If we were to weed out all the so-called "idiots" posting on this board there might not be anyone left
God ... that is SO true. I'm one of the biggest.
(Making goofy Forest Gump wave ... ) "Hey Dad! Hey Miriam!"
While I agree, in theory, with most of what Avbug said (as I usually do), I believe he might have toned down or otherwise modified the
manner in which he said it, out of respect for the rather unique circumstances of this thread.
I'm in a unique situation in all this ... Paul was a friend of mine, as are (now) his sisters, his father, and his widow. He was a great guy who bent over backwards to give this psuedo-old-fart career-changer all sorts of advice, a discount at Jeppesens, and gave my employer an 'In' at the Jeppesen IT department on an outsourced project. He was an awesome young man. He was also, by all accounts, an outstanding pilot and I have no doubt that he fought all the way in.
Not long before we lost Paul, I lost my father to Cancer a very, very short time after he was diagnosed. My father was a mentor and a best friend and losing him forced me to face my own mortality in a way that twenty years contemplating my own demise on a meditation cushion never did. It finally sunk in that I, too, was not immortal after all and I really would die one day, much to my amazement. I didn't handle it well at all. Then, I had just started flying a bit after his death when we lost Paul, adding fuel to the fire. It's embarrassing to say this, but for a while I was terrified of getting in an airplane. I'd go out to the FBO, rent the plane, preflight, and just before getting in the d*mn thing I'd literally have a panic attack. I even sent a PM to Paul's father to talk about it, despite the embarrasment. It was a very uncomfortable time.
I went home without flying a few times before I finally realized the following things: I have (and always have had) excellent hand-eye coordination and reflexes and I can ride, fly, drive, or sail just about anything I have ever sat my fat butt in or on with minimal training. It's just one of those things I could always do well. And while I am definitely NOT the brightest bulb in the lamp (an understatement
), I have a work ethic and discipline for learning that few can match. Before flying a new aircraft - even with an instructor - I will pour over every page of the POH, post numerous questions here about the plane, ask anyone and everyone within earshot about it's characteristics and 'gotchas', go back thru my PPL books with this specific aircraft in mind ... all before even going up with an instructor. What I lack in brains ... I make up for in discipline and determination to learn. And so I finally saw that I was at least as good a pilot as
anyone who has ever sat in an airplane, I knew my stuff from studying my butt off, and I could execute due to good basic skills and a willingness to continually polish them, and lastly ... that I could get killed driving to the airport much quicker than in the airplane. And so the fear was finally broken. I fully understood that I had done
my part, and now I could hide under my bed the rest of my life and give up on a dream, or I could get my fat ass back in the air and face my fear. I haven't had a problem since. Now the
really good part ...
There is another young Captain/Ops Manager who has also been a
very generous mentor to me over the past couple years, and he is building a 91/135 flight department from scratch which will eventually consist of two turboprops and one light jet. He has offered to interview me next Summer - assuming I can, by then, meet the insurance TT/ME time requirements. No guarantees, but an offer to look at me for one of the FO positions next year. And wouldn't you know it ... one of the turboprops is an MU-2. However, just as I trust my physical skills and my discipline/motivation for learning and practice, I also trust his judgement on airplanes. He is adamant that all Captains
AND First Officers will attend Flight Safety or Howell Enterprises for MU-2 training. He has already shown that he's not the kind of Manager/Chief Pilot to train the Captain the cheapest way possible and then throw the FO into the airplane for OJT on the gear and radios. He is obviously very serious about training both crew members to highest standard possible. He also takes maintenance very seriously, as well. I know, for example, that he has had an issue on the Mitsu with the contracted maintenance people, and as a result he has had a 'prayer meeting' with them and he has mentioned to me that he won't hesitate to take it somewhere else. His opinion on the MU-2 is that top-notch maintenance is crucial for safe flight operations and he has said the company will spare no expense to ensure his maintenance is second to none.
So, to wind up my long, boring post ... though I readily admit to having gone thru a period of literally being terrified of flying
any airplane, and though I will still admit that I am a bit apprehensive about the MU-2, specifically, I know that I possess the innate physical ability to fly practically anything, given the proper training. And I know that my self-discipline and motivation for learning and practice will keep me sharp. I just have to do my part. I also trust the Chief Pilot 100%, and I believe him when he says the MU-2 training will be first rate for
ALL crewmembers and that the MU-2 maintenance will never be fudged nor less than top-notch. And so, if I am eventually offered a job in the right seat of an MU-2, I will not hesitate to pack up the car and go. I've weighed the pros and cons, I trust my own abilities, and I trust the Chief Pilot will do what he says he'll do. Despite the MU-2s reputation, and despite the fact that a friend of mine died in one, I will happily strap into one if given the opportunity because I trust all those involved in it's operation completely.
That's really all any of can do, isn't it? We choose a company that doesn't scrimp on money where safety is concerned, and we work hard at staying sharp and maintaining our knowledge of the airplane. We have to either choose well and train hard ... or hang it and go sell used cars at Billy Ray Jackson's Auto Auction.
I'll shut up now.
Minh
