Dear Airlines and Unionized Pilots

[crjsomeday]

Well if I was a pilot the first time I took the controls, why did I spend all that money on those pieces of paper that say I am one? I wish someone had told me that, would have saved alot of money and studying, doh!!! Let's not go knockin' flight sim, I don't care if you are a pilot or not, it is still fun. 777, be careful not to get too cocky like Cal Capt suggests ( great post by the way) throughout your training things will happen that will humble you very quickly(tanked checkride, near mid-air, flying down to mins the first time). Don't get to wrapped up in all this, remember flying is FUN!!!

[killbilly]

Originally Posted by calcapt

There are many like 777 that have stars in their eyes when it comes to becoming a professional pilot. Those that have gone ahead of him have discovered that although flying an airplane is a pretty cool job, the glamor and easy living lifestyle are pretty elusive for the most part. One is more likely to discover ugly things like fatigue, industry instability and management that in most cases is hostile and non supportive. The future of our industry largely depends on guys like 777 recognizing that the skill and judgment he provides any future employer should be repaid in kind with respect, a safe operating environment and a fair wage that recognizes the awesome skill and responsibility that professional pilots exhibit every day. My advice to 777: Forget the image you have of sitting in a 777 right now and how cool it would be. Study hard on fundamentals like weather, communications, aircraft systems and things that will fortify your foundation. Take your flight training very seriously and try to end each day being a better pilot than you were the day before. Ask lots of questiions and listen more than you talk. Be humble in your training and avoid the trap of believing you are a better pilot than you really are. Even us old guys learn something new almost every flight so long as our egos don't get in the way. Your excitement and enthusiasm will carry you far if you stay focused and keep believing in yourself. These are your friends here at JC and they have a wealth of information to draw upon - use it. Forget about how much you will be willing to accept for your services once you do become employable and just focus on being the best pilot you can be. Strive every day to raise your standards and take a lot of pride in becoming a pilot. Your hard work and dedication will pay off one day and you will be the one sitting here sharing your old timers wisdom with the young bucks that will surely follow. I think you will be telling them the same thing you are hearing from others here. I am convinced you will be a great pilot 777, and it would be my pleasure to someday share a seat on the flight deck with you. One last thing 777: I would suggest you limit saying silly things about the industry like "pilots have less stress than teachers" and other things that are not anchored in fact. These comments can be considered inflammatory to some since you really don't know how much stress the average professional pilot experiences. Just be careful not to alienate those here that you will come to depend upon for help and information. See, you got a lesson and didn't even have to pay for it.....

As a very recent private pilot, I swear to you that I am printing the above post up and framing it on the wall of my office.

Calcapt - it was so good to see you back here. Thanks for this. I know it was meant for another poster but it resonates well even with this "curmudgeonly" 34-year-old.

[SkyCougar]

Originally Posted by staplegun

When were you in VF-213? I was in HS-6 and deployed with CVW-11 and the Black Lions for 2 WestPac's on the USS Enterprise, 1983-1986.


Kevin

Ya gotta love those Westpac -kers! . I'm about to go have lunch with a former one...not that I have a thing for having lunch with studly Navy Westpac dudes or anything! I love Fridays!

p.s. Hi Kev!

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by future777captain

To the navy pilot, I didn't mean 'carrier' like aircraft carrier. I meant passenger carrier. I haven't played microsoft sim in years and years.

I'm still gonna stand by my statement. Please explain to me how you came to the conclusion that pilots (even us lowly passenger carrier pilots) have less stress. I still wanna hear this one.

[charlie1017]

Originally Posted by calcapt

There are many like 777 that have stars in their eyes when it comes to becoming a professional pilot. Those that have gone ahead of him have discovered that although flying an airplane is a pretty cool job, the glamor and easy living lifestyle are pretty elusive for the most part. One is more likely to discover ugly things like fatigue, industry instability and management that in most cases is hostile and non supportive. The future of our industry largely depends on guys like 777 recognizing that the skill and judgment he provides any future employer should be repaid in kind with respect, a safe operating environment and a fair wage that recognizes the awesome skill and responsibility that professional pilots exhibit every day. My advice to 777: Forget the image you have of sitting in a 777 right now and how cool it would be. Study hard on fundamentals like weather, communications, aircraft systems and things that will fortify your foundation. Take your flight training very seriously and try to end each day being a better pilot than you were the day before. Ask lots of questiions and listen more than you talk. Be humble in your training and avoid the trap of believing you are a better pilot than you really are. Even us old guys learn something new almost every flight so long as our egos don't get in the way. Your excitement and enthusiasm will carry you far if you stay focused and keep believing in yourself. These are your friends here at JC and they have a wealth of information to draw upon - use it. Forget about how much you will be willing to accept for your services once you do become employable and just focus on being the best pilot you can be. Strive every day to raise your standards and take a lot of pride in becoming a pilot. Your hard work and dedication will pay off one day and you will be the one sitting here sharing your old timers wisdom with the young bucks that will surely follow. I think you will be telling them the same thing you are hearing from others here. I am convinced you will be a great pilot 777, and it would be my pleasure to someday share a seat on the flight deck with you. One last thing 777: I would suggest you limit saying silly things about the industry like "pilots have less stress than teachers" and other things that are not anchored in fact. These comments can be considered inflammatory to some since you really don't know how much stress the average professional pilot experiences. Just be careful not to alienate those here that you will come to depend upon for help and information. See, you got a lesson and didn't even have to pay for it.....

