fireman0174

Still, it requires the exercise of good judgement to press that button. We've all seen pictures and read of what can occur without that good judgement.

SkyHigh

I totally agree. Judgment is important and is provided for the pilot through a decision flowchart in the FOM. All the pilot has to do is to decide whether to follow it or not.

SkyHigh

fireman0174

Sometimes there just isn't enough time to utilize the "FOM decision flowchart". In that case, one needs to use the "brain decision flowchart", which is a result of experience, good judgement and to many nights in a foreign hotel reading the FOM in the middle of the night.

As one who has worn out more than a few erasers in his lifetime.

RedeyeAV8r

I don't know what Airline you fly for or maybe I missed your point.

The Airplane I fly is probably one of the most Advanced and automated airliners in the world............................That being said it is one of the most it requires a tremendous amount of skill...................................

Try landing a 480,000 (MLGW) Airlcraft in a driving typhoon rainstorm with quartering tailwinds and no grooved runway which is too short and slick as ice...................Oh did I forget mention the controller's command of the english language isn't all that great and they will try vector you into a mountain if you ain't on top of your game.............................................. ............Yeap flying a modern airliner is easy requiring little pilot skills. (Read sarcasm) Most modern Airliners don't have a Staples "Easy" button to push to get you out of trouble.

Lets see doing the following requires NO piloting skills............
V1 cut with a 15 knot crosswind from the good engine side.
Landing in a max cross wind of 31 knots gusting.
Landing in driving rain or snow storm
Performing a Cat 3 B approach
Windshear recovery
The dreaded 2 engine out scenario ( on a 3 eng a/c)

Yeap these manuevers require no skill.........or very little thinking...................

If that were true I would never let my wife and kids on an airliner.
For those of you who are professional aviators, stop seeling yourselves short.
You are highly trained and deserve the highest pay you can negotiate.
For those who are not.....................I am sure you want low paid Chimps piloting your loved ones in one of the above scenarios.

Red eye

SkyHigh

A true statement, however more than one pilot has been let go for saving the day but failing to follow the prescribed flow chart. There is little room for free thinkers and innovation in a modern airline flight deck. The decision tree can (and should be) committed to memory. If you read long enough the FOM will tell you how to wear your hat and which leg to put first into your slacks when getting ready in the morning. The dream of every airline is to have a well programmed crew.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

I am sure that from your perspective you are accomplishing something great however compared to pilots of yesteryear or in other lines of aviation you have it good. I agree that it does take some concentration at times. However the situations that you mentioned might only appear every 6 months to a year in the sim or never in real life. As for the rest of it a sim instructors goal is to force those decisions into your head in the form of rote memorization, no thinking just regurgitation at the proper moment. Also I don't think that your dispatch would send you anywhere that they didn't have the fullest expectations of your safe arrival. If you fly a 747 long haul then you probably only get two or three landings a month, and I am sure that is pretty scary. Keep telling yourself that stuff though.


SkyHigh

dckozak

Your missing the point. It's easy to fly airplanes, everyone wants too and anyone can fly. Lots of people would do it for peanuts and because of automation and standard procedures, even a monkey can follow the script, Did I mention it was easy??

SkyHigh

I have often thought that you could take a guy off the street without any aviation background or inclination and in one month or less through rote memorization and intensive study teach him the necessary basics to become an effective FO on any large modern jet. Some of those cadet pilot programs that are offered overseas are almost there now.

SKyHigh

ERJ135

I noticed there are a few MD11 capts. Who in the US still flies MD-11's still? I have DVD on the Swiss Air MD 11 by world air routes. Seems like a cool plane. A lot rattling and banging up front on the ground roll. If your not familiar with World Air Routes its a DVD series of a cockpit and aircraft orientation. You ride in the jumpseat up front from pushback to arrival at the other gate. I have the Swiss Air MD 11 Geneva to Sao Palo, the Jetmagic ERJ135/145, Air France A330 from Paris to BOS, and the United 777 ORD to Heathrow. I definitly recommend them.

mtsupilot09

Hey guys. Sorry to rain on yall's parade but I have a few questions. 1) Did you know that the airlines were like this when you wanted to become a pilot? 2) I am sitting here in my dorm at MTSU thinking, "Oh *******, I thought I wanted to be an airline pilot." Now I'm thinking, "Hmm...accounting looks like fun right about now." You guys are having a great debate, but I just gotta know something. Do you regret becoming a pilot? Was there ever a time when you actually and honestly enjoyed your career in the cockpit? I would like any opinions you guys have. I need to know if this career is worth pursuing at all. I mean I love flying, it is my passion. I know you guys are thinking, "this guy is the problem with the industry, he'd fly for peanuts." Well, I wouldn't for the record, I want to earn a decent living and provide for a family some day. So let me know. Tell me if this job is worth all the crap that you guys apparantly go through. Thanks a lot in advance,
Chandler Hasemeyer