Originally Posted by
knobcrk
I think the issue is deeper than inability to get loans or the expenses or even low pay. I really don't think kids want to become pilots anymore. Up to just 10 years ago being an airline pilot was considered cool. Now you are just a driver. I see the change in society, nobody cares anymore. Even the pilots themselves have been beaten down so much the last decade since 911 they just want to collect their paycheck and go home. People take flying for granted and it's not special. Also being a pilot used to be top 10 career choices now it's barely even ranked on most new polls. It was like number 48 out of 50 best jobs on a recent one.
This is true. Even our passengers don't respect us. They think that the airplanes fly themselves with the automation. I quickly correct someone that tells me that as I feel it is offensive. I bring up all the latest crashes like the Air France over Brazil, the SFO 777, etc. that crashed due to incompetant pilots who were trained to fly automation. I then bring up the point that these types of crashes are not happening in the US because our pilots have basic flying skills and can identify problems when automation fails. I also bring up that I fly airplanes built almost 3 decades ago. I let people know that our job is demanding and the main reason why the US airline industry is the safest and most efficient in the world is because of our pilots. I want people to know we are underpaid. I want more money and more respect. I will not particpiate or flatter passengers in cutting down my own job.