The Code

[naunga]

Yesterday evening I was leaving the airport from my last lesson in Ohio, and got to thinking about all the pilots I've met to date and I realized that there seems to be an unspoken code that one adheres to when they become a pilot (student or otherwise).

Here's the code from what I can tell:

A pilot treats other pilots (and other people for that matter) with respect. Men, women, black, white. A pilot only sees another pilot (or another person).

A pilot is courteous to other people. They hold doors, lady's first, etc.

A pilot does not make excuses for his performance. If he did something wrong, he acknowledges it and corrects for it.

A pilot is always happy to talk with a student / aspiring pilot about flying, however a pilot realizes that other pilots are often busy and will endeavour not to take up too much of an obviously busy pilot's time.

A pilot will do what he can to help out another pilot who's having a hard time. Be it suggestions on technique or problems at home.

A pilot won't let another pilot continue kidding himself about his abilities (especially CFI's). If a pilot tells you that you flew that manuver well, you did, otherwise he'll tell you what you did wrong.

A pilots loves to fly, but realize that there's more to life than flying, which is why pilots tend to be very interesting people to talk to.

A pilot will often kid around with you, but if something embarassing happens to you in their presence they will help you out of it and then keep it quiet.

A pilot smiles at people passing by.

A pilot respects his elders. Esspecially elder pilots and elder planes.

A pilot treats his plane with love and respect...whenever possible. Much like the Naval Captains of lore.

A pilot is courageous, even when his passengers don't realize it.

A pilot looks at every passenger who steps onto his plane as holding him to a sacred contract of getting them where they're going safely.

Well those are my observations for now. I'd love to hear what some of you more senior guys have to add to this.

Later.

Naunga

[kostcoguy]

Can I get an Amen?!

[Ryan]

I've only been involved in aviation for a few months and I have to say that I whole-heartedly agree. Especially in these times us pilots have a common bond. When I am at the airport I see older men and women who are as passionate about aviation as I was ever since I was a little kid and I immediately feel a bond with them.

Ryan

[Mr_Creepy]

I WISH it were that way!

Let me add a few to the cynical list for AIRLINLE pilots:

1) A pilot is very aware of racial, sexual and ethnic differences, and how it prevented him or her from getting his or her last job (this applies to ALL races, sexes and ethnicity.)

2) A pilot stops whining after death (usually)

3) A pilot is never happy with a) working conditions b) management c) union rules d) management e) equipment f) maintenance g) pay rates h) management. Did I mention management?

Ok this is just in fun right? No flames?

I like the first list and wish everyone followed it.

[Doug Taylor]

But you've got to get over the ethnic/gender stuff. Since I became a full time airline pilot in 1996, I've flown with three blacks, four Puerto Ricans, a crazy French-Canadian and one woman.

Perception and reality lie on different continents.

[Mr_Creepy]

Me? I'm over it. Never bothered me (well not much anyway.)

But I heard the complaints all the time:

"<insert airline United, USAirways, etc> only hires Female Pilots"

"They wouldn't hire me because I'm a <girl, black, hispanic, arab, muslim insert any minority here.>"

"Unless you're a Mormon you have no chance with jetBlue" (yes I really heard that!)

There were complaints constantly of discrimination and reverse discrimination, and there were a lot of lawsuits over those very issues. Come on - I know you've heard about those.

[Doug Taylor]

yeah, but only from people that:

(a) didn't have a degree
(b) didn't meet the minimum qualifications
(c) weren't attempting to network
(d) had a violation or loads of training failures
(e) didn't bother to apply
(f) any combination of the above

[JC1188]

[ QUOTE ]
...one woman.


[/ QUOTE ]

Since 1996, when you started Delta, you've only flown with one woman Doug?!? I thought for sure you would fly with a lot more then that.

[Doug Taylor]

At Delta, not yet.

Actually we had a female 777 FO on the flight from MXP.

[bullmastiff]

Dont forget.

" Steal everything that isnt bolted down" I dont live by that one, but whoever has my headsets doesLOL

[flyover]

Well, The Code is a pretty good one. Most of the pilots I've known met most of that standard, some almost none of it.

The other Code for Airlinle pilots was pretty accurate, especially back in the 70's and 80's. I can't tell you how many guys I flew with who actually said they were telling their sons to not bother trying to be an airline pilot because all the jobs were going to minorities and women. I couldn't help but challenge them on it.

Whining, yeah even in the golden years when there wasn't much to whine about. I think it goes with an easy life. You've got to try to convince yourself you actually are working for a living. Because at a 70 hour cap and six weeks vacation it wasn't apparent to the neighbors!

Pretty good effort on The Code. Wish it were true.

