Trying to come back home to the states
12-12-2014, 06:25 PM
#21
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2014
Posts: 309
Originally Posted by outaluckagain
There are points off for not having a 4 year degree. There are even points off for taking too long to get the requirements. US major airlines can still afford to be very picky.
If a company doesn't wanna hire me because I took 8 years to get a degree which has NOTHING to do with flying then so be it.
I've always resigned to the fact that I might be stuck over here until I can either go back to corp flying or get to a major and if neither happens then I'm ok cause I have a chinese wife and a decent life over here.
Ofcourse I want to come home, but the only good thing is I've saved enough from this job to semi retire by the time I'm 42 (I'm 40 now)
Not many places you can go and take home 18-22 a month AFTER tax as a 737 or 320 captain.
Would I trade this to go sit right seat at SWA in a plane I have already been flying as a captain? Yes, in 2 more years when I reach the financial goal then yes.
I've learned it goes from money to QOL and that's my main focus for getting home.
It just irks me that I will have this degree done by end of 2015 and then to have some HR guy tell me, "we are sorry, we know you have been flying professionally for over 20 years and have a few thousand hours in the type we operate, but we chose the other candidate because he got his degree in underwater basket weaving in 4 years. We really value that so much more than you flying I to crap weather with a crew you can barely understand at 2am in the morning after little sleep. Thank you for your application, oh yea you can reapply in 6 months because maybe you'll find a Delorean, go hit 88mph and get that degree done quicker!!! (I hope some of you have seen Back to the Future (:
12-12-2014, 06:57 PM
#22
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
Originally Posted by airspeed1974
It would take me HOURS to explain to you all of the different things. The best I can sum it up, they complicate the **** out of everything, the most narrow minded, one way, blinder on thinking with their way of doing things burdensome, overcomplicated and outright ridiculous.
Not holding the thrust levers the correct way, looking at your actual eyes during the sim check to make sure your looking outside, clearing turns at 35,000 and if you make a turn and don't say clear l/r not good, getting clearer direct to a waypoint and spinning the HDG bug to go directly there rather than using LNAV first (it's faster in HdG) and being told how highly dangerous that is, touching the taxi light/LDG light switches too hard or in a way they don't like, not looking both L/R before setting the parking brake, oh heaven forbid you start to eat a protein bar while in climb because then your not monitoring the airplane. Goto Japan, then you can understand
Not holding the thrust levers the correct way, looking at your actual eyes during the sim check to make sure your looking outside, clearing turns at 35,000 and if you make a turn and don't say clear l/r not good, getting clearer direct to a waypoint and spinning the HDG bug to go directly there rather than using LNAV first (it's faster in HdG) and being told how highly dangerous that is, touching the taxi light/LDG light switches too hard or in a way they don't like, not looking both L/R before setting the parking brake, oh heaven forbid you start to eat a protein bar while in climb because then your not monitoring the airplane. Goto Japan, then you can understand
When I do my recurrent etc, I put the training cap back on.
I remember the JCAB looking at our eyes on the ATP check. So stupid. And they do micromanage everything to the Nth degree, but like I said, meh, I show up, fly, go home.
12-13-2014, 01:11 AM
#24
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2014
Posts: 309
Originally Posted by PotatoChip
In Japan, why you ask why?
My problem was halfway through my training I got an old "instructor" who must have thought I personally bombed Nagasaki.
No matter what I did couldn't be good enough. He actually had me on the preflight explain every single antenna!!!!
Maybe it's the New Jersey in me but after dealing with him for 2 weeks I asked for an instructor change and wound up getting him again!y fate was sealed. Never again Japan, never again.
12-13-2014, 02:32 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Posts: 324
Originally Posted by airspeed1974
I'm not being a smartass, but someone from HR actually told you that for taking too long to get your degree? That sounds like could be an invitation to get sued.
If a company doesn't wanna hire me because I took 8 years to get a degree which has NOTHING to do with flying then so be it.
I've always resigned to the fact that I might be stuck over here until I can either go back to corp flying or get to a major and if neither happens then I'm ok cause I have a chinese wife and a decent life over here.
Ofcourse I want to come home, but the only good thing is I've saved enough from this job to semi retire by the time I'm 42 (I'm 40 now)
Not many places you can go and take home 18-22 a month AFTER tax as a 737 or 320 captain.
Would I trade this to go sit right seat at SWA in a plane I have already been flying as a captain? Yes, in 2 more years when I reach the financial goal then yes.
I've learned it goes from money to QOL and that's my main focus for getting home.
