Originally Posted by maddogmax

You can always turn the auto throttles off then you know exactly where your power is.

Originally Posted by Cogf16

In my opinion, the thrust levers not moving is a HUGE mistake. During "normal" ops but especially during emergencies or worse, the thrust levers moving is a huge sensory input for a pilot. Think electrical or instrument failures, pitot static issues etc and "standing" the throttles up midrange or "firewalled". If the darn things don't move and the sh!t has really hit the fan, where IS my engine thrust???

Originally Posted by Cogf16

Do you ever have anything good to say about Delta or (D)ALPA??? You're a smart guy and have a lot of good insights and thoughts, but your apparent disdain for everything Delta/DALPA gets really old. Too bad we can't move "laterally" in this profession. I think you'd be a lot happier somewhere else.

Originally Posted by Jughead

Hmmm...how many signs are you finding?

Five Signs You’re in the Wrong Job


You’re not quite content at work, nevertheless you shuttle to and fro your job every business day. You know that nothing in life is perfect, so you do your best to placate the sneaking suspicion that something’s off -- that you’re in the wrong job. Is your job an ominous presence you should exorcise from your life? You certainly don’t need to be M. Night Shyamalan to see the signs.


Sign No. 1: You’re a Loner at Work

You’re not a social pariah, yet you have no friends at work. You’re not clicking with anyone in your office. You’re unable to forge a connection with your coworkers beyond exchanging the most rudimentary pleasantries. You go in, you do your job and you leave.

What’s keeping you from bonding? Are you too different in terms of age, culture or style? Be honest. Is the kitten appliqué on your colleague’s sweatshirt keeping you two from hitting it off? Shallow as it sounds, maybe you need to be in a work environment with colleagues who match up with you a little better.

Working without your peeps is long, dry and alienating. Your productivity depends on friends -- and so does your long-term happiness.

Sign No. 2: You’re Ashamed of Your Job

Here’s a sure sign you’re in the wrong job. You can’t bring yourself to tell people what you do. Think how much your shame will impede your ability to be effective in your job and how many networking opportunities you’ll miss if you hide behind euphemistic statements like “I’m in property management” when, in fact, you run an adult movie theater.

Whether you manufacture porn or toilet paper, take pride in how well you do your job. If you aren’t proud of your work you’ll never be able to derive satisfaction from it.

Sign No. 3: Your Workload Overwhelms You

It’s normal to feel a little frazzled now and again, especially amid pressure-cooker deadlines and quarter-end quotas. But it’s not a good sign if you routinely carry on like a decapitated chicken. You’re in the wrong job if you have more work than you’re capable of doing in the allotted time.

It’s also not a good sign if you’re so overwhelmed that you experience frequent bouts of anxiety. You’re agitated. You’re emotional. You have mood swings. One minute you’re on your daily commute laughing at something you heard on sports radio and the next minute you're sobbing inconsolably because somebody cut you off on the road.

Sign No. 4: You’re Stagnating at Work

You’re underutilizing your skills to the point of atrophy. This is not quite the same as being overqualified. You can still be in the right job even if it’s beneath your level of expertise. But it’s a bad sign if you’re losing the stuff that makes you stand out professionally. Unless you use and develop most skills regularly, you’ll lose them and fall behind.

What to do? Renew your membership to a trade association, keep current with required training or work a minimum number of hours in your specialization. You’re in the wrong job if you can’t or don’t have time to do these things.

Sign No. 5: There’s No Growth and Development in Your Job

Somewhere along the way you landed a job, and the company mistook you for a mere functionary. Or maybe you mistook yourself for a mere functionary. Your job contains zero element of discovery. In reality, you’re a student of life and have plenty left to learn. It’s your responsibility to continue your education. You’re in the wrong job if you’re not exposed to learning opportunities or aren’t taking advantage of them.

Opportunities don’t hide under rocks. They’re all around you -- at industry events, weekend seminars, Webinars. Most companies have budget to send their staff for professional development and training when it’s relevant to the job. Find out what your employer’s policy is.

If you can’t access company funding, take advantage of your fellow colleagues and clients. If you’re new to the job, learn from the tenured people. If you’re a veteran, learn from the newbie with the fresh perspective. The key is to keep an open mind and recognize the chances you’re given to grow and develop.

If you recognize yourself a little too much in these menacing signs, then use them as a wake-up call. You owe it to yourself to look around for something worthy of your time and energy.

Originally Posted by LeineLodge

It's like the author knows me. 5/5

(well maybe 4/5) #3 hasn't applied since last summer. Living in base, on reserve rocks

Sometimes I think I'd be less ashamed telling people that I run an adult movie theater. The soccer moms are always giving me that "who's the creepy beard man that never seems to have anywhere to go" look. I can't bring myself to tell them that I'm a pilot. They probably wouldn't believe me anyways. I just say I work odd hours and throw bags at the airport.

Originally Posted by MoonShot

I commute to reserve, but I hear ya.

There's a group of about 25 retired guys that I play golf with and we have a standing tee time at noon. On any given day, we will have 12-15 guys play. I end up at the course more often than about 80% of the guys .

Originally Posted by Cogf16

In my opinion, the thrust levers not moving is a HUGE mistake. During "normal" ops but especially during emergencies or worse, the thrust levers moving is a huge sensory input for a pilot. Think electrical or instrument failures, pitot static issues etc and "standing" the throttles up midrange or "firewalled". If the darn things don't move and the sh!t has really hit the fan, where IS my engine thrust???

Originally Posted by iceman49

The thrust levers moving on the Turkish Air 73 that pranged in AMS didn't help any.

Originally Posted by johnso29

Bingo! Don't know why it freaks guys out. Anyone flying at Delta should be able to tell if the engines are spooling without referencing the thrust levers.