Ugh, I’m probably gonna regret this when I sober up and get trashed with the usual “Ok..Boomer” type of responses, I try to keep my post upbeat but I guess got a little triggered recently. Yep…I guess I’m showing my age.
During some of my retired free time I occasionally like to watch some YouTube videos on “A day in the life of an airline/corporate pilot“ or any other profession I find interesting. This usually ends up with me going down a rabbit hole with all kinds of profession related videos. Some I have subscribed to are the Blancolirio reports and flying with big Ern. I find them well done and entertaining, for the most part, and take comfort in the fact that “I don’t have to do that anymore” but fun to reminisce. There are other Vloggers that I think put out good content for the general public, wannabes and young folks about aviation that I watch. They maintain a professional attitude, content and I respect their expertise and opinion on aviation related subject matter. Some serious, some comical and some a mix.
My rant has more to do with what’s becoming an increasingly common type of “Vlogger” that seems to pop into my aviation feeds lately. It usually consists of the relatively young, new hire jetjock emphasizing the “I’m an AIRLINE PILOT” mantra while practically filming their entire existence walking around and showing a day in the life…. This also usually include (lately) them walking around shirtless in their hotel rooms as they ready themselves for work. Is this important for the video? Sometimes just a towel wrapped around them as if they just walked out of the shower. I mean, who doesn’t get out of the hotel shower on a layover, wrap a towel around themselves (make sure it very waist low) and think, “Hey, let me grab my iPhone and film a short video and put it on social media for a bunch of strangers to gawk at….maybe I’ll get a chick’s number….or a dude, whatever you’re in to.
During their layovers they then film themselves working out (shirtless, of course) while flexing in the mirror and explaining to their audience this is the “airline pilot” lifestyle. At this point I half expected to see them oiled up, shirtless with jeans wearing Ray Bans and playing beach volleyball prior to checking out of the hotel. I get to see them adding gel to their styled hair, putting on their skincare products, multiple rings on their fingers and wrist bands (I guess this is a thing nowadays) before putting on their uniform shirt which is clearly a size too small to show their chiseled physiques.
Now, I’ll admit, I wish I had their physique when I was younger…I didn’t. My problem is the lack of filtering and this constant insatiable need to film yourself every minute of the day, you know…for content, and then posting all over social media for a bunch of strangers to view as if you’re the most interesting man in the world...you’re not. I thought initially I was gonna see videos about airline flying mostly from a technical side of things. What I get is an episode of “The Bachelor…Desperation Island“ along with someone explaining their laughable Looooong 5 year *struggle* from start of PPL to flying the big jets!
One vlogger I recently came across (Pilot Pete) flies for FedEx. I initially thought, cool….I’ll be able to relate and looks interesting. I quickly grew tired of this young man’s demeanor, the constant over emphasis on I’m an “Airline Pilot” with the accompanying cheesy swagger and smile along with the over exaggerated annunciation of “I’m flying the B767”. The worst is after the flight he usually ask the Capt to “rate his landing” on a scale 1-10 as he’s basically begging for positive affirmation for himself and to share with his audience. Off camera the Capt usually mumbles something complimentary while you watch Pilot Pete soaking in the compliment as if he just received a participation trophy. How about….pack your sh*t up expeditiously so we can get off this thing and get to the hotel van or drive home!
Does anyone else find these videos cringe worthy, embarrassing and unprofessional?? Is it just me? Had I done ANYTHING remotely like this at Brown during my career I would’ve been quickly marched into the CP office and then probably booted off the company property before I had a chance to get my phone out and call the union. Do these folks even take a second to think about how the company could use these videos against them in a disciplinary hearing/firing or how the FAA may view them? Most of them seem awfully young to potentially gamble their careers away like this.
IDK….I guess it’s a much different world and profession then the one I grew up in. Spend less time staring at an iPhone, do your job quietly and professionally. Be humble in success and gracious in defeat.
apnews.com
