Cubdriver

The Colgan legislation and the so-called pilot shortage of late are to what I refer. The regional airline airline industry devolved through exploitation of entry level pilots to a point where planes were falling out of the sky ostensibly due to inadequate training of pilots, and Congress felt compelled to act. Supposedly the training issue was addressed, but not the (low) pay issue. So now we see another side of the same malignant cancer- unchecked exploitation, taking the shape of an alleged "pilot shortage". The word "crisis" is often used. Personally I think there is no shortage, just an industry addicted to cheap pilot labor, but "crisis" is definitely the word the airlines use to describe it.

Majors prefer 121 history because that is what they do; how else can new pilots get it? Historically the US military supplied a lot of pilots but not any more. Regionals are at the bottom of the airline industry strata, and as such supply the best candidates for higher levels.

Disagree. Ask any of the many regional lifer captains we have in this country if it's an entry-level job, and see what they say.

I actually agree and have a fairly broad background in flying for my time in tailwheels, surveys, instructing, testing, banners, gliders and so forth. You'd think the airlines are clamoring for guys like me. In contrast, the main thing they look for in a pilot is unflinching adherence to the approved General Operations Manuals and a rapid ability to adapt and conform. Broad aviation experience and free thinking about safety is not valued very highly. Whether that equates to optimum safety is debatable perhaps, but it is the airline way for sure, and by and large it works since airlines are the safest mode of transportation within the aviation community and in fact within all transportation modes.

USMCFLYR

The way I was brought up was to tell the truth - the good and the bad.
Lies of omission were not looked upon kindly by my mother.

I encourage him to do the same without the exaggeration, half-truths, insults, and even some flat out lies.

Whether the airline approach to safety works for you or not doesn't matter. As you point out - the statistics seem to defend their approach. There is always a hidden layer just underneath the surface, but it is hard to say that the system, as designed, isn't working.

scottm

Remember the Budget Sequestration Crisis of 2013? Nothing was done until the FAA cut ATC controllers and inconvenienced airline passengers. A "crisis" that affects airline passengers will get immediate attention from Congress. A "crisis" is what A4A wants and has carefully orchestrated for many years. There is no real fix for the coming pilot shortage, but lowering standards will ensure cheaper pilot labor costs immediately and for the foreseeable future. But they have to wait until the regional/low-cost industry is crippled before pulling this trick, they don't want them roaring back on cheaper labor.

Cubdriver

More compassion, less judgment. See through the eyes of knowledge and leave police work to the police. We're not gonna change SkyHigh, we might as well enjoy whatever of value he has to offer.

brianb

[QUOTE=Cubdriver;1809112]More compassion, less judgment. See through the eyes of knowledge and leave police work to the police. We're not gonna change SkyHigh, we might as well enjoy whatever of value he has to offer.

Ahhhhh, SH is back in the mix, eh? A man, I assume, with good points regarding the industry and it's pitfalls. A man, I assume, with some over the top dog diggitty BS regarding the industry. I like his overall, negative viewpoint but, as I have said before, he lacks balance and perspective from the "other" side. Any and all newcomers should listen to his story and take heed but please oh please, listen to the great awe inspiring stories as well. They are out there.

atpwannabe

This is a quote from the Regional Thread and IMO sums up what I and others were saying. Try to see the analogy!



atp

SkyHigh

The "sunk cost fallacy" has been used to describe the phenomenon where people justify increased investment in a decision, based on the cumulative prior investment, despite new evidence suggesting that the cost, starting today, of continuing the decision outweighs the expected benefit.

I believe this condition can be applied to the reason why so many hold on to aviation long after the obvious is apparent.

SKyhigh

SkyHigh

My dream was always to support a family to a middle or upper middle class degree as an airline pilot while building a portfolio that would eventually lead to our financial independence.

Others here dream of being an airline pilot who could support a family.

My hierarchy of priorities holds family and financial security ahead of aviation. If all one wants is to attain the left seat of a part 121 jetliner then you are in luck.

Skyhigh

JohnBurke

Who cares? Whatever your dream, you gave up. You walked away. What you wanted is irrelevant, as didn't pursue it properly to obtain it.

Your story fluctuates with the breeze. For some time, you told us that you were deceived, conned into a career that took nearly 20 years of suffering to escape. You told us that it took 20 years to realize you'd been conned, although you also told us that many in your family are in aviation...I've always been amused that you feel everyone withheld the big secret from you: you might have to work to get what you want.

You've long maintained that your goal in aviation was to "live like a king."

How's that working out for you now, king?

Like many here, I didn't give up, and may be living the life you wanted to live; a life that you could live had you not given up.

I've found myself thinking, around tax time, that it may have been better to make less money and be in a lower tax bracket. I took a month in November to focus on national novel writing month...because I could. It was great. I took yesterday and today because I had things to do. Not too many jobs that have such open flexibility, and that comes with time in the industry and the options that such time brings.

By walking away, you lose all of it.

Beat yourself into the ground all you like, but don't condemn the industry for your own failings.

brianb

Thank you John. SH will never get it, he may be a great fella but, he will never get it. I believe he's afraid of what could have happened and instead focuses on what did happen.