SJS - The Career Killer (tv spot)

[TonyC]

P.S.--It's ok to use Viagra. I do. Some times she wants it more than three times an hour...

That's an average of only 20 minutes per ... epidsode.


and that's a different dysfunction.



.

 

[414Flyer]

Nice job.


A few suggestions before it goes to syndication. First, lose Sally and cast a fairer face like Terri Hatcher.

Yeah, Sally would steal whatever food the starving CFI was able to afford. Hope she likes beans and ramen.

 

[$$$4nothin]

I would pay

We should start a fund raiser to get this posted next to all the Delta connection acadamy ads in all the aopa and flight training magazines. I would pay to see that. If somebody started the fund and get that published.

 

[Almerick07]

Freight should be on the checklist of a civilian flight career. CFI to carrying 100 other lives is just quite a jump to make no matter what you're flying. Not to mention that first year at a regional is probational....not too sure but screwing up and getting fired from an airline doesnt look like a recipe for a magical career. Just my opinion....GOOOO Airnet.

 

[Sam Snead]

If hiring CFIs into Regional Jets is the problem, I see solutions.

First, raise minimums to something like 1500 and 500. This may force the CFIs into some sort of job other than bugsmashing in a 172.

Second, do a thorough sim check at the interview. Not just an ILS.

Third, ensure training at the airline is rigorous. Wash out those people who can't fly. Don't hand hold the guys and gals who can't hack 160 knots on a circle-to-land. (please don't flame me if that isn't the exact speed for an RJ). Don't give three, four "re-trainings" to squeeze people through.

The problem is that regional airlines raise and lower minimums to meet interview quotas. They figure that they'll hire a certain percentage of interviewees, and if they have classes to fill they will lower their minimums, then interview enough wannabes, including those CFIs with 747s dancing in their heads, to fill their classes. Simple.

 

[Goose Egg]

Sally: "Do YOU know someone who is a victim of SJS? Watch for these warning signs! "

• Do you know a CFI who has applied at Mesa or Boston/Maine?
• Do you know a CFI who is burned out after 6 weeks of instructing?
• Do you know a student pilot who has answered an flight school ad for "guaranteed interview with our regional airline partner"?
• Do you know a pilot who has purchased a CRJ type-rating?
• Do you know a regional-jet pilot who has purchase a 737 type-rating?
• Do you know an airline pilot who has taken concessions in order to allow their company to purchase larger airplanes?
• Do you know a pilot who believes that AirTran and Jetblue are the "majors" they've wanted to work for for "their whole lives"?
• Do you know any member of the RJDC who STILL BELIEVES that mainline pilots are hurting their career expectations?
• Do you know any airline pilots who refuse to dress in their uniform as specified by their SOP because "if they wanted me to dress better, they'd pay me better"?
• Do you know any airline pilots who carry their hats for 4-days without ever putting it on their head?
• Do you know any airline pilots who wear a backpack rather than carry adult-luggage?
• Have you flown with copilots who say, "I cant believe they pay us to do this!!"?
• Do you know any individual whose first "real" job involved carrying 50-90 people in the back of a jetliner?
• Do you know any regional jet pilot who drops the "Express" or "Connection" portion of their airline name while using their profession to attempt to pick up women in a bar?

Yes to one. What's wrong with JetBlue? (Although a job with a "major" I could take or leave.)


-Goose

 

[FurloughedAgain]

I think he meant that a lot of these younger fellas have a different sort of idea about what makes a "career airline".

If they're so young, and advanced so quickly in aviation, that they wanted to work "their whole life" for Jetblue or Airtran, perhaps they dont have the life experience required to make educated decisions.

I dont think he meant there was anything wrong with Jetblue specifically.

 

[knowlimits]

Thanks for the laugh, Bender.

 

[BenderGonzales]

I'm just surprised that the "backpack" crowd isn't banging down the door with torches and spears!

 

[Bankangle]

I understand work ethic, believe me, that's why I am currently working as a line attendant at the FBO where I am taking flight lessons.

I break my back trying to get the $$$ to do what I really want which is obviously to fly.

I don't relish the job I have now at all, in fact, the only reason I still get up and do it is that I get to work with the planes and talk to the pilots and generally be a part of the community.

Maybe your right though, in the fact that denying ones true desires creates a stronger bond once the desire has been attained.

I can only agree with this though because right now, after I get home and shower off the smell of jet fuel I can go to bed with the knowledge that I am one step closer to doing what I want.

I hope that having to "pay my dues" truly will one day make me a better pilot, because if it does my time spent in purgatory will have all been worth it.

P.S. Yep, you caught me, I got a real bad case of SCS.

Stick with it. I did the ramp/flightline for years. One of the best ways to get started in this career and in my opinion probably the most rewarding.. You can trully say that you have been in everyones shoes involved with the operation. From tasting glycol during deiciing in a blowing snow storm to getting dumped on from a failed dougnut plug on a lav service or handling angry pax for what ever reason..I've done it. Flying a heavy now and on long flights when I reflect upon the past, I will smile knowing that I trully have made it to the top from the very bottom.

Also the ones that have been there will back me up on this... doing the commuter/turboprop thing, 8hrs/day 8-10 legs a day, no autopilot or moving map or efis... to challenging destinations with unpredictable wx.. Sets a foundation for your career that is unparalleled.

P.S.
We use to walk to work uphill in 3ft of snow also

Best of Luck

 

[Gutenberg]

yea-- ass fest?....I like it.

 

[BenderGonzales]

??? Translation?

 

[k_EAT=ho_ME]

If hiring CFIs into Regional Jets is the problem, I see solutions.

....

Second, do a thorough sim check at the interview. Not just an ILS.

I don't know, man. Being a masterful Frasca jockey doesn't strike me as being a great indicator of anything other than knowing how to fly a sim.

Lots of 500-hour University/Academy flight instructors can fly the hell out of a Frasca.



.

 

[Sam Snead]

I don't know, man. Being a masterful Frasca jockey doesn't strike me as being a great indicator of anything other than knowing how to fly a sim.

Lots of 500-hour University/Academy flight instructors can fly the hell out of a Frasca.



.

True dat. I agree that the Frasca masters will pass their interview sim ride with Skywest, Express Jet, etc.

The truth will come out when they go to the motion sim, though, right? I hope so. Well, about a zillion people with only Duchess or Seminole backgrounds have made it through RJ training so maybe my theory is completely off.

As an interviewer, I would still like to see something on the resume other than flight instructing or renting a twin. SOMETHING! ANYTHING! CROPDUSTING! SOMETHING!

 

[BenderGonzales]

I agree 100%. If i'm an interviewer i'm looking for some professional development.

I dont want to see any "entitlement" from someone who'se never flown anything bigger than a Seminole. I'd like to see that they made an effort to find work flying -- charter, VFR freight, banner towing, mapping, traffic -- SOMETHING.

Then, when they have 1200 hours, i'd like to see them make the jump to 135 passenger or freight. Lets see them make command decisions. Fly in all the weather. Make decisions.

Then i'd like to see some turboprop experience. Anything. A Kingair, a 1900, a Metro, a Jetstream -- SOMETHING to introduce them to higher speed, higher altitude higher altitude operations.

Sorry guys. The commuters used to take care of that by having at least a FEW TPs on the property. The Bandit, the Saab, the Brasillia...SOMETHING.

THEN -- after a few years of actually bridging the gap between 100 knots in the traffic pattern and 400+ KTAS in the flight levels -- THEN I believe they would be an asset and not a liability to the captains they fly with.

More importantly they would be much less likely to fall victim to SJS because they would have EARNED their position. When you work for something, you're more apt to appreciate it.

Just like those kids whose dadddy bought them a car that they promptly trashed -- the kids whose daddy wrote a check for Comair Academy (or any of the others) have a similar disregard for the career with which they've been entrusted.

We are custodians of the airline pilot profession people. It's not ours to destroy. It is ours to maintain or improve for the next generation.

 

[wrxpilot]

I dont want to see any "entitlement" from someone who'se never flown anything bigger than a Seminole. I'd like to see that they made an effort to find work flying -- charter, VFR freight, banner towing, mapping, traffic -- SOMETHING.

