Despite all the woes of the industry.....

[acaTerry]

Although I've left the airline world a few years ago for the fracs, I think I speak for all regional pilots when I say that it's great job from the moment you release the parking brake, and then becomes a lousy job when you reset the parking brake.
Enjoy!

 

[i'mbatman]

Pluses:
1.) Great people I work with
2.) Once the door is closed, I'm doing what I love.
3.) Running into friends all over the country.


Minuses:
1.) Witnessing the complete inefficiencies of the airline industry and being helpless against it.
2.) Sitting in a crashpad on rsv away from loved ones.

Call me crazy, but Give me a million bucks and I'd probably still do it.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Call me crazy, but Give me a million bucks and I'd probably still do it.

I'd tell you what I'd do if I had a million bucks....two chicks at the same time!

 

[purduej]

+ Great people to work with, being able to show up at an airport and say "which country should I visit this week?", the view, sometimes getting 14+ days off

- The occasional jerk you're stuck with for 4 days, rarely seeing non-aviation friends because you're not around on weekends, 11 days off a month normally

 

[CFI2766]

Much like any profession, the best and the worst part of the job are the people.

I love to fly with good captains; captains that know their stuff and aren't selfish with their knowledge.

 

[wings421]

I'd tell you what I'd do if I had a million bucks....two chicks at the same time!

Not all girls are like that...

 

[JonnyKnoxville]

1. Any time you're in a group of adults and a little kid asks you what you do for living...
2. The stockpile of tiny soaps, shampoo, and conditioner in my bathroom cabinet.
3. "Ooo, sorry! I'm flying that day!" is the ultimate get-out-of-stupid-things excuse ever!
4. Being the only Dad at the mid-week 2nd grade choir concert.
5. Telling old ladies who ask what's in those black bags all pilots carry: "Parachutes" (with a straight face)
6. The inner-smugness you feel when you hear a guy prattle on about the crushing piles of paperwork he has "on my desk at work".
7. Riding with SWA guys in the hotel van, and asking 'em: "So, what aircraft are you one now?" (That one never gets old!)
8. The nurse at my AME's office is uber-Hot! (I'm sportin' wood right now just thinking about her putting the EKG leads on me!)
9. The acronyms! An effective weapon when you're crammed next to an inquisitive pax while deadheading.
10. "The sunburn? Oh, I had a long layover in Honolulu. Wow! Looks like we got a lot of snow last few days!"

That is funny! Nice top ten list. I am stealing numbers 5, 7, and 9.

 

[DannyNoonan]

the flight benefits are the best i think...being able to travel anywhere you want in the world for soo cheap!!...meanwhile the guy next to you paid about $15,000 for those first class tix:laugh:

 

[CopilotDoug]

Not all girls are like that...

the type of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me are!

 

[DannyNoonan]

the type of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me are!

good point

 

[Goose Egg]

I'd tell you what I'd do if I had a million bucks....two chicks at the same time!

How did I know that was coming!

-Goose

 

[MEL'ed]

One of my favorite things is blasting through a low overcast layer to reveal a clear blue sky above. I always think about how no one stuck on the ground that day will realize how nice and clear it is above just 500 or so feet.

Or just the opposite.. Hand flying an ILS down to minimums in Syracuse snow, aquiring the approach lights to go down to 100' to see the runway and then greasing a Dash-8 landing. Great technology.

Jumpseating free anywhere in the country, or paying a nominal fee to see the rest of the world. Taking several international trips a year, when the average person may not go international several times in their life.

15 days off a month. Having your friends and family ask if you ever actually work cause it seems like you're always off.

Greatest office I could ask for. 180 degree panoramic view from a 1,000-4,100 story office. Don't have the same person sitting in the cubicle next to you for years. That person changes on a regular basis. Get to talk with dozens of different people each year about hobbies, travels, and experiences. Read or do puzzles on the job. All this while getting paid and not having your boss or others walking by all day looking over your shoulder. Great people at PDT!

New challenges everyday we go to work. Makes for an interesting job.

 

[Hamburger]

After all the years of commuting, I finally landed a job in my Hometown.

Sitting reserve in my own living room watching sharks do it on the nature channel. Ka-Ching!

 

[Skyranger777]

Flying at night at 30K+, turning all the dislplay lights down and looking straight up at the universe. You can see more stars, comets, planets and especially satellites than you could ever imagine.
Also taking pictures of some of the coolest scenary and showing them to people to describe how your day at "work" went.

 

[Goose Egg]

Flying at night at 30K+, turning all the dislplay lights down and looking straight up at the universe. You can see more stars, comets, planets and especially satellites than you could ever imagine.

Man I can't wait to do that!!

-Goose

 

[Gobi Gred]

I'd have to agree with a previous post that my favorite part of the job is that when I set the parking brake at the end of the day my work is DONE! When my wife worked and we took time off it seemed like she always was fretting about the work that was piling up on her desk. I love that I don't have to do that.