Originally Posted by
bryris
Conveniently, I do have a BS in Accounting. Perhaps that is why you posted that?
Accounting sucks, by and large. The only reward in my opinion is after opening a business and running it yourself. I could probably roll with that.
Flying sucks too, at least the business/flying combo. However, some "need" to do it. Its more of a disease than a gift, IMHO.
In my opinion, SkyHigh, and I say this with the utmost respect, you are more bitter than most I have seen. The flight director is a tool. It is not King. In an environment where people's lives are at stake, flying in very congested areas under extreme standards (perhaps a fed in the jump seat), its a way to assist the pilot during times of, say, a descending turn at a specific airspeed to join a localizer or a course, for example. Most of us could do it by scan and hand, but it would take more brain power to monitor 4 different things. In a Cessna, at 100 knots, its not a huge deal. However, in a jet, at 300 knots or greater with your job and license continually on the line, its nice to lean on the computers a tad to free up some brain power to look at the bigger picture, rather than just physically drive the bus.
Its like a physicist. Is the modern physicist/scientist any less professional because he isn't having to carry the ones anymore?
I often hand fly the airplane. I just like it. However, it only takes one button to make the FD go away too, then its just stick and rudder.
Speaking of holds. I get what you are saying. However, anyone worth their salt in a professional cockpit can enter a hold without the computer. However, its nice sometimes to have the computer do it so you can free up some attention to contact company, determine a bug out fuel number, figure a diversion plan if necessary, etc. Should the computer fail, we are still expected to make it go right. A call to ATC stating we are unable to hold over the fix due to FMC failure wouldn't work.
Aviation is as safe as it has EVER been. The purpose of the automation isn't to dumb things down to a level where a 300 hour pilot can fly it. The purpose is to increase efficiency and safety. If you think otherwise, I think your thoughts are rooted in some sort of failure on your own part.
Just my $.02.
I understand your position. I was a regional pilot too. Automation shouldn't be used as a crutch but it is. Some pilots should not have been permitted to fly the line but they do. Regional flying is a demanding job and pilots should be treated with respect but they are not. The investment in college, flight experience and flight training demands a good wage but does not get one.
If this was a perfect world we all would have the flying job of our dreams and would be treated well by our employers.
Compensation is more than what your wages are. Pilots get most of their compensation in the form of satisfaction. Accountants, plumbers and firefighters get paid in cash and benefits.
Accounting is a growing profession that is climbing to the to of the business ladder, but is dull. Few would show up for the job if they thought they would make pilot wages. Why would an airline pay a dime more than they had to for pilots? They are not in short supply. It takes a lot to get them to leave the profession and their skills are easy to come by.
People claim that I am "bitter" and "negative" but I am not. I merely present the facts without the rose colored glasses. If you leave the profession then you just blew a fortune on a year and a half of playing airline pilot. You are the accountant. Maybe you could calculate the profit and loss of your airline venture? Don't forget to include the opportunity cost of what you could have earned as an accountant over the last three or more years.
SkyHigh