Who is happy where they work?

[English]

A posting made by jetblue 320 caused me to wonder how many of us are happy in our jobs.

Who here is truly happy working as a professional pilot at a major, LCC, national, or large cargo carrier such as FedEx or UPS?

Please, let's keep the bashing off this thread. I'd really like to read about the GOOD things at each company without the negativity the bashers bring to the website.

What, specifically, do you like the best at your company? Please don't limit yourself to just one good thing. I'd love to read as much positive stuff as you have.

 

[knelis]

paycheck!

 

[Jetsi]

Me so happy . . .

I am sittin on reserve and Frontier is way better than my last job, when I can hold a line it should get even better.

What do I like? Good maintenance, great people to work with, in the future knowing when I am working and where I am going, not loading bags, not serving drinks, no flight planning, not ordering fuel, and when I am done for the day getting off of the airplane and heading straight to the hotel (not sitting around for an hour while they try and find me one).

Oh yeah, the pay isn't bad, and with a fourth stripe I should be in heaven.

Jetsi

 

[joelo88]

paycheck is not one of the positives for me but...

I get to fly a variety of aircraft with (mostly) cool people and the company I fly for has a small, family type feel to it. We have great maint too (AT A 135!).

 

[SWA/FO]

SWA baby!!! I love it.

 

[Heavy Set]

A posting made by jetblue 320 caused me to wonder how many of us are happy in our jobs.

Who here is truly happy working as a professional pilot at a major, LCC, national, or large cargo carrier such as FedEx or UPS?

Please, let's keep the bashing off this thread. I'd really like to read about the GOOD things at each company without the negativity the bashers bring to the website.

What, specifically, do you like the best at your company? Please don't limit yourself to just one good thing. I'd love to read as much positive stuff as you have.

I think most pilots were a lot happier when job security wasn't in question. The lack of good job security has taken a lot of fun out of the job - money was never a big factor unless you flew for a major a few years back... Then you hear about the constant labor contract disagreements and negotiating (and the lowering salary/benefits bar) and it becomes more "business" like and less enjoyable.

At this point in my life, like most people I'd like to fly a nice, high-performance aircraft to interesting destinations (a little adventure would be nice - good variety) and earn a good wage (I don't require a huge salary). There needs to be some adventure to get over the every-day routine... Once you compound a "routine" and mundane job with job insecurity, it's maybe time to look for something else to do - you don't want to be bored and insecure...

English, what positives can you relay about your job? Would you consider yourself happy vs. your previous position?

 

[CaptSeth]

I fly for ATA. It's a great company and the best job I think I could have hoped for. Great variety of flying, great people, plenty of time off, great equipment and maintenance. Right now, a lot of concern about job security - hopefully, it'll all work out.

We've come a long way over the past ten years, especially since we became a major airline. I hope it all holds together.

 

[English]

English, what positives can you relay about your job? Would you consider yourself happy vs. your previous position?

There are alot of positives about my job. I LOVE flying the 737. It has always been a dream of mine to fly it. I've never wanted to fly a big airplane - the bigger the airplane, the bigger the suitcase and longer amount of time away from home. I love the schedule here. I've been a line holder since I finished IOE and I have 16 to 17 days off a month. I usually finish flying by noon or 1pm every day. I also like the kind of flying we do - legs of 20 to 40 minutes, lots of landings, no overnights. The islands are beautiful - who can complain about flying throughout the islands?


As far as whether I consider myself happy vs. my previous position...I was just as happy in my previous position as I am now. There were different things to enjoy in that job, namely, flying single pilot, having a nice shiny cockpit with lots of toys, and the geographic region I flew in. I do really miss West Coast flying, but I fly a little Cessna on my days off to help alleviate that. So, all in all I'm very happy.

But hey, who wouldn't be happy flying an airplane? It still just doesn't feel like work!

Heavy Set, are you flying these days?

 

[enigma]

Spirit's upper managment doesn't go out of their way to help pilots be happy in the job. But that doesn't matter.

I've choosen to do my best to ignore the downside and focus on the upside.
I finally realized that my happiness was my job and decided to find happiness in my circumstance. If one does that, they are bound to find something to cheer.

Our training is a blast, the airplanes are well maintained, my co-workers are quality people, and the paycheck isn't bad for a working man. We are growing and the 401K match is pretty good. Finally, pilot management (base CP's, system CP's, training, etc) are danged fine people. Our FLL base CP is a good guy, and I've had good experiences with the DTW CP. That's got to be a good thing, right? Right.

