SkyHigh

I love flying but am not happy with what I have seen in my chosen profession. I believe that we are taken advantage of and that the profession is in decline. Some here it would seem would prefer if guys like me would just keep quiet so that others can continue to remain their trance.

I don't like the tradition of First Officer. I think it is antiquated and unnecessary. Why is it that a 21 year old can be trusted to fly a piper senica single pilot IFR over the cascades at night with passengers but is then told that he can not raise his/her own gear at 40? There is little reason for a fully trained and experienced second pilot in a completely automated aircraft other than tradition, redundancy and the fact that pilots are cheap and plentiful.

As evidence of their superfluous existence it seems to me that the First Officer is treated as an after though by everyone including the passengers. As pilots we are trained from day one to be independent single pilot operators responsible for everything from fuel and WX to route and load. We spend our early years mostly in single pilot operations. All this only to reach a automated flight deck that really only needs half an alert pilot and then we are treated like children.

Why is it that laid off captains from Aloha will have to start over now as if they were new hire teenagers? I don't like being a First Officer. I had to endure plenty of difficult situations as one and have developed some strong opinions about the job. It is one of my pet peeves. Most pilot's shouldn't like it if they truly desire to be in command as every pilot should.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

I like to write. This forum really is about writing and sharing of ideas. Also, as you mentioned, I haven't moved on. My life is different now and I am thankful of that but my mind is always on the sky. Flying is what I was born to do, however after seeing and experiencing what I have in the profession I can not continue to place my family and self at risk anymore. I do not believe that aviation is a healthy and rewarding place for most.

As a pilot I always suspected that life was better on the outside. Everyone complains but few really do have it as bad as the pilot who is starting out today. My opinions and perspectives are contradictory to most in the profession because I do not have my livelihood hanging on it anymore. I am free to see the industry as it is without the rose colored glasses.

I have not moved on. It is with me everyday but I would not return to the profession if SWA, UPS or FedEx were to stand on my front doorstep. We are on the precipice of what could be the perfect storm of industry ciaos. High energy prices, industry contraction and the age 65 rule will most likely lead to some horrible times over the next decade. As far as being an FO is concerned. I just do not believe that the profession will be worth another stint in the right seat. I have seen and experienced other professions and there are easier and better ways to invest yourself.

My posts here have influenced people to stop and think. I believe and have evidence that my efforts here have helped people. Like a drug and alcohol recovery counselor I feel an obligation to share my opinions. Where else would people get the other side of the story? If you were to ask a big time cargo guy what they thought of the profession it would be all praise and story's of how the just prevail and that if you "stick to it" you will "get there". Get where?, is a better question in todays airline environment. Increasingly to me it is becoming very difficult to justify the profession with even the most rosy of outcomes.

I understand and would not dream of suggesting that a current line pilot quit and go to welding school. However if someone is considering flight school or has recently been laid off (or soon will be) then perhaps it would be a good time to consider doing something else for a living rather than to start over as a FO at the next shaky company.

And lastly, I miss my pilot peers. This forum is all that remains of my 20 year effort of being a professional pilot. I am not ready to let go just yet. Soon though.

SkyHigh

Spaceman Spliff

Yes...stop and think where to find the "ignore" function.

My fun meter's pegged out after so many posts full of your your self-indulgent drivel...adios.

TimSmith

And lastly, I miss my pilot peers. This forum is all that remains of my 20 year effort of being a professional pilot. I am not ready to let go just yet. Soon though.

SkyHigh[/quote]

20 years in the profession and you cannot grasp the importance of TWO ALERT pilots over one HALF alert pilot?!?!? Maybe you could post the flights you operated so that anyone who was in the back knows they have angels shepherding them through perilous times. I am glad you are not considering joining the profession for another stint. The public is safer for it. Just to play devil's advocate here, why have 2 or 3 seperate electrical systems? Why have multiple batteries to back up those redundant unnecessary electrical systems? Why have 4 hydraulic pumps when 1 will supply the necessary pressure? Why have 2 engine airplanes able to fly on one engine when a one engine airplane would be more efficient? Look at all the money we are wasting with all the redundant duplicate systems on board airplanes these days.

TimSmith

You have to be kidding, right? Tell me you're joking here. All one has to do is search the threads you post on and see that you occassionally join in the ill wishes some here hold for their bretheren. It's OK to hope a fellow pilot is out on the street looking for work to support his family, but then you moderate posts for the most benign rebuke of an offensive post if it contains any word that may describe the attitude of the author of the offensive post, no matter how correct the observation of the attitude was. There, I think I refrained from using any personal, UNPROFESSIONAL, words in my post. Just an honest observation.

Also, along with dojetdriver, loved the UPS thread that was the hot topic recently. Lots of insight.

SkyHigh is no longer a professional pilot and has demonstrated that our profession is better off for it. Let him rant and rave. It will show the new guys that some people just don't get it and if they are not happy with this profession they should choose another. Sky gives them a glimpse of how far their perceptions of life may skew from reality if they choose to stay in a profession that frustrates them.

tomgoodman

Well, there you have it. I thought Sky's only real beef with the profession was the difficulty in supporting a family, which is understandable, although usually subject to improvement. But the nature of the F/O job (where some have had to remain for many years), is and always has been part of our profession. Those who hate it will become captains who hate their jobs too, and will bequeath said misery to their own F/Os. We have all flown with one or two like that.
Skyhigh clearly made the right decision for himself, and if his posts warn off any pilot wannabees who feel as he does about serving as F/O, he has done them and the profession a service.

Zapata

uhm, no. The profession weeded you out so this is not your "chosen profession". Your comments aren't welcomed because you're just an armchair quarterback making commentary from the peanut gallery.

no, you aren't part of "we". Again, you've been weeded out, remember? Until you're ready to learn to become a professional pilot (that apparently you never were even when you were flying for a living), good riddance!


No one cares if you don't like it or puts any value into what you think. The First Officer is every bit the professional and every bit as necessary as the Captain. If you had a different attitude and your self esteem wasn't so low, perhaps you wouldn't have failed and thus not be so bitter.

Do yourself a favor a watch some Dr. Phil or something.

Jet Whiner

I think the Q.O.L. issue is much more the norm than your lack of ambition and leadership skills comment.

Appeal of a Cadillac a month???? Show me the way. To fit that moniker I would say minimum 45k a month, probably more like 50+. I'll gladly upgrade and fly sh*# schedules for more than triple my current gross. "Vanished", man is that an appropriate word for a lot of these threads on our profession.

B757200ER

True, Sky. Agree completely.

Whaledriver101

B757200er and the rest of you captains on your "high horses"

Be sure and tell your FO's during your pre-departure briefing that their postion and time for this flight is completely worthless. And to not even put this time in any logbook. As an FO Ive offered many a good advice to you "know it all" captains, especially new guys on type. The worst is the "know it all types" that can do no wrong.

Respect your FO's you prima donna's. With fuel approaching 200 a barell(and it will get there). There is no telling where you'll all be. That FO may be in charge of hiring your arrogant @sses.