Seat swapping????

[Gulfstream 200]

I wish I could fit in....4-5 beers these days and Im asleep....heck, that was breakfast not TOO many years ago (well..)

 

[FracCapt]

Wait a sec....you said you were in HS in the '90's....that puts us within 4 years of the same age, MAX. I'm just getting started at 4-5 beers! Hmmm...maybe that means I'm trying to act young....no way...I'm....oh, nevermind...I'm going to bed...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

nope...it means you aint got KIDS.





yeah, I can still put on a show every once in a while....but hangovers last days now instead of hours....

lame.

 

[gear_guy]

Like I posted earlier, "it's impossible to convince people to change." I may be wrong on this one, but I get so tired of the old "we've been doin it this way for x years....why change it." Or "If it aint broke don't fix it." I guess you guys have no problem with a guy with 8k hours getting papers, ice, and coffee for 10 years just because of seniority. Of course you would if it were you. But as long as it's somebody else, who cares! If you have any career drive whatsoever you're not gonna sit stagnant for that long. It aint gonna happen these days, because people know there are better opportunities out there. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. But I know quite a few corporate operators who are operating successfully like I have explained. I just wish they would speak up and throw me a life preserver.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

dam. Im confused....

 

[FracCapt]

I guess you guys have no problem with a guy with 8k hours getting papers, ice, and coffee for 10 years just because of seniority. Of course you would if it were you. But as long as it's somebody else, who cares!

Like I said before, all I ever hear this argument from is the low timers such as yourself. Those that DO have 8k hours don't really care whether or not they have to get the papers, ice, and coffee. Where I work, there are two ATP rated and typed guys flying each airplane. One is desinated as PIC, the other is designated for SIC. Those that are not PIC qualified with the company(even though they are typed) are FO's. They are DESIGNATED as First Officers by the company. Either they get the cabin ready for flight, or they get the cockpit ready - I don't really care which....just as long as we, between the two of us, get everything done, I don't care who does what. Sometimes I do a full preflight - sometimes the FO does. Sometimes I set up everything up front and the FO takes care of the back - sometimes it's the other way around. I've flown with guys that make the same arguments as you do...and they always seem to be the low timers....and trust me, it gets really old, really fast listening to it. Check your ego at the door.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

flying as SIC half the time sure is not career stagnation.
Heck, its nice to not have all the responsibilities sometimes, right?
I have not met too many "8000hr+" pilots who mind setting up the cockpit, getting coffee (er..no F/A?)...or whatever it takes to GET THE JOB DONE.

Corp flying has a lot to do with sharing the work..heck if Im all set on my end and a F/A is running around like crazy (not due to her/his own fault) I ask..."Can I help ya?"....If the SIC of the day is swamped, I dont go in back and read the paper...I help him/her in the cockpit...and thankfully this how 90% of the folks I work with operate - this is also why airline guys sometimes have a hard time adapting to corp flying...("Im a Super Stud Pilot, I dont ask for Ice or Coffee, thats YOUR job...talk to my union..")

Are you being used strictly as a SIC? are you being paid as an SIC and you think you should be a PIC and they are holding you back?

If so..well ya...move on to a better job!

 

[gear_guy]

This ego has been checked at the door. If I had an ego I would'nt be at my current place of employment. I have no problem getting ice, coffee, and papers. In fact, I realize it is part of corporate flying. I really enjoy what I do. All I was trying to say is when that is all you do, it gets old. Some day the guy riding right seat will have to upgrade. And when all you remember how to do is get coffee (b/c that's been your responsibility for the last 8 years) it's dificult to get in the zone of being PIC/Capt. Please don't take what I am saying as ego. We have a real problem with ego in this industry, and it disgusts me. I will never be one of those guys. I have learned plenty on how not to be from some of the people I have flown with over the years. I don't have captain-itis either. I have had opportunities to be a captain elsewhere and turned them down. And exactly how much total time does a person need to have an opinion? I think it is wrong for you to render me as opinionless because of my total time. I don't feel the need to explain my qualifications because they don't have anything to do with the issues. Let's discuss the issues without getting personal.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I think its where you work...maybe you fly with 1 or 2 guys who have territorial problems? afraid of young guys taking thier spots?

The only places I have encountered this are 135 bottom feeder gigs where old guys have nowhere else to go and are paranoid of their turf...

just be sure its not YOU. Have you given them any reason NOT to trust you as PIC? 2500tt is not a ton of time either..but whatever...

hope it works out.

 

[gear_guy]

G200-

After hearing your side of the coin, I really do think it's where I work. I am glad to know that things are'nt that way where you work. It sounds like a real team atmosphere. I am glad to know that things get better. I don't want to jump from job to job so I will probably put up with it for longer than most. Our turnover rate is very high. Most guys leave before there contract is even up. The fact that we even have a contract should say something about our environment. Anyways I think we beat this one to death.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

yup....."high turnover" and "contracts" mysteriously go hand in hand...



good luck in your future!

 

[Dep676]

Hey G-200 how did you land that job? If you do not mind me asking. If you are that young you really scored big. You must have started flying in diapers to have that much time be young. No just kidding. You must have really got an early start though. I wish I would have done the samething.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

not really...most airline guys my age have quite a few more hours..

I started at 14 (relative owned a plane) and flew a lot for a few years but flying corp I only get 250-400 hrs/yr. Thats OK though, I like the time off.

No different route than most guys here Im sure...college, CFI, right place right time, friends, etc.

..same old routine....

 

[Dep676]

I see well thanks for the reply. Flying that many hours would suit me just fine also. Time off is always a good thing. Especially when you are on salary. Someday I hope to be in shoes like that.

BTW what is a BBD-700 anyway?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

keep in mind...grass is always greener...although if I had to go back to some of the terrible gigs I had ...I would be out of flying, couldn't do it again..

Good Luck - if you want to stay corp get resumes out there...many large departments are stocked w/ Vietnam era guys getting ready to retire!

BBD-700 is a Global Express..