How to Earn Respect as an Airline Pilot

[PBRstreetgang]

It has nothing to do with Hats and Shiny Shoes...Or talking to Kids in Airports, or giving directions to People.

The intent of the post is well meaning, but will never serve to correct the Ills we face collectively.

Good Luck All.




MKR

Ding Ding Ding,
We have a winner! Hats, jackets whatever! Every time a junior pilot get shoved under the bus, the majority of American pilots just keep on keepin on. You wanna know who the real pilot hero's are? The Chinese pilots who are standing up for their collective rights, but I guess thats not new, check the guy who stood off the tank in the big square. American pilots are just a slice of the rest of America, no different, now go back to your TiVo'd copy of American Idol, there are Chinese dudes protecting the profession for you.
PBR

 

[SERPICO]

In order to work for the airlines in the good old days, you were required to have 20/20 vision uncorrected, pass much stricter physical's, prior military experience, etc. The doors have been opened to anyone with a pulse who can pay for their ratings. Naturally the pool of qualified people will become polluted and the "profession" will as well.

Yeah, your right. Unless have 20/20 and belonged to the taxpayer funded aero club, you don't have the right to be here!
Did I miss your point?

 

[ePilot22]

Public Perception

Unfortunately, a great number of people today dont respect themselves first and foremost (Look like trash, speak using improper language, dress like theyre doing laundry, disrepectful to others). Its hard to respect pilots, or anyone or anything else for that matter, if you dont respect yourself first.

I read through this tread earlier today and was impressed with the original poster and I have to agree. I also have to agree with zkmayo. It doesn't have to do with low time, high time, captain or fo. It's the individual.






Anyway, just before shutting down the computer I wanted to see if I could find a picture of the e170 flight deck. This is what I found:Linky

From airliners.net...

"... The cloth on US domestic seats are better for longer flights, but the UAX seats in first used by Mesa on the CR7 and Chautauqua on the E170 are only comfortable for short haul. The first class flight attendant named Anastasia on this flight was serving drinks. She was a nice lady that was being friendly and was a new hire. She wasn’t anywhere near as professional as a mainline flight attendant, but served adequately. We then asked for the registration number of the plane. She was confused as to what we wanted, so Zone1 asked for her to go ask the captain. She then came back saying N514Monkey Jet. Zone1 found this hilarious. Overall I don’t think she has ever had that request in her life before..."

I posted this w/o reading his entire post, but reading beyond this he does write about the only thing unpleasant with MESA was the lack of professionalism from flight attendants.


Here's to respect and the public perception:beer:

Gotta wonder who else reads that and what is perceived?









eP.

 

[OARfan]

Yeah, your right. Unless have 20/20 and belonged to the taxpayer funded aero club, you don't have the right to be here!
Did I miss your point?

Nope! Spot on buddy. I'm civilian and know a lot of professional civilian pilots just as good or better than military. In my humble opinion, I have great respect for the military trained pilot who's dedicated 10 years over the now 250-500 hour regional new hire. Most are highly motivated and have a high sense of self- worth compared to the stereo type regional new hire willing to work for food stamps. What happens to any profession when you cut the requirements by 3/4? If anyone can do it, you're not going to be specialized.

 

[SERPICO]

Nope! Spot on buddy. I'm civilian and know a lot of professional civilian pilots just as good or better than military. In my humble opinion, I have great respect for the military trained pilot who's dedicated 10 years over the now 250-500 hour regional new hire. Most are highly motivated and have a high sense of self- worth compared to the stereo type regional new hire willing to work for food stamps. What happens to any profession when you cut the requirements by 3/4? If anyone can do it, you're not going to be specialized.

You don't make complete sense. What does' your interpretation of medical standards have to do with motivation? Are you telling me that an Air combat Instructor who wears glasses is not up to standards?
Everyone starts with no experience.
A new hire at a regional has always earned crap. Military guys have gone from 10 years service to the standard "kick in the nuts" salary in order to crack the heavy metal market. Whats the difference.
There will be below average people in every profession, low hour requirments has nothing to do with it really. Uniteds old mins were 350 hrs!!!!!!!!
Many overseas airlines have been big hirers of low timers. CX, QF,etc.
There is a demand right now, simple as that. Don't go blaming entry level guys for bringing down the image.
Most are motivated and work hard.
With 4000 hrs, you have hardly been around the block! Remember, all those trying to get started have to pass the same standrards you did.
Airlines can reduce mins because they are allowed to. Talk to the FAA if you don't like it.
It's up to the individual to look after themselves. Stereo typing stinks of facism.

