velocipede said:
True. But that contradicts your statement that he's been a FO for 16 years now doesn't it?
As far as your number of furloughed pilots at AA - I'd recheck that. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure all or most of the AA pilots have either already returned or have been offered class dates.
I know for certain that all of the "flow back" AA pilots that were at Eagle are back at AA. AA is now working on getting the TWA/Flow-through pilots on board.
Velocipede
New Member
Point is, he's got 16 years seniority and he's yanking gear. When I had 16 years, I'd been in the left seat for 10 of them. The whole point is that the original author got "inspired" by someone whose career had been derailed by something completely out of his control - 9/11.
And that's the lesson about the piloting career. It has its ups and downs whose effects cannot be forecast until the day you die. Example: The UAL pilots who had been retired for up to 12 years who woke up one morning and found the bankruptcy court had stolen their pensions from them. The went to sleep making $7500 a month and woke up making $3500 a month (PBGC maximum).
Draw a little inspiration from that, if you can.
ready2fly
Well-Known Member
I disagree. The whole point of this thread is that Bill met two very friendly AA pilots who extended their encouragement to him.
While that may be true, he didn't post this thread to have you or anyone else give him a "dose of reality".Veloipede said:
Having met Bill, I feel pretty safe in saying he posted this thread to say "Thanks guys! I appreciate your hospitality!"
Nothing more, nothing less.
Velocipede
New Member
If you post fantasy, prepare for a dose of reality.
ready2fly
Well-Known Member
Sounds to me (and obviously many other posters here) that the two pilots he met had a better reality than yours.
Perhaps it's the old saying "B.S. in, B.S. out". Life/Career is what you put into it.
You go in to work everyday with a piss-poor attitude, you're going to have a piss-poor day - every day.
But, hey - that's not everyone's reality. Sorry if that's yours. If it's not, then correct us, but that's the way you're coming across right now.
sdfcvoh
This is my Custom Title
When I was just about ready to announce my resignation from my old finance/insurance job, I ran into a 50 year old 747 pilot at a trade show for college pilots at LCK. After finding out my aspirations, he quickly told me that I was nuts, and to keep my insurance job - forget being a pilot. He mentioned that he'd just recently quit his pilot job, and was going into the insurance business himself. He was sick of flying planes, and excited about guarding a desk in an office (not literally - but thats what I heard).
I thought he was nuts. He thought I was nuts. To each their own. The money, the BS, the industry BS, who cares . . . not me. I get to fly.
Everyone has their own reality and perspective. That is what's so cool about being human.
I thought he was nuts. He thought I was nuts. To each their own. The money, the BS, the industry BS, who cares . . . not me. I get to fly.
Everyone has their own reality and perspective. That is what's so cool about being human.
SmoothLanderJ
Well-Known Member
THAT is scary. My goal is to be an airline pilot (captain) one day. However, with stories like that, it makes it hard to imagine, and the possible "what ifs" that could happen with bankruptcies and such.
Velocipede
New Member
If you aspire to be an airline pilot, you must face the reality of the vagaries of the profession. Furloughs, bankruptcies, mergers have always been a part of the landscape. ALPA was founded in the '30s to protect pilots from those vagaries. Company Unions and non-Union carriers have always indirectly benefitted from the strides that ALPA has made for its pilots.
As long as you are cognizant of the risks, the rewards can be great. Not as great as they used to be, mind you, but still worthwhile.
As long as you are cognizant of the risks, the rewards can be great. Not as great as they used to be, mind you, but still worthwhile.
LoadMasterC141
Well-Known Member
Velo, others said it; that “dose of reality”, is your reality. Come spend a week analyzing data in my cube farm with me. Pulling gear sounds better. It is all completely subjective and unique to the individual. Bill got a chance to meet some really nice guys that are doing what he wants to do. They seemed happy about their choices still. I know Bill and he was not trying to make a political statement about any of this. He just wanted to share the nice experience he had and thank those gentlemen.
akaFlyboy 4
New Member
:yeahthat
ITTO - R2F, P&H, Bike21, LM C141 and others.
and another thing.....
