Pilot negativity

[pilothouston123]

A happy pilot is a whining pilot!

 

[Prop2Jet]

People is aviation are bitter-true. We are sick of being treated like crap. You know if I call in sick I get yelled yet! This industry, 121, is the most f-ed up industry. Crew scheduling and dispatch were the first signs of "wow airlines are so messed up." Let alone management; they have a true disconnect with the operations side of the house. Also most of the quality of pilots, and I am talking about intellectual stamina, are fairly weak. Some of the guys I have flown with are pure low-class people. I think being a pilot is great. I am also convinced that being a pilot would be much better if I owned my own airplane and did it as a hobby. Time will tell.

 

[NoahWerka]

If ya ain't bitchin', ya ain't happy. If ya ain't happy, ya bitchin'.

CSM Freddie Smith, Co. C, 3rd SFG(A), 1st SF: 1969

 

[Makesheepnervus]

I worked 17 years as a plant manager in my previous career and I would take working in aviation over my previous job any time even at 1/2 the pay (I actually took about a 75% pay cut initially)

I work charter and I'll be working 26 days this month, (18 days is the average) but 12 days of that will be layovers and 2 of those will be on the beach in Cancun. Compare that to my old job; 70 - 80 hour 6 day work weeks for 50 weeks a year, and as for the A'hole ratio, it was waaayy higher than I experience now and the vast majority of the people I work with don't complain. I think those who do complain just haven't tried working a regular job for any length of time.

 

[Publishers]

Having been at this for 34 years, there are a number of things about the industry and business that are unique.
Operating aircraft in business, be it in any operation from corporate, charter, airlines, fractionals, whatever is the most difficult task of all the businesses I have run. That is amazing as there are so many that seem to feel they could easily do it.
Secondly, pilots in general are on a different career path than the companies that they work for until they get up in seniority at an airline or in a very secure Fortune 500 type job. There are exceptions but generally a pilots career path requires switching companies.
While everyone points to the cost of the actual aircraft, to many of the owners, that is the least of the problems. The operating costs are what they are concerned with. As example, many aircraft keep their capital value, therefore the cost is interest on financing, and, that is deductible so someone else is paying for 50% of that. It is management of the monthly operating costs they can effect their management skills. Pilots see the money spent on the aircraft and think that they should be paid relative to that.
I think pilots are negative about the business because they often do not understand the thinking, do not like the fact that schdules are not predictible except at the airlines, and feel some what removed from the main organization and what is going on.

 

[Nolife]

I think pilots are negative about the business because they often do not understand the thinking, do not like the fact that schdules are not predictible except at the airlines, and feel some what removed from the main organization and what is going on.

Don't I work for you.

 

[AerroMatt]

Makesheepnervous, I LOVE your handle! :beer: Lets compare notes Re: Previous careers.

I spent 7 years driving Over the Road semi-trucks, and accumulated a million miles in my logbooks. This was in addition to another 5 years as a local driver. Once while I was driving I calculated how much time I was devoting to my truck in addition to the actual time spent driving (loading, unloading, waiting for dispatch, fueling, washes, buying/selling pallets, weighing, etc). When I tallied it all up, I realized I was putting in somewhere between 120 and 140 hours per week, and I was only being paid for the time I actually spent driving. Now if you do the math, you will discover there are only 168 hours in a week, so there was almost NO time for sleeping/eating/showers/laundry. Helovalot of work for $45-50K income too.

I too have noticed how negative the whiners are here, and all I can say to them is "Quit yer biatchin, this job ain't for sissies." I still love my flying and everything that goes with it, and you will never hear me complain 'cause its still far superior (and much less work) to driving that truck!

 

[TrailerTrash]

AerroMatt

Makesheepnervous, I LOVE your handle! :beer: Lets compare notes Re: Previous careers.

I spent 7 years driving Over the Road semi-trucks, and accumulated a million miles in my logbooks. This was in addition to another 5 years as a local driver. Once while I was driving I calculated how much time I was devoting to my truck in addition to the actual time spent driving (loading, unloading, waiting for dispatch, fueling, washes, buying/selling pallets, weighing, etc). When I tallied it all up, I realized I was putting in somewhere between 120 and 140 hours per week, and I was only being paid for the time I actually spent driving. Now if you do the math, you will discover there are only 168 hours in a week, so there was almost NO time for sleeping/eating/showers/laundry. Helovalot of work for $45-50K income too.

I too have noticed how negative the whiners are here, and all I can say to them is "Quit yer biatchin, this job ain't for sissies." I still love my flying and everything that goes with it, and you will never hear me complain 'cause its still far superior (and much less work) to driving that truck!

Most pilots complain about there jobs,but they would never change their career.Line guys rule!

 

[pilotyip]

yea fly because you like to, complain to keep other people out.

 

[time builder]

I think the part of the reason is the average pilot is lied to about their career outlook. These flight schools will literaly say anything to get money out of them. Even if someone starts very young they will likely not make a major until at least there thirties and by then they want to settle down and start a family.

I agree. Unfortunately, for many pilots, years of complaining and telling people how it really is on the airline side won't undo their few months of schmoozing on the CFI side.

 

[Propnose]

I work for a Charter company, and it doesn't suck

 

[arewethereyet]

I agree with all about the fact that pilots in general cry and complain with the best of them.

Once I decide to go civ. I'll be looking into 135. I know of a couple that actually have good schedules and the buds I know that work there really enjoy it. Of course there are good days and bad days BUT if you find a job out there in any field that doesn't have the same thing let us know and we'll all jump on the ship headin that way.

Flyin no doubt beats the heck out of working anyday. I see the enlisted guys workin hard and wishing they were in the cockpit and not doin the tough work that keeps us goin and alive.

Have a good one ALL.

HAP

 

[CaptainSpaz]

One can not argue that pilots whine about their jobs alot. Pay, perdiem, schedule, QOL - all issues that you can easily put up against a typical 9-5 desk job and a pilot ends up looking like a crying baby.

However, I think we can cut ourselves a little slack. We work in an adversarial environment which every day pits the safety of other people lives against the company's bottom line.

 

[VSI9k+]

Its all a mind set...try a little to be happy, and you'll be ok. Im always on the road flying old aircraft and I love it. If you dont have a passion for flying, then get out!!

VSI

 

[G-force]

Contented or not

Pilot negativity is directly proportional to mgmt competence!!!!!! A lot of us have been there,so we know!