Notices
Major Legacy, National, and LCC

Blunt question...

Old 09-10-2007, 05:24 PM
  #1  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
skycowboy's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: CFII MEI
Posts: 331
Default Blunt question...

Honestly... Do any airline pilot's (including senior pilots) love their jobs anymore? Do they hate the flying, or the managment and politics? Is there anyone left who has flown the airlines for years who is still enthused by aviation?

honestly...
skycowboy is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 05:29 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
Default

yes......................
HercDriver130 is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 05:31 PM
  #3  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Posts: 361
Default

Ask this guy.....

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1188...left_column_hs
Zoot Suit is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 06:17 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
FPG120's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: 737 Left
Posts: 202
Default

In my 21st year. Absolutely. When I don't anymore, I will get out.
FPG120 is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 06:26 PM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 973
Default

Originally Posted by FPG120 View Post
In my 21st year. Absolutely. When I don't anymore, I will get out.
In my 20th year at a major airline...and no...I don't love flying large airplanes anymore...but get me in a 4,000 lb airplane, and it's love at first sight again. Airline flying is a paycheck, don't confuse that with flying
reddog25 is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 06:30 PM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Ottopilot's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 2,575
Default

After a couple thousand hours in one type, I like to change planes to keep me on my toes. I've also done the seaplane rating and will be doing the glider rating soon too. Airline flying is airline flying, and I like it, but it's not always "fun". It is always "work". I wouldn't do anything else but fly something for a living.
Ottopilot is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 06:38 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
FPG120's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: 737 Left
Posts: 202
Default

I guess it's what you make of it. Flying is all I remember ever wanting to do and I try and embrace the challenges of the day to day realities of it (boy does that sound like management hogwash - I can't believe I typed it....)

Plus working for a great line helps. Although I do get it about different equipment types. I've seen just about every inch of the 73....

My favorite is still the 72.
FPG120 is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 07:06 PM
  #8  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: non acceptus excretus
Posts: 561
Default

My favorite is the 74, however I think that we need to learn to figure out how to leave it. For example my management has rendered our working conditions so much to their liking through the 1113 process that there is very little QOL left for us. I am searching very hard and do intend to leave and to fly no more. Some times the "price" of flying is so high and the risk/reward ratio no longer justifies continuing. It takes time to plan your exit properly. An airline pilot work schedule and pay scale is really supposed to be that of the 1930's or maybe of the 1950's 1960's or 1970's not what we have now. There is also the quotient of how many times you face the "odds" and for what pay and that is where risk/reward comes in and the new market conditions simply are not adequate.
Molon Labe is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 08:11 PM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
newKnow's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 765-A
Posts: 6,844
Default

Originally Posted by skycowboy View Post
Honestly... Do any airline pilot's (including senior pilots) love their jobs anymore? Do they hate the flying, or the managment and politics? Is there anyone left who has flown the airlines for years who is still enthused by aviation?

honestly...
To be honest, there is a HUGE difference in the flying international and domestic at the airlines.

Todays domestic trips are set up the way commuter flying used to be. Which, if you like flying 4-6 legs a day with a lot of short layovers is great.

Today's international trips are more like the the way it used to be system wide (ok, they are still better).
1. Show up to the airport
2. Do some preflight planning
3. Walk to the airplane
4. Get some food to go to eat on the way
5. Preflight
6. Fly & Land
7. Slide past customs like you are a native
8. Sleep
9. Then hit the ground running in a place where people save up and plan for years to visit.
10. Sleep & wake up and do it all over again

If you like that sort of thing.

If you fly domestic, perform steps 1-6 four or five times a day.
Disregard #7
Cut #8 in half
Forget about #9
#10 is done about 18 days a month.

If you like that sort of thing.
newKnow is offline  
Old 09-10-2007, 08:13 PM
  #10  
Gets Weekends Off
 
newKnow's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 765-A
Posts: 6,844
Default

I think what I'm saying is that Intrernational Pilots are probably enthuastic.

Domestic Pilots are just tired.
newKnow is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bertramcheeks22
Cargo
33
09-03-2007 06:05 AM
bigD
Flight Schools and Training
11
05-24-2006 11:17 AM
cargo hopeful
Cargo
21
03-05-2006 06:12 AM
Cjp21
Major
6
02-28-2006 06:44 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices