New to the forum with a question
 

I just retired from medicine and have my own citation. I am looking for a new challenge and wondered if anybody knew if there was a way to get hired on at an airline as a captain? I am not really interested in being anybody's copilot. Is it who you know? Also, I hear that when you jumpseat on most airlines they usually put you in first class. Is this the norm? Is there a charge to jumpseat? Thanks guys for the advice. I figure I have about 10 years to conquer the major airline captain thing and want to get started.

Ed,

There are very few airlines out there that will hire off the street applicants to fly as captain, and those that do probably don't have the pay or lifestyle that you are looking for. You pretty much are going to have to be "anybody's copilot" until you get some line experience, and odds of getting on at a major airline without some sort of airline experience (aka regional) is slim to none these days.

As for jumpseating, you sit wherever there's room these days. I haven't jumpseated in over a year since I'm no longer at the airlines, but most airlines now have so many "premier" frequent fliers that qualify for free upgrades that non-rev travellers and jumpseaters might as well expect coach, and sometimes you're lucky to get that with the number of folks that are flying on budget fares...

Out of curiousity how old are you? I only ask since you mentioned retirement... If you're above 60 fuggedabout it. Keep the Citation and fly around for dinner and golf.

I just turned 50 and thanks for the advice. It would just be hard for me wearing a $20k Rolex and driving a car that costs more than most guys make in a year to sit in the right seat and copy clearances and get the captain coffee. I'm over the internship thing and really just want to accomplish my next goal in life. I have heard that flying an airliner is easier than a cessna so just want to stand on top of the mountain without being a sherpa guide if that makes sense. Surely if you talk to the right person this is a possibility? It's not about the money, it's about the challenge.

Do you want to borrow my ego so you can boost yours even higher?? Enjoy your retirement and leave the flying to those that are dedicated to OUR profession.

Well said aircum. The least we need in Aviation are Doctor who are always guessing their way thru.

Are you a Proctologist?
 

Ed,
Just wondering if you could be a proctologists, because it seems your head may be up your ass! Are you for real dude, or just trying to stir the pot? Either way, leave the flying to the pros dude. I was leading F-15s into combat one day, and pouring cofee the next as a new hire with FedEx. No regrets, you gotta pay your dues sh-t for brains.

Fox 3 kill --- Jolly's out for knots

I suggest you put the Rolex in the top drawer of your dresser, buy an airport "beater" to drive, and stop by Wal*Mart and pick up a 79 cent ballpoint pen - - and don't scribble the clearance, I want to be able to read it.


Don't worry about pouring my coffee -- just pass the Thermos and I'll pour my own.




Since I have your attention, what do I need to do to become a head neurosurgeon at my local hospital? I'd hate to have to start out as a scrub nurse.




THE ABOVE POST WAS WRITTEN IN JEST TO THE AUTHOR OF THIS THREAD WHO OBVIOUSLY POSTED IN JEST, AS WELL. NICE JOB AT FLAMEBAITING! :)




.

.

Ed - you shoud get your rotorcraft certs and go fly 135 in the Gulf Of Mexico.

Helo flying - you don't have to retire at 60 and you won't be a co-pilot. PHI will give you a Bell 206 or 407 to play with from sunrise to sunset...These days the guys there are making 55K a year starting out working 7 on / 7 off.

I'll be happy to answer any more question you may have...

You won't have to move you can fly down in your citation and fly your shift. Property is not inexpensive down there in Lafayette, if you decide to settle there, and you could really enjoy yourself in retirement working 7 on 7 off as a helo pilot.

-LAFF

-LAFF

Know what the difference between a Doctor and Pilot is?

I Pilot doesn't go around thinking they're a Doctor!

Flamebaiting? Yes....

Hey Ed, I was a pre-med major in college 25 years ago. I was thinking of doing something else other than flying. Do you know anyone that would hire me to be a neuro-surgeon? Your knowlege of commercial aviation is on par with my medical knowlege .... just enough to be dangerous. By your statements, it would appear that you would not be capable of being an airline captain as it requires common sense. Enjoy your retirement and please stay on the ground.

Wow, this thread is going downhill faster than a Bonanza full of Doctors!

Ed, I seriously doubt that your motive is anything but flamebait, but in case you're serious, go find yourself a new hobby. Other than trolling the internet.

Hey Ed, I'm going to retire from flying soon. Do you know of any nationally top rated hospitals that will hire a cardiac surgeon off the street? I have seen plenty of heart operations on the discovery channel. I can't be bothered to go to med school, do a residency and learn the trade, because that would be far beneath me, since my BMW is worth more than most interns make, but I'm convinced I could do a good job. Any suggestions?

i wouldn't want to fly with this tool

i wouldnt want to operate with this tool ....or fly with him. That attitude of yours is pathetic doc. You should know better. Do us all a favor.. leave the flying to the pros and buy urself a first class seat. Since you are so rich and all.

Hey, Im not to the airlines yet, but I know that it takes a ton of hard work and many years before you can rightfully assume your place in the left seat, especially at a mjor airline. I'll assume you understand from the flow of the previous posts that what you want is, for all intensive purposes, impossible. Much like the medical world it takes years of work and practice to get to the top in the aviation industry.

This ********* is obviously just trying to jerk our respective chains. No one is that stupid.

ED why don't you Pawn the Rolex and BMW and Citiation and just buy your own Airline?

Since you would be the owner you could become a the Chief Pilot too.
You could design even design a new Uniform and I imagine yours would have
"5" stripes instead of the usual "4".

You know Ed, I'd be honored to serve you a cup of coffee....... do you take "Cream" with that Capt? :)

I commend this guy...

I, for one, have always wanted to have a moonlighting job as a gynecologist.

I've never seen someone yank chains so bad in my life!! The only ones that weren't suckered in were John and Roll. Come on guys!!

I've taught many "aspiring" military pilots...and we get a few classes of flight surgeons every year... It's the flight surgeons (all Doctors of some sort) that bring the class averages down. They usually "circle the drain" through ground school. It probably has a lot to do with the common sense thing... Case in point Ed...

Browntail (Clemmons)

Good to have you back

You can't hide in that hole for more than a month, can you?

Notice the doc hasn't been back to respond. You are getting fired up for nothing.

Wow
 

A guy goes off to play a little golf with his friends and a firestorm erupts over a few simple questions. First of all, it was not my intention to insult anyboby or this profession. Without all the passion and drama, I simply want to pursue another lifelong dream and have less than 10 years to make it happen. If there is a faster path to accomplishing my dream I wanted to know and asked. I apologize for being successful and having the resources I do. I retired as a partner in a surgical practice and practiced as a pediatric maxillofacial surgeon after becoming a slave to managed care. To top things off, my wife of 23 years left me for one of our PAs and took a fair amount of resources with her. In my defense, I am an outstanding physician and trust me, if any of your children needed the surgery I performed, I am the guy you would want on the other end of the scalpel. I do not pursue things lightly and therefore my attitude, which many of you have labeled egotistical. Wouldn't the public appreciate this type of self assured attitude and capability in the cockpit? I can't imagine someone who complains about wearing a hat and drives old cars would instill confidence. I will try to be sensitive in the future and try not to hurt feelings here, I am just looking for some answers. Also, the analogy of starting out as a neurosurgeon is quite funny. I would hardly compare the two as neurosurgery and turning a seatbelt sign on are hardly the same. Again, I apologize if I offended anybody and will move on.

Ed,
Sorry for all the sarcasm, but as you will find out---it comes with the territory. I'd be glad to support your very humble plee for assistance. Ofcourse, we would have to fly together in order for me to support an application you submit to my company. We are hiring 450 pilots next year, and I'm sure your resume will bode well. Just check the web site at Pilot.FedEx.Com and make sure you have all your tickets punched first. I'll make a deal with you Edwardo, if you don't puke on yourself during our flight together I'll see what I can do to make your dream a reality.

Does FedEx hire captains? I am not sure why sarcasm is a necessity but perhaps I will figure it out later. The hiring picture looks bright indeed. Do you have any contacts I could talk to at Fedex? I am not prone to airsickness but do appreciate the offer of help. You are apparently ex-military? Navy, AF, Army??? Does prior military service help in getting hired as a pilot?

The "I was leading F-15s into combat" part of his previous post doesn't give it away...

Ed...well done!!

It's not often that we find such well crafted humor on these pages. Typically, when someone wishes to push buttons here, they do it in more of a blunt and thoughtless manner. Kudos for your skills as a humorist with style!

I would hope that you continue to post in this thread. I find your responses to be just what the doctor ordered to liven up what would otherwise be just another day in the left seat!

I forgot that being a pilot only involves turning on a seatbelt sign. The last captain I had was apparently a busybody by asking for more than that. We had to do checklists with several items on them. I'm gonna look for an airline where turning on the seatbelt sign is all I have to do.

