AOPA article; "The glory days are over"

[pilotyip]

rtm, and you are not a leash when your company gives you a reserve line with 11 days off?

 

[LAFrequentflyer]

Goose,

At the end of your post, you quote Mark Twain. Here's another from him:

"The Pilot thinks of nothing but the River, and his pride in his profession surpasses that of kings."

Sam Clemens achieved his dream of becoming a Mississippi River Pilot, and he was good at it, being hired for a succession of larger and larger riverboats. The Civil War shut down the river, so he traveled west and tried his hand at writing, under the pen name "Mark Twain".

Today, he might well dream of and succeed at flying airplanes; and if he had to leave that career, he wouldn't think his time had been wasted.

Excellent post...Thanks!

-LAFF

 

[727C47]

You have to have a passion for this profession to put up with its vicissitudes, the dues paying, et al. The payoff is that left seat, but it is a tough row to hoe to get there. The beauty,the joys,and the challenges, make it worthwhile. God bless,and Godspeed those who persevere in pursuit of this dream.

 

[Petrov]

You have to have a passion for this profession to put up with its vicissitudes, the dues paying, et al. The payoff is that left seat, but it is a tough row to hoe to get there. The beauty,the joys,and the challenges, make it worthwhile. God bless,and Godspeed those who persevere in pursuit of this dream.

Thank You!

 

[imacdog]

rtm, and you are not a leash when your company gives you a reserve line with 11 days off?

Certainly not a 30 minute call-out time, on reserve 24 hours a day....

 

[BenderGonzales]

I think Barry was simply lamenting the fact that he encouraged his children to join a profession where they were unable to reach the same level of success that he reached.

I disagree with the poster who stated that the "goal was the left seat". The left seat of what? and for what payrate? and with what lifestyle? At the end of the day this is still a job folks. The purpose of a job is to make money to support your family.

The goal -- if anyone needs remindining -- is max pay, max days off, and hopefully some kind of retirement.

 

[sky37d]

I think Barry was simply lamenting the fact that he encouraged his children to join a profession where they were unable to reach the same level of success that he reached.


The goal -- if anyone needs remindining -- is max pay, max days off, and hopefully some kind of retirement.

Unfortunately, the retirement is going by the wayside.

I would think that with the changes to Pensions, that it would be an argument to permit pilots to fly past age 60.

 

[Ready2Fly]

Unfortunately, the retirement is going by the wayside.

I would think that with the changes to Pensions, that it would be an argument to permit pilots to fly past age 60.

Why penalize pilots that work for successful companies with secure pensions who want to retire and enjoy their life at 60 or even earlier? Those legacy guys that are now broke don't get any sympathy from me for not being able to manage their finances well enough to be able to retire at 60. For years ALPA was all for age 60 because they said it was a safety issue. Now with their pensions gone, suddenly it's now safe for them to fly past 60! F'ing hippocrites, that's what they are!

 

[pilotyip]

Not age 60 again

Golly not another age 60 thread. This rule had nothing to do with safety. Age 60 was forced on the pilots back in 1958. ALPA was still fighting to get it repealed up until about 1970. It was a deal between two W.W.II USAF General buddies, AAL's C.R. Smith and Pete Quesada (sp.?) the first head of the FAA. It was to get rid of high paid pilots at the top of AAL the seniority list. It was done in the name of safety, because who can be against safety. It is like motherhood and patriotism. If those with fantastic pensions want to retire at age 60, then by all means write it into your contract and let the rest of the world work towards a later retirement

 

[jumppilot]

The above quote, taken as advice, is concerning.

Regrettably, ALPA leadership (Duane Worthless) has been a total failure. Scope was not held and Regional airlines have now become the outsourced standard. There is no power to strike at this time in this situation which means there is no power in a union.

I agree 100%. I'm one of those "2 year upgrades" who is on track to make $65,000 this year, however, that is about the most I'll be able to make at my current carrier. I'm lucky to be able to make that at 24, but you know what? This is all I have to look forward to.

I have a great job for a "stable" company but I would be glad to fly a turboprop for the next 3 years...If it meant I had a stable, major airline carrer to look forward to. In all honesty, those flying turboprops now are behind the curve. A far cry from the pre-9/11 days.

ALPA droped the ball while I was still in high school, and we are all paying the price.

My engineering friend from college are making a lot more than me, but sitting in a cubicle these days makes more money than what we do. But I digress, I guess we don't have the same responsibility.