You might be a "Kernal"

[dicko]

Nah, I think that just makes us trolls with no life, not kernels
Kernel isn't just a term for pet peeve - it is a specific kind of guy

A sexist term there- anyone met any female kernels?
I've flown with females I'd rather not, but they weren't kernels

I have. She's a Ginger as well. Longest four days of my life - "There is no turbulence behind a line of thunderstorms, it's all in front".

 

[chqflyer]

In my very limited experience with ex-military aviators, I'd say most were pretty darn good sticks but generally lacking in the CRM department. Even though I went the civilian route (stupid glasses), a military pilot is a known quantity that had to pass countless hours of training and checking that most civvies couldn't fathom. Uncle Sam ain't gonna give the keys to just any 'ol 300 hour schmo. In the civilian world, any dickhead with a big enough check book is gonna get his ratings no matter what. That is the huge difference in backgrounds.

 

[slaquer5]

Nah I would have loved to have flown F-18's instead of helos or turboprops. I would have loved to have gone to one of the service academies too if I had the grades in HS. I wouldn't say I envy those guys but I do respect them. Be real here. How many kids put posters of Beech 1900's on their walls.

I don't care who you are. That is funny .

 

[waveflyer]

Blaming me for this devolving into military vs civilian breaks down when you see SWA put classes with 85% military.

And it's not civilians looking down on military
It's the other way around

 

[densoo]

In my very limited experience with ex-military aviators, I'd say most were pretty darn good sticks but generally lacking in the CRM department. Even though I went the civilian route (stupid glasses), a military pilot is a known quantity that had to pass countless hours of training and checking that most civvies couldn't fathom. Uncle Sam ain't gonna give the keys to just any 'ol 300 hour schmo. In the civilian world, any dickhead with a big enough check book is gonna get his ratings no matter what. That is the huge difference in backgrounds.

OTOH, once in the door there's a near bottomless pit of money for some of the best training available all the while getting officer pay and not worrying about food, housing, medical and more. I have an equal respect for those who didn't have those advantages but, inspired only by their dream of flying and fear of starvation, arrived at the same place--the hallowed hall of aviators one and all.

 

[Ky.BrownBourbn]

Checked in today, guy introduces himself by call sign.

Introduces himself to FA's by same name (I hear silence "like WTf is he talking about")

Tells me he got involved with CAP a few years back!

Referenced flying the F-4 multiple times. Them the Viper. (I usually tell them I drove a Viper once, lot a horsepower but I prefer big slow Cadillacs.)

Has used all the correct pilot speak in first two legs! Tally ho, made a reference to "breaking the cap" when he spotted an a/c (whatever the F$&@ that means)

He's Doing my mental math for me, out loud, distance to go to field and altitude

This is exactly why I don't do 4 days!!! Only 3 more to go!

 

[AirCobra]

OTOH, once in the door there's a near bottomless pit of money for some of the best training available all the while getting officer pay and not worrying about food, housing, medical and more. I have an equal respect for those who didn't have those advantages but, inspired only by their dream of flying and fear of starvation, arrived at the same place--the hallowed hall of aviators one and all.

There is a saying. Military flight school is a million dollars worth of training shoved up your a$$ one nickel at a time.

 

[Dornier 335]

Checked in today, guy introduces himself by call sign.

Introduces himself to FA's by same name (I hear silence "like WTf is he talking about")

Tells me he got involved with CAP a few years back!

Referenced flying the F-4 multiple times. Them the Viper. (I usually tell them I drove a Viper once, lot a horsepower but I prefer big slow Cadillacs.)

Has used all the correct pilot speak in first two legs! Tally ho, made a reference to "breaking the cap" when he spotted an a/c (whatever the F$&@ that means)

He's Doing my mental math for me, out loud, distance to go to field and altitude

This is exactly why I don't do 4 days!!! Only 3 more to go!

But the most important question is whether he was listening to guard!

GUARD!!!!!

Just for fun, try to be a better guard nazi than him, you won't regret it!

