Originally Posted by
Airsupport
I laugh at you guys talking all this freight dog crap. I was a single pilot night ifr guy and I can tell you that doing that type of flying has given me the guts, or whatever you want to call it, to say no. Being a freight dog doesn't make you a better pilot per se, but it helps you make better decisions. You learn really quickly when you have bit off more than you can chew when you are the only one in the plane flying. There are more than a couple flights I can look back on and think to myself, man I should have stayed on the ground. Now that I am a captain with OTHER peoples lives in the back I need to evaluate everything that much more closely. Anyone bringing the freight dog attitude to the airlines is just looking for trouble and when they find it all the people they were entrusted with will pay the price.
You laugh at the single pilot freight dogs eh? Well, anything that gets the person flying, in the weather, and making decisions will help. Sitting in the right seat of a C-152 does not help that but it does prepare you to move on the the next step. Most pilots over the last 7 years have skipped the freight, canyon, and Alaska flying that we all used to do. Good thing the majors have not been hiring. This stagnation will help those with less experience get a few hard winters under their belt. You helped prove my point in your post. Acting as the PIC, flying in the weather, honed your instrument and decision making skills. Good for you. I know I'll be safer non-reving in the back of your plane.