These would be the kinds of things the poster is talking about. Asking a question and being ridiculed for it. Maybe he can ask about how to make several lateral moves and spend 7+years as an FO!

*** are you talking about? Last I checked 145s don't have it Better go back to class.

 

Ok, true true.

Take Colgan for example. I came here with 1000 hours, 1 year as an FO, 1 year a captain and I start 757 class at CAL in January. I have only done 1 repo flight my 2 years here. The most MEL's I've ever seen is 3. The worst MEL I've seen is the pressurization system. I have never been called by scheduling on a day off.

The way Saab explains it- it's the worst airline ever created.

 

The last time you checked was in systems, when you weren't so sure.

 

The most amusing thing is that 24G seems to be surprised that a lot of people get offended when he starts talking about "being a line CA isn't successful, only if you're a CP are you successful". I mean, how could a bunch of line pilots get offended when somebody comes in and says "You're not successful, I need to be ranked above you!". Plus, you talk about supporting your family. So if I'm a 12 year CA making over 200k a year on an easy schedule, I'm not successful? Or I'm a CP but not Senior Chief or VP FlightOps? Or I'm a VP, but not DO? Or CEO? Or CEO of a better company? Or President? Where does it stop? When is enough power enough?

Clearly, this person isn't in this industry or has just entered. That being said, let's try and stick to constructive criticism rather than attacks on his personality like his bar habits.

A few examples:

Don't come in here insulting all of our professions.

Whether you type quickly or not is irrelevant. Learn how to type with correct grammar and spelling. You won't always have hours upon hours to construct a brief, and I can assure you that the first time somebody "in power" sees the way you communicate, any chance you have for advancement will be severely hampered. Aviation is a small world, grudges and opinions tend to stick. Besides, nothing tells people that a person is uneducated (REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE OR NOT!) more than seeing a person who is unable to express him/herself clearly, especially on a computer where spellcheck is often built in!

Use relevant examples and analogies. Being a teacher and being a principal are two very different things. If all somebody wants to do is teach, and impart the gift of knowledge to young people, why are they not successful if they aren't the principal or dean? Why if somebody loves to fly are they not successful if they're not the chief pilot?

Learn some diplomacy. As I said, aviation is a small world, you don't want to irritate the wrong people. Also, seeing as you talk about how you want to be successful by being a CP or something of the like, I assume you would also not be satisfied unless you were also a CP at a major or legacy carrier. I hate to say it, but if you tried to apply at what seem to be the top three majors right now (SWA, UPS, FEDEX), you wouldn't even be granted a pilot position. Your kind of attitude would be seen and disqualify you in the very first stages of the interview stage. I'm not trying to knock you down, I'm just trying to let you know so you don't get burned in the later stages of your career.

Take a joke. While some of the comments were meant exactly as they were said, I'm pretty sure that comments like "You'll lose all your friends" are at least partly meant in jest (depending on the airline!), so don't flip out and start defending whether or not you have friends or a life outside of aviation.

Try and look at this whole thing in context. Why are you concerning yourself about being a CP right now? Concern yourself with getting the job and upgrading to CA first. If you're right for the job, you'll find a way to find all this information, and if not, you can come back to a place like this and ask again, and this time be able to ask more directed questions, rather than the slightly offensive general question.

 

WOW! Good one TD!

But just to set the ignorant, probationary/new hire FO, who probably doesn't even have 500 hrs in 121 operations yet (that would be you) staright, I only made one lateral move. And it was involuntary, due to furlough. The 7 years as an FO was involuntary as well. Was upgraded, then involuntarily downgraded, then pay protected at CA pay rate while in the FO seat. I'm sure you know all about that with your vast experience in the airlines, both pre and post 9/11.

I forgot, how long you been flying 121?

I just noticed something, you and the other guy have some similar personality traits. You post a question, like "what should I do, I lost my passport", etc , and people respond with some good answers. Some of the answers you don't like. So instead of clarifying with more questions, you take an adversarial tone and try to defend some of your less than brilliant actions.

Sound familiar?

 

I dont believe I said any of that.
I am not crying over anything. I have very thick skin. Its just that if I am seeking advice about a career, I need serious answers and not BS answers.

 

How can you tell attitude from a bunch of typed words?

 

And this was my source of resource. I have others believe me, but this site was one of them. How is asking "How do you become a Chief Pilot" offensive?

 

Here's a well thought out, intelligent answer for ya bud:
Don't do it. The money sucks compared with the initial investment or following responsibility, there is no glamor and there is no quality of life.

Instead, be an attorney and spend the rest of your career suing airlines (Mesa would be a great start and easy target). More money on that side of the game. Then, as soon as you can afford it (which will be quickly), buy an ex-military jet trainer and get your flying jollies that way. Don't be a professional pilot. We are all tools, especially me and my homeboys at MAG.

P.S.
CP hopeful is definitely not the way to go either... you are lucky to have so many on this board tell you that, and I hope you are not so dense as to dismiss their message veiled in some rough-and-tumble humor. Live, laugh and dont take everything so GD seriously.

 

At any rate, I'm done with this issue. I will try and ask my questions more politically correct. As far as my spelling goes, like I said I TYPE FAST, and no I do not use spell check. I figure you guys understand what I am saying and get the gist of my questions. Thank you