Years ago during a simulator session some UAL guys explained to us that they did not study in preparation for recurrent checks or for proficiency because as they explained, "if the company had wanted us to study they would have built credit hours into the schedule for it". Essentially they were not getting paid to study so they were not going to do it.

The prospective of aviation was more professional and not the working hobbyist/religious zealot as it is today. When I started aviation my aim was that of a professional practitioner and not as a starry eyed dreamer. It was the same as with my peers and instructors. They told us that "getting there is not half the fun but all of it". It was common knowledge that flying part 121 was boring, unfulfilling, and completely void of fun. One did it for the wages, benefits and access to a better life. Any suggestion that the job was "fun" was scab talk.

Had we known that aviation was going to devolve into a martyrs paradise none of us would have taken our first lesson. We had lives and dreams to provide for. So long as people will accept as compensation "fun" flying will continue to loose ground as successive generations come prepared to undercut the previous one just to get into the saddle.

Old union pilots would not do anything more than what they were paid to do. Plumbers don't subscribe to "Plumbers World" magazine nor do they do anything for free and that is the attitude of a professional. You set the value of your worth.

Skyhigh