My "Jerry Maguire" post

Congratulations to you, Doug! I know you've got this!

Also, I have been a member here for over half of my life and have always been inspired by your passion and attitude. To see someone at your point in this career still have the "bug" and seek out the challenge is motivating. I can't wait to learn more from your experiences going forward.
 
Wait, who's nay-saying? How can they do that!?

Captains are supportive, almost too supportive and the senior-assed FO's usually flip their lid that you no longer find their position unquestionably The Coolest Thing Ever (tm) and you can hear those wheels turning.

One of my colleagues has a wife who is a flight attendant and she was telling me about how he was going to the 747 FO seat. He's super-duper senior as well. The question was "Aren't you excited about the fence coming down and you finally get to fly the 747?"

My answer confused her when I said, "Nope, no interest. At the end of the day, it'll be more geriatrics and two more engines to deal with. It's 'time' to upgrade while I still have my youth"

I guess I was supposed to go "OMG! The Sweet-Sweet Nougat Goodness of the 747! Even as FO, OMG!" I'll bet you a dollar they had the "conversation" about why isn't he upgrading that evening.

Nah, it's time.
 
Reminds me of a question I got at my interview at Delta. They asked my why I would want to leave ASA and go to Delta. I would be a fairly senior captain if I had remained, but would be a junior reserve if I left. My answer was that I was no longer challenged by the regional flying. I wanted to learn new airplanes and areas of flying.

They seemed to like that answer.
 
Congrats, as I write this Im in ATL waiting on a DH home... The significance is that it's my last as a regional FO. I have a class date in August at a "major" non Legacy carrier. It took nearly every ounce of stones to leave the nest. Especially as a relatively senior FO with weekends off and union protections etc.

Good chance Ill be flying an antiquated "character building" jet that's a far cry from my shiny automated RJ I warmed the seat in before.

Not trying to steal your thunder or anything, I just wanted to say congrats and I understand a sliver of how you feel.

Here's to change!
 
Congrats, as I write this Im in ATL waiting on a DH home... The significance is that it's my last as a regional FO. I have a class date in August at a "major" non Legacy carrier. It took nearly every ounce of stones to leave the nest. Especially as a relatively senior FO with weekends off and union protections etc.

Good chance Ill be flying an antiquated "character building" jet that's a far cry from my shiny automated RJ I warmed the seat in before.

Not trying to steal your thunder or anything, I just wanted to say congrats and I understand a sliver of how you feel.

Here's to change!
Does this place have a sunny blue tail?
 
You know what's hilarious is that I've had the weirdest stuff in the last couple years when the captain failed to lead. I've got an "Above and Beyond" letter sitting on the scanner where we literally (yes, @SeatClutcher, "literally") had a sick passenger come onboard, drop trow and leave a steaming coil in first class and the captain said, "I retire next month, go….go do something." and I did.

Umm.. What the??????
 
I think the most inspiring part about the original post is the fact that you don't want to get complacent. I'm learning more and more how complacency kills passion and fuels a bitter desire. I, too, don't want to be "that guy". Congratulations, sir! I believe you'll be an awesome captain and a pleasure for FOs to work with. Plus, you'll get to flex those SAT words and movie quotes to the crew, put on your sunglasses, and then walk away. SWAG.
 
Reminds me of a question I got at my interview at Delta. They asked my why I would want to leave ASA and go to Delta. I would be a fairly senior captain if I had remained, but would be a junior reserve if I left. My answer was that I was no longer challenged by the regional flying. I wanted to learn new airplanes and areas of flying.

They seemed to like that answer.

I'm gonna steal that from you.

Way better than my current answer of "...you're kidding, right?"
 
@Derg I don't know if the 747FO is necessarily the way he is because of his being an FO or being too comfortable, maybe the guy is just a jerk no matter where he is or what he's doing in life. Maybe he's just a miserable person.

That's why I wouldn't worry about you stagnating in anything you do. New challenges are great and all, but even had you not taken it, you're still not the type to just be lazy and uncaring, you still do your job wherever you are and whatever you're doing, with pride, professionalism, and a desire to succeed; and that's been something unchanged in the 25 years we've been friends.......a quarter-century. It was the same thing with your Comm-MEL checkride back at PRC in 91 (back when the Comm/Inst-MEL was done all on one hell-checkride), as it was any other upward movement you've made in your career. This is just one more upward movement, no different than the others, and one that you will tackle and be successful at, no different than the past.

Keep representing yourself and your brand well. You've had no trouble doing that at all, it's just who you are. And keep with the upward mobility.



......or you could be me, who has gone from the mountain peak, to lowly rotorcraft-only trash, having been released from the C550 last week. :)
 
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Start growing that walrus-stache and shop online for a train engineer's cap #doinitright

Doug, Minuteman has given you the best piece of advice you will ever receive for your new transition.

I expect a new picture of you, in a few months, sitting in the engine with your walrus-stache and extra stripe. Then you will have truly reached the pinnacle of aviation.
 
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