Pro Pilot magazine

[Gearmunky]

My feeble .02

Please stop putting law enforcement flight departments in your magazine (especially on the cover) looking like a scene from a bad 80's TV cop show. All serious and ready to strike at moments notice The everyday pilot struggling for a job can't just send these people a resume' and expect to get hired, save the space for more useful stuff to us. It's kinda like profiling a military flight wing, if you know what I mean.

Also a little column on places to go, things to to when you get there would be nice. We don't need a three page spread on a golf course like in Stratos, but a little something to hint us in the right direction. Throw in a survey on the best places to eat and where.

 

[Kingairrick]

The fact that the profiled departments sometimes ask you to profile them should ring an alarm bell. Maybe you should send out a ballot for the readers to nominate flight departments to be profiled. We all know an operator or two that "does things right" and would nominate. I think quality flight departments would respond once the bar gets raised to a higher standard.

I find the rest of the magazine very informative and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!

 

[On Your Six]

The fact that the profiled departments sometimes ask you to profile them should ring an alarm bell. Maybe you should send out a ballot for the readers to nominate flight departments to be profiled. We all know an operator or two that "does things right" and would nominate. I think quality flight departments would respond once the bar gets raised to a higher standard.

I find the rest of the magazine very informative and enjoyable. Keep up the good work!

I had a copy of PP at work and my boss (the owner) picked it up and actually read about one of the flight departments - it might have been about YUM Brands which was not so negative. Thank goodness he didn't read the article about the Lear 35 operator out of Reno (pilots sleep in the aircraft while overnighting in London) - my salary and benefits could have been in jeopardy!!!!

All we ask is that you spend a little more time and effort seeking out (as opposed to accepting random offers) GOOD flight departments for profiles. I'm not talking about the highest pay, but instead a good combination of pay, quality aircraft and QOL. Perhaps you could seek out some of your own survey participants and ask (maybe via email) if they would like to share their profiles - but ask screening questions before you dive in...

In the meantime, more day-in-the-life and airline/regional profiles would be appreciated...

 

[semperfido]

Please stop putting law enforcement flight departments in your magazine (especially on the cover) looking like a scene from a bad 80's TV cop show. All serious and ready to strike at moments notice The everyday pilot struggling for a job can't just send these people a resume' and expect to get hired, save the space for more useful stuff to us. It's kinda like profiling a military flight wing, if you know what I mean.

i like reading about some diff pilot jobs i.e LE, mil, choppers, freight, flight test etc. i got a job and it will never be one of those in my example, so i don't mind reading a little about them. pro pilot doesn't necessarily mean corp pilot.

 

[ProPilotGuy]

Keep it coming!

You guys are the best!

I have to echo what BankAccount=0 noted: All comments are on topic!

I am sharing your sentiments and comments with my fellow staffers. Hopefully, we'll be able to translate them into meaningful change.

BankAccount=0: I was watching BBQ with Bobby Flay last night on the Food Network. Apparently, there's a great BBQ place at the KOA campground in Carlsbad NM. You may want to check it out next time you drop in there.

Hey Kingairrick, what would you ask on the ballot? I like the idea.

On your six: AWESOME post! Your suggestions are right on! I'm going to see if I can't get a few pushed through.

Oh, and about the surveys. We do ask our readers to fill them out whenever possible. They provide valuable feedback to the manufacturers to help improve their service and their products. Please take a few minutes to fill in a survey form when you receive it and drop it in the mail. Yes, we do send at a rate of 1/month. But, they're for a good cause: keeping support high and quality. So, send in your surveys.

Cheers!

 

[steve937]

I've noticed a good change over the last few years. I used to just throw my copy away with-out reading it, but now it seems your articles have more about aviation technologies than about a Gulfstream pilot blowing his horn about how good he is.

 

[Kingairrick]

How about:

Do you know of a flight department that is exemplary in some outstanding way that you think other Pro Pilot readers would like to know more about? If so, and you are not affiliated with that department, please provide contact information here:______

Feel free to correct spelling,syntax and grammar.

 

[On Your Six]

How about:

Do you know of a flight department that is exemplary in some outstanding way that you think other Pro Pilot readers would like to know more about? If so, and you are not affiliated with that department, please provide contact information here:______

Feel free to correct spelling,syntax and grammar.

Great idea. Send this out to your many survey participants to get some ideas and then filter from there...

 

[2000flyer]

I wasn't expecting such a quick response! Thanks guys!

I'd like to respond to several of the comments so far:

2000flyer mentioned the Larry Flynt cover, news and the Salary Study. We took some heat for the Larry Flynt cover, mainly because of Flynt's "Hustler" connection. However, not to defend him, but to provide some background info, Flynt runs a publishing empire with over 50 magazines that aren't tied to the "adult entertainment" world. The cover story that month was about Flynt's department, not his venture into the "adult entertainment" world. As for news, we are not a news magazine and don't pretend to be one. We'll cover the highlights of the industry, but little more. News isn't our focus. Our Salary Study is just that: A study. Are the results "comical"? Perhaps, but keep this in mind: It doesn't portray what you are currently paid. It projects what you SHOULD be getting paid. That's its purpose.

