My View On Life . . .

[mtsu_av8er]

Every now I then I do this, so I thought that it was about time I talk for a few moments about how much fun this career is.

A lot of people just like to complain. Wanna know what I dreaded the most? Crew scheduling. Oh, to hear some people tell it, they are evil.

Well, I wouldn't go so far as to add the fine folks over there to my Christmas list, and probably wouldn't rescue their cats from a fire. But, they're not as bad as people say. They have a job to do - a tough job. But, I've found that if I start every conversation with "Heyyy! How are you today? How's the baby?", or something to that effect, I've got a much better chance at getting what I want. And, they DO remember people.

Reserve. Everybody speaks on it's misery . . . well, it's no amusement park. But, I like to think that I just have more variety and more time off. I get to enjoy lots of peace and quiet in my hotel room in Cincy, reading or watching movies, or something. It's actually pretty cool!

The "passengers". They're great . . . probably one of my greatest pleasures! Some of them are more difficult, but come on . . . look at yourself in the mirror sometime! I'm more irritated by the 2500 hour Captain next to me!!

Being on the road. Well, we all knew what this job entailed when we signed up. Personally, I LOVE being on the road. That's part of the joy to me. Of course, unlike many, I was in the Marine Corps 3 days after high school graduation. It's just in my blood, I suppose! And, there's nothing like having a cold beer with a cool crew at the end of the day/night, in a cool town.

The best part? The flying. Keeping a schedule. Watching the weather. Flying a challenging approach. Timing a hold perfectly. Seeing how precisely you can hand-fly in turbulence. Figuring a crossing restriction juuusssst right.

This is an awesome job, ladies and gents!

Those of you aspiring to fly for an freight company or airline or corporate flight department . . . whatever you aspire to do! Don't let the naysayers tell you how miserable you are. Just ignore them. They're bitter, and they're determined to take you down with them. When I was a young Private First Class in the Infantry, we had a saying: "Every meal a feast, every paycheck a fortune, every formation a parade". It is what you make it, folks.

Carry on.

[Tram]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Those of you aspiring to fly for an freight company or airline or corporate flight department . . . whatever you aspire to do! Don't let the naysayers tell you how miserable you are. Just ignore them.

Are you kinda one of the bigger nay sayers? I mean, it seems like and you even showed it in this thread - being annoyed by the 2500 hour el' captitan and all..

It is obvious that this Captain has aspired to be a 2500 hour captain.. So, he should just ignore you?

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Tram

So, he should just ignore you?

If he likes!

[Tram]

hehehe..

[H46Bubba]

Lloyd, I'm glad your enjoying the new ride! Though with all this "free time" and no calls for a beer? I'm appauled!

[ComplexHiAv8r]

Originally Posted by H46Bubba

Lloyd, I'm glad your enjoying the new ride! Though with all this "free time" and no calls for a beer? I'm appauled!

Get on his good side: Tell him where to get a corndog in Cinci.

[Snuggle]

I really enjoy the travel benefits. It's amazing how much jumpseating / non reving I've done and how much money that has saved.

[mastermags]

You are WRONG. I hate this job so much that I am not going to quit.

[pedro]

I love hearing things like that. its good to hear the brighter side of the profession! Thanks MTSU.

[tprops4me]

Thanks for the post MTSU. You are one of my favorite posters on here because you always remind me how cool being a pilot can be. I was in the military 3 days after graduation also, so I know what you mean about life on the road. Keep the fun coming.

[ChrisH]

Great post MTSU!!

[jtrain609]

Hey Lloyd,


Corn dogs suck. Coney dogs are where it's at.

Wanna fight?


John

[Nick]

1) Free USA Today (which I put in my bag, don't read, and throw out the next day to make room for the new one )
2) Free soap

[Doug Taylor]

Sometimes, I get the feeling that Lloyd's a 'cutter'

[meritflyer]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

Flying a challenging approach. Timing a hold perfectly. Seeing how precisely you can hand-fly in turbulence. Figuring a crossing restriction juuusssst right.

You actually do this stuff?

[Nick]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

You actually do this stuff?

The crossing restriction thing from cruise to a 10,000ish fix on the arrival can either save 300+ pounds or burn an extra 500. I definitely do that one.

[falconvalley]

I love my job, too!

[SkyCougar]

Lloyd, have a cheese coney for me! You can go over to my mama's for Thanksgiving dinner if ya want. Tell her that her headstrong/gypsy kid out in California sent ya! ...or maybe you're coming back to the 415 for the holiday?

[GalaxyIFE]

Lloyd, you hit the nail on the head. I am always glad to read a nice positive thread when visiting the boards…always seems like there is so much negativity out there. I too love the bag drags….15 years of them in the Air Force, and it really doesn’t get old…well, unless you have a wife that doesn’t like it then it sucks (got rid of that problem, though). Are there times when the bag drag sucks? Well, of course, but all in all, it’s the best thing going out there. I can relate to working with the schedulers too…guess the “you get more flies with honey than with vinegar” works in the 121 world too! Anyway, great perspective Lloyd….good read.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by GalaxyIFE

Lloyd, you hit the nail on the head. I am always glad to read a nice positive thread when visiting the boards…always seems like there is so much negativity out there. I too love the bag drags….15 years of them in the Air Force, and it really doesn’t get old…well, unless you have a wife that doesn’t like it then it sucks (got rid of that problem, though). Are there times when the bag drag sucks? Well, of course, but all in all, it’s the best thing going out there. I can relate to working with the schedulers too…guess the “you get more flies with honey than with vinegar” works in the 121 world too! Anyway, great perspective Lloyd….good read.

which problem, the wife or the air force?

I know on the carrier we were gone 6 months at a pop. I don't know how the married people made it.....

[GalaxyIFE]

Originally Posted by JEP

which problem, the wife or the air force?

I know on the carrier we were gone 6 months at a pop. I don't know how the married people made it.....

Well since I am still in the Air Force, that leaves only one alternative...

I am truly lucky to have to woman I have now, she actually SUPPORTS my career instead of trying to drag me down...odd how life can really be enjoyable with a good woman, hmm?

When I showed up for day one after inital qual, the guy who was running training asked if I was married. When I said "Yes, Sir!!!!" he gave me a card for a divorce attorney and told me I would need it eventually...damn if he wasn't right!

[mastermags]

Free TP. Bad ass uni.

[KLB]

Lloyd has hit the nail on the head (even though he's a defecter). There's a bad day here and there. But overall, I couldn't see myself doing anything else even on those bad days.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by GalaxyIFE

Well since I am still in the Air Force, that leaves only one alternative...

.....!

with 15 years of service, I figured that was the answer, but you know what they say about assumptions.....

[ricecakecm]

I like the fact that I haven't bought a pen in over 2 and a half years. That and all the hotel points. Vacation is on the company and Hilton this year!