It is amazing the amount of pilots that want to jump right into some kind of ERJ commuter operation. As a low time pilot approaching the crossroads of PFT or paying dues, I find it hard to understand the appeal of jumping past all the fun stuff (CFI, hauling cargo in the middle of the night, handflying an old TP, etc.). IMO, once you're at a regional you're stuck there for awhile doing boring routes like CVG - ATL for eternity with pissed off employees and passengers. How could that be more desirable than hauling freight in the Northwest, charters in CA, or air ambulance in AK? I was on a Comair flight from CAK - CVG last week in a SJ and it didn't look that fun to me...

 

[BenderGonzales]

But was it shiny?

 

[wrxpilot]

But was it shiny?

Sure was!

 

[ACT700]

Great read, Bender.

And so true.

But, I have a problem, too; and so far no one's been able to help me: Where the hell are those damn ailerons on my airplane? This is driving me nuts!

If I don't find them soon, I'll have to go to work for a regional and take a paycut, that is more than those guys pay in taxes.

Somebody, please, tell me, where are my ailerons?!

 

[BenderGonzales]

I read that 3 times before I looked at your profile. MU2 joke, right? right? (confused)

On another subject. If you guys want to copy that and send it to the far corners of the aviation industry (IBT website, university alumni association, ALPA hotel committee folks, etc.) thats fine. But at LEAST give credit where credit is due.

Add the following line:

Written and directed by Bender Gonzales
Director of Marketing and Community Affairs
Organization for the Elimination of Fuzzy Airline Mascots

 

[RichardRambone]

Im bustin as$ cleaning planes for steller flight time and Im not looking hard at any regionals. There seems to be better paying 135 gigs out there that actually appeal to me more than SJS. I ferry planes not instruct (although occasionaly I sign off someones logbook) and I am happy everyday to even have a pilot job. My goal is to land that dream job making bank and living somewheres warm. I am a survivor of SJS. Until my 1000 hours comes around.

 

[BenderGonzales]

"My goal is to land that dream job making bank and living somewheres warm."

So when are you starting Medical School?

 

[PDH]

Stick with it. I did the ramp/flightline for years. One of the best ways to get started in this career and in my opinion probably the most rewarding.. You can trully say that you have been in everyones shoes involved with the operation. From tasting glycol during deiciing in a blowing snow storm to getting dumped on from a failed dougnut plug on a lav service or handling angry pax for what ever reason..I've done it. Flying a heavy now and on long flights when I reflect upon the past, I will smile knowing that I trully have made it to the top from the very bottom.

Also the ones that have been there will back me up on this... doing the commuter/turboprop thing, 8hrs/day 8-10 legs a day, no autopilot or moving map or efis... to challenging destinations with unpredictable wx.. Sets a foundation for your career that is unparalleled.

P.S.
We use to walk to work uphill in 3ft of snow also

Best of Luck

Thank you,

I have paid my dues with fuel trucks, snow shovels, and crappy de-ice equipment. If I get hired by a regional at 500 hrs., I have earned it. I spent 10 years in the trenches putting up with the lose nuts behind the yokes. Hauling spark plugs to Detroit on a statistic is not the only way to put in your time.

 

[BushwickBill]

Thank you,

I have paid my dues with fuel trucks, snow shovels, and crappy de-ice equipment. If I get hired by a regional at 500 hrs., I have earned it. I spent 10 years in the trenches putting up with the lose nuts behind the yokes. Hauling spark plugs to Detroit on a statistic is not the only way to put in your time.

I'm not sure if your going to be too stoked making 20k and living close to a big airport in a big pricey city. If you get hired with 500 hours its at least going to be 1500 hours of flying before you upgrade. Most likely thats on the low end.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Throughly enjoyed the post. I wonder if there will be an "Instant CFI" infomercial in our future. "Just add $30,000 and voila!"

 

[Goose Egg]

If I get hired by a regional at 500 hrs., I have earned it. I spent 10 years in the trenches putting up with the lose nuts behind the yokes.

No one deserves that kind of treatment!

-Goose

 

[FurloughedAgain]

"If I get hired by a regional at 500 hrs., I have earned it."

Oh geez. This guy's gonna get slammed.

 

[BenderGonzales]

I thought so too, but here we are almost 3 months later and nobody did so.
(gratuitous bump)

 

[smellthejeta]

I donno, I got my dream job at 280 hours

 

[BoDEAN]

Too funny.