And. I don't care, being an old married man; but we have a younger average FA age than most of the airlines I commute on, that's got to be worth something.

Finally, I don't know how to do anything else
enigma

 

[English]

Great! Keep 'em coming. Any Southwest or jetBlue guys/gals wanna jump in?

Alaska?

SWA/FO, share with us why you LOVE IT!

 

[pilotyip]

I think USA Jet is great!!

I am having a ball, and look forward to every day at work as a new challenge. As far as job security goes, I do not think there has ever been long term security in the flying business. I look at my military experience, trained during the height of Vietnam, 10 years later told we have too many pilots, you either have to get out or change designators, I saw the same thing in the early 90's following Gulf I. I have many friends from that era, Pam Am, EAL, Braniff, Midway, not to mention two dozen airlines that no one has ever heard of. But I am truly lucky to have done all the things I have dome during my career. It has been an adventure.

 

[80drvr]

A posting made by jetblue 320 caused me to wonder how many of us are happy in our jobs.

Who here is truly happy working as a professional pilot at a major, LCC, national, or large cargo carrier such as FedEx or UPS?

Please, let's keep the bashing off this thread. I'd really like to read about the GOOD things at each company without the negativity the bashers bring to the website.

What, specifically, do you like the best at your company? Please don't limit yourself to just one good thing. I'd love to read as much positive stuff as you have.

I fly for AA and (brace yourself) I actually like my job!

 

[tbkane]

I don't reply much but let me say that I am very happy with what skyway has offered me.

I am furloughed from Delta and they gave me a job.....

I will hopefully be back someday but after three years of sending out resumes they gave me a chance which is more that I can say for most airlines.

So if you love the job there is still hope!

If you do this for the money good luck@!!!!

 

[Eagleflip]

I too enjoy the job. JetBlue ain't perfect, but it is close enough for me to realize that I am very likely spoiled in my current job.

It is a wonderful place to work, with fine folks and a management team that actually listens to the pilot force.

Yep, that recent contract offer turned out to be a fiasco. But, to speak the truth, the company is working hard to fix (or at least address) our issues. Here's a prime example (and please don't accuse me of bragging--this example is only meant to illustrate my point)

JetBlue just spent thousands (no kidding) last week to gather 26 line pilots, check airmen, instructors, and management types together in a 3 day offsite meeting. The reason? The boss wanted us to refine our flight operations philosophy, and then set internal policy on such diverse issues as callouts, automation use, Cat IIIb approaches, memory items, and the like.

Now, we're set to meet yet again to define procedure: to put words on paper that will actually change how we do business--and all this is happening because our VP of Flight Ops wants to address pilot-identified shortcomings. True, he probably wanted a few things changed as well, but the harbinger of change was our Speak Up Survey. In it over 80% of the pilot force made comments on our operation and suggested changes. You gotta love a management team that actually listens and does something about your concerns.

So, as for me...I love it. Hate the time away from the family, but I love the job.

Now if I can only figure out an easy way to loose weight...

Most of all, my sincere best to our USAir bros out there. Hang tough!

 

[English]

80drvr, what do you like about working for AA?

 

[FLB717]

AirTran has been VERY good to me, I have no plans or desire to move.

Good Schedules for the most part, Ill have to let you know how reserve goes tho. Great people to work with with only a few bad apples. Brand spamkin NEW Aircraft. And as the days continue more and more standard industry pay, however I don't see than as a real plus for anyone considering that ours has not come up to meet the others but rather the reverse. But that is in a large way the ups and downs of the industry.

 

[English]

AirTran has been VERY good to me, I have no plans or desire to move.

What do you like the most about working for AirTran?

 

[Chest Rockwell]

I luv flying for SWA. I believe that I would enjoy pursuing any career here because almost everyone takes great pride in doing a good job plus doing that little extra that makes a big difference. All of the employee groups treat each other as equals when it comes to making this thing work, be profitable, and provide the job security that ultimately enhances our lives at home.

I have never had a bad job in aviation. I have had several that, even though they may have paid poorly, were great experiences that enabled me to pursue greater things. Working in a business were people are attracted by things other than money creates a great environment for comeradery.

CR

 

[capt. megadeth]

I do love flying the A320...it is an awesome airplane. USA3000 may not be the "ideal" place to for a pilot to work but the crews at ORD make up for all the shortcomings.

 

[climbhappy]

I don't think happiness is tied to the company but more to this :

I'm based where I live finally and no longer have to commute and the paychecks are on time.