Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
05-20-2015 | 02:52 PM
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From: MD musical chairs
05-20-2015 | 03:03 PM
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It takes a while before you can sort of come to terms with the airplane, the sentiment everyone in the world hates you, and you finally notice a smell of acrid frozen sweat floating in the air that isn't yours. There is another person trying to tame the dog with you! It's a while longer before you notice that other person and you have a lot in common, and maybe you can figure out ways to cooperate against the dog together. Making your respective lives more pleasant while doing this is the next priority.
I think most guys are really trying, in both seats, but it's a bit of a learning curve. I think I change a little every trip, and learn something every leg. I spent a lot of energy making the FO not feel rushed, and comfortable speaking up, but now I'm coming back around to focusing on me to create a more pleasant environment, not just a safe environment. Takes a certain comfort level first.
The crusty old ER Captains I flew with look smarter and smarter every day, but they didn't become good in a day. With the incredible turnover on the 88, we all need to be a bit patient, and tolerant, in both seats. Don't know about other bases, but in New York, when things were steady-state for a while, and everyone had a little experience, the culture was excellent. I still feel that it is great today, and I'm having very good luck with the people I work with. I'm a little jealous of the guys flying the mini-dog, but it's not because of the people.
05-20-2015 | 03:08 PM
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From: Sitting SC at the Five Towns
My God that video was absolutely terrible.
Except for the cats and the squirrel.
Except for the cats and the squirrel.
05-20-2015 | 03:14 PM
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From: Urban chicken rancher.
I don't know what the percent on guys who suck to fly with, but I know some categories have more than others. I have been on the NYC88B, ATLDC9B, ATL88B and now I'm ATLER. By far the biggest percent of jerks are on the ATL 88. In NYC there were two weird guys I flew with. I flew with an LCA who was a jerk on the 9. On the ER there has been one weird guy but he was nice. On the 88 in ATL though I flew with two guys who would yell at everybody. The Hermenator was the better of the two. I ended up getting off the trip and talking to prostans about one of them. Besides those two there were a lot of other guys who were minor jerks. 25% might be a lot but I would say at least 10%. Ironically I flew with Capt Happy and I enjoyed flying with him and thought he was a nice guy.
Disclaimer: if this doesn't make sense I am taking Percocet do to a bad accident I had with hedge trimmers
Disclaimer: if this doesn't make sense I am taking Percocet do to a bad accident I had with hedge trimmers
PS I also think CAs should be able to avoid guys. Only fair.
05-20-2015 | 03:38 PM
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From: MD musical chairs
Honestly I've been on the 88 for a yr after having flown 3 other fleets. I've had zero issues with the Captains I've flown with in fact they every bit as good to work with as the other fleets I've been involved with.
05-20-2015 | 04:14 PM
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From: 320B
Can we do a swap with the pot that will conflict with trips in 2 bid months? I want to swap a trip next week that will extend into June and conflict with a trip there. Not sure how to do it
05-20-2015 | 05:13 PM
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From: VEOP Retired! 7ER A was last position
Creating a replacement income as an airline pilot is easier than you think, especially if you are willing to create the opportunity yourself rather than looking for it to come from someone else. My "productivity time" on short call and commuting worked miracles for my backup plan.
We are treated like easily replaced hourly labor so often that too many in the profession actually believe it. Set the specific aviation skill set aside, for a moment and realize what the average pilot brings to the world outside of the cockpit.
1. Above average intelligence.
2. Bachelor degree as a minimum often in technical fields.
3. The ability to make critical decisions under pressure.
4. Leadership skills for running a team of 5-15 people.
5. Willingness to work long hours to achieve a goal.
6. Above average hand/eye coordination.
7. Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently.
8. Confidence to safely operate complex multimillion dollar equipment.
9. Demonstrated the self discipline necessary to work with little direct supervision.
10. Looks good in the process of doing all of the above.
This is a recipe for success in many career fields and businesses. Our aviation specific stick and rudder skills are only part of the equation. I must confess, I've already started the backup plan, which is why I would quit rather than be forced to move to a current base. I've taken my own advice over the last several years and used savings, income and time off to create a backup plan of business and investments outside of this industry. It took half of the items from the list above to exceed my airline pay. They were 2, 4, 5 and married to 7 & 10 in my case.
It isn't that hard to build a backup plan outside of this career. This is my third of four six figure jobs. The first had nothing to do with aviation, the second one did and third one certainly does, the fourth one I created myself outside of aviation. Too many in this career sell themselves short on what they are capable of doing, so they never try something else.
We are treated like easily replaced hourly labor so often that too many in the profession actually believe it. Set the specific aviation skill set aside, for a moment and realize what the average pilot brings to the world outside of the cockpit.
1. Above average intelligence.
2. Bachelor degree as a minimum often in technical fields.
3. The ability to make critical decisions under pressure.
4. Leadership skills for running a team of 5-15 people.
5. Willingness to work long hours to achieve a goal.
6. Above average hand/eye coordination.
7. Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently.
8. Confidence to safely operate complex multimillion dollar equipment.
9. Demonstrated the self discipline necessary to work with little direct supervision.
10. Looks good in the process of doing all of the above.
This is a recipe for success in many career fields and businesses. Our aviation specific stick and rudder skills are only part of the equation. I must confess, I've already started the backup plan, which is why I would quit rather than be forced to move to a current base. I've taken my own advice over the last several years and used savings, income and time off to create a backup plan of business and investments outside of this industry. It took half of the items from the list above to exceed my airline pay. They were 2, 4, 5 and married to 7 & 10 in my case.
It isn't that hard to build a backup plan outside of this career. This is my third of four six figure jobs. The first had nothing to do with aviation, the second one did and third one certainly does, the fourth one I created myself outside of aviation. Too many in this career sell themselves short on what they are capable of doing, so they never try something else.
I(We)have a very good job that pays well, requires almost no "home work", is very low stress (at least to me) and only requires my presence about 12-16 days a month. I get 5 weeks a vacation and have a sick leave policy that allowed me to have shoulder surgery and stay home to rehab, and I lost NO PAY!
Yeah, I've paid my dues and have been at it since college and the AF, but I consider myself lucky and blessed to have the career and the future retirement that I have.(Hired at 29 in a good time certainly helped) Most of my friends would trade me in a second!
Good on ya for branching out and having other careers and options. I always felt my best career path was this one.
05-20-2015 | 05:17 PM
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05-20-2015 | 05:27 PM
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From: A350 Captain (RET)
The typical time to upgrade varies, but you will start out as a deckhand. The work can be very physical at times and if your boat "tramps" (meaning picking up and dropping off barges) you will do a LOT OF TOW work. Six hours on... six hours off.
I believe you need 360 "river days" (one day equals 12 hours on the water) to be eligible to take the Steersman test. Then you need to find someone to steer you and I would assume you could be in the Wheel House within 5 years.
It is actually a very challenging process and the reward is handsome. The industry is in similar shape as ours since the age demographics of the Captains reflect a very senior group and there will be some serious turnover in the next 10 years.
All the best,
OC
Last edited by OceanCrosser; 05-20-2015 at 05:39 PM.
05-20-2015 | 06:58 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: DAL 330
Very True. The LAX Captains are, as a group, pretty cool. I did fly out of ATL at one time and although still pretty rare, the "tool" percentage seemed a bit higher than LAX.
I disagree with Captains being allowed to avoid guys for a couple of reasons:
First off, the Captains are in charge, they are supposed to be leaders. Having to put an FO on an avoid list is a total leadership failure.
Second, if for whatever reason CRM becomes degraded due to personality conflicts the Captain can always have the FO removed from the trip.
Scoop
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