Originally Posted by
TheDashRocks
Because I am unclear where I would fit into the aftermath of your “coming to get our jobs, aircraft, and routes back”, and uncertain what help I could expect from your seperate union for the members of my seperate union, I will definitely take it personally.
I don't feel like taking up another page to debate this issue again, but I will respond to one of your remarks.
Flying fighters in the Navy has most definitely made me a better airline pilot. Fighters are much more complex pieces of machinery. They fly twice as fast, just as high, and often 100FT off the deck at 600KTS. We fly complex missions requiring countless hours and experience to plan and execute. We takeoff, fly from point A to B (or A), come back and land, and then go home to our family (if we're lucky enough). Hmm, sound familiar? The difference is what we do after takeoff and before we land. We continually train in the most demanding environment in aviation...PERIOD!
You're never just a "squadron pilot." You've never finally "made it" where you can sit back and coast on easy street. You're CONTINUOUSLY training or teaching throughout your entire career. We do fly from A to B. When I'm coming into the overhead at 400KTS, I'm still taking notes about the BFM mission I just executed, so I can give the young aviator the best instruction and debrief that I can give. I roll out on final at 400FT and 3/4 of a mile, put my notes away, call the ball, and land the jet (on a ship with *******y winds and a landing strip 400x60).
Again, this isn't a mil v civ bebate. I really get p***ed though when some idiot tries to question how flying in the military (fighters in this case) can tranlate into flying in the airline world. It's all about experiences, confidence, ability, airmanship and SA (situational awareness). I will put any of my experiences and all of my training up against yours anytime, anyplace, and anywhere.
Flying fighters has most definitely made me a better aviator. But I'm still not going to say I'm better than you and all the regional airline training you have received flying A to B, 90% of which was on autopilot. You may very well be the best pilot in aviation, but don't you dare question my abilities or my experiences as they relate to the airline world. I assure you, they're quite relevant. Ask the hiring department.