Still want to be an airline pilot?
- Thread starter braidkid
- Start date
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"And if you decide to riot (aka strike) your company goes under or fills your seat with someone less qualified willing to do your job for a fraction of the pay"
Doesn't always work that way. Sometimes management caves and you get a better deal. It's unfortunate that to improve our working conditions and pay, we have to go on strike. That's just the way it is. I have no problem with that. If you do, you're better off in dental school, as are the rest of us. Good luck to ya.
Doesn't always work that way. Sometimes management caves and you get a better deal. It's unfortunate that to improve our working conditions and pay, we have to go on strike. That's just the way it is. I have no problem with that. If you do, you're better off in dental school, as are the rest of us. Good luck to ya.
B767Driver
New Member
braidkid said:
Well compensated does not equal cushy. You left the cockpit for fear of your life?? That doesn't sound too cushy to me? Contradicatory post? Yes.
Compensation does not change the dynamics of the job. I've never had a training experience, simulator session or checkride that did not require tedious preparation. 70%...not passing. 100% proficiency required to get through training and make it to the line. These situations are not comfortable...nor should they be.
I think what you call cushy is the perceived ease of the job brought about by a group of prepared and qualified professionals. This perceived 'ease' is only attained by accumulating a level of experience that was...well...not so 'cushy' or pain free to attain.
Professional pilots will hit the same touchdown spot on the runway and safely exit that runway with a calm wind or with a 20 knot crosswind. Each event done with style and grace...of course, I'm sure, you'd call either event easy.
B767Driver
New Member
braidkid said:
This has always bothered me somewhat. An Administrator taking credit for the level of safety the industry has acheived. Personally, I think some of the goings on okayed by the administration has a detrimental affect on safety (namely outsourcing of everything...with difficult oversight at best). Almost never do the line employees get credit for the safety record in briefings and speeches out of D.C.
pilot602
If specified, this will replace the title that
B767Driver said:
We'll never see the FAA/DC compliment/recognize the line employee because the FAA/DC is in the pocket of the ATA. Plus it's that damned split charter again "to promote the business and safety of aviation." Part of the FAA's problem is they have a contradictory mission outlined in their charter.
B767Driver said:
Especially in terms of maintenance. What's being allowed to go on in terms of having aircraft heavy MX done in Mexico and signed off in the US is going to bite someone square in the ass one day.
The FAA administrator taking credit for safety in the airline business is laughable enough to make the cut for the Dave Chappelle show.
The FAA is so deep in the back pocket of the Airline Transportation Association I wouldln't be surprised if Leo Mullin wasn't writing their speeches.
Damn, now my blood pressure is up before my first cup of java.
B767Driver said:
Wrong. My post was aimed at long time major airline pilots...not freight/regional/instructors.
B767Driver said:
While I acknowledge the work it takes to stay current, I have enough simulator time, witnessed enough autolands and am knowlegable in FMC/MCP operation to know what it takes to fly these machines. I won't comment whether it is easy or not as this would lead to more ego smashing.
pilot602
If specified, this will replace the title that
braidkid said:
So how many autolands have you been responsible for to 0/0 mins? How many sim sessions has it been where your neck and career was on the line? How many 121 ops have you flown?
Thought so.
When you work a line then you can say whatever you like about how easy it is, until then go play with your ball in the corner.
Actually, see, I think it's test pilots that have it easy because they get paid exorbitant amounts of money to just go play with new avionics. I mean how frackin easy is that job. Let's face it, all the real testing is done on computers and simulators. So by the time the first flight takes place (if we're talking about "real" test-piloting) the thing has really already flown several hundred hours and it's really just a formality.
See how easy it is to make uninformed statements based on casual observations?
And before you roll out "may dad, brother, mom, third cousin" argument again, well, I work a 121 liine and my father did so as well for 28+ years so, uh, whatcha gonna bring next?
Remember, I never stated whether it was "easy" or not. I'll leave that open for others to decide, but realize it is all relative.
"See how easy it is to make uninformed statements based on casual observations?"
Wow, you're right....pardon my ignorant "casual observance." Remember my "casual observance" next time you're flying that piece of machinery that I helped certify. I'll remember to keep my observations very "casual."
But you know, you are right...what was I thinking? Airline pilots don't deserve $150k/year, heck they deserve at least $300k/year and surely shouldn't work more than 10 days a month. Gosh, with all the stress of currency and medicals, they should be carried around on stretchers and not allowed to walk to the flightdeck. We should bow to them whenever one crosses our path.
Hail to the airline pilot, oh holy ones.....what was I thinking?
Pardon the sarcasm, but you guys just crack me up...
Go fly, if the pay isn't what it was 10 years ago, do something else, but quit complaining about your job situation when others have it a lot worse than you.
"See how easy it is to make uninformed statements based on casual observations?"
Wow, you're right....pardon my ignorant "casual observance." Remember my "casual observance" next time you're flying that piece of machinery that I helped certify. I'll remember to keep my observations very "casual."
But you know, you are right...what was I thinking? Airline pilots don't deserve $150k/year, heck they deserve at least $300k/year and surely shouldn't work more than 10 days a month. Gosh, with all the stress of currency and medicals, they should be carried around on stretchers and not allowed to walk to the flightdeck. We should bow to them whenever one crosses our path.
Hail to the airline pilot, oh holy ones.....what was I thinking?
Pardon the sarcasm, but you guys just crack me up...
Go fly, if the pay isn't what it was 10 years ago, do something else, but quit complaining about your job situation when others have it a lot worse than you.
What do you expect on an aviation website?
