Tonight, I had dinner with a friend from my employer. In fact, he also lives in PHX and we both ended up in the commuter hotel van simultaneously.
We both went next door to Bennigans here in Irving and talked a pretty long time about a lot of stuff.
First, I showed up pretty pissed off because when I logged in to check my email and scan the jetcareers forums for updates, some posts kind of 'got my goose' [Specifically "Who's In Sanford (Part Duex)"] and I didn't have the standard "Doug Taylor Smile (tm)" on my face.
We talked a lot this evening about the things we both did to get to where we are. I chose the regional route where I instructed, flew whatever popped up, regional fo, captain and then onto the majors. Where he flew F-4's on ready-alert in Germany, F-15's in the training command and later F-16's at Luke before retiring and getting hired by an airline.
He looks at my youth (he's 49) and thinks of what I'll see in my career, whereas I look back in his experience and think about how cool it must have been to fly during the cold war, flying nap of the earth across Europe and training an brand new generation of pilots to protect our great nation in F-16C's.
I talked a lot about my website and some of the more recent examples of "entitlementism" that have been popping up and the poor guy nearly vomited.
Me as well.
There are no shortcuts in this industry.
Never have been.
Probably never will be.
Because despite what we all think, Commercial multi-engine instrument certificates are a dime a dozen. They are now and perhaps always will be.
You can't "buy" your way into this profession although there are many people, organizations and companies whereever that may profess that they can "sell" a shortcut into the business, but their interests only go as far as your available credit.
Why do I say this?
Because, even though I'm an FO at the worlds third largest airline, I've been where you are and devoted most of my free time to spread the word in order to save you from emotional and financial strife on your pursuit of where you want to go.
Hate me now for saying this, but I'm more than confident you'll believe me later. I guarantee it.
The only person that did it 'faster' than anyone else I know is Jetcareers' very own "FlyChicaga" but he captured the drive of what I based the website upon.
Self determination. Being responsible for yourself, capturing the experience of others and not veering from the "Network, Network, Network" mantra. In my book, "He's da man" if there ever was a man. He focused on a destination, stayed on target, and did it. Mad props to FlyChicaga, big time.
Am I saying all of this stuff to be negative?
No.
Because I don't have any financial interest whatsoever in training choices that you make at all.
We both went next door to Bennigans here in Irving and talked a pretty long time about a lot of stuff.
First, I showed up pretty pissed off because when I logged in to check my email and scan the jetcareers forums for updates, some posts kind of 'got my goose' [Specifically "Who's In Sanford (Part Duex)"] and I didn't have the standard "Doug Taylor Smile (tm)" on my face.
We talked a lot this evening about the things we both did to get to where we are. I chose the regional route where I instructed, flew whatever popped up, regional fo, captain and then onto the majors. Where he flew F-4's on ready-alert in Germany, F-15's in the training command and later F-16's at Luke before retiring and getting hired by an airline.
He looks at my youth (he's 49) and thinks of what I'll see in my career, whereas I look back in his experience and think about how cool it must have been to fly during the cold war, flying nap of the earth across Europe and training an brand new generation of pilots to protect our great nation in F-16C's.
I talked a lot about my website and some of the more recent examples of "entitlementism" that have been popping up and the poor guy nearly vomited.
Me as well.
There are no shortcuts in this industry.
Never have been.
Probably never will be.
Because despite what we all think, Commercial multi-engine instrument certificates are a dime a dozen. They are now and perhaps always will be.
You can't "buy" your way into this profession although there are many people, organizations and companies whereever that may profess that they can "sell" a shortcut into the business, but their interests only go as far as your available credit.
Why do I say this?
Because, even though I'm an FO at the worlds third largest airline, I've been where you are and devoted most of my free time to spread the word in order to save you from emotional and financial strife on your pursuit of where you want to go.
Hate me now for saying this, but I'm more than confident you'll believe me later. I guarantee it.
The only person that did it 'faster' than anyone else I know is Jetcareers' very own "FlyChicaga" but he captured the drive of what I based the website upon.
Self determination. Being responsible for yourself, capturing the experience of others and not veering from the "Network, Network, Network" mantra. In my book, "He's da man" if there ever was a man. He focused on a destination, stayed on target, and did it. Mad props to FlyChicaga, big time.
Am I saying all of this stuff to be negative?
No.
Because I don't have any financial interest whatsoever in training choices that you make at all.