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MarineGrunt

Will kill for peace.
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Posts
1,854
Pull this off our company forum...


I walked into the interview with a great deal of confidence and enthusiasm. Flying airplanes was my one true passion in this life.

This was my big chance to merge my occupation with my love. I would become an airline pilot.

"So you want to be an airline pilot?" the interviewer inquired.

"Yes, sir, more than anything else I have ever wanted," I replied, realizing I sounded like an anxious adolescent.

"Well, great, welcome aboard," the airline executive said.

"You mean I'm hired?!" I cheered.

"You bet. We're glad to have you. Actually, we've had trouble finding good pilots to hire," the exec explained. If I was surprised, it was overshadowed by my joy of reaching my dream.

"Let's just go over a few points before you sign on the dotted line," the company man chortled. "We're going to send you to the world's most renowned medical center. They'll spend two days probing your body orifices, draining and analyzing your blood, and administering psychological exams. They'll literally take you apart and put you back together. If they find any hint of current or future problems, you're fired and can find your own ride home."

"Gee, I think my health is OK," I nervously choked out.

The manager went on, "Good, next we'll evaluate your flying skills, in an aircraft you've never been in before. "If we don't like the way you
perform, you're fired," I was confident with my flying, but this guy was making me nervous. He continued, "Next, if you're still here, we'll run you through our training program. If during any time in the next 10 years you decide to leave the company, you'll have to reimburse us $20,000, or we'll sue you. Also if you fail to measure up during training, you're fired."

The man who had just given me my dream job listed still more hurdles. "Each time, before we allow you near one of our multi-million dollar aircraft we'll X-ray your flight bag and luggage, because we don't trust you. Also we'll ask you to pass through a magnetometer each time. If you fail to do so, you'll be arrested and jailed."

"When you've completed your flight, we'll have you provide a urine sample, because we don't trust you to not take drugs. Very soon, we plan to take a blood sample to look for more drugs. "Also if you ever fly with another crew member who may have used drugs or alcohol, you must report to us immediately. If you fail to notice that anyone has used these substances, you'll be fired, have your license to fly revoked, and be fined $10,000."

"Every six months, we want you to go back to the medical center for another exam. If they ever find a hint of a problem, your license to fly will be revoked and we'll fire you. Anytime you see a medical person, you must tell us about it so we can see if you need to be grounded and terminated. Also, we need to examine your driving record, and you must tell us if you have even any minor infractions so we can remove you from the cockpit as soon as possible."

"At any time, without notice, a special branch of the government will send one of its inspectors to ride in your aircraft. The inspector will demand to see your papers and license; if your papers are not in order, you'll be removed, fined, terminated, and possibly jailed."

"If at any time you make an error in judgment or an honest human mistake, you will be terminated, be fined tens of thousands of dollars, and be dragged through months of court proceedings. The government will make sure you never fly again for any airline."

"You will be – well, out of town most holidays, weekends, and family events- half our pilots are always on the job at any point in time.

Smiling an evil smile now, the airline hirer went on. "Oh, and one last thing to cover. Occasionally, we in management fail to see a trend and screw up royally or the country's economy falls flat on its face.

If as a result of one of those events the corporation begins to lose money, you as an employee will be expected to make up the losses
from your paycheck. Of course, management will not be held to the same standards. Oh, and one last thing - if we negotiate pay and work rule concessions from you in the in exchange for a better pension plan, we probably won't fund that pension plan agreement (unlike the management pension plan and golden parachutes) and will likely have yanked it away from you."

"Now sign here," he pointed, grinning as he handed me a pen.

I faked a sudden nosebleed. Holding my head back and pinching my nostrils, I hurried from his office. When I got to the hall, I began to
run. I ran all the way to my car. I figured if I hurried I could still get to the county vocational school before 5:00 and enroll in the
industrial welding career program.
 
Still is a great career, beats being in the office 8-5
 
Airline-Smeerlines

Is this the reason our CORPORATE flight department is inundated with hundreds of unemployed & currently employed airline pilot resumes?
 
No Nuguy I am only one of many who still feel that way, son is an airpline pilot, teaching my grandson to fly, it is still great career.
 
Its a hard career but anything worth having, you have to work hard to keep.

I been in the game quite awhile myself...and yes I still say its a great job.

But you do have to put up with alot of BS, just have to roll with it.
 
Self Preservation

In the interest of self preservation it is a good idea to pause and measure what has been lost before investing another ten years. Most airline pilots leave a trail of ex-wives, forgotten children and financial ruin in their wake. This career can demand a huge price and still leave you with nothing.

