Publics Perception of Pilots

I think what has been said holds true for the lower 49.

But in Alaska pilots are still looked upon a bit better than down south, but still not as good as in the past. Unlike down in America, alot of towns rely upon airplanes for the survival of their town.
 
The only people that care you are a pilot are 4 year old boys and other pilots. Lets just face that fact early on.

In the publics eye I am just an unnoficial guide of every terminal at every airport I have ever been in and any flight that passes in, near, or around the east coast.
 
This isn't relevant to your English paper, but my question is this.

Who gives a crap what other people think about your job?

If they admire you for it, great. If they don't, so be it.

You're the one who has to get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror. If you're okay with what you're doing to pay the bills, everyone else can bleep off as far as I am concerned.
 
Doug Taylor said:
In the US, most people either think we're underworked crybabies or average Joe's. Hotels take comparatively mediocre care of you, the TSA and immigration find you somewhat of an annoyance. Some of that is our fault, some of it is the fact that some people kind of 'get off' by pushing crews around. The "Ha ha ha, I told that cap'n something!' mentality.

Europe, you're still "kind of somebody big". People are respectful, usually only a flash of the ID and that's good enough for immigration, hotels take absolutely superb care of you.

Largely, apart from the airport, when the uniform is off I generally will avoid identifying myself as a pilot primarily because people ask the same three questions:

a. What's your route (they vary!)
b. How much is a ticket to... (I have no idea!)/I was on this one flight to...
c. Do you know (generic name), he works for (a very large carrier with thousands of pilots).

Man, I sound a little morose this morning, sorry! :) It's the jet lag!
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Don't forget to add that "Your airline lost my bag!" I hated that one.
 
I think the reputation still holds true. But I think we can all agree its definiately no where near what it used to be in the TWA, Pan Am days. Pilots were the gods of the sky. Today, I get more perks being in the Army than being a pilot.

Breaking down age the age groups:

-The older groups still call flight attendants
Stewardess. They still think Pan Am is around, so were celebs with them.
-Middle age groups hate us because they fly alot and we're always the reason for the delays.
-Lower age groups have no idea we exist because they're to busying thinking about when's the next party or when is the next 50 cent concert.
-The baby age is the best because we are their heros.
 
tonyw said:
Who gives a crap what other people think about your job?

If they admire you for it, great. If they don't, so be it.

You're the one who has to get up in the morning and look at yourself in the mirror. If you're okay with what you're doing to pay the bills, everyone else can bleep off as far as I am concerned.
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:yeahthat: D: Hi I am you new neighbor and I noticed your uniform, are you a pilot?
P: Yupp:)

D: I could not be a pilot, the pay sucks, that is why I am a doctor intern:) We have WAYY more responsibility:D .

P: :rolleyes: Ok biotch, can you see a Sunrise/Sunset from your office?

D: Uh

P: Can you see your house from your office? What about you local city?

D: Uh


P: Not to mention you are responsible for killing person at a time, sumthin goes wrong Im killin all 60+ passengers and crew, say somthin now?

D: Diane did you call me? Gotta go bye:o


:laff::laff::laff:
 
mission_aviation said:
I think the reputation still holds true. But I think we can all agree its definiately no where near what it used to be in the TWA, Pan Am days. Pilots were the gods of the sky. Today, I get more perks being in the Army than being a pilot.

Breaking down age the age groups:

-The older groups still call flight attendants
Stewardess. They still think Pan Am is around, so were celebs with them.
-Middle age groups hate us because they fly alot and we're always the reason for the delays.
-Lower age groups have no idea we exist because they're to busying thinking about when's the next party or when is the next 50 cent concert.
-The baby age is the best because we are their heros.
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HAHA:laff: So true! In High School people could care less you fly plane's, and even mock you for it, but the babies think I am Superman:D. I do think that some people in each age group still look at pilots as heroes though becuase on flights to Jamaica or on Air Jamaica, when the plane touches down and people hear the engines reverse, the plane erupts with clapping and whoooo!! Yah mon, we reach ah yawd ( Jamaican talk), ah memories:D
 
MikeOH58 said:
I think most peoples list would go something like this...

Doctor
Lawyer
Dentist
Police Officer
Fire Fighter
Stock Broker
Accountant
Secretary
Therapist
Clerk
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Don't forget the human xerox copy machines that suck our taxes every month to support their baby making factories. Sorry, I had to get on my soap box.
 
Intresting this topic came today.... Yesterday While Walking my dog in my "DCA wear" a woman walked by that I have never met before and politely said how's school going. I told her everything was well and anything worth doing is worth working hard for.

