They want the best and brightest who have been through nothing but the strictest of standards for less then $20,000/year.

F U P M !!!

I'm not "steering" him towards aviation. He is fully aware of the pros and cons of this profession. If anything, I've probably emphasized the downside more than I should have. Right now, it's what he wants to do, and I have the experience and knowledge to help him evaluate his options. Anyway, there's still time for him to change his mind! ;)

You are correct that I think this profession is in decline. But I don't think it's irreverseable. It's really pretty simple, IMO. In life, for the most part you get what you pay for. At some point (if not already), that will become evident with airline pilots. Once corrected, I think the profession will once again be worthwhile... for the right person. His timing could be good. Or not. As you are well aware, timing is everything in this industry... always has been. But fix the pay, and I think the quality of entrants will be back up to where it should be. But my son is fully aware of both the bad stuff and the good stuff. And, yes, in spite of my criticism (mostly centered around extreme and unnecessary pay cuts), there is a lot of good. I still really enjoy this job... even after all these years. I look forward to going to work, and I enjoy working with the top notch professionals with which I have the privilege of working. There's a lot to be said for earning a living doing something you truly enjoy!

But thank you for asking. ;)

My neighbor wants to get his private pilot rating and frankly, I am discouraging him. As general aviation has declined the cost has increased. Someone flying once or twice a year just simply can't maintain proficiency. With the $50 hamburger now costing in the neighborhood of $400 to $500, individuals just can't do it.

A lot has to do with the Feds abandoning the principle of "preemption." Our locals have figured out how to milk the airport as a cash cow. Around here the balance between "corporate" and "private" aviation operations has swung to nearly 100% in favor of those who write their aviation activities off on their taxes.

As written here on this board, training has gotten priced and regulated so that a CFI with an C152 does not have a chance. The puppy mills will make the lowest priced, lowest common denominator, type pilots who are "qualified" under the regulations. That's why the regulations need to include a little of this:


Who here thinks a "rolling 360 turn" needs to be on the Commercial pilot practical?

Maybe we need better rest rules???? Or maybe a guy shoudn't be allowed to be on short call for 12 hours & then go fly another 12 hours? Hmmmmmm.......if only there was some way to change those................

Or maybe if regionals wouldn't hire guys with 250 total hours to fly a swept wing jet they wouldn't have to worry about this.

I was jumpseating on a DAL 757 last week and I noticed that the ACARS spit out a report criticizing the rotation rates on takeoff/landing, which the PF read, shrugged and tossed in the trash.

That could cut both ways - you know immediately if you're off the standards instead of waiting for a line check or the sim, but especially if it gets reported to the brain trust, that level of scrutiny would get most of us to engage the autopilot as much as possible.

We started using FOQA recently and Safety has found plenty of issues to tackle, but I can see where micromanaging would push us toward using more automation, not less.

I like it! I'll add a little basic formation flying too.

Stay with me here. For traffic/collision avoidance, knowing how to do a simple rejoin makes one better aware what is becoming a dangerous situation and how to avoid it.

But extra training cost money and puppy mills are all about graduations and yield.:(

We also have the feature on the 320, & I would say 50% of the time it reports a rotation rate of 0 degrees per second. So either it's not very accurate, or we double as a Harrier! :eek: :D

Your sort of right. The problem with that report (757-300 and now some 767) is NO ONE knows where the snap shot is taken. Therefore, of little value. I'll look at it for the rotation rate but for little else.

I am with you. Fewer ILS, no NDB approaches, more of this:

"Two":cool: