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This went better than I thought..
This actually went better than I thought.. I thought that the OP would get pummeled, but they were actually given some advice. Good job, APC!
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Originally Posted by JohnBurke
(Post 3633847)
If you're afraid to fly, then you shouldn't fly. This is axiomatic.
Some of us do this for a living, rather than merely a hobby. I spent a lot of years in which each flight was a takeoff at gross weight in the mountains on hot days and strong winds, with approaches as low, or lower than fifteen feet in low visibility, extreme turbulence, an explosive environment in the middle of a forest fire, often in very old equipment, in very rough terrain, in close proximity to 30 or more other aircraft with no radar, no air traffic control, and so on. When appropriate, I said, "no." I don't recall ever being afraid of going to work. It was a job, performed by professionals. I coined a phrase, now used on posters, which said, "it's not an emergency: it's our job." If you're finding your job to be an emergency, then you either need to take it more seriously and approach it as such, or get out of the business. A general requirement to every flight operation, whether it's screaming down a mountainside in the smoke or flying an approach to minimums in a corporate airplane, or giving instruction in a light Cessna, is that the outcome of every flight must be a safe one. The practical standard is that the successful outcome shall not be in doubt. If you are in doubt, and you go fly anyway, then you are not meeting the bare minimum standard for an aviator, and nobody should perform at the bare minimum level. We are about judgement; it's what we do and why we're paid. If you are in doubt and go fly, your judgement is in error and you should not be in that aircraft. If you need a hobby, play checkers, or go buy a light airplane and do turns around the pattern, if you're confident enough to do it, but don't subject your passengers, everyone on the ground, and everyone in the air to a level of competence, that's in doubt. It's more than doing yourself a favor and standing down. You have an obligation. Honor it. |
Originally Posted by MaxQ
(Post 3633814)
I agree that the children will be disadvantaged.
Having lived 10 years next-door to a couple who homeschooled their children, (and the grandchildren are now being homeschooled as well), has given me a glimpse into at least this family's thought process. My conclusion (which obviously could be in error) is they do not wish to adapt. Not themselves, their children, nor their grandchildren. Whatever hardships that any of their progeny endure, it is more than compensated for by living as far apart as possible from this world of sin. From their perspective, cleaving themselves from the "liberal cesspool" seems to be the point. |
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3633937)
John, you may have misunderstood my post. It’s not the flying that scared me. I take the job very serious and care about doing it at a top level. I get scared with all the other facets of working and having to go in large public settings that could be a target.
Are you actually saying that you're afraid, as in emotionally, physically, mentally, or otherwise, fearful of being a target? Of what? Terrorists? An ex-wife? Random violence? Postal workers? Flight attendants? Republicans? Methodists? This is why you don't want to show up to your hobby? Then don't show up. The world won't spin any slower, nor drift off-kilter even a fraction of a degree. |
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3633937)
John, you may have misunderstood my post. It’s not the flying that scared me. I take the job very serious and care about doing it at a top level. I get scared with all the other facets of working and having to go in large public settings that could be a target.
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Originally Posted by JohnBurke
(Post 3633953)
Oh. When you said you view your job as a hobby, you were being untruthful and facetious, then.
Are you actually saying that you're afraid, as in emotionally, physically, mentally, or otherwise, fearful of being a target? Of what? Terrorists? An ex-wife? Random violence? Postal workers? Flight attendants? Republicans? Methodists? This is why you don't want to show up to your hobby? Then don't show up. The world won't spin any slower, nor drift off-kilter even a fraction of a degree. Same with hotel security on overnights, especially international like to Mexico where I feel we are easy targets. Thankfully I don't do much of these anymore and even more rarely do international layovers (like never). So my question again to everyone was if they had similar fears going to work and perhaps how they alleviate their fears? |
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3633986)
So my question again to everyone was if they had similar fears going to work and perhaps how they alleviate their fears?
