Originally Posted by
jaxsurf
I understand what the word means. I don't understand the philosophical importance that some people apply to being an airplane captain. You're flying a plane from one airport to another, and you do nothing without consulting the airline. What is the big deal? It's not like you're commanding a battleship or running a major corporation.
Different strokes for different folks. For some people, this job is the only place they'll get to be in charge of something they find meaningful and it's rewarding. Others don't have a need for that type of reward, get/got it elsewhere, or don't find Captaining particularly rewarding (or worth the sacrifices to do it any earlier than their contemporaries).