 

[HowardBorden]

If you ever tell an aviation story using your hands to illustrate aircraft position, you might be a kernal!

 

[HowardBorden]

If your "nickname" on the crew sheet is Maverick, you might be a kernal.
True story my friends.

 

[humveedriver]

Blaming me for this devolving into military vs civilian breaks down when you see SWA put classes with 85% military.

And it's not civilians looking down on military
It's the other way around

Those guys are looking at never upgrading. Last 5 years of their career maybe, if being on reserve is worth it. The key is they are retired military. SWA doesn't want to see new hires split for the legacies ( I hate to say it because its GL bait).
I think the pool of financially stable 40+ year olds with lots of flying time favours the military vs the civilian side. I think the late 30's, early 40's RJ crowd has SWA as the number 3 or 4 pick now compared to 5 years ago. Frankly I enjoyed flying with the retired Delta guys and retired military types. Money was never an issue and they were just happy to be there. So if I had to chose between being asked if I was old enough to have pilots license, or hearing 4 days of where is my 3 year upgrade? I'll take the old man ?

 

[waveflyer]

26 out of 30 humvee

26/30

That's an overreach

 

[SWA Bubba]

26 out of 30 humvee

26/30

That's an overreach

So why does it bug you so much? And clearly, it does. You started this thread, and have made the most anti-military generalizations. Do you think if a new-hire class was 26 out of 30 civilian-trained instead, that the former military guys should whine about it? Who gives a crap-- as long as they're behind us on the seniority list, who cares where they got their training?

Bubba

 

[Flyer1015]

There are difficult things in aviation and things that are not so difficult. You were talking about skill transfer. Flying a stabilized approach to a carrier in a jet, even if it is single engine presents a much greater difficulty than flying a stabilized 10 mile straight in in a 737. It only becomes difficult or dangerous of you screw it up so badly that you ignore a myriad of automated calls and visual indications that you are screwing up.

A carrier pilot does not have those luxuries not to mention the runways we land on seldom move. What the cockpit of an airliner does is takes much of the skill required through automation. What the carrier trained pilot has going for him is if the automation fails he is already accustomed to using manual skills and can quickly process spatial relationships. There is where the skill transfer comes in. Your typical RJ pilot may not have the manual flying skills to complement your amazing ability when the chips are down. The Colgan accident probably serves as a good example of this.

Who would you want in an upset situation like the Colgan or Air France accidents. A guy that received a 3 hour sim course, or a person with extensive training in aerobatics in high performance aircraft?

While you do have a good point, keep in mind it was Kernals at AA who invented the AAMP course that subjected airliners to 90 degree flips for wake turbulence and recovery procedures akin to F4 Phanthoms. The NTSB wasn't impressed much. (AA 587 crash investigation)

 

[waveflyer]

So why does it bug you so much? And clearly, it does. You started this thread, and have made the most anti-military generalizations. Do you think if a new-hire class was 26 out of 30 civilian-trained instead, that the former military guys should whine about it? Who gives a crap-- as long as they're behind us on the seniority list, who cares where they got their training?

Bubba

When has SWA ever run a class of 87% civilians?

And are you trying to tell me that the military faction of Swapa wouldn't be WAY more vocal if SWA was interviewing just 1 of 6 per group military and hiring just 4 of 30?

A serious question- are you really trying to tell me that?

You aren't the one getting pissed on by civilians bubba- so maybe you just don't know how some of your military guys act around SWA-

And please remember- this is airline 6 for me. My legacy has it's issues- but this constant military superiority living in the past was not one of them. The charter company I flew with hired mostly military.

Military pilots at SWA have earned their bad reputation by their arrogant sense of entitlement - it isn't my fault for calling a spade a spade or a dbag a dbag-

Read the thread bubba- I've got lots of ex mil friends all of which can't stand the kernals too-

But this is an entrenched cultural issue in our ranks BECAUSE SWA hooks up so many- how can those in this class not have a sense of entitlement?

26 out of 30 is ridiculous and you know it when the military makes up such a large percentage of our crap pilots

If this is news to you bubba, you might just be a ....