Something JetCareers has taught me

SmitteyB · April 29th, 2008, 14:47

I've been a member since Nov. 2004. I came here with the typical SJS, Regional Airline Academy is the only way to get to the airlines type of mentality. Within my first week here I was broken. Every flight school I've been to since that day has been a JC advertiser. I'm now an pro-union, turbpropdriving pilot. It has been a complete roll reversal for me.

My lesson today is to those of you who are airline pilots or just coming up through your training.

Begin Story:

I knew when I graduated high school that I was going to be a pilot. I didn't care what it took, how much money it cost, I was going to do it. And I did it. With high school teachers that told me I couldn't do it..."You're too much of a clown, SmitteyB". While other classmates were given the "You can be what you want" speech.

Well I'm based in Ithaca for Colgan as you all know and one of the US Airways ramp agents is a guy who I graduated high school with. He went to Syracuse University for Engineering and we didnt talk much, typical after HS graduation. I came back to Upstate NY and saw this guy again asked him what he was doing..."I'm going to School and looking to become a pilot, just got my Private and halfway through the instrument."

Ever since that day I took him under my wing, so to speak, and have been trying to urge him away from the big flight academies and Embry Riddles ridiculous prices. Telling him what JC has always told me. It doesn't matter where you get the training, just get it. Do it cheap and take your time. Work while you do your training and stay out of debt. And so far I really think I've been passing along what I've learned to spare him the worry about debt, and being away from home (he's engaged). I remember being in that position and having JetCareers to turn to, being a first generation pilot.

The other day we had a 5 hour ground delay going to LGA so I offered to take him out to the SAAB, hook up the GPU, throw everything on and give him a tour, more or less. He was lit up. As I was going through this seemingly boring (to me) cockpit, I could see in his eyes the happiness and excitement he had to be up there in that seat getting a grand tour. And it made me remember- that was me 2 years ago. I would have pee'd my pants if someone gave me a tour like that. He was so fascinated with the over-complexity of the SAAB's cockpit. And it hit me what I was. A role model. This guy (older than me) was looking up to me as a professional. Something that I will never take for granted again.

To the guys who are at the airlines...Remember what it was like and take the time to feed some of the hunger for aviation. You'll make such a huge impact on these guys. Pay if forward and prevent these guys from making the mistakes You or I did. Educate them on the profession so we CAN make it better.

To the guys who are training....take your time. Learn as much as you can on your way up. If its 500 OVC- go shoot approaches. Have fun with it. Because airline flying does diminish some of the fun that is notorious with flying. I miss GA a lot and I'm sure a lot of other people do too.

Thanks Doug and Kristie- I know I speak for the entire community by saying thanks. I don't quite think you understand how BIG of an impact this website has on peoples lives. You've got a member for life here.

Tld · April 29th, 2008, 14:54

Well said.

JetsGoWhee · April 29th, 2008, 15:00

BRAVO!

charlie1017 · April 29th, 2008, 15:03

I can tell you JC saved me from taking the $60K loan... And in the process it has provided the opportunity to meet and interact with great people!
Kudos to Doug and Kristie for having the vision to educate through JetCareers.

GreenDayPilot · April 29th, 2008, 15:10

Hear Hear! Well said!

I have a friend who's just about to get his PPL and we took a trip to EWR back in February. While I was introducing myself to the 757 capt, I introduced my friend as a student pilot. The capt was real cool and let my friend sit in the jumpseat while the capt explained everything he could about the cockpit... Needless to say, my friend was on cloud nine.

It's actually rewarding when you help someone out. I remember when I was a newbie and people helped me out one way or another, whether by showing me the cockpit of an A320 or simply giving me advice.

ladder360 · April 29th, 2008, 15:22

SmitteyB - Thanks for posting that man! I know that JC has provided me with an unbelievable amount of info for my training and look forward to learning even more from JC as I progress through.

Lately, I've been trying to find the way to express that there seems to be a lot of negativity and cynicism on here lately and a little less "positive roll modeling" that the site is designed for. I'm certainly not implying that the negative realities of the industry shouldn't be discussed and debated - I'm only saying that there seems to be a lot more of that lately than the constructive mentoring that could easily be done as well.

Again, thanks! I have a couple of people on here that I really pay attention to with regard to insight and advice. I hope you don't mind if I add you to that list!

WestIndian425 · April 29th, 2008, 15:26

Paying it forward, my man!

Did your teachers really call you SmitteyB?

Matt13C · April 29th, 2008, 16:16

Good post. I am still in the learning phase of the journey and I love it. This site has taught me so much. I was weeks away from packing up and moving down to Daytona Beach to get a second BA in aerionautical science or whatever they call it from ERAU. After doing much research on this site I decided against it. This site has been and will continue to be influential in my decision making process as my path towards a career as a professional aviator progresses.

Hopefully one day I will be able to impart some wisdom on a few starry eyed kids. Until then, thanks to everyone who has or will in the future reply to one of my posts asking questions that I am sure have been asked numerous times before.

cwu50 · April 29th, 2008, 16:25

Great post!

JC saved my A** from financing 60k. Before I found the site I had my mind set on ATP after I graduated from college. Now I’m graduating THIS WEEK and getting a job and paying cash for the rest of my training!

SIUAv8r · April 29th, 2008, 16:59

Well said sir!

NJT916 · April 29th, 2008, 18:20

Excellent Post, Sir!

Firebird2XC · April 29th, 2008, 19:53

I'm with the above. Well said, sir.

