SkyWest Dork? YOU decide...

[mckpickle]

What the heck is the problem? Why are airline pilots the most bitter group of professionals in today's market? Why can't someone be proud of reaching his dream? I soloed on my 16th birthday and it was a big deal for me (no, mommy and daddy did not pay for any of it) and the day I get an airline job I will make a HUGE deal! Call it "shinny jet" whatever, but what's the problem with me being proud of fulfilling a dream I've had since I played with my Fisher Price 727.

Why can't mom and dad be proud of their son? Where I grew up most son's who get their picture in the paper are either 6 feet under or behind bars. You're dang right my mom has every right to put her son's picture in the paper when he reaches a milestone in his career. Full-page and get copies to distribute around the neghborhood too!

I got an airticle in the paper a couple of years ago for some things I did in Iraq and I wouldn't be any less proud of having an article in the paper for reaching a childhood dream (regardless of your disgruntled opinion on the aviation industry).

I hope I never have to look up to you as a new first-officer at XYZ airline!

You honestly ask a good question. The reason is because we spend every day dealing with weather/MX/ATC/PAX/ etc etc etc. Not a big deal but stressfull at times. You expect that. The problem is the other thing that consumes us. It's not knowing if you are going to have a job in 6 months, a year 5 years. We bust our butts to be safe and be good at what we do, then someone else (insert MESA here) comes along and is willing to do our jobs for less so that they can take our flying away and give it to them. It really wears on you after awhile. And it's not hard to hate guys who are willing to do everything at a cheaper price so they can basically get your job. It doesn't matter how good we are at what we do. The only thing that matters is how cheap some other bottom feeder is willing to work for.

 

[check6]

Good job to the poor kid, but I'm sure he missed out and will continue to miss out on a lot of good stuff that college age kids do. I have a friend working at a regional who is 21 and he always asks me, "Now what?" He thought instructing was hard work but more fun.

 

[BushwickBill]

borderline dork, lacks the spikey hair and a pair of oakleys

also, the ipod seems to be missing

Oakeys on the dash.

He instructed for 1800 hours. Got to give the guy props. He's no PFT'er. Although I think I would find somewhere better to work with 1800 hours...

 

[BYUFlyr]

We bust our butts to be safe and be good at what we do, then someone else (insert MESA here) comes along and is willing to do our jobs for less so that they can take our flying away and give it to them.

That really sucks, but how is that any different than any other industry operating under a free market? Fortunately and unfortunately airlines are no longer regulated and you are subject to the effects of capitalism (supply and demand, etc.). There are more jobs for pilots than ever before (good for me); however, since there was an increase in the supply of pilots to match and supercede the avialabilty of jobs it has been at the expense of pilots who had jobs before deregulation (bad for you, maybe). There is nothing magical or evil about that, imho. It's just how it is.

It's the hard truth.... Until you can figure out how to get someone from A to B by doing it different and "better" than MESA, the cheapest pricing will always win. There are no more barriers to entry in the airline industry. In the eyes of the consumer, the end product is the same.

We ALL behave that same way, believe it or not. We are all self-interested individuals and we always (myself included) want more; that's why I shop at Walmart. If I opened a store with the same services as Walmart and offered them at a less price I would be rich and Walmart employees would all be as disgruntled as airline pilots.

 

[mckpickle]

So when is enough enough? At what point to we say, "ya know what, for the job we do we are not going to accept 56K a year"? Thats whats frustrating is that most of us are in a union. We build upon what others have done to secure a decent living. Not to mention safety. What some carriers do out there and how they treat their employees is just not safe.

I remember when I was instructing. My goal was to work for FEDEX because at the time they were non union. I though.....I don't wanna deal with all that crap. I just wanna go to work and not let a union ruin my company. Man was I off base! I guess what I'm saying is for you sitting by the airport fence it's easy to say how great is here. But just like a senior captain used to say to me when I was excited to burn Kerosene....."You'll get over it"..........he was right.


BTW...I don't shop at Walmart either

 

[propjob27]

I hope I never have to look up to you as a new first-officer at XYZ airline!

Are we talking about work, or the Eagle Scouts?

 

[Fly2Scuba]

McPickles said it right. Just to add, sharing anothers view, my problem with this type of article is that for every one of these stories, they better be interviewing a Mesaba pilot, Independence pilot, or most pilots who've been in this career for awhile. Ask them about living the dream. You've got articles up the ying yang in Flying magazine also from various flight training schools and Kit Darby pronouncing thousands of pilots hired. Similar to that newspaper article, just what we need, hundreds more coming into this profession thinking it's an rosy ride to the perfect, dreamy job. Not saying that someone shouldn't pursue this profession if this is really what they want to do. However perspective career pilots need to understand the downsides and realize everything is not rosey. I once flew with a guy I would care not to fly with again. Older crusty type guy who is well known at Xjt to avoid. However, with all that said, one comment he made was very senseful. Along these lines, "The problem is there are too many flight training schools and universities that are constantly trying to chug out more students."

 

[bafanguy]

Pretty sweet clip-on tie

HEY !!! There's nothing wrong with clip-on ties. I could start a clip-on tie museum. Wanna buy a few slightly used ones ?

 

[Mookie]

Just flew with him the other day...he's actually a pretty cool guy.

relaaaaax everyone,

Mookie

 

[capt. megadeth]

I agree with the others, cut the guy some slack.A lot of us do some stupid $hit to get our first airline job (take a job with crappy pay, PFT, get a worthless degree in aviation). It's easy to do when you don't have someone giving you advice or better yet giving you $hitty advice. We live and learn. I used to say that I would fly for $1 an hour back when I was all excited about it. Would I do that now? Heck no. You grow up. The guy is young and excited....nothing wrong with that.

 

[BYUFlyr]

mckpickle,

I am not arguing the reality of the cutbacks and deteriorating QOL pilots have to deal with in today's airline industry. It's just something we have to deal with (or get out). The airline industry is no different than my classmates' computer science industry where there's always the threat of someone else who can do it for cheaper and sometimes even better. At the same time, I've never heard a negative comment come from professors or computer science students about their Asian counterparts.

Are we talking about work, or the Eagle Scouts?

Look at your profile and now look at mine. It's work for you, but I'm still a "dork" like the Skywest first officer in the article. One day it will be "work" for me... for now let me have pilot mentors and airline captains I can look up to.

 

[BYUFlyr]

mckpickle,

I forgot to respond to your safety issue.

I can understand cutbacks in pay and QOL, but there should never be room for a compromise in safety to save a few dollars. If that's why arilines have unions then I can't argue with that.

 

[M-crit]

He would have never made if he didn't go to UND

 

[ArianaAfghanAir]

I dont' see anything wrong with it. He's proud of his accopmlishments as would I. Your probably just jealous. Chill out and have some professionalism.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Why can't mom and dad be proud of their son?

...because being an airline pilot is nothing to be proud of anymore.

GP