Pilot Career Insights

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Betabry

New Member
I thought with the recent posts of a few people deciding to leave aviation, that it might be interesting to learn more about how you all feel about your careers from those just starting training to the seasoned captains, still flying or not. So if you'd be so kind...

What is your favorite thing about your work besides just flying?

What is your least favorite thing about it?

If you could start over again is there anything you would do differently?

I'm sure this will make good reading especially for those of us just starting out
smile.gif


Bryan
 
Well, those are some good questions! I've been flying for 18 years and am currently finishing up my fourth year at a regional airline.

Favorite thing about my job (besides flying): My co-workers. Most of the captains and flight attendants I work with are true professionals - great to work with and lots of fun on layovers. I've had some truly crummy trips (due to weather or mechanical problems) that turned out to be a blast, just because I happened to be working with a great crew.

Least favorite thing about my job: Schedule. Nothing like getting up at 3 a.m. so that you can fly three legs before the sun comes up, or starting out at 4 p.m. and finishing up at 2:30 a.m. If you're low on the seniority list, you may get a line that includes both types of trips. From a safety standpoint, this is really bad (it's hard on your circadian rhythm and can lead to fatigue). Our union has been working hard to correct this problem, but it's still an issue.

What I would have done differently: My flight training was just very inefficient. Part of this was due to limited funds. I also didn't "do my homework" when it came to picking my first flight instructors. You're the customer. If one instructor isn't working out for you, then keep looking until you find a better one.

During the early part of your training (Private and Instrument), there's probably nothing more important than developing good basic VFR and IFR flying skills (and the judgement required to safely exersize them). Anything else is just fluff. Many big flight academies advertise things like CRM classes, "airline standards and procedures", RJ systems, etc. This is all great stuff, but it should come only after you've honed your VFR and IFR skills to a very high level. "Airline standards and procedures" won't do you a darn bit of good if you can't fly the plane.

Find a good instructor. This is really important. There are some brilliant instructors teaching at podunk fields in the middle of nowhere. There's also some good ones at every large flight school. Find an instructor and a training environment that works for you.

FFFI
 
>>What is your favorite thing about your work besides just flying?<<

Definitely people. People in aviation are usually there because they love it. And this is from the ramp on up. Not as much now as when I started but still to a great degree. And the pax are often that way too. Not all are jaded, some love to travel and fly and they are fun to interact with.

But the flying is the thing. Getting from A to B on a predetermined schedule, while dealing with weather and other obstacles, and making it look easy to the customers. Definitely better tnan working for a living.

>>What is your least favorite thing about it?<<

Security hassles mainly. Also flying after midnight. I loved being up and just breaking ground at dawn. Absolutely despised seeing the sun come up at the end of my work day.

>>If you could start over again is there anything you would do differently?<<

I wouldn't have taken my setbacks so hard. I got turned down for some jobs that I'm really thankful now I didn't get. But at the time I thought it was the end.

Dave
 
I'm probably one of the few that is happiest working from sundown to sunup. Give me a night shift anyday.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I thought with the recent posts of a few people deciding to leave aviation, that it might be interesting to learn more about how you all feel about your careers from those just starting training to the seasoned captains, still flying or not. So if you'd be so kind...

What is your favorite thing about your work besides just flying?

What is your least favorite thing about it?

If you could start over again is there anything you would do differently?

I'm sure this will make good reading especially for those of us just starting out
smile.gif


Bryan

[/ QUOTE ]

1)that he's gone and I can actually get something done AND I get to fly around the world for FREE...
2)that he has to leave(?) for days at a time
3)of course, there's always something you would do differently like not being such a whiner (some whine with that cheese?) when learning the correct way of dating a newbie/making welfare stamp wages pilot.. yes it's true, girls just don't understand till it sinks in that the career is #1....unitl they get to a point of "comfort" (ie: quality of life & a little more cash!)

ok.. so i'm not a pilot.. but i do deal with the field on a daily basis and in understanding how you all work... so that's my list from "the other side"... whether you like it or not...
grin.gif
 
The way I look at is that I have been broke for the last few years doing a job I don't like. I would rather be just as broke doing something I enjoy rather than having a great salary in a field I can't stomach.
 
My favorite trips were the RNO all nighters. 0100 pushback and a 0555 arrival in DFW.

I'm a nightowl!

Now getting up in RIC at 0355 for a 0440 van ride to the airport to pushback at 0600 is lame!
 
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