TexasFlyer · April 29th, 2008, 20:18

Great post!

And much of the same here. I was heading down the Flight Safety DCA route and this site made me realize there may be a better way when money is tight. I really could not afford FSA or DCA, but SLM would have been happy to give me around a $80k+ loan so I could go there.

I already wrote out my story on here that consists of many successes along with many trials by fire. Anyway, I continue to add to my training/ life story every 30-60 days as I progress at Falcon Aviation Academy.

So long story short. THANK YOU JET CAREERS FROM ME AS WELL. And thank you SmitteyB for a post that none of us could have wrote better!

Maurus · April 29th, 2008, 22:05

I am glad you like the way JC has worked out for you.

It has turned out to be a love hate relationship for me as I no longer want a career as an airline pilot. I will use it as a stepping stone for better work, but I wont stay in the airlines longer than I need to stay.

Airdale · April 29th, 2008, 22:16

Awww....excellent post Smittey. I always knew you had it in you!!

Too bad I had already signed the loan and had a date for ATP, otherwise I think I would have done the FBO route too.

JC is a great place, but anymore I feel like its a B vs. C, your plane sucks, my plane is cool, you shouldn't be flying that, it belongs at mainline, doom and gloom blah blah blah. Maybe its just being bored or people getting keyboard muscles, but often I find the opinions and arguments on here to be far different than what is discussed in the cockpits. I don't know, could just be me. I'm retarded.

JC has definitely helped my career though.

ready2fly · April 29th, 2008, 22:21

OUTSTANDING post, Smittey!! Well done!

mikecweb · April 30th, 2008, 02:51

Kinda had a similar thing occur to me when I was down in Dallas getting my type rating while upgrading to Captain in the Lear.
My sim partner and I would go out after class and have a good time and then dread going into the simulator for a couple of hours the next day. It made me think that no more then 2 years ago I wouldn't be able to sleep the night before if I had the oppurtunity to fly a full motion Lear 35 simulator for 20 mins let alone 2 hours. That's just a simulator imagine the oppurtunity to fly in the real airplane every night for 4.5 hours.
I Kinda take these things for granted sometimes, you never know when the doc is going to say no on your next medical or someone runs a plane into a building because of their religion and then it's all gone.
I think it is valid to try to improve the profession as many on here strive to do, but I think the actual love for aviation gets lost when all you care about is work rules and contracts.

jtrain609 · April 30th, 2008, 09:41

You're absolutely right Mike, it does. There are a lot of things that can muck up this job, and it's hard sometimes to separate yourself from the BS and just enjoy your job.

Doug once said that he does the flying for free, and they pay him six figures to put up with the BS. I think that's about right. I generally enjoy doing the job and would do it for free, it's the associated BS that keeps me up at night. I know I've been taking more time these days to actually fly the airplane instead of have the autopilot do it for me, and I've been trying to enjoy the good days while they're here.

Velocipede · April 30th, 2008, 10:03

Smitty,

Excellent thoughts. Perhaps some of the Regional guys who aspire to major airline jobs should extrapolate those thoughts to their current situation.

What does that mean? Listening a little when those of us who are where you want to be TRY to pass a little wisdom on to you.

Just a thought.

Firebird2XC · April 30th, 2008, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velocipede

Smitty,

Excellent thoughts. Perhaps some of the Regional guys who aspire to major airline jobs should extrapolate those thoughts to their current situation.

What does that mean? Listening a little when those of us who are where you want to be TRY to pass a little wisdom on to you.

Just a thought.

Easy Skipper. You know you can't lead 'em that far- they've gotta come around the corner on their own. Such is the tragic malady of the youthful mind.

Funny, though, I say that like I'm not still horribly prone to it myself.

It's time like this when I understand why some women say "men aren't men until they're 35" and the nation's founders require 35 as the minimum age to run for president.

Don't let it getcha down. They'll come around. Heck, *I* came around, and I can be one of the stubbornest jackasses I know.

jtrain609 · April 30th, 2008, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velocipede

Smitty,

Excellent thoughts. Perhaps some of the Regional guys who aspire to major airline jobs should extrapolate those thoughts to their current situation.

What does that mean? Listening a little when those of us who are where you want to be TRY to pass a little wisdom on to you.

Just a thought.

We've been listening to folks like Doug and B767driver for years, believe me. We wouldn't be where we are without folks like them.

tonyw · April 30th, 2008, 13:01

I'm grateful to this site, too, but for different reasons.

It kept me from investing in a career I was going to hate.

I love flying. Still do.

But doing it for a job would take all the fun out of it and then I'd be one bitter mofo.

JEP · April 30th, 2008, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Velocipede

Smitty,

Excellent thoughts. Perhaps some of the Regional guys who aspire to major airline jobs should extrapolate those thoughts to their current situation.

What does that mean? Listening a little when those of us who are where you want to be TRY to pass a little wisdom on to you.

Just a thought.

It's all in the delivery! Just a fact.

MQAAord · April 30th, 2008, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonyw

I'm grateful to this site, too, but for different reasons.

It kept me from investing in a career I was going to hate.

I love flying. Still do.

But doing it for a job would take all the fun out of it and then I'd be one bitter mofo.

Besides, if it weren't for JC, you wouldn't have the job you do have!

E6BAV8R · April 30th, 2008, 17:56

Well said, Smitty. Makes you remember where we came from to where we are now, to not forget the people with less experience, and to appreciate all of our experiences - as one day we will lose the opportunities once presented.