She then said to me: "Well that's good, because I get sick of hearing how much pilots get paid to sit back do drugs, and drink on the job" :banghead:

What this has to do with the topic she origonally asked about who knows. But then she continued to blabber and told me she has never flown before.

I just nodded, bit my tongue and walked the dog home.
 
Stop biting your tongue(s).

We either kepe biting our tongues, and the public (albeit, one lady in your case) continues to be ignorant. Or we open up our mouths and tell them like it is.

Trouble is though, I have extremely little faith that someone who is ignorant enough to spout off senseless blabber, would be able to understand and actually listen to what is being said.
 
surreal1221 said:
Stop biting your tongue(s).

We either kepe biting our tongues, and the public (albeit, one lady in your case) continues to be ignorant. Or we open up our mouths and tell them like it is.
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I'd personally advise telling her to shove it where the sun don't shine, and to bleep off.

I'm serious. If someone wants to come at me with an attitude, they can stick where the sun don't shine and I don't care if they like me or not.

As you sow, so shall you reap!
 
tonyw said:
I'd personally advise telling her to shove it where the sun don't shine, and to bleep off.

I'm serious. If someone wants to come at me with an attitude, they can stick where the sun don't shine and I don't care if they like me or not.

As you sow, so shall you reap!
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This comes from someone whose opinion I value:

This isn't relevant to your English paper, but my question is this.

Who gives a crap what other people think about your job?

If they admire you for it, great. If they don't, so be it.


The only thing that really needs to be said to the public is: "Thanks for flying with us today." Otherwise if you decide its your job to talk back to your customers, you might end up reaping what you sow.
 
flyover said:
The only thing that really needs to be said to the public is: "Thanks for flying with us today." Otherwise if you decide its your job to talk back to your customers, you might end up reaping what you sow.
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Well, then, I say take the Dough attitude and don't talk about it.

Seriously, if someone wants to insult you, are you just going to walk away? Fine, if that's what you want to do.

But if someone thinks you're overpaid and thinks all you do is get stoned and drunk if they never fly again, good riddance!

I operated a business for several years in a very competitive arena and I had no problem telling someone to go elsewhere if I didn't want to deal with their crap. The customer is not always right, in fact, they are often wrong.

And if they are impossible to please, screw 'em. Let your competition try to. You go on to deal with profitable customers!
 
tonyw said:
Well, then, I say take the Dough attitude and don't talk about it.

Seriously, if someone wants to insult you, are you just going to walk away? Fine, if that's what you want to do.

But if someone thinks you're overpaid and thinks all you do is get stoned and drunk, who cares what they think about your job. If they never fly again, good riddance!
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Tony, with all due respect, I appreciate your non-nonsense style -- but do you seriously think getting into it with a paying customer is a good idea? Some people are a-holes and deserve a good tongue-lashing, but for a crew member to do that while in uniform is not the brightest idea. I have to bite my tongue just about every day when people make snarky comments, ask ridiculously stupid questions, hit on me or try to bait me. :rolleyes: It's all part of the customer service business--you as a salesman should know that better than anybody.
I've become quite the good actress by responding to people's idiotic comments, complaints and questions with a big ol' smile on my face. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? ;)
 
I hate misconceptions. And I will gladly tell someone who really thinks that pilots are lazy and drink and get stoned on the job what pilots are really like.

However, this can be said in a polite, non-threatening, informative way rather than a combative way. Think of it more as having a conversation with someone rather than "setting them straight". If, after our conversation, they want to continue to believe pilots are drunkard and stoners, well, that's their prerogative and I'll let it go without getting angry or preaching.
 
WildCougar said:
but do you seriously think getting into it with a paying customer is a good idea? Some people are a-holes and deserve a good tongue-lashing, but for a crew member to do that while in uniform is not the brightest idea.
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If someone's already got the idea that all pilots are drunk and stoned and overpaid, well, they hate you already.

And it's not like they can do anything if you let them have it. What are they going to do, not fly to Aunt Bessie's for Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Obviously, you don't do it when you're on the clock. But if you're walking the dog, and someone says something stupid, you've got two choices.

Ignore them, and keep on walking. That's usually the best approach.

But if they keep on pestering you, let them have it.

In other words, don't start the fight, but don't back down from it either.

By no means am I suggesting anyone set anyone straight while they are on the clock. Then your company owns your ass, and you have to smile and take it.

But when you're off the clock, you're on your own. If they're a bunghole, you can walk away or let them have it. Your call.

And nobody should get the idea that I'm always up in someone's face about something. I'm very rarely in someone's face. If that happens, you have done something to deserve it, and then some.
 
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