jetcareers - View Single Post - How widespread is the resentment of ab initio pilots?

jjm · June 26th, 2002, 15:06

thanks for asking that question!
I'm in the same boat you are...and I've had that sort of uneasy feeling about attitudes towards ab-initio pilots for a while, but never knew how to approach the subject here.

to the posters: thanks for answering that question! Lots of valuable input.

I guess my take on it is that I have met and had extended conversations with 3 professional pilots about actual training routes. (I've met a few more along the way, but we just talked about planes)... Obviously, this is not a representation of the professional pilot population, but like the other postings on this thread- this might help to enlighten you. The first pilot works for AirCanada as a Check Airman who flew the line for 20 years before going to administration. The Second was an assist cheif pilot and Capt for ACA (a division of United, I think). The Third was a FO for USAir, flying the B757. The 1st guy grabbed me by the shoulders (he was a little crazy, I think), and said--"get going, dammit! get into some ab initio training program as fast as you can-- if you love it as much as it appears- start now-- and listen up boy- you don't EVER leave the line- no matter how much they want to pay you-- don't you EVER LEAVE THE LINE!" Then he rambled on, cursing the airline industry, etc. Funny guy...

The Second Pilot was a little less talkative, but he told me, as a hiring mgr for ACA, he really appreciated the ab-initio training that came out of Flight Safety. He told me to go and get my PPL (which I am doing now), somewhere-anywhere, and then go on down to FlightSafety to finish up. He said it was important to get the PPL before committing to an ab-initio program, b/c then I would know whether flying was really for me. But he didn't seem to have any resentment to ab-initio training.

The Third Pilot was an old guy who seemed to have fallen into a hiring drought after he got out of the AF. He talked awhile about ab-initio programs and how they can really save a lot of time, etc. and that "flying is flying- no matter where or when you do it". He mentioned that he had "lost a lot of seniority by going into the AF and it was hard to find work for a long time." But then he said-- 'given all of that--i wouldn't trade it for the world". He recommended getting into an accelerated program as soon as possible, so if in fact hiring froze, I would still have time to fly in other areas of the aviation industry...

All in all- sorry this was long-- the bottom line that I found was this: Fly your a$$ off with a quality program and in the end- the most professional pilots will respect you because you share their common passion (AirCanada guy to name one). Just convey that passion in your professionalism and attitude in the cockpit. It doesn't matter where you learn how to fly, the attitude can't be taught.
Mr ######### that Martin described has opinions that don't really matter...too bad he put the FO through the ringer like that, though.

Just my 2 cents...
Good Luck!
J

June 26th, 2002, 15:06	#4
jjm Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Albany NY Posts: 126	great question! (long) thanks for asking that question! I'm in the same boat you are...and I've had that sort of uneasy feeling about attitudes towards ab-initio pilots for a while, but never knew how to approach the subject here. to the posters: thanks for answering that question! Lots of valuable input. I guess my take on it is that I have met and had extended conversations with 3 professional pilots about actual training routes. (I've met a few more along the way, but we just talked about planes)... Obviously, this is not a representation of the professional pilot population, but like the other postings on this thread- this might help to enlighten you. The first pilot works for AirCanada as a Check Airman who flew the line for 20 years before going to administration. The Second was an assist cheif pilot and Capt for ACA (a division of United, I think). The Third was a FO for USAir, flying the B757. The 1st guy grabbed me by the shoulders (he was a little crazy, I think), and said--"get going, dammit! get into some ab initio training program as fast as you can-- if you love it as much as it appears- start now-- and listen up boy- you don't EVER leave the line- no matter how much they want to pay you-- don't you EVER LEAVE THE LINE!" Then he rambled on, cursing the airline industry, etc. Funny guy... The Second Pilot was a little less talkative, but he told me, as a hiring mgr for ACA, he really appreciated the ab-initio training that came out of Flight Safety. He told me to go and get my PPL (which I am doing now), somewhere-anywhere, and then go on down to FlightSafety to finish up. He said it was important to get the PPL before committing to an ab-initio program, b/c then I would know whether flying was really for me. But he didn't seem to have any resentment to ab-initio training. The Third Pilot was an old guy who seemed to have fallen into a hiring drought after he got out of the AF. He talked awhile about ab-initio programs and how they can really save a lot of time, etc. and that "flying is flying- no matter where or when you do it". He mentioned that he had "lost a lot of seniority by going into the AF and it was hard to find work for a long time." But then he said-- 'given all of that--i wouldn't trade it for the world". He recommended getting into an accelerated program as soon as possible, so if in fact hiring froze, I would still have time to fly in other areas of the aviation industry... All in all- sorry this was long-- the bottom line that I found was this: Fly your a$$ off with a quality program and in the end- the most professional pilots will respect you because you share their common passion (AirCanada guy to name one). Just convey that passion in your professionalism and attitude in the cockpit. It doesn't matter where you learn how to fly, the attitude can't be taught. Mr ######### that Martin described has opinions that don't really matter...too bad he put the FO through the ringer like that, though. Just my 2 cents... Good Luck! J