JA Yawd Bwoy
Well-Known Member
Your Black? Wow, you can't judge a member by his/her avatar, I thought you were some white guy who could bench 400 or something...
Race factor in the airlines
- Thread starter SkyBlue
- Start date
Your Black? Wow, you can't judge a member by his/her avatar, I thought you were some white guy who could bench 400 or something...
flyingmaniac
Well-Known Member
Your Black? Wow, you can't judge a member by his/her avatar, I thought you were some white guy who could bench 400 or something...
Just the Black version of him. Not quite that muscular, but some far away dream. And I have my own business! Also, I'm from Memphis.
Ramsey
Well-Known Member
I actually flew with CAPT Jones up front to ATL in January.
It's funny because we were late and she was taxing like a mad woman. People in the back were leaning out of their seats with every turn. I heard a couple of PAX make "woman at the controls" jokes, but in the end we made ATL on time. When I got off the plane I remember thinging how cool it was to see a very tall African American woman standing up front.
<O
</OThen today I got an email about the crew I mentioned and I was like, hey I remember her...
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
Don't worry too much about your weight. It never hurts to lose some but I am 6 3 and 330 and played OT in HS and College and I have flown a wide array of aircraft on my way up to and in the airlines. As long as you can safely operate the controls and fit in the seat you will be fine. The only two planes I couldn't fly comfortably were the Cessna 150/152 and Lear Jet 20 series and both of those were height issues.
Velo is correct about OBAP and any other aviation organization. The contacts there can offer a lot of help. Study hard, fly well, and you will do fine.
If you're like me, get your suits and uniforms tailored by a good local tailor. I have found they do a much better job that the big chain stores like Men's Warehouse. The cost is a tad more but you get a much better fit and product IMO.
Velo is correct about OBAP and any other aviation organization. The contacts there can offer a lot of help. Study hard, fly well, and you will do fine.
If you're like me, get your suits and uniforms tailored by a good local tailor. I have found they do a much better job that the big chain stores like Men's Warehouse. The cost is a tad more but you get a much better fit and product IMO.
KLB
Well-Known Member
I got at my company with no problems. Freight companies don't discriminate.
It's is also cool because I think I'm one of two black guys at the company right now. It makes it real challenging to go under the radar.
I heard that there was one regional in particular that was a "problem" a while back, but I that problem has been "fixed" from what I hear.
It's is also cool because I think I'm one of two black guys at the company right now. It makes it real challenging to go under the radar.I heard that there was one regional in particular that was a "problem" a while back, but I that problem has been "fixed" from what I hear.
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
Will you eventually run across some racist prick in this industry? Yes.
Just like the rest of the population there are a number of idiots in aviation. However, they are the exception rather than the rule.
FYI the Chief Pilot at Southwest has very dark skin and curly hair.
Just like the rest of the population there are a number of idiots in aviation. However, they are the exception rather than the rule.
FYI the Chief Pilot at Southwest has very dark skin and curly hair.
lol 6"2 300 DT in high school. i am about 270 right now so i guess it wont to bad.
Soku39
Well-Known Member
At my flight school I'm the only black CFI, one of maybe 3 or 4 blacks in the entire airline pilot major at the university. This is both good and bad, you may be watched closer, that just means you just have to be good at what you do, as well as following the rules a bit more closely than your white counterparts might. I found that out the hard way. However, as others said, the more boxes you can check on the application the easier it'll be to get the job, and most people you'll meet in this endeavor will be good folks (don't trust flight school owners any further than you can throw em though). That being said study your ass off, learn to fly the correct way, get some CFI time under your belt before you go to the big shiny jets, and you'll be fine.
Soku39
Well-Known Member
I'm gonna guess for part 141 that the bare minimum is somewhere around 220-240, 205 or so is all you need if you don't bother getting the multi/never take your parents or friends flying.
However I and others started instructing well before graduation. University 141/142 programs hire almost exclusively from within, so if you get through your flight courses in a hurry you will have the opportunity to fly for pay before graduation. The key is to gain respect amongst your peers, respect from the chief flight instructors/aeronautics faculty who will ultimately offer the job and an encyclopedic knowledge of all things in general aviation (you will never know everything, but try). Keep in mind at around 200 hours or so the playing field as far as flying skill is generally level, everyone generally knows enough to be competent pilots. You have to stand out in order to get that job offer over others with the same exact certifications, who knows though in 3 years the industry might be as short on CFIs as we were 18-24 months ago, or the hiring freeze could still be on, no one can know for sure. As a side note when I graduate in May I'll be somewhere around 350-400 hour range, and I'll be sticking around as I love teaching, and unlike allot of places right now we actually have enough students to keep us full time, but again I have no clue what the future will bring.
granlistillo
Well-Known Member
Skyblue,
First, good luck in your training. I honestly believe race and gender are not a factor in hiring in the airlines at all. I sure hope not. There maybe jerks out there, and on the other hand there may be folks willing to help you out even more. The only thing I can say with some certainty is that this profession, or this industry has standards based on safety that require performance. You have to be a decent stick to get far.