It just irks me that I will have this degree done by end of 2015 and then to have some HR guy tell me, "we are sorry, we know you have been flying professionally for over 20 years and have a few thousand hours in the type we operate, but we chose the other candidate because he got his degree in underwater basket weaving in 4 years. We really value that so much more than you flying I to crap weather with a crew you can barely understand at 2am in the morning after little sleep. Thank you for your application, oh yea you can reapply in 6 months because maybe you'll find a Delorean, go hit 88mph and get that degree done quicker!!! (I hope some of you have seen Back to the Future (:
If a company doesn't wanna hire me because I took 8 years to get a degree which has NOTHING to do with flying then so be it.
I've always resigned to the fact that I might be stuck over here until I can either go back to corp flying or get to a major and if neither happens then I'm ok cause I have a chinese wife and a decent life over here.
Ofcourse I want to come home, but the only good thing is I've saved enough from this job to semi retire by the time I'm 42 (I'm 40 now)
Not many places you can go and take home 18-22 a month AFTER tax as a 737 or 320 captain.
Would I trade this to go sit right seat at SWA in a plane I have already been flying as a captain? Yes, in 2 more years when I reach the financial goal then yes.
I've learned it goes from money to QOL and that's my main focus for getting home.
It just irks me that I will have this degree done by end of 2015 and then to have some HR guy tell me, "we are sorry, we know you have been flying professionally for over 20 years and have a few thousand hours in the type we operate, but we chose the other candidate because he got his degree in underwater basket weaving in 4 years. We really value that so much more than you flying I to crap weather with a crew you can barely understand at 2am in the morning after little sleep. Thank you for your application, oh yea you can reapply in 6 months because maybe you'll find a Delorean, go hit 88mph and get that degree done quicker!!! (I hope some of you have seen Back to the Future (:
12-15-2014, 08:01 AM
#26
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
Originally Posted by airspeed1974
You mean why do I ask them why? Good question. I also passed all the training, did the JCAB ridiculous Radio Operator 2 week course, etc
My problem was halfway through my training I got an old "instructor" who must have thought I personally bombed Nagasaki.
No matter what I did couldn't be good enough. He actually had me on the preflight explain every single antenna!!!!
Maybe it's the New Jersey in me but after dealing with him for 2 weeks I asked for an instructor change and wound up getting him again!y fate was sealed. Never again Japan, never again.
My problem was halfway through my training I got an old "instructor" who must have thought I personally bombed Nagasaki.
No matter what I did couldn't be good enough. He actually had me on the preflight explain every single antenna!!!!
Maybe it's the New Jersey in me but after dealing with him for 2 weeks I asked for an instructor change and wound up getting him again!y fate was sealed. Never again Japan, never again.
That said, we've heard horror stories about the ex-ANA captains and how much more anal and authoritarian they are. We now use mostly ex-JAL guys, and they are all as chill as you could want.
The radio course was five days, held at the ANA training center. It was ridiculous, but fun since our class was cool... Sit around listening to Michael Kelly, then beveraging all night. Not too terrible.
Oh, and the "why you ask why" was just a reference to the fact that you never ask why in Japan, it just is. Ha.
12-16-2014, 04:16 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: retired
Posts: 560
Originally Posted by airspeed1974
Points off for not getting the degree? That's ridiculous and I find that very hard to believe
12-16-2014, 04:56 AM
#29
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,098
You absolutely do NOT need a degree, and with established command experience, the degree becomes far less meaningful. The degree is a competitive factor at some places, not all, and only a few actually require a degree.
Given the original posters experience, a degree is far less useful or important than it might be to an entry level pilot with no experience.
I managed to make it far enough in my career to command a 747 without a degree, and I have worked along side a number of other captains who didn't hold degrees either. Forget the sheeple who tell you that it's mandatory. It is NOT.
It's not bad to have, but it is not a necessary component of a flying career.
Given the original posters experience, a degree is far less useful or important than it might be to an entry level pilot with no experience.
I managed to make it far enough in my career to command a 747 without a degree, and I have worked along side a number of other captains who didn't hold degrees either. Forget the sheeple who tell you that it's mandatory. It is NOT.
It's not bad to have, but it is not a necessary component of a flying career.
12-16-2014, 06:05 AM
#30
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2014
Posts: 309
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
You absolutely do NOT need a degree, and with established command experience, the degree becomes far less meaningful. The degree is a competitive factor at some places, not all, and only a few actually require a degree. Given the original posters experience, a degree is far less useful or important than it might be to an entry level pilot with no experience. I managed to make it far enough in my career to command a 747 without a degree, and I have worked along side a number of other captains who didn't hold degrees either. Forget the sheeple who tell you that it's mandatory. It is NOT. It's not bad to have, but it is not a necessary component of a flying career.
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