Um what the deuce

 

I was asked what kind of experience I have

 

It is difficult to retain a sense of professionalism when your employers and the rest of the world treats you like dirt. Professionalism comes from within but after being paid less than a gas station attendant for years and given less respect then one it begins to feel ridiculous to put much pride into your work.

Skyhigh

 

Professionalism is an attitude, a way of life – not something you turn-on or off depending on the circumstances. Many pilots wrongly believe that if they got paid more money or if they got a ton of admiration from the flying public, then their attitude (professionalism) would change. However, it does not matter whether you fly (or wash) a C 172 or command a B747; your professionalism [or lack thereof] will be evident by how you view yourself, not how others view you.

As for the challenges imposed by this profession (late hours, early get-ups, long days, etc.), I would hope everybody did their homework and knew what they were getting into. Otherwise, there is nobody but yourself to blame for the disappointment. But understand that regardless of the challenges, they do not give any of us “Carte Blanche” to be unprofessional.

 

The public doesn't care about the pilots. They care about travelocity airfare searches sorted by cheapest flight.

The managements job is to get the most work out of pilots for the least amount of money. They screw with your schedule, lower your pay & benefits, but as long as we are still "professional" they will see an opportunity to abuse you a little more. How far are you willing to be pushed before you let things slide a little?

At a certain point, you will start to not care as much anymore. As a junior shiny-jet FO, you will soon realize this.

I think all pilots should show up to work wearing the clothing from the second job they have to hold to make ends meet. Then when the kids see the pilot dressed in his McDonalds uniform, they will say "dang, I don't want to be a pilot like that fool". In a decade or so, we will be a valuable commodity again.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

call me stupid but the definition of professional means you get paid to do something.

Pay me like a professional and i'll act like one.

 

Every time I hear somebody complain about inexperienced three hundred hour pilots, I remember that our military puts 300 hour pilots in the right seat of 4 engine heavy jets, or in command of a single seat supersonic fighter.

Of course, military pilots do tend to kill themselves somewhat more frequently than 121 pilots.

Joe

 

V1, just out of curiousity, where did you find this definition of "professionalism"?

 

businessdictionary.com