He took the side of management in the Netjets contract fight. If I remember correctly he was the expert witness on the company side against the pilots.
What an azz clown.
Yep. This is Kit in a nutshell. I remember it well. And won't ever forget it.
His goal was to HELP pilots? HA! Can't see how taking the side of management and attempting to undermine the pilots during our contract negotitations fit under the definition of "helping pilots". I think it was more about "helping Kit". I'd love to know what he was paid by management.
Anyway, I've been asked by the high school I graduated from to come in and give a talk about careers in aviation. As a pilot, I mainly know the lawn dart side of it. But I will also talk about a number of other careers, such as ATC, A&P, meterology, etc....
This thread has certainly been informative about all the views on whether the next generation should be encouraged to pursue a career in aviation (as a pilot) or should be discouraged. Good points from both sides.
But I have reached a conclusion. I will most definitely encourage those fresh young faces to pursue a career as a pilot, if that is what they really want!
Why? First off, if they have a true PASSION for aviation, as I think most here do, they will succeed. It's so much harder to be successful at what you're doing if you also hate what you're doing. I can't imagine getting up every day and dreading the trip to the office (or wherever). I think many of you naysayers about flying are against it because these kids will face hardship in their climb up the aviation ladder. Because they will probably be knocked down a number of times before finally making it. But I say, so what? How many careers out there can you really point to where you won't have to struggle at some point? Unless you know someone high up in any career who can help you, it's going to be a grind.
Second, what career would you recommend where there's any kind of a guarantee for a decent living and a smooth ride? Sure, even amidst one of the worst recessions we've ever seen, there are some bright spots. I know there are still some very good careers to be had in the field of medicine, and not just as a doctor. Some tech industries are doing quite well, and the energy sector (epsecially the up-and-coming stuff) shows a great deal of promise. But overall, it'll be tough in almost anything they choose. So if it's going to be an uphill trek for them, why shouldn't it be in something they enjoy?
Finally, from the naysayers, the one thing I sense is missing from your views on the industry is hope. You see no hope things will turn around. The industry will continue to go down the crapper. The selfish "me" generation will accelerate the decline. If we stand our ground, they'll just bring in cheap foreign labor. The economy is killing us anyway.
Well, I don't see it that way. Things will probably get worse for a while. But then, it'll get better. There are still a lot of good jobs in aviation out there. They aren't hiring right now, but that won't last forever.
So, I will encourage the young ones to pursue flying as a career, if they have the passion. Of course I will talk about the difficulties too. But if you give them hope,a nd show them what needs to be done to turn things around, we gain more allies on our side. If we turn people away from aviation, we dilute our base of "soldiers", and all these doom and gloom predictions will become self-fulfilling.
Sorry about the long rant. Good luck to everyone!
