airliners.net mentality... the downfall of aviation?

[big_al]

Im really puzzled by the type of people who visit airliners.net

They are literally obsessed with airplanes. They act like sports fans when it comes to airline companies. Many of them know fleet registrations, schedules, status of airplanes, etc. and they dont even work in the industry.

So my question is, are people like that harmful to aviation? Are they the reason companies can get away with short changing their employees, especially the pilots? As long as they put on the fascade to their loyal sports fan customers, they wont have to change their model much, just keep lowering the salary and keep laying off people?

Also, is it harmful when people like that are so obsessed with airplanes, they dont mind taking pilot jobs for pennies?

Or am I just crazy?

 

[Instinct]

So my question is, are people like that harmful to aviation? Are they the reason companies can get away with short changing their employees, especially the pilots? As long as they put on the fascade to their loyal sports fan customers, they wont have to change their model much, just keep lowering the salary and keep laying off people?

Also, is it harmful when people like that are so obsessed with airplanes, they dont mind taking pilot jobs for pennies?

I am not sure I understand the link between people who visit airliners.net and airline companies short changing their employees. Would you care to elaborate?

 

[shamrock]

As long as they stay in the "fan" category I don't see a problem but, as you mentioned, it's when they start flying and bring the "I just want to fly a shiny jet, even for pennies" attitude to the industry that it turns ugly.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

Everytime I read a post on that site I want to put my fist through the computer screen.

 

[AirBadger]

There are a alot of great photos on that site, and I'm glad there are. But thats about the only good thing on airliners.net

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

photos are ok, but the forums will make you crazy.
That place has the worst case of Fanboy-itus I've ever seen.

CE

 

[Espalda Mojado]

What airlines pay pilots for pennies, besides Mesa? Curious....

 

[navigator72]

I didn't know they had anything else but photos

 

[KingAir1985]

Everytime I read a post on that site I want to put my fist through the computer screen.

I was thinking the same freaking thing today.

 

[NuGuy]

Im really puzzled by the type of people who visit airliners.net

They are literally obsessed with airplanes. They act like sports fans when it comes to airline companies. Many of them know fleet registrations, schedules, status of airplanes, etc. and they dont even work in the industry.

Also, is it harmful when people like that are so obsessed with airplanes, they dont mind taking pilot jobs for pennies?

Or am I just crazy?

Heyas,

Yeah, that place has some interesting folks...from the FF "Status Club" that post their milage status with their "handle" to the fanboys....

Still, the planespotters, like the trainspotters are mostly harmless. Some are in it for the photography, and others seem to be bordering on an OCD behavor. But like those purple lights in the bug zappers, aviation seems to attract all kinds things that bug you.

OTOH, some folks here have posted a couple of messages about some REALLY wierd people that hang out at the airport, especially the small ones.

Nu

 

[FN FAL]

Im really puzzled by the type of people who visit airliners.net

Fortunately there is a place in cyberspace for people who are queer for airplanes.

 

[F9 Buff]

Yeah, quit reading their forums and stick with the photos.

Their forums have one of three types of people. Kids who think they know it all because they have flight sim games, airline employees, and people who have stock in the company and want to make money.

Click my link below to get started on the photos!
8x10 and 16x20s are available.

Oh yeah, and no, I do not post in their forums and try not to read them unless I get really bored!

 

[FN FAL]

Yeah, quit reading their forums and stick with the photos.

Their forums have one of three types of people. Kids who think they know it all because they have flight sim games, airline employees, and people who have stock in the company and want to make money.

Click my link below to get started on the photos!
8x10 and 16x20s are available.

Oh yeah, and no, I do not post in their forums and try not to read them unless I get really bored!

Yes, to be fair, they do have a great resource in image files.

 

[big_al]

Yeah the pictures are great, I didnt mean that. But the forums are bizzare to put it nicely

 

[big_al]

but for example, the mentality of some, "richard branson is my hero! I cant wait for virgin america" without even thinking that they will drive down salaries even more. Or "cool! a new operator in hawaii!"

 

[FN FAL]

Yeah the pictures are great, I didnt mean that. But the forums are bizzare to put it nicely

If they were nicely bizzare, they'd be here or with the pilotpro silver spooners. :laugh:

 

[g4800xp]

Hey Big Al, I first learned about plane and train spotters in 1998 when flying in Europe for the first time. It is a harmless past time for 99.99 percent of them, but the potential is there for abuse, in many forms. I was suprised to find pics of myself landing in places like Malta and Helsinki, and be able to see my face in the pic!! Ya know, we operate in the public domain, and things like tail numbers are in documents that can be viewed by anybody interested so it falls on us to protect our interests, act, appear, professional, take security seriously and think of plane spotters the same as a cockpit voice recorder. I have seen guys take a leak behind their plane, thinking they were hidden, and one pretend to preflight, and pee froom the hell hole of a G5. I think we are a greater danger to ourselves and our jobs that planespotters. Just my two cents.

 

[Cardinal]

Yeah, quit reading their forums and stick with the photos.

Their forums have one of three types of people. Kids who think they know it all because they have flight sim games, airline employees, and people who have stock in the company and want to make money.

Click my link below to get started on the photos!
8x10 and 16x20s are available.

Oh yeah, and no, I do not post in their forums and try not to read them unless I get really bored!

Incidentally, really good pictures, I know what a challenge it is to get something excellent when you're fighting haze, lighting, vibration, and the need to accomplish your job. Enjoy insturcting, you'll learn alot. And keep applying to Lakes, these days anything over 500TT is "high time."

 

[FlyingSig]

but for example, the mentality of some, "richard branson is my hero! I cant wait for virgin america" without even thinking that they will drive down salaries even more. Or "cool! a new operator in hawaii!"

If they are not professional pilots why would they care one iota about pilot salaries? No more then I care about what my doctor makes... it's up to us, not our customers, to defend our profession. More competition is good for the consumer and ultimately that is what drives the market. Again, it's up to us to defend the profession. You don't have to take that Airbus job.

 

[F9 Buff]

Incidentally, really good pictures, I know what a challenge it is to get something excellent when you're fighting haze, lighting, vibration, and the need to accomplish your job. Enjoy insturcting, you'll learn alot. And keep applying to Lakes, these days anything over 500TT is "high time."

Thanks for the comments, as far as lakes goes, I would have been applying there since last fall if I knew for sure I was going to be in Denver for more than a year or two. Wife got a really good job on the east coast recently and I am not sure how practical a commute from DC to Denver would be. Don't really want to fly for anyone else on the east coast either except for maybe AWAC or Expressjet but for now am content on building time, having fun instructing, and seeing what happens.

I would like to be at F9 again and know Lakes can get you there faster than anyone else but like I said, I don't want to sign that contract if I am not sure about where I will be.