We aren't really pilots

[avrodriverj85]

That's pretty funny...

Being a young 39, I've had people come up to me and ask if I was old enough to fly the plane. I've responded with, "If you guess correctly hold old I am, I'll buy you a FREE ticket". They never get it right. Most guess 25 years old. HA!

 

[Vorleron]

Here's a story about how to do it the right way.

While I'm finishing college, and working on my CFI, (I'm COM SEL-MEL - INST at this time,) I got a job fueling at Portland International.

So I'm standing under an Alaska MD-80 pumping fuel and this FO is doing his walkaround. He comes up to me, and I'm expecting a stupid comment at best, and get this, HE SAYS "Thanks for fueling the jet!" Made my day. I thanked him and when I ran into his Captain in OPS, I told him what a great FO he had.

Make a long story short, the FO had gotten all his training from the same multi instructor I was using.

What a great attitude. Now I try to say thanks to any ramp personel when I get the chance....

 

[acaTerry]

Well, you may get some respect if you all demand it. By the replies on my "throw up" thread, pilots don't deserve respect.

I think the best story of lack of respect is while I was a J32 FO at ACA, a certain un-named CA in a J32 had a passenger take a crap in the CA's bag. How about that for no respect? Even Rodney Dangerfield can't top that!

But, it's supply and demand......
ECO 101 wizards....

 

[WhiteCloud]

Another time while commuting home on a 757, I pulled out the laptop and was shooting an approach on MS flight sim. The lady next to me said "Shouldn't you be up front."

That one made my day! While watching the airport action from the restaurant I overheard an older lady at a nearby table mention that she didn't think that little tractor (tug towing a lear) could go fast enough to get the airplane off the ground.

 

[CA1900]

I think the best story of lack of respect is while I was a J32 FO at ACA, a certain un-named CA in a J32 had a passenger take a crap in the CA's bag. How about that for no respect?

Uggggghhhh.... Remind me to lock my bag when it's in the 1900's closet from now on. Yuck!

 

[crosscut]

...a certain un-named CA in a J32 had a passenger take a crap in the CA's bag.....

Just because noone comments on your bad landings - does NOT mean it'll always go unnoticed.

P.S. Read "bad" as "hard."

 

[crosscut]

... had a passenger take a crap in the CA's bag......

May be the Capts’ bag had a decal “My contract stinks” on his bag with “my contract..” partially worn off & the poor guy misinterpreted the bag for being a john. Give him a break or, at least, the benefit of the doubt.

 

[crosscut]

good one - I'll use it next time my manuals aren't up-to-date. Did it work?

 

[greyhound]

Most people don't know.

But it isn't the fact that you eat cookies at FL350, or the uniform that determines your worth.
It it your "TRAINING" that really counts.
As pilots, your worth every dollar spent on you because you are ready and trained for almost anything.
You go through it on initial training and then every 6 or 12 months. Whether you fly a 747 or a 1900 , your training is what makes you invaluable.
Luckily it isn't everyday that you have to show passengers why you are really sitting in the front.(Emergencies) Luckily it isn't everyday that passengers see why the flight attendants are really in the cabin.(Most think they are there to just serve peanuts.)
I understand that the general public has a lot of misconceptions about our profession, but who cares, what worries me is when pilots start believing that since they only fly small planes they are not real pilots.
B.S, your worth a lot because of your training and knowledge.
Most flights are routine, but we all know that may not always be the case, and that is where we rise to the ocassion and show why we are "ALL" real professional pilots and worthy of adequate compensation and respect.