Originally Posted by
Ellen
I was waiting for this topic to come up.
I only have four, maybe five airlines, national and regional that I consider decent. A few have been mentioned.
They all stink in pay, they all have operational problems (dispatch, ramp help, quality of pilots and in-flight, etc.) they all mave management problems, they all have tight bidgets, (not spending enough money to solve the problems . . . not enough tugs, belt loaders, computers and printers for crew check-ins,) they all have key employees without degrees or experience in their jobs, wrong people in the wrong jobs, . . . .
Again, I am using my wife's account to opine...
Ellen,
http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2006/ARC0602.pdf
http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2006/ARG0602.pdf
This data seems to suggest a better overall aviation safety record in the United States than in decades past. In fact, it appears to be right around an all time high.
Now, you may show me the data that suggest that the quality of pilots is in question. While, it is true that today's new hire pilots are less educated in general, a degree in basket weaving was far less applicable than the highly focused line oriented flight training that today's aviation schools are providing. Before I ever stepped foot inside the front door of a commercial carrier, I had already studied CRM, flight operations in a multi-crew environment, advanced turbojet systems, situational awareness, line operations and a host of other commercial aviation subject matter. Because of this, today's pilot is far (and I mean far) less likely to walk in with a World history degree and waist an entire aircraft full of people in the everglades over a light bulb on the landing gear status panel.
Our modern business ethics as a society stink. If you find a valuable employee in your midst, you're just as likely to outsource his A$$ than anything. If you happen to be working for an airline these days, you should feel lucky to keep your seat, let alone benefits, pay, etc...
The problem, as I see it, is that we all know that there are better jobs out there. Well, that's too bad! The fact is, for some undefined reason, we all want to be airline pilots. That said, I hope none of you are really in this for the money! If the money isn't good enough, go fly a desk. I was making 100 grand a year but flying got the better of me. You know why? Because I'm a pilot, that's why! It's what I do and I do it well. Pilots have never been paid well at this end of the industry. I may only have a 2 year education but before I applied to SKW recently, I had a professional pilot career education, CFI, MEI-I, 1,503/887, an ATP and a B-737 type rating. I doubt you would have been as likely to see those qualifications on a new regional candidate twenty years ago.
I respect your opinion, as it is well spoken and intelligent. I do, however, reject your claim that I am among others here who of are questionable quality. These people are every bit as professional as the young pilots of yesteryear. The low mins are only a sign of the industry, not the pilots within it. What they lack in hours, they get back tenfold in knowing why it is important to avoid rolling down a runway in a 747 when their not really communicating with the Captain. A simple piece of information like that might have saved two whole planeloads full of people once-upon-a-time. Experience will come with time, just as it always has.
No doubt, others will disagree but I am tired of the rhetoric. Our industry might be different today but we live in a different time. We ARE the professionals who are flying these airplanes. We fly them together in the same sky every day. When we speak ill of pilots and their qualities, we are talking about our selves. We are the pilots.
Embrace how it's done now, instead of how it was done then. Be proud of what it is, instead of what it was. When we can do that, we will turn it all around.
Last edited by Pilotswife4; 04-26-2007 at 07:04 PM.