Dave

[Tim]

A pilot stops whining after death (usually)

John I thought that was flight attendents how stopped...

[flyover]

[ QUOTE ]
yeah, but only from people that:

(a) didn't have a degree
(b) didn't meet the minimum qualifications
(c) weren't attempting to network
(d) had a violation or loads of training failures
(e) didn't bother to apply
(f) any combination of the above

[/ QUOTE ]

You nailed that one Doug. But you forgot

(g) interviewed wearing a leisure suit (true story). This guy complained bitterly about the minorities, etc. Then I found out what he wore to interviews. But he had principles. He said if they didn't like what he wore then "s*#@w them!"

Dave

[cessna2351]

You fly with CAS right? So do I
You must have had your last flight at cgf because all of the planes were moved for the race. Which plane did you use?....I've been using 2PF out of cgf for about a year now.

good luck in atlanta!!

Mike McM

[tonyw]

Well, I better hurry up and get hired so that you can say you flew with an Asian guy.



LOL. I'm just thinking, Doug, if I ever did fly with you, and we did a flight from say, Shreveport or Baton Rouge.....

[Doug Taylor]

I flew with a black captain at Delta, and on our flight from SHV to DFW, I was trying to figure out why quite a few people looked dumbfounded. Then I figured it out about three hours later.

I dunno, I guess my parents raised me not to constantly look at color. Some guy had the cajones to ask me "so do people bother you in Arizona?" after I showed him my wedding picture.

I'm like "Huh?"

He says, "Ya know, the whole interracial thing".

I'm still thinking, "Huh?!" then "Oh! Actually, no. Except this one guy about twenty seconds ago."

Needless to say, I think I embarassed the poor guy.

[naunga]

Mike,

Yep I was at CGF in 591TC with Dave. If you were flying Wednesday we were the plane that wanted to turn inside you in the pattern since those 152's are sooo freakin' slow

I really love CAS. Pained me to leave, but Georgia will be cool.

Later.

Naunga (Aaron)

[tonyw]

I notice, but only in the way that I notice that someone has brown hair or blonde hair, green eyes or brown eyes or blue eyes, or is tall or short. It's just another physical characteristic for me.

It'd be funny to bust out the FOB accent just to see how some people reacted.

"Resterday, I make shlimp flied lice. Today, I fry airplane."

[cessna2351]

Last I flew was Sunday night....xc to meadville, pa. But trust me, I've had several people request, if not just try, to cut infront of me during a downwind...but those 152s are slow (decend with 70kts), but they are also a little less harsh on the checkbook

Mike McM

[flyover]

[ QUOTE ]
I notice, but only in the way that I notice that someone has brown hair or blonde hair, green eyes or brown eyes or blue eyes, or is tall or short. It's just another physical characteristic for me.

It'd be funny to bust out the FOB accent just to see how some people reacted.

"Resterday, I make shlimp flied lice. Today, I fry airplane."



[/ QUOTE ]

I flew with an asian flight attendant who did that routine constantly. "how may humble Korean fright attendant serve you, captain?" It was very unnerving. Supposed to be funny, but she never stopped. And I hadn't even had a chance to offend her yet! I think?

Dave

[tonyw]

[ QUOTE ]
I flew with an asian flight attendant who did that routine constantly. "how may humble Korean fright attendant serve you, captain?" It was very unnerving. Supposed to be funny, but she never stopped. And I hadn't even had a chance to offend her yet! I think?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think she was just having some fun. And she wouldn't have done it if she didn't like you. I won't do that around people who I don't like. With them, I speak just about perfect Queen's English.

But if I'm around people who I like, I have no problem doing the FOB accent.

[naunga]

[ QUOTE ]
but those 152s are slow (decend with 70kts), but they are also a little less harsh on the checkbook

[/ QUOTE ]
Truer words were never spoken.

Have fun at CAS.

Naunga

[mtsu_av8er]

[ QUOTE ]
I flew with an asian flight attendant who did that routine constantly. "how may humble Korean fright attendant serve you, captain?"

[/ QUOTE ]

Aw, man...that's awesome!!

[Tim]

Doug I grew up in the south Ga where it was common for things to be racial but like you my parents taught me color is just that a color....its not the person inside just a color. I firmly believe if you are the most qualified for the job I dont care what color your skin is black, green, purple or red. Or if you have 3 eyes and 4 arms you should get it. Whats does tick me off is when someone claims discrimnation to get the job and they arent even close to be the best person for it. Whites and Blacks do it so its not just one race/origin anymore.

[Joe]

[ QUOTE ]
green, purple or red. Or if you have 3 eyes and 4 arms

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd imagine you'd have a hard time explaining that to the AME though...