 

[DIAMONDDD]

How to earn respect as an airline pilot:

Pick out the things about other pilots that annoy me while ignoring the things about me that annoy others.
Post those things on a message board. Sit back and feel warm with gratification.

 

[SFR]

I do respect the military pilots, but I don't think that service prepares them for an airline job. The regional pilot flying part 121 is much more qualified for a job at a major airline.

It has been my experience that the military people in my classes have always been the ones who were more confused, studied all the time & asked strange questions.

I think 1 of 10 military people are qualified for a major vs 3 of 10 regional people.

There are a lot of dorky pilots out there, I notice it walking around in the terminal now too.


Why is it that regional pilots feel they need to wear their sunglasses on their heads instead of their hats? Why do they carry backpacks like they are in high school?


I agree with the fat thing, lose weight!!! It is not that tough unless you have a disease, just don't eat everything you see.

 

[ePilot22]

How to earn respect as an airline pilot:

Pick out the things about other pilots that annoy me while ignoring the things about me that annoy others.
Post those things on a message board. Sit back and feel warm with gratification.

Deep.









eP.

 

[Brasilia Pup]

great vid clip, hilarious

 

[HA25]

1. Wear your uniform proudly, even if you don't like
your company. This includes the uniform hat if
required.

2. Don't talk badly about your company in the
public, if you like to complain, do it in private!

3. When people ask is your job easy respond with a
"no" and inform them it takes years of training.
Let them know you ARE responsible for their lives
when they are on board your flight.

4. Take a look at pictures from the 1970's of what
airline pilots looked like. This is what we should
be emulating.

5. Don't sit at the gate and yawn in public. If you
are tired stay in the crew room and rest until
your flight.

6. Try not to become a fat slob. Stay in shape and
look the part of a professional!

I know some will respond with hate for the statements above, but this is why I always viewed the airline pilots I saw as Gods. The Pan Am Clipper pilots taxiing their brand new 747s into the gates at JFK, absolutely awesome. We are the ones that make our jobs seem insignificant to the public. Don't let this happen, that is why they don't respect us.

Earn the respect of the pulblic and you will also earn the respect of management!

Well Said.. and I would add to that, be respectful of others in your profession who may not have been as lucky as you in picking or timing their being hired at the airline that's ontop today.. you may be the next one looking for that lower end job or being on the street and on unemployment with kids, pre-existign conditions and no medical insurance.

 

[HA25]

In order to work for the airlines in the good old days, you were required to have 20/20 vision uncorrected, pass much stricter physical's, prior military experience, etc. The doors have been opened to anyone with a pulse who can pay for their ratings. Naturally the pool of qualified people will become polluted and the "profession" will as well.

And in those days you had to be a great airman with situational awareness skill, strong spacial skill and sharp instrument skills while flying needle and ball, with the occasional VHF or AM nav-aid.

Today, it's video game screens, moving maps and FMS/RNAV navigation.. this is frankly why you see 23 year old zit faced kids and little girls flying RJ's at all the regionals.. and then with in a few years on an A320 or 737NG at your local major.

 

[HA25]

with regards to this statement... If you like the orginal post... then consider the ALPA Code of Ethics..... The golden days are of the Ethics...

...I would argue that you sometimes cross this line


• He will not publish articles, give interviews, or permit his name to be used in any manner likely to bring discredit to another pilot, the airline industry, the profession, or ALPA.

Your Skybus and Virgin posts come to mind; substitute the word articles for posts, and name for screen name.

 

[waveflyer]

And in those days you had to be a great airman with situational awareness skill, strong spacial skill and sharp instrument skills while flying needle and ball, with the occasional VHF or AM nav-aid.

Today, it's video game screens, moving maps and FMS/RNAV navigation.. this is frankly why you see 23 year old zit faced kids and little girls flying RJ's at all the regionals.. and then with in a few years on an A320 or 737NG at your local major.

yet it's funny that if video games were so easy- why are those zit faced 23 year olds breezing through training while older folks struggle.

There's an argument that the Gen Xers are the best pilots - b/c we learned w/ needles and pointers and built our first experience in turboprops- but still grew up w/ Nintendo's and have no issues w/ the glass jets either.... but it's all crap--

Nothing replaces talent and a will to be good in this industry-- Nothing- especially not technology.

I'm sorry that some of you feel that you are better 'qualified' b/c you had 20/20 vision as a young adult.
But deep down you know this isn't the problem.
The problem is that our seniority system gives us very little control over our careers- and human beings are not programmed to deal well w/ having very little control. Read up on Self-Determination Theory if you don't believe me....