It's because of these latent fears that I feel simmering just below the surface that I signed up for a local community ed class on self defense against chocolate-coated children, and why now I wear six layers of face mask, and have had blue light installed in my lungs. So far as security when passing through those "unsecured" parts of the airport, I believe if you follow my lead, you'll start feeling a lot safer about doing the job. I take rolls of surplus carpet from sites that are re-doing hotel rooms, and use the carpet to wrap my arms and legs, forming a type of body armor, then on the way to the airport, stop by a UPS store and stand on the bubble wrap platform. A few spins on that, and my torso is mostly protected (which has the additional benefit of preventing that chocolate-kid encounter). A surplus football helmet with an expanded-aluminum face guard (tacked on with eight-penny nails) works to keep the old noggin safe, and of course the clothes are all nomex, with a roll of foil around each foot in case of molotov cocktails in the baggage area. These continue to be a major threat. Dark sunglasses, spray painted with black or dark grey paint help prevent potential laser injuries, which gives me a chance to use my white cane, which also doubles as a fighting staff in case my way is blocked by an aggressive bevy of nuns or old blue-haired women on their way to a gambling junket. In the event I might inadvertently get sprayed by an exterminator ridding the terminal of roaches, I carry three hypodermics; one is filled with horse-dewormer (ivermectin), and the second with atropine. I keep a magic marker strapped to my left wrist in case I take the atropine, which is lethal, so that I can write the time of application on my bubble wrap, and then a passer-by can administer the final dose of protopam chloride to counter the atropine. The final part of my safety system is the most important, and I only mention this because you sound s neurotic as I, and could thus use this: a Ghillie suit made with pieces of luggage, so that at any given moment, I can hunker down on the floor and look remarkably like a well-worn suitcase leaning on a pile of old carpet and bubblewrap with sunglasses. It is, dare I say, brilliant? It may help if you carry a cricket bat to fend off aggressive gate agents. One never knows. Play your cards right and you may just move from hobby, to sport. Don't forget the cup holder. |
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3633986)
Not sure what you mean. My point was that I look at flying the plane as a lot of fun and that I enjoy doing that part of the job. Getting paid to do so is nice, so forget the "hobby" part for a minute. The parts that scare me the most are going through the airports and being in a large group of people where ANYTHING could happen. Mass shootings, domestic terrorism, stabbings etc. For example, there is no screening of any kind in the drop off section of the airport. Anyone can pull up in a car and get out and start shooting. This is why I only park in the garage anymore since there is less contact with people up into the secured side of the airport. Is this a perfect plan? No but I feel it gives me better odds.
Same with hotel security on overnights, especially international like to Mexico where I feel we are easy targets. Thankfully I don't do much of these anymore and even more rarely do international layovers (like never). So my question again to everyone was if they had similar fears going to work and perhaps how they alleviate their fears? |
Why do you guys keep feeding the troll?
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Same reason one feeds a puppy that wanders up on the street with those sad, doggy eyes, short stubby legs, and distended belly, whimpering for a hand-out: to fatten it up so it's ready to eat by chinese new year.
PETT: people for the ethical treatment of trolls.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3621901)
One thing I know is that I am not a failure or loser being an airline pilot as a career, do you all agree?
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3619467)
I avoid staying overnight in this terrible place. It is full of SIN and EVIL. Anyone residing there or being based there should think about that. I will begrudgingly do a turn out of LAS if I have to, but avoid it during bidding.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3599483)
Unless you’ve been retired, you don’t know how good it is. I was retired for a little while and enjoyed it. There were times when I was on Reserve and I would get sick to my stomach when I see a phone call from the scheduling line.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3592593)
Everyone knows AA pilots are not on the same level professionally and safety wise as delta and United. I can start posting incidents from AA that’ll make your head spin if you want to go down that path. If not, take a seat.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3586133)
I prefer that my family and friends do not fly as passengers on AA. The crews have very low morale and their track record has not been too comforting. Saw plenty of reports and second hand stories.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3591933)
Well if you were on board, we’d have you go on all fours and lick it up with your mouth for the cleanup. You’re used to being full of ******* anyway.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3586025)
So I went to a urologist. He agrees that the bumps all over my genitals are in fact HPV. He gave me some cream to put on them that can get rid of them. I was more worried about it being cancerous. He said penile cancer is very rare in the US, but certainly keep an eye on the possibility of neck or throat cancer from the HPV.
Appreciate the tips from everyone. If anyone needs a picture of the bumps to see if you have the same, feel free to message me. No homo.
Originally Posted by PipeMan
(Post 3558691)
That is a great idea that I haven’t thought of before. The downside is that normally all of those towels in my room are coated in one bodily fluid or another come check out time.
I’m going to set one aside next time I fly. Perhaps if one keeps posting things like that, one is going to be afraid of a chance encounter with another pilot in the terminal. Or perhaps it's the fear of HPV, or perhaps just too busy sending out dick pics. All I can say is that the industry will lose one classy actor if the fear wins. Try riding with a cougar in the car. |
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