One of my bigest perks about ATP is that most everyone who came out of their program cant really see anything except the airlines.
I just read a statistic that GA carries more passengers then all the airlines combined every day. Yet ATP and JC seems to think Airlines is what flying is all about. And oh my goodness I don't know how many times I hear from these pilots "when you get to the airlines you will really learn how to fly" My co worker has 7000 hours in the bush flying the small planes, and it was funny to hear a 1000 hour airline pilot asking this guy when hes going to get a "real job", and then he freaked out when he heard we was going into hard IMC in a Cessna with no auto pilot!!.
With all due respect sir, it is
Airline Transport Professionals!!
If it wasn't geared towards getting people to their airline job than maybe it would be called
"GAP", General Aviation Professionals.
Someone's ability is directly linked to their experience level. You could take a 7,000hr Airline Captain of a 737 and put him in a Bush plane and he'd probably kill himself. Likewise if you took the 7000hr bush pilot and put him in the 737 he'd probably kill himself as well. Its all relative. It doesn't mean one pilot is better than the other. What it does mean, is that the bush pilot knows his machine and his job better, the same can be said for the airline captain.
As far as here on JC, well "jet careers" largely encompasses the 121 world of aviation. Doug the founder holds one of the highest regarded positions in the industry too, so naturally those who wish to pursue an airline career will seek out advice to those who have accomplished what it is they want. Its not that there aren't many people out there that want to stay in GA, but this forum and certainly
ATP, are more centered around the airlines.
Personally, after 2 years in the Airlines, I think I'm ready to hang myself. I love the job, but flying for peanuts and crappy benefits with no retirement benefits 20-30 years down the road starts to make you question whether this is a real career or just a short stint to have some fun. I'd love to explore other aviation avenues. I fly in the bush every night, just wish I got paid for it.
:laff: