Thank you
 

He is five months old and is spending some time off the ventilator today. Hopefully by next week he can come off it for good.

Skyhigh

UAV's not ready for commercial planes yet
 

Apparently UAV technology is not quite ready for the US commercial market just yet.

FAA chief: Unmanned aircraft not ready for routine U.S. use

Just think, one day maybe pilots can work from home !!



Skyhigh

If congress can pass laws regarding CVR usage I'm sure they could pass laws regarding branded flying vs subcontracting or codeshare if they wanted. They seem to do whatever else they want anyway.

When I resigned from my last regional position, I went back to school as well and have thoroughly enjoyed the last 11 months in the pursuit of higher education. I'll be done with the program I am doing the first week of Feb. Then it'll be time to face the real world again and only time will tell what my true sanity level will settle in at as I work again in a non aviation field.

However, during my time as a regional pilot, I contemplated what life would be like on the road with little ones at home. My bro and his wife had their first kid in Dec 2007 while I was still thriving at the airline. I believe this is what spurred my thoughts on the likely lifestyle conflict.

Once I resigned in the face of the upcoming displacement/furlough, I made a pact with myself to utilize the downturn to get come professional credentials outside aviation and to have my first child - outside aviation.

I believe that there is more discomfort in the path of being a professional (commuting, especially, as I did) pilot while having your first child, to be tugged away from home by crew scheduling only to strap a jet to your ass that will haul you away from your kids at .80 the speed of sound, as compared to having the first child while at home every night and weekend, working in close proximity, etc - then deciding to go back to the airlines. I am not sure I had the ability to successfully judge what my feelings towards my wife and newborn child would be in the face of the airline lifestyle.

I am still hoping to break back into the cockpit when a good opportunity avails itself - if ever again - but one thing is for sure, kid #1 is coming out while I am NOT a professional pilot. I want to enjoy that up close and personal. You can't get that back once the opportunity has passed.

Keep us informed. God bless.

I know they have been working on it but until they can come out with an artificial intelligence that can react and anticipate unforseen emergency situations, I do not expect to see airliners flown by unmanned computers. Maybe in 15 years or so. A big maybe. But then again stranger things have happened.

Family Time
 

Since being laid off I have enjoyed my time at home with our small kids. I can not imagine being stuck half way across the country and dealing with the things we have had to face as of late. As a parents we have had other tragedies and near ones and I have been home every time. Currently my time away from base is ZERO and our family is very thankful for that.


Skyhigh

In 10 years?
 

In 10 years the airlines are going to look a whole lot different. Most airline pilots will be working in different fields or unemployed. The economy will be in such a sorry state that most people will not be able to afford a ticket. Only the wealthy few will fly and hence the majority of airlines will not still be in business.

Thanks for the "Debbie Downer" first post. Welcome aboard.

Thats exactly right. Except change 10 years to 2 years, and change unemployed, to people's heads will explode.

I didn't know the title of this thread was: "What is the most depressing prediction you can come up with?"

Geez dude, lighten up a bit.