 

[xrated]

Yes I did. Being hired by a major airline back then was like getting the Oscar for a movie role. Few were handed out, or earned, and that airline job seemed elusive to me. When those Pan Am pilots walked off that airplane I felt they were the luckiest people in the world. That beautiful airplane they flew, their pressed uniforms and polished shoes, the money they made. They were Gods. I was only 13 at that time but it made a lasting impression. Now, I don't counsel my young First Officers on wearing their uniform with pride, I hope they do and I am sometimes saddened by their lack of professionalism in the way they look, definitely not in the way they fly-they are all professional when it comes to that.

So look the part, play the part and earn the respect of your passengers, (who cares if they are from the trailer park- their money is just as green) and when it comes time to renegotiate that new contract, maybe management will respect you that much more.

Have you been in a coma for the last 25 years?

 

[xrated]

And in those days you had to be a great airman with situational awareness skill, strong spacial skill and sharp instrument skills while flying needle and ball, with the occasional VHF or AM nav-aid.

Today, it's video game screens, moving maps and FMS/RNAV navigation.. this is frankly why you see 23 year old zit faced kids and little girls flying RJ's at all the regionals.. and then with in a few years on an A320 or 737NG at your local major.

Very true but those "zit faced kids and little girls" are flying 10 times the passengers at 1/10th the accident rate of those "great airmen" of the past.

I guess technology is progress at a price.

-Disclaimer- My numbers above are to make a point and have not been researched as fact.

 

[fareview]

1. Wear your uniform proudly, even if you don't like
your company. This includes the uniform hat if
required.

2. Don't talk badly about your company in the
public, if you like to complain, do it in private!

3. When people ask is your job easy respond with a
"no" and inform them it takes years of training.
Let them know you ARE responsible for their lives
when they are on board your flight.

4. Take a look at pictures from the 1970's of what
airline pilots looked like. This is what we should
be emulating.

5. Don't sit at the gate and yawn in public. If you
are tired stay in the crew room and rest until
your flight.

6. Try not to become a fat slob. Stay in shape and
look the part of a professional!

I know some will respond with hate for the statements above, but this is why I always viewed the airline pilots I saw as Gods. The Pan Am Clipper pilots taxiing their brand new 747s into the gates at JFK, absolutely awesome. We are the ones that make our jobs seem insignificant to the public. Don't let this happen, that is why they don't respect us.

Earn the respect of the pulblic and you will also earn the respect of management!

Every now and then a nugget of a post comes along on this site which is the only reason we continue to come back.

Those who argue against your logic lack basic understanding of the consumer...an essential ingredient to an an airline's success.

Refreshing to see how many agree.

Bravo.

Respectfully,

fareview

 

[SERPICO]

And in those days you had to be a great airman with situational awareness skill, strong spacial skill and sharp instrument skills while flying needle and ball, with the occasional VHF or AM nav-aid.

Today, it's video game screens, moving maps and FMS/RNAV navigation.. this is frankly why you see 23 year old zit faced kids and little girls flying RJ's at all the regionals.. and then with in a few years on an A320 or 737NG at your local major.

Pilots today are different, not better, not worse, just different. Put a guy from the 40's in an RJ and they would not be able to start the thing. Put a 2nd year FO in a DC3, give them a sextant and say "take this thing across the pond" and you will get the same reaction.
I spent many hours learning about rhumb lines, great circles, time change, PNR's etc, etc but today is a new era where you might get a quick lesson on this stuff.
Kids as one of you has put, have been flying video screens in the military for a good couple of decades now. I also doubt that in light of recent times you will see kids going to the right seat of an A320 or 73 in a short amount of time. There are alot of type rated drivers who have ended up on the street recently.
People seem to think that professionalism consists of strutting through a terminal with your left hand on your nuts.
Here is a common quote from todays old timers "start em' both up AND leave the apu running" Way to go guys! Too many who work at companies that are still walking on thin ice continue to value their own position in this business above everyone else. As a result of this attitude the rest of the payroll has to suffer. That ain't the way to earn respect!

 

[waveflyer]

Respect comes from within. Manifests itself outwardly. I agree with this post... but the logic that links any of this to a financial boon to us is not reasoned well. Few of the passengers know or care what our pay is- how corrupt our ceo is- or how unfair the NMB can be- they don't care- they only know that we continue to show up and do our job for whatever we are earning... and if it wasn't enough- then why are we still showing up?

But money is respect in America. That's what's so ironic. The respect for our profession HAS gone down b/c we have chosen to sell out parts of our pilot group- not stand strong for each aviator and have accepted less for what we do. You talk to any business person- and they would laugh at the concessions we have taken- and maybe never say it- but think we are idiots. And they'd THINK RIGHT. We have to look in the mirror on that part.