Is there a safe future for Pilots? My Son's Question
10-10-2007, 03:54 AM
#81
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Polar Bear Food
Posts: 202
rickair:
I just want jump in here briefly. Kerosene, is the midway point between Diesel and Jetfuel. Jetfuel is a super refined form of Kerosene. All Kerosene is, is a super refined form of Diesel. Kerosene can work with jet engines, all that would be needed is a replacement of the fuel handling functions to handle the Kerosene. Have you ever used one of those Kerosene space heaters? It is, essentially, an induction engine and therefore a type of "jet". Kerosene, however, is very corrosive. When I worked at an FBO, we used Kerosene to clean everything from dirty tools, to oil caked carbeurators; as it was cheaper and more effective than the industry leading cleaner.
FWIW.
I just want jump in here briefly. Kerosene, is the midway point between Diesel and Jetfuel. Jetfuel is a super refined form of Kerosene. All Kerosene is, is a super refined form of Diesel. Kerosene can work with jet engines, all that would be needed is a replacement of the fuel handling functions to handle the Kerosene. Have you ever used one of those Kerosene space heaters? It is, essentially, an induction engine and therefore a type of "jet". Kerosene, however, is very corrosive. When I worked at an FBO, we used Kerosene to clean everything from dirty tools, to oil caked carbeurators; as it was cheaper and more effective than the industry leading cleaner.
FWIW.
12-18-2007, 12:49 PM
#82
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Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Regional Airline Captain
Posts: 142
I don't know how old your son is but if he is in the 12-18 range I highly recomend the Civil Air Patrol. It does have a military tradition, but people going for civilian careers go there to, I'm a civilian flight instructor and I was in CAP when I was a kid. There are lots of oportunities to experiance aviation there. http://www.cap.gov
Hey Guys...
First, Thanks for the posts:
Second, Hes a nut for aviation, hes into things i wish i had when i was younger, this flight simulation stuff. I mean the kid can practically out fly me.... hes doing full DME arc and VOR approaches, he can do Radial TACAN approaches into Honolulu.... the wifey gets on me for letting him do so much flight simulation, but, i would've done the same at his age. Anyways, he wants to go Civil... unlike me, i went through the service, joining back in 89, flew for the Air Force during the Gulf. Got many hours of valuable experience. I was snatched up by Southwest in 95. been flying ever since. i had stressed to him to go through Mil, but he says he loves the idea of going civil. Which, unknown to him, is painfully echoing $$$ in my ears
. But, to answer the question he is the kinda kid i was, didnt care what he flew just wanted to put on that capt. cap every morning with a hot cup of coffee knowing the day is a long one. He says he envies me, i take him up every once in awhile, he loves to use up my alloted employee seats by the window... ive taken him everywhere, he loves it....
Just makes me feel kinda guilty you know? That i cant really help him out with his plan to go through civil, because i was brought up in the Air Force. I never had the experience of going from your PPL to your ATP, just something else i missed out on...
Love the advice, and is there any other suggestions?
Appreciate it guys
First, Thanks for the posts:
Second, Hes a nut for aviation, hes into things i wish i had when i was younger, this flight simulation stuff. I mean the kid can practically out fly me.... hes doing full DME arc and VOR approaches, he can do Radial TACAN approaches into Honolulu.... the wifey gets on me for letting him do so much flight simulation, but, i would've done the same at his age. Anyways, he wants to go Civil... unlike me, i went through the service, joining back in 89, flew for the Air Force during the Gulf. Got many hours of valuable experience. I was snatched up by Southwest in 95. been flying ever since. i had stressed to him to go through Mil, but he says he loves the idea of going civil. Which, unknown to him, is painfully echoing $$$ in my ears
. But, to answer the question he is the kinda kid i was, didnt care what he flew just wanted to put on that capt. cap every morning with a hot cup of coffee knowing the day is a long one. He says he envies me, i take him up every once in awhile, he loves to use up my alloted employee seats by the window... ive taken him everywhere, he loves it....Just makes me feel kinda guilty you know? That i cant really help him out with his plan to go through civil, because i was brought up in the Air Force. I never had the experience of going from your PPL to your ATP, just something else i missed out on...
Love the advice, and is there any other suggestions?
Appreciate it guys
12-18-2007, 12:56 PM
#83
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Regional Airline Captain
Posts: 142
I'm really sceptical that a degree is any substitute for flight experiance. Given age and degree over flight experiance, I will take the flight experiance any day.