This has to be one of the best posts that I've read in my short time here at JC... Well said calcapt!

[VF-213]

Originally Posted by staplegun

When were you in VF-213? I was in HS-6 and deployed with CVW-11 and the Black Lions for 2 WestPac's on the USS Enterprise, 1983-1986.


Kevin

Always grateful to you Helo guys!!

Academy, flying a desk in DC for a lower board, then VF-101 Missed all the fun in '86. The Enterprise 87-88 then reassigned (tar lang) DC.

Thank you for your service

[WalterSobchak]

Originally Posted by future777captain

Forward this to all of your managers and let them have a review of themselves.
Dear Airline Managers:
You are crying and crying left right and center that there are not enough pilots to carry on your operations. American Airlines recently put 250 of their own managers, also qualified pilots, into cockpits to alleviate their shortage.
However, you have only yourselves to blame. Go to any FBO around Canada or the US. You will, on average, see 20 students at any one ground school, all wanting to be airline pilots. Yet, out of that 20, only 2, that's right, 2, will ever finish their commercial license, because they simply can not keep up with the costs, especially with rising fuel fees. There is also an airport around here (Canada) that we use for cross country touch and goes. However, the recently introduced small plane landing fees that are passed on to the students.
Europe and Asian carriers are taking the initiative and training pilots from scratch and giving them life-long employment. What are you doing?
That's right. With all the money you don't use for training you can buy a new house.
If you need pilots, step up to the plate and help us out. These are expensive days to be studying aviation.

Dear unionized airline pilots,

For guys who only work 85 hours a month and get all sorts of benefits and salary, you sure do whine a lot. What is it that you want? I think a lot of you are bitter because you are unsatisfied with where you work. But, look again, at the guys who work the starbucks at the airport, who fuel up the plane, the ticket counter agents. Is your job so bad now?
You get paid nice salaries to fly some of the finest aircraft ever produced. Isn't that why you got into flying in the first place?
But a lot of you older guys have done nothing else but fly since you were 15, so You have lost your perspective! Many younger pilots, let's say 30 and up, are actually doing piloting as a second career, so they have a tendency to be more grateful for their opportunities to fly for a major airline.

I will be a pilot one day. If I can get even as much as $30,000 a year to captain a cutting edge aircraft, I will be grateful as anything for the opportunity to do what I have always wanted to do.

This post intentionally left blank.

[Kristie]

that's constructive....

[mrivc211]

Originally Posted by future777captain

Forward this to all of your managers and let them have a review of themselves.
Dear Airline Managers:
You are crying and crying left right and center that there are not enough pilots to carry on your operations. American Airlines recently put 250 of their own managers, also qualified pilots, into cockpits to alleviate their shortage.
However, you have only yourselves to blame. Go to any FBO around Canada or the US. You will, on average, see 20 students at any one ground school, all wanting to be airline pilots. Yet, out of that 20, only 2, that's right, 2, will ever finish their commercial license, because they simply can not keep up with the costs, especially with rising fuel fees. There is also an airport around here (Canada) that we use for cross country touch and goes. However, the recently introduced small plane landing fees that are passed on to the students.
Europe and Asian carriers are taking the initiative and training pilots from scratch and giving them life-long employment. What are you doing?
That's right. With all the money you don't use for training you can buy a new house.
If you need pilots, step up to the plate and help us out. These are expensive days to be studying aviation.

Dear unionized airline pilots,

For guys who only work 85 hours a month and get all sorts of benefits and salary, you sure do whine a lot. What is it that you want? I think a lot of you are bitter because you are unsatisfied with where you work. But, look again, at the guys who work the starbucks at the airport, who fuel up the plane, the ticket counter agents. Is your job so bad now?
You get paid nice salaries to fly some of the finest aircraft ever produced. Isn't that why you got into flying in the first place?
But a lot of you older guys have done nothing else but fly since you were 15, so you have lost your perspective. Many younger pilots, let's say 30 and up, are actually doing piloting as a second career, so they have a tendency to be more grateful for their opportunities to fly for a major airline.

I will be a pilot one day. If I can get even as much as $30,000 a year to captain a cutting edge aircraft, I will be grateful as anything for the opportunity to do what I have always wanted to do.

This guy reminds me of that persian guy who came on here years ago and said he would gladly fly an A320 for $30,000/yr. Yikes. To his defense, I beleive ya'll have straightened his arse out. I guess onto the next student huh? lol.