Ed,
All FedEx hires is Captains! Look forward to slipping the surlies with you bro.

Jolly

OBTW - I was talking with your Ex, and she noticed you forgot to pack the romote with big screen. Could you send it? Love your dog dude, it's awesome.

She's awesome, the dog is a she, not an "it". You think that I was going to let that arsehole have my dog, let alone the multi-million dollar home after putting up with his sh*t for 25 years? It's bad enough that he and his brainless golddigging Republican girlfriend let my son (who was a minor at the time) get drunk up at Tahoe in order to try to get him to like the stupid chick. Didn't work arsehole, he thinks she's phony and thinks she's ought to get off her ass and work like his mother does. I realize that she isn't bright enough to hold a position higher than Walmart greeter, but you should encourage her to get off her ass and work. By the way, your former PA is a sexual God in bed! We are having so much fun! :D

Rx for the Dr
 

Doc:

You have certainly spiced things up here on the forum. Maybe a prescription of humble pie is in order. Your postings certainly seem to bring out the hostile side of our cadre here. Let me know how that captain training goes. Dilemma: Do I call you Doctor, Captain or what? I am sure you will have both emblazened on your terry bath robe.

I am not sure I want to have working as a captain somebody who writes that he doesn't want to be anybody's copilot. Still doing a lot of learning on the right seat.

Ok, Doc, here's your prescription:

Buy a VLJ. Shucks, you can even use your crappy Citation, the public will still think it's a 'neato jet'. Start a 135 air-taxi carrier. Name said carrier 'Major Airline'. Appoint self Captain (that should be the easy part, I'm guessing...). Bingo: You're a Major Airline Captain!

I'm curious to know why you feel you have such an insider's grasp of our industry in some respects, (all we do is turn on the seatbelt sign), and yet seem to know less than the average passenger in other respects (hint: they're called 'first officers, genius, not 'copilots').

You wouldn't last a week in a crew environment, since our industry has learned the value of CRM over an authoritarian management style, (not that you would ever make a mistake- I would love to ask your former colleagues about that one).

Maybe, just maybe, it's not the rest of the world, Doc. Maybe it's you...

haha...well atleast u retired from medicine. thank you

I've seen this guys video
 

Hmmm... doctor who owns his own citation... where have I seen this before?

Oh yeah, Atlantic City Municipal Airport/Bader Field.

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/web_v...060904136.html

And that was just a tailwind...

I wonder if I can get a part-time job as a plastic surgeon... How hard can it be to install a D-cup?

This is great!

Ist that one o' them thar Hydro Planes??


New slogan for Cessna, "by air or sea, its still a slowtation."

"Ah Radio, I got a Pirep. Location, 600 yards north AIY, Altitude Minus 3, heavy spray, and light chop"

Doc,

A couple of questions: If all pilots do is turn on the seat belt light, then why would you want to squander your god-like power on such a menial task? Also, since it is only turning on the seatbelt light, why would it take you 10 years?


You know what is a shame? Many people on here think you are just pulling our chains or poking fun at us, but i do not. I really don't think you meant any harm. I just think your boundless narcissism has allowed you to belive that your tallents at cutting and sewing can be instantly transformed into any other skill. I pitty you, sir. Not even a man with twice your surgical skill will be able to repair you when you realise thou art mortal.


Good luck,
j

__________________________________________________ ______________

giving a private pilot a Citation, is like giving a 16 year old a Ferrari

Apology
 

Grandpa, as a physician you know the state of managed care and how it has destroyed a noble profession. It is, and was never was my intention to create the rebukes I am getting on this forum. I am just interested in a new challenge and thought becoming a major airline captain would do the trick. I spent some time on the phone today with a retired TWA captain who explained to me why I should expect the hostilities being thrown my way. I intend to listen and learn more and sincerely apologize for the perceived arrogance, although I see it as simply confidence and a go-for-it attitude. I fly about 250 to 300 hours a year in the Citation and have my ATP with about 2100 hours so I am no rookie to flying despite some comments to the contrary. I have been blessed in many ways and look forward to smoother dialogue in the future. By the way, your diagnosis was a bit off but got a good laugh from me and a few friends. Are you still practicing? A pilot?

I used to play doctor when I was 5 or 6, does that count? I was kind of thinking Chief of Staff at Piedmont in ATL. I don't like to take orders either.