Yeah
I understand that photopilot. I hate to admit it, but in the mid-80's, before computers and color TV (just kidding), it was very easy to....not be educated in these matters. I started flying in 1978 when I was in high school and had no one to give me, or any other way, to get good advice. Around 84 or so, I was flying Grand Canyon tours out of Boulder City. This big airline named Continental was having a pilot strike and Frank was advertising 50K a year for F/O's, on a jet, even. I was making $600 a month and, of course, always wanted to fly a big jet. I knew nothing of scabs or ALPA or any of that. I can honestly say that if I had been qualified, which I wasn't, I would have thought seriously about it. Now...perhaps I would have got a quick education by the picketers and had second thoughts...I meant no one any harm. All I can say is, Thank God I didn't go down that road. Nowadays, though, with the internet and people willing to give advice...there is no excuse for not understanding how the industry works and why pilot unions are so important. I walked a picket line in 97 and will do it again in the future. I'm pretty pro-union now and can't believe what I almost did. ALPA needs to do a better job of education. In fact, it would be nice if they came out with a statement about PFT. Also, it would be nice if they hosted a board like this where young pilots could become educated about the ways of professional piloting through the opportunity for questions and answers from pro pilots.
I understand that photopilot. I hate to admit it, but in the mid-80's, before computers and color TV (just kidding), it was very easy to....not be educated in these matters. I started flying in 1978 when I was in high school and had no one to give me, or any other way, to get good advice. Around 84 or so, I was flying Grand Canyon tours out of Boulder City. This big airline named Continental was having a pilot strike and Frank was advertising 50K a year for F/O's, on a jet, even. I was making $600 a month and, of course, always wanted to fly a big jet. I knew nothing of scabs or ALPA or any of that. I can honestly say that if I had been qualified, which I wasn't, I would have thought seriously about it. Now...perhaps I would have got a quick education by the picketers and had second thoughts...I meant no one any harm. All I can say is, Thank God I didn't go down that road. Nowadays, though, with the internet and people willing to give advice...there is no excuse for not understanding how the industry works and why pilot unions are so important. I walked a picket line in 97 and will do it again in the future. I'm pretty pro-union now and can't believe what I almost did. ALPA needs to do a better job of education. In fact, it would be nice if they came out with a statement about PFT. Also, it would be nice if they hosted a board like this where young pilots could become educated about the ways of professional piloting through the opportunity for questions and answers from pro pilots.