I needed a good story like that. I try not to allow others to bring me down, because it is up to me to make my own way. So I take as much good advise as I can. I try to learn from those that have been there done that. I try to let the guy venting about how he got burned get it all out (probably has earned the right), but it does not guarantee you a bad experience, it means that be aware of the down sides and - Make your own way.
I don’t think there are many industries or professions that don’t have stories of people losing pensions and or wages. It happens in all career fields so deal with it or get on to the next adventure in your life, just don’t bring others down with you.
ITTO - R2F, P&H, Bike21, LM C141 and others.and another thing.....
I needed a good story like that. I try not to allow others to bring me down, because it is up to me to make my own way. So I take as much good advise as I can. I try to learn from those that have been there done that. I try to let the guy venting about how he got burned get it all out (probably has earned the right), but it does not guarantee you a bad experience, it means that be aware of the down sides and - Make your own way.
I don’t think there are many industries or professions that don’t have stories of people losing pensions and or wages. It happens in all career fields so deal with it or get on to the next adventure in your life, just don’t bring others down with you.
Awesome pilots willing to do that. I would really admire them.
It's great the aspiring pilot wannabees can still have the opportunity to go into the cockpit pre-flight over here in the U.S, very fortunate, however the last 2 times I have traveled to Australia (my home country) I have flown on on Qantas several times and asked every time if I could meet the pilots, see the cockpit.....Every time the F/a's would become unfriendly towards me. It's a HUGE no no in Australia apparently for a passenger to even see the cockpit. Sucks....
I find it strange that Australia is more strict than the U.S.
It's great the aspiring pilot wannabees can still have the opportunity to go into the cockpit pre-flight over here in the U.S, very fortunate, however the last 2 times I have traveled to Australia (my home country) I have flown on on Qantas several times and asked every time if I could meet the pilots, see the cockpit.....Every time the F/a's would become unfriendly towards me. It's a HUGE no no in Australia apparently for a passenger to even see the cockpit. Sucks....
I find it strange that Australia is more strict than the U.S.
Velocipede
New Member
I don’t think there are many industries or professions that don’t have stories of people losing pensions and or wages. It happens in all career fields so deal with it or get on to the next adventure in your life, just don’t bring others down with you.
Yes, its all very grand eloquent to spout off phrases like "make your own way" and "the grand adventure."
But, reality sucks sometimes and you fledglings need to know the down side of what you're getting into.
Of course, a couple months of shortcall Reserve with 10 days off or a line of CDOs that make you so exhausted all you can do on those 10 days off is sleep and you may have a slightly different take on the "grand adventure."
In the mean time when guys who have been flying airliners since you were tots enjoying the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles try to enlighten you, you might take heed.
Close your mouths, open your ears and you just MIGHT learn something. However, given the propensity for young guys to "know it all" I'm probably wrong. :banghead:
akaFlyboy 4
New Member
as I posted before;
I try not to allow others to bring me down, because it is up to me to make my own way. So I take as much good advise as I can. I try to learn from those that have been there done that. I try to let the guy venting about how he got burned get it all out (probably has earned the right), but it does not guarantee you a bad experience, it means that be aware of the down sides and - Make your own way.
So I here ya, and I appreciate your experience, but it is just like kids you raise. You raise them the best you can and what you believe is right and then you got to let them go and learn it themselves. Most of us appreciate what is shared here- the good and the bad. so sincerely Thanks
Cruise
Well-Known Member
I could be wrong......but I seriously doubt that Mommy Velo popped out an adult Velo. As such you, my friend, were a young and staryeyed aspiring pilot many moons ago. Furthermore, I'd venture to guess most likely you, like me, were a young person who thought they knew better than the adults. Now we're older and realize the err of our ways. You can point it out all you want. But the only way a younger person is going to learn this stuff is by living it. Sure, it's helpful to have us point things out. But at the end of the day, it really only matters what the younger generations do and how they learn from the experience.
I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I think the negatives need to be addressed same as the positives. However, I think you to keep everything in perspective and try to remember the 'younger Velo,' and how enthused you were when you began your aviation career. Don't automatically crush all noobs in the name of "reality."
IMHO