Just a thought,

Skyline
 
And did we mention that if you make the slightest mistake, you're dead and your family will be put through years of court trials and have it announced to the world that you were an idiot?

And if any one of hundreds of people make the slightest mistake, you're still dead and your family will still be put through years of court trials and have it announced to the world that you were an idiot?

And even if you weren't an idiot, your family will still have to pay lots of money to prove that you weren't, and they can still lose?

Next, should you witness one of your co-workers auger in, you are still expected to depart on time. If that event happens to cause any distress on your part, you will be expected to report any treatment and be removed from flight status and income-production status immediately.

At any time we may decide to give you a checkride to ensure your performance is up to snuff. If you fail, you will be terminated immediately, fined, and possibly jailed.

If there is anything you forgot to tell us, even while as a child, we will find out and you will be fired, fined, jailed, and will never fly again.

Oh, and one more thing... You're furloughed and don't even think about taking another job without getting our permission first. If you do happen to find another flying job, you'll have to be terminated from our employ first, and we're don't give good references to those that have not completed training.

Finally, your every word is being recorded.

Have a nice life.
 
JetiN, I have been flying for over 40 years, this is still a great career for those who love being around airplanes. There are too many negative vibes in your post. BTW, if your check rides are not a piece of cake perhaps you are in the wrong business. Your view is entirely too pessimistic and does not reflect the average career.
 
It is a great job, but sometimes a crappy career. I am sure that you can say that about most jobs. If you see a check ride as a threat, either you or your training department have some issues. If you fly airplanes because yo love it and cannot imagine doing anything else, you will be just fine. If you take your first flying lesson with only the goal of being a major airline pilot making a boatload of cash, you will likely be disappointed and unhappy.

Every flying job that I ever had was the best flying job that I ever had (even through two bankruptcies and one shutdown).
 
JediNein said:
At any time we may decide to give you a checkride to ensure your performance is up to snuff. If you fail, you will be terminated immediately, fined, and possibly jailed.
Jailed for a busted checkride? YIKES! :eek:
 
Hey, Chest sounds you are using my trailer
 
pilotyip said:
Still is a great career, beats being in the office 8-5

A couple of things to keep in mind for those pilots who feel they are carrying the problems of the world on their shoulders. You are not alone.

Pilots are not alone in dealing with the problems of the economy. IBM, a very profitable, and successful company just decided to scrap it's pension plan. Ford is about to lay off 30,000 or more employees and close several factories. This will more than likely also involve some pay, and benefits cuts for it's remaining employees. The health care industry is having problems. Many hospitals are having financial problems. Hospitals are having to lay people off, including the hospital my parents work at. Retail companies are having a hard time, other than the holiday season, as more and more are staying at home and shopping online. Retail companies have had to lay off employees. My sister was in retail management, and recenlty lost her job. Plants and factories of all kinds are closing, and laying off workers. Many engineers are having their jobs outsourced to other countries. I know a Mechanical engineer who quit his job as an engineer, and opened his own flight school to flight instruct. His reason; he hated his job, and he was concerned about the out sourcing of jobs like his.

The typical average american now works 50 or more hours per week, with men typically working more hours; its not just a 9-5 job anymore. The average starting salary, based on the 19 most common college majors, including the highest paying, such as engineers, is about $35,000 per year. The average yearly American salary is $39,795 per year, or $19.13 per hour.

While the airline industry is having it's problems, remember that others are having the same problems as well; pilots are not dealing with this alone alone! Things will straighten up eventually; just try to keep a good attitude, and it will make things a lot better. :) :beer:
 
I couldn't agree more with you guys - I had a office job doing IT work for the biggest lightbulb maker in the world, and got layed off. During my time off, I finished up my ratings and chased my dream. I never go to work dreading it, and have enjoyed the process getting to where I am now.
 
Propnose said:
I couldn't agree more with you guys - I had a office job doing IT work for the biggest lightbulb maker in the world, and got layed off. During my time off, I finished up my ratings and chased my dream. I never go to work dreading it, and have enjoyed the process getting to where I am now.

Nice looking jet -- is that the one you fly in your avatar?

I think one of the problems is that many pilots think that they are dealing with this alone. Truth is, regardless of the industry, people are dealing with this everywhere. It is easy to get caught up in the 'grass is always greener' thought, but that isn't always the case, and usually the people you view as having 'greener grass', are in fact thinking the same thing of you.
 
MarineGrunt said:
Jailed for a busted checkride? YIKES! :eek:

Must be a "green book" guy flying for Red tail.
 
Like it has been said before this is a pilot centric board, for those who have been other places, flying ain't that bad
 

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