Thanks for your time, guys!

ProPilotGuy,

Thanks for your candor and honesty. As for Larry Flynt; I'm sure his "empire" is impressive. However, you must admit his fame and probably much of his fortune came from the "adult entertainment" industry and that is probably where most people associate his name.

As for your salary survey. I don't recall (correct me if I'm wrong please) seeing the cover stating "Salary 'Study' - What Pilot's Should Be Getting Paid." I do recall seeing Salary Survey. In my book that is two different topics all together. More, now than ever, I can guarantee no chief pilot or department manager worth his/her salt is going to present this "study" to his boss. It may be entertaining to read, make us all dream a little more but I see little value in seeing "what I should be getting paid" compared to what other flight departments similar to mine in size, geographic location, industry are getting paid today. That is much more useful in my book.

Again, we should all recognize your efforts to listen to our rants and raves from a forum like this. You'll be hard pressed to get a more diverse group of pilot's and opinions. Thanks!

2000Flyer

 

[SkyGirl]

GVFlyer remarked about journalistic integrity. B/CA and the other magazines employ staff journalists to write their articles. We don't. We go to the field for our writers. We ask department heads or industry personalities who are doing the "nuts-and-bolts" work to write articles for us. A professional journalist who hasn't flown an approach, managed a flight department, created an avionics suite, etc, shouldn't be writing about it as if they are an expert. Articles such as these are best coming from people in the field who are actually involved in such aspects of the industry. Yes, they may at times be very opinionated. This is a small price to pay. For credibility, it's better having an expert write about a subject.

I think you missed the point of GV's post. He said the publisher, Murray Smith, was the guy that kept your magazine from being objective, not your writers.

_SkyGirl_

 

[General Lee]

I like this magazine and have been reading it for a couple of years now. I would like to see more "day in the life" of flight department pilots, and maybe a return to regional airline profiles. As far as Clay Lacy and his reviews of corporate aircraft, I want to know if he is "paid" to endorse each aircraft he profiles? I haven't seen him be harsh on any particular airplane. Also, what happened to the personal "What's new with you" page? And, we have been having plenty of early retirements at DL lately, and many of those pilots are interested in the Fractionals. How about more profiles and comparisons on those? Other than that, it is a fine publication.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[AA717driver]

Because of the turmoil in the industry there are many people looking to switch directions and go from major to corporate, frac to airline, etc. Since Kit Darby has proven worthless, some profiling of different operations--regional, 135 (yes, I read that you try to stay away but it's a different business these days with so many 91 outfits on 135 certificates), management companies, etc.

There are a lot of people who come here trying to get a feel for the landscape in other areas of the business. It would help to get that perspective from a publication rather than hearing it on the street.

I'm not suggesting PP become a career advisor but changing jobs has become a way of life for many of us and you could certainly provide a good reference for people.

Thanks for asking.TC

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I agree, dont ignore 135 completly. I have worked on a few 135 managed aircraft that were 100X better than some of the "corporate" departments featured lately...

 

[FalconPilot69]

Aircraft Opinions.....

Here is a suggestion to HawkerFlyer's comment regarding Clay Lacy's take on aircraft. Why don't you do a survey that us pilots fill out regarding the aircraft that we operate. This would give you a true, unbiased opinion of the different aircraft being operated. You survey could be along the lines of what is you typical trip, fuel burn, what are your maintenance issues, avionics issues, likes, dislikes, etc. This way, ProPilot does not get in hot seat from the manufacturers and Mr. Lacy cannot be opinionated about it.

The BBQ comment was also a good one. It would be nice to have feed back from fellow pilots regarding great places to eat when overnighting in Timbucktoo.

On a side note, I just started receiving the magazine and enjoy most of what I read.

Thank you for asking us for input on how to make you magazine better.

Falconpilot69

 

[gear_guy]

Good posts everybody. And thank you ProPilotGuy for wanting to improve your magazine!

I want to start by saying that I enjoy reading ProPilot. I thinks its a good magazine that could be great.

I just wanted to mirror the comments on flight department selections. I recently read an issue from the 80's where Arnold Palmer's pilot was bragging about taking their SII coast to coast and landing with 300 lbs or something. One thing you should consider is that our bosses often read your magazine. What if my boss saw that, and wanted me to do it. Of course I would'nt, but I'd have to go thru the whole rigamarole. Some of the articles could cost us quality of life or even $. Please be careful which departments you choose to glorify. Since it is always on the cover, it is like saying it is the focus of your magazine. That is fine, but they need to be upstanding depts. I would like to be able to, someday, use it as a resource for better QOL rather than hide it from the boss.

Also, the salary survey has always (in my career span) been disregarded. I have never been able to use it as a resource for an increased wage. It is not the worst, but also not the best (which I think you are aiming). The general response I've gotten is "those things are never accurate." Maybe they are, but that's what I heard. So I stopped using it. It does, however give you a good ballpark figure.

Lastly, I really like the idea of a quiz page. But usually it never pertains to a major GA airport that I frequent. But I may be way off base here.

Thanks again