No takeoffs... or landings

[FlyChicaga]

Here's a question: Would you take a well-paying job, flying heavy equipment (B747/A340-type aircraft, international), if you could only fly in cruise? No takeoffs or landings anymore, until you upgrade to a better seat. But, you get paid well for your services, and are treated with respect.

Discuss.

[Kingairer]

Nah. What fun is that? Part of the job is trying to do the job well, and watching George, Jorge, Francois, or whatever other AP fly is not very challenging.

[JDE]

Takeoffs and landings are the best part of the flight! Now, that being said, I could probably be swayed into a job like that depending on the upgrade time, among some other things.

So to answer the question...maybe, but it's gonna have to be really good!

[DE727UPS]

I'd do it if I wanted a career with Cathy Pacific. I have a friend who was a Mesa RJ check airman who got turned down by them and later got hired at UPS.

[JEP]

IT does sound interesting, but this is coming from someone who could not get hired at regional at this time. For someone that already flies for a living, I would think it would get boring. Once you get the plane set up in cruise, then what.....Takeoff's and Landings are the "fun" part.

Is this just another "hypothetical" situation?

[MQAAord]

[ QUOTE ]
Here's a question: Would you take a well-paying job, flying heavy equipment (B747/A340-type aircraft, international), if you could only fly in cruise? No takeoffs or landings anymore, until you upgrade to a better seat. But, you get paid well for your services, and are treated with respect.

Discuss.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hell yeah.

If I wanted to take off & land, I'd go take my dad's Archer for a spin when I got home.

[Alchemy]

I'd have no problem with that. Whatever they want me to do is fine as long as they pay me and it's safe.

[EatSleepFly]

I think it'd be boring as hell, but if the pay and QOL were right, I'd consider doing it.

Are you talking about an F/E position, or just an F/O that isn't allowed to take off and land?

[JAM]

Sounds like an international relief pilot. And for me, heck yeah! If the money and QOL was there, I'd love to do it! Eventually, you would upgrade from SO to FO and get to do more takeoffs and landings.

[Cheechako]

I don't think I'd take it. I agree with those above that it's the takeoffs and landings that makes flying fun. 11 years of it and I still have the excitement of flying!

[Texguy]

[ QUOTE ]
11 years of it and I still have the excitement of flying!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's good news!

[8LegDay]

Two years ago I was hired as a 767 cruise Captain by a start up cargo company. I had a choice of an FO position or cruise Capt., flying (occupying the left seat) only in cruise. I picked the left seat for the money and of course the flight time since I was told that the quality of life will not be any different.

It would've been interesting but the top management went all crooked and the whole thing fell apart went we already had hotel reservations for training...

Bottom line is they'll have to keep you current and if QOL is acceptable I'd go.

[mrivc211]

I had a conversation with someone who said his buddy was on the 777 for United and had only landed the plane a total of 8-9 times in the last year! Yikes!

[Alaskaairlines]

I'd do it if upgrade/transition to FO was not very long. Another thing is pay has to be equivalent to what you are flying....

[Doug Taylor]

Cruise pilot!

I dunno, it's kind of hard for me to say "Nah, go fly airplanes!" when I've got a bid in for the 767ER and if i'm lucky, I'll get two landings in per month for currency.

Go see the world I say.

[jtrain609]

I say you make whatever decision you think might be the best one in the long run. It seems like that's what you've done so far, and it's gotten you a long way with what seems to be a few short steps (compared to the route that many people travel).

[QXDVR]

I have to say that I really enjoy taking off and landing. Almost every takeoff I do or see done is raw data ( no flight director/ap) as well as the landing just cause I still like crankin and bankin. That being said, I would be a cruise captain no prob if they offered me more money. 30K ain't all that great and with the extra money you could go rent a plane and have some real fun.

[I_Money]

Sounds like going on vacation and you get to fly for your IFE -

I think the major pluses - ability to move up on some decent equipment, good QOL (work 3 - home 4), interesting trips, light work load.

[Callous]

For me it would depend on time to upgrade. I would really hate to put in all the time and money getting to that job and then not fly, but if it could be factored into another job relatively quickly or upgrade to a full flying position quickly then probably yes.

I might feel differently in a year when I'm working as a new CFI making $9/hour, and my most important flying accesory is my St. Christophers medal.....