One caveat... At some time in your career or training you may have a rough ride. You must be willing to accept criticism and bury the ego. I have seen some individuals for various reasons (sex, race, age, personality) think that were being singled out for criticism, and it wasn't their fault. These individuals self destructed and were weeded out of training or active flying. My point is, don't let your concerns take your eyes off the ball. Go for it!!!
First, good luck in your training. I honestly believe race and gender are not a factor in hiring in the airlines at all. I sure hope not. There maybe jerks out there, and on the other hand there may be folks willing to help you out even more. The only thing I can say with some certainty is that this profession, or this industry has standards based on safety that require performance. You have to be a decent stick to get far.
One caveat... At some time in your career or training you may have a rough ride. You must be willing to accept criticism and bury the ego. I have seen some individuals for various reasons (sex, race, age, personality) think that were being singled out for criticism, and it wasn't their fault. These individuals self destructed and were weeded out of training or active flying. My point is, don't let your concerns take your eyes off the ball. Go for it!!!
KLB
Well-Known Member
Grandlistillo is right on money. Wondering who's out to get you is time wasted. A few of my buddies got caught up in that game.
As far a fafsa goes, I recall it not really kicking in where I was given extra for flight training until the year or semester....one or the other. It still wasn't nearly enough though. I went to a university that was relatively inexpensive compared to the "big names" and still had to get an extra 18 grand to cover it. I only owed about 50grand for my degree and my ratings at the end though.
Now for a little extra wisdom. If you have a significant amount of cash left over after the tuition, room & board, and books are paid for, eitther take that money and put it in an account that yields very high interest or see can you immediately pay it back. No it is not free money to go on a shopping spree with or a little extra club cash. You will eventually have to pay that money back and the bill collectors don't care how the industry's doing! Keep those payments as low as possible!
Also make sure you look into work study and scholarships. They both really helped me out!
As far a fafsa goes, I recall it not really kicking in where I was given extra for flight training until the year or semester....one or the other. It still wasn't nearly enough though. I went to a university that was relatively inexpensive compared to the "big names" and still had to get an extra 18 grand to cover it. I only owed about 50grand for my degree and my ratings at the end though.
Now for a little extra wisdom. If you have a significant amount of cash left over after the tuition, room & board, and books are paid for, eitther take that money and put it in an account that yields very high interest or see can you immediately pay it back. No it is not free money to go on a shopping spree with or a little extra club cash. You will eventually have to pay that money back and the bill collectors don't care how the industry's doing! Keep those payments as low as possible!
Also make sure you look into work study and scholarships. They both really helped me out!
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
that inludes all of you licences?
staplegun
Well-Known Member
Having been tangentially associated with hiring at "Southernjets International" (ask Doug if you don't know who that is) I can tell you that they seek out minorities.
Assuming you have the requisite qualifications and are not a social misfit, your status as someone other than a "white-male" will be viewed as a positive, not a negative.
Are there racist pilots at "Southernjets?" Absolutely!
Do they make the hiring decisions? Absolutely not!
In this day and age the Majors are seeking to make their seniority lists as close to the general population demographic as possible, and there just aren't enough "non-white-male" pilots to go around!
Kevin
Assuming you have the requisite qualifications and are not a social misfit, your status as someone other than a "white-male" will be viewed as a positive, not a negative.
Are there racist pilots at "Southernjets?" Absolutely!
Do they make the hiring decisions? Absolutely not!
In this day and age the Majors are seeking to make their seniority lists as close to the general population demographic as possible, and there just aren't enough "non-white-male" pilots to go around!
Kevin
staplegun
Well-Known Member
At my former airline, rhymes with "USscare!", I flew several trips on the F-28 with a captain (notice the "small" 'c') who was a total racist. He assumed that since my skin was "pink" I shared his views...
On my third trip with him I knew what was coming so I had clipped a picture of a black woman and put it in my wallet. Of course he started in on the "N-word" tirade, so after a bit I asked him if he wanted to see a picture of my wife...
I wish I had a camera to take picture of his face!
Needless to say, I never heard another racial tirade out of him.
I know it sounds like an "urban legend," but I really did it!
He was later killed in the F-28 crash involving icing at LGA...
Kevin
Nick
Well-Known Member
granlistillo
Well-Known Member
I think God has a sense of humor. I have this mental picture of all racists standing tall before a black Jesus on judgement day... Even the thought of that should temper that most base of base of all human frailities.