I don't have a degree, I'm working on one, but will likely be already in a regional airline before I ever get one. Both degree and aviation are priorities for me, but my top priority is gaining experiance and knowlage in my traid.
I don't have a degree, I'm working on one, but will likely be already in a regional airline before I ever get one. Both degree and aviation are priorities for me, but my top priority is gaining experiance and knowlage in my traid.
"Are the low-time pilots of today any more dangerous than the low-time pilots of the 60s and 70s at the majors?"
A few things different between then and now.
A) They used real airplanes, not sims. You had to prove yourself in the real thing. Not a big computer game that only resembles the real thing.
B) Most guys came out of college to the airlines. At least they had the maturity of a degree. No degree requirement for the regionals today. How many 20 year olds went to the airlines back then? I bet not many.
C) Most guys went to the F/E panel. It was a great way to learn the ropes and how things work before moving to the right seat.
D) The standards were higher. Airline training was a much more serious endevor than it is today. I've seen the relaxation in standards even in the last 20 years with what expected of you in airline training. I'd imagine 40 years ago it was even more stringent.
A few things different between then and now.
A) They used real airplanes, not sims. You had to prove yourself in the real thing. Not a big computer game that only resembles the real thing.
B) Most guys came out of college to the airlines. At least they had the maturity of a degree. No degree requirement for the regionals today. How many 20 year olds went to the airlines back then? I bet not many.
C) Most guys went to the F/E panel. It was a great way to learn the ropes and how things work before moving to the right seat.
D) The standards were higher. Airline training was a much more serious endevor than it is today. I've seen the relaxation in standards even in the last 20 years with what expected of you in airline training. I'd imagine 40 years ago it was even more stringent.
12-18-2007, 01:28 PM
#85
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: NU Guy
Posts: 437
What happened to the posts from Roblax, seaavator, saabrowski & pilotpip?
That was a good read LOL.
Oh and by the way history has plenty of accidents from both low time and high timers. Sometimes loads of experience can be just as dangerous. How bout complacency. I'm on the fence on this one I've seen crappy pilots with 300hrs to 10,000hrs. But seriously roblax I guess since you work for a mighty legacy you were never a low-timer?
That was a good read LOL.
Oh and by the way history has plenty of accidents from both low time and high timers. Sometimes loads of experience can be just as dangerous. How bout complacency. I'm on the fence on this one I've seen crappy pilots with 300hrs to 10,000hrs. But seriously roblax I guess since you work for a mighty legacy you were never a low-timer?
12-19-2007, 12:35 PM
#86
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: Big ones
Posts: 774
It's been tested (50/50 mix with military Jet A) on a B-52, worked fine. They are moving on to other aircraft for more testing. The COS of the AF appears quite serious about achieving a massive reduction in petroleum dependence in the near future. Presumably the other services will follow right along.
However, the emissions reduction will be minor...the fuel produced is chemically similar to kersosene, but probably with fewer contaminants. This project is about ensuring fuel for the military in the event of an embargo. The US has VAST coal reserves...if we can just use it cleanly.
At this point the stuff is pretty expensive, the process requires a lot of energy in addition to the coal.
However, the emissions reduction will be minor...the fuel produced is chemically similar to kersosene, but probably with fewer contaminants. This project is about ensuring fuel for the military in the event of an embargo. The US has VAST coal reserves...if we can just use it cleanly.
At this point the stuff is pretty expensive, the process requires a lot of energy in addition to the coal.
12-19-2007, 02:31 PM
#87
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 2,576
Do what you love; love what you do.
If he wants to fly, let him fly. There are problems with any career, so pick one you like.
Passengers will not fly on automated (no pilot) airliners (even if they are reliable). People will fly until some better mode of transportation is invented. The Star Trek "transporter" is a long ways off.
Flying has never been safer- no matter what the experience level of the pilot(s). Learning from the mistakes of the past leads to advancements in training, aircraft design, and rules/regulations. Today is safer.
If he wants to fly, let him fly. There are problems with any career, so pick one you like.
Passengers will not fly on automated (no pilot) airliners (even if they are reliable). People will fly until some better mode of transportation is invented. The Star Trek "transporter" is a long ways off.
Flying has never been safer- no matter what the experience level of the pilot(s). Learning from the mistakes of the past leads to advancements in training, aircraft design, and rules/regulations. Today is safer.