Go to the American Medical Association website and explain how managed care and high medical liability premiums are good for the industry and tell me their reaction.
We're pilots that fly to put food on the table. You have to consider your audience.
Go to the American Medical Association website and explain how managed care and high medical liability premiums are good for the industry and tell me their reaction.
We're pilots that fly to put food on the table. You have to consider your audience.
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"While I acknowledge the work it takes to stay current, I have enough simulator time, witnessed enough autolands and am knowlegable in FMC/MCP operation to know what it takes to fly these machines. I won't comment whether it is easy or not as this would lead to more ego smashing"
Trust me, my ego has nothing to do with it.
Let's confirm a few things. You are 29. You work on large aircraft flight decks and in sims. You test fly aircraft. What's the biggest real plane you've ever operated as pilot in command? What do you really do, exactly. What's you background as a pilot?
I have a good friend in flight test at Boeing. He takes inflight data readings, among other things, and sometimes gets to fly to Singapore or Frankfurt. Is that what you do?
I agree with B767 driver, it only looks easy. I've been a 757/767 pilot for two years and am about 30 days from Capts upgrade. For the last six months, I've been averaging about 2 hours a day studying. Now that I'm 30 days out, I'm going to try and stay off the internet some and work that up to 4 hours a day. The final week, prior, I'm going for 8 hours a day.
Either I'm really dumb or it's not as easy as you seem to think it is. At the same time, I understand that it SEEMS easy to you, but I'd refer you back to B767 drivers post.
Trust me, my ego has nothing to do with it.
Let's confirm a few things. You are 29. You work on large aircraft flight decks and in sims. You test fly aircraft. What's the biggest real plane you've ever operated as pilot in command? What do you really do, exactly. What's you background as a pilot?
I have a good friend in flight test at Boeing. He takes inflight data readings, among other things, and sometimes gets to fly to Singapore or Frankfurt. Is that what you do?
I agree with B767 driver, it only looks easy. I've been a 757/767 pilot for two years and am about 30 days from Capts upgrade. For the last six months, I've been averaging about 2 hours a day studying. Now that I'm 30 days out, I'm going to try and stay off the internet some and work that up to 4 hours a day. The final week, prior, I'm going for 8 hours a day.
Either I'm really dumb or it's not as easy as you seem to think it is. At the same time, I understand that it SEEMS easy to you, but I'd refer you back to B767 drivers post.
pilot602
If specified, this will replace the title that
braidkid said:
Someone call Stanley, Inc., we've found 'em a new tool!
Show me one place in this thread where I've stated that airline pilots deserve $300k/yr. If they can get it more power to 'em but who in the fracking hell are YOU to come on here trying to tell active airline pilots what they're really worth? Who are YOU to tell ANYONE (outside your field) what they should or shouldn't make? You have no bearing on the situation at all.
Like everyone in this thread has said, once you've flown a line then you can come back and say whatever you wish.
DE727UPS
Well-Known Member
"Hail to the airline pilot, oh holy ones.....what was I thinking?
Pardon the sarcasm, but you guys just crack me up..."
Now it's starting to make more sense. I think you followed the pilot career path for a while but couldn't hack it. Decided to do something else. Now you think airline pilots have big egos and we think we should be worshipped.
I sense a bit of jealousy and animosity towards those that have been successful as airline pilots.
Pardon the sarcasm, but you guys just crack me up..."
Now it's starting to make more sense. I think you followed the pilot career path for a while but couldn't hack it. Decided to do something else. Now you think airline pilots have big egos and we think we should be worshipped.
I sense a bit of jealousy and animosity towards those that have been successful as airline pilots.
DE727UPS said:
Actually I just turned 30, what a shock. Biggest real airplane I've acted PIC would be a 210 or seminole.
I am a test director for twin aisle and some experimental aircraft. Basically the job entails both flight and ground test conduct. I lead all test activities and am responsible for coordination between the pilots and engineering. Like you, this requires vast amount of knowledge of airplane systems.
I spend several hours a day studying airplane systems as well. It's all going to change when the 787 rolls out next year.
You're certainly not dumb. I can't imagine anyone being dumb and operating an aircraft.
Chris_Ford
Well-Known Member
DE727UPS said:
While I agree with what you're saying, that post was sorta contradictory, don't you think?
Simplification: You failed out, so you think us who succeeded have egos. (valid point)
Next sentence: You're just jealous of our success. (speaking purely out of emotion, and a little touch of ego, no?)
Back towards the topic, what I think may lead people askew as to the difficulty of being a pilot is that the first few licenses are a joke to get in the US. (Look at any of the written exams... 3 choices, multiple choice? Answers published and widely known beforehand?!) and everyone tries to teach it "as easily as possible" to the level of rote, rather than understanding why (for example) the weather is doing what it's doing. The systems on a larger aircraft require more work to learn, and so once you get to that level, an inexperienced individual might be overwhelmed and forced to leave. I think this could be remedied slightly (or at least shift the failout people to much earlier in the process) with more difficult testing to get a commercial license or higher. Since systems on these aircraft are a joke compared to airliners, have them go into the theoretical and learn more about weather/aerodynamics/etc. while they're going for commercial and they'll establish the proper study patterns for later.
DE727UPS said:
That post was mostly a joke....
I wouldn't say I couldn't hack it...I was a very good pilot. I decided the turbulence in the industry wasn't my thing.
Now come on, you mean to tell me pilots don't have egos?????
Sure, I wouldn't mind getting paid $150k/year to fly a jet. However, I do love my current job and don't miss flying one bit.