Are pilots really professionals?

C

C-182 flyer

Well-Known Member
I would like to spark a debate about whether being a pilot is really a profession. Historically, the three professions have been the clergy, medicine, and law, but today almost everyone who gets paid to do their job considers themself a “professional”. Some would argue that to be a profession, you must be self regulating, have a high standard of ethics, have power over its members, and that the field carry a level of status or prestige.

So, are commercial pilots really professionals? If so, is the guy flying fish spotting missions a professional, or a blue color worker who drives an airplane rather than a dump truck? What about a jump pilot, a SCUBA instructor, a truck driver, a tandem master, or a police officer? All get special certificates to do their job and get paid to do it. Is a military officer a professional? Again, if so, at what level does he become one? The day he pins on gold bars and really knows nothing about his line of work, or when he is a Flag or General officer and is responsible for thousands of people’s live under his charge.

I do not think there is a right or wrong answer, but many different opinions on the subject. It may just be semantics since you can look up anything on the internet to support your own opinion, just look at “professional” athletes. Maybe in the past I would have gone the route of yes, pilots are professionals, but today I do not think that is the case.
 
C-182 flyer said:
Some would argue that to be a profession, you must be self regulating, have a high standard of ethics, have power over its members, and that the field carry a level of status or prestige.
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Spot on-add to that specific college preparation and self licensing. The state defers that to the profession to some degree to set standards. If a lawyer does wrong you can file a complaint with ethics board. A "quack" will get his license pulled by the state licensing board. They also usually own the means of production (clinic, law firm etc). They can control to some degree the influx to the profession.
vets, docs, CPAs, architects, clergy, lawyers, nurses, dentists etc = Professions

There are a lot of successful pilots without degrees in some sectors here, and a lot of sentiment against aviation degrees. The FAA handles the certification and revocations of certifications. Pro standards does not meet the criteria...

Could it be a profession? Yes with changes. Should it?- I would say so.
I am not denigrating us, just sayin'... I have brought this point up, and it seems to be something that doesn't elicit a lot of conversation.



It would take a very strong move across all associations to make change in this direction, and I don't see it. It is just easier to call it a profession.
 
It's a profession. As long as I've got to maintain some sort of a minimal standard, medically tested, continuing education, etc...
 
I think you are defining the terms too tightly. Your posted definitions are correct, however, one of the synonyms for "Profession" is "Occupation or Job." Additionally, an adjective for "Professional" is "following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain."

On my 1040, for occupation, I put "Pilot." On my medical application during renewals, I put "Pilot." Since a very large portion of my income is derived from piloting an aircraft, I consider that my occupation. Ergo, I am a professional engaged in a profession.
 
I am not denigrating either, more venting frustration. I started flying in the early '90s with the intent to be an airline pilot, then started flying for the military, still with the same intentions. Now, I have no desire to be an airline pilot with the state of the industry these days and what people are willing to work for. This trend started a while back, but was possibly accelerated by the events of 9/11.

Everyone wants the high paying job, and now they are upset that those days are gone. I still say it is partly because of the sense of entitlement that so many people have today. In the past, how many people drove new cars and bought houses that they could not afford with no money down, or went into tremendous debt to student loans without almost no guarantee that they would have a job that paid enough to live on? Now, people want to blame everyone else because they cannot live the lifestyle they desire. How is it that a CFI who is in debt over his head, and drives a new BMW, worries about which pilot watch he should buy, or a junior enlisted guy drives a new Tahoe when he makes a third of what I make while I have been driving the same, paid off, vehicle for years. I just think people need to step back and realize that nobody owes them anything, and if you cannot afford the nice things in life, it is up to you to improve your situation.
 
Crockrocket94 said:
Hmm.

I would say, "yes".


And since your initial definition came straight out of the Wikipedia definition. Continue reading and look at the list of professions.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Profession
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I did not get it from Wikipedia, but like I said, you can find anything to support any point of view on the internet, that does not make it accurate. I wish I could say yes, since I am both in the military and I get paid to fly, but I just do not think I can. I have friends that would argue with me, but that is what is nice about living here, we can have our own opinions.
 
According to Webster, we are professionals.

Pro`fes´sion`al
a.1.Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct.2.Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; - opposed to amateur.n.1.A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.
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Seems to me a guy flying around in his own airplane for fun, i.e. a private pilot would be an amateur.
 
I've only known 2 flights instructors that drove BMW's.

They both bought them in their lives prior to becoming flight instructors.
 
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