I Dreamed of an Airline Pilot's Career

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National was something else. A friend of mine flew the whale and retired at PanAm in Berlin. IMO this is just a phase. Eventually tides will turn and it will be a glorious profession...
It is still a great job if you have the fortune of being in the right place. Try Continental JD. We still do the white linen service, but you'll pay dearly for it. Word is that Frontier is next.

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Posts: 318 | Location: 40N,105W | Registered: 01 February 2006

Ignored post by Vemo posted

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quote:
Originally posted by George Semel:
Surestrike I am not flying helicopters, its an airplane, I am flying a UPS Run. And its not a Cessna 208B for those of you in Rio Linda. Come on guys take a stab at it.

Give us a hint...
I'd wager lear or metroliner.

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Posts: 318 | Location: 40N,105W | Registered: 01 February 2006

Ignored post by Vemo posted

surestrike

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posted

quote:
Originally posted by Vemo:
Word is that Frontier is next.

I hope not.. I've got a bunch of good friends that work there.

Posts: 5210 | Registered: 23 July 2002

Ignored post by surestrike posted

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posted

quote:
Originally posted by surestrike:
quote:
Originally posted by Vemo:
Word is that Frontier is next.

I hope not.. I've got a bunch of good friends that work there.

Me too, I took a leave from CO and was hired there for aircraft 6 & 7. Spent 2 memorable years at F9.

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Posts: 318 | Location: 40N,105W | Registered: 01 February 2006

Ignored post by Vemo posted

Mississippian

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How is Airtrans holding up? I have 2 college roommates and several college buddies flying with them.

Double Rifle Shooters Society

Posts: 1094 | Location: Yazoo City, Mississippi | Registered: 25 January 2004

Ignored post by Mississippian posted

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At the end of the 4th qtr. 12/31/07 they had 317 million cash with a 2% operating margin. About 1 billion debt....
Should be posting 1st qtr. '08 numbers around 4/15?

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Posts: 318 | Location: 40N,105W | Registered: 01 February 2006

Ignored post by Vemo posted

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2% operating margin?

How do you convert a half a billion dollars to a million dollars?

Buy an airline.

Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006

Ignored post by jetdrvr posted

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yep, that's 2%!

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Posts: 318 | Location: 40N,105W | Registered: 01 February 2006

Ignored post by Vemo posted

Mark

Moderator

posted

quote:
Originally posted by jetdrvr:
2% operating margin?

How do you convert a half a billion dollars to a million dollars?

Buy an airline.

The old version I heard was "How do you make a small fortune in aviation?"

for every hour in front of the computer you should have 3 hours outside

Posts: 7776 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000

Ignored post by Mark posted

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Friend of mine's family owns Grupo TACA, which included TACA, LACSA , and a couple more airlines in Central America. They're driving Bentleys and Lambos. So, yes, with good management and dedicated employees, it is possible for everyone to derive a good living from an airline.

They treat their clientele respectfully, arrive and depart more or less on time, considering Latin American time isn't as rigorously adhered to as gringo time, and everybody I've ever met who works for them is happy.

Things don't have to go the way they've gone in the states, but management's attitude toward the employees is everything.

Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006

Ignored post by jetdrvr posted

George Semel

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Its a Beech 18 Volpar Turboliner.

Posts: 1070 | Location: East Haddam, CT | Registered: 16 July 2000

Ignored post by George Semel posted

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quote:
Originally posted by George Semel:
Its a Beech 18 Volpar Turboliner.

Ahhh, the Beech with the training wheel on it...

Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006

Ignored post by jetdrvr posted

George Semel

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You got it buckwheat, I never did get pass training wheels, and not just airplanes.

Posts: 1070 | Location: East Haddam, CT | Registered: 16 July 2000

Ignored post by George Semel posted

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I had 'em on my Harley when I was 19...

Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006

Ignored post by jetdrvr posted

Dr. Lou

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I always enjoy lurking around here, but never had much to offer. Your stories are great.

Though I have had a very successful career in law enforcement and academia, I have always wished that I would have chosen a career in aviation.

The only flying I have done where I get to actually drive is Ace Combat 4 (play Station) and in Alaska where I got to fly with a friend who has a 207.

I also have been living vicariously through my buddy's son who is a C17 driver. While he was in training at Vance AFB, I got to fly T6, T1,and T38 simulators. What a gas!

Yesterday, I was invited to Travis AFB to drive the C17 simulator. All I can say is: INCREDIBLE!!!

I found the joy stick to be a little awkward sitting in the left seat and having to use my weak hand to control the plane, especially when refueling - need to develop those fine motor skills. Over all I didn't do too bad, but that refueling is tougher than it looks...and it looks tough! I just wished I'd started 27 years sooner. I really envy you professional pilots.

Lou

****************
NRA Life Benefactor Member

Posts: 3316 | Location: USA | Registered: 15 November 2001

Ignored post by Dr. Lou posted

China Fleet Sailor

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quote:
Originally posted by Flyinrock:
I'm still flying at 71 doing primary instruction with brand new military pilots.

. . . I've got a 21 month old son to support and . . .

My hat's off to you, sir.

Posts: 8938 | Location: Dallas TX | Registered: 11 October 2005

Ignored post by China Fleet Sailor posted

surestrike

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posted

I just read this after laying off of it for 27 months in that time frame I've once again been surplussed this time out of the left back to the right seat.

I went from being an A-320 captain to a 767/757 F/O. Which to tell you the truth hasn't been all that bad considering that I am based at home and I am flying a Boeing again.

But the obligatory 40% pay cut sure as heck stings!!

Posts: 5210 | Registered: 23 July 2002

Ignored post by surestrike posted

DuggaBoye

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quote:
Originally posted by Vemo:
------
But this type of crap isn't just happening to airline pilots. Look at what your family physician has to put up with.
A rancher across the road from me spends as much time filing tax returns and EPA forms as he does with his cows.

The american public wanted cheap unregulated air travel. Well, be careful for what you wish for.

It's not the "de-regulation--

IT'S THE REGULATION--

EVERYTHING,
repeat -EVERYTHING
in this country is drowning in regulation.

I a m a physician, pilot, rancher/farmer and an owner in aviation and firearm businesses--

--I MISS the 1980's and even the 1990's--

And

it unfortunately appears to me the burden will only become more onerous as our Constitution is more and more ignored.

DuggaBoye-O
NRA-Life
Whittington-Life
TSRA-Life
DRSS
DSC
HSC
SCI

Posts: 4593 | Location: TX | Registered: 03 March 2009

Ignored post by DuggaBoye posted

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posted

quote:
Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
quote:
Originally posted by Vemo:
------
But this type of crap isn't just happening to airline pilots. Look at what your family physician has to put up with.
A rancher across the road from me spends as much time filing tax returns and EPA forms as he does with his cows.

The american public wanted cheap unregulated air travel. Well, be careful for what you wish for.

It's not the "de-regulation--

IT'S THE REGULATION--

EVERYTHING,
repeat -EVERYTHING
in this country is drowning in regulation.

I a m a physician, pilot, rancher/farmer and an owner in aviation and firearm businesses--

--I MISS the 1980's and even the 1990's--

And

it unfortunately appears to me the burden will only become more onerous as our Constitution is more and more ignored.

You're right. We're being buried in bullshit.

Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006

Ignored post by jetdrvr posted

Todd Williams

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quote:
Originally posted by TrapperP:
I dreamed of an airline pilot's career.

In it was the FAA, crew scheduling, bad schedules, bad management, unserviceable aircraft equipment, changing weather, no extra holding fuel, ever-changing procedures, endless flight manual revisions, dead heading in the middle seat, broken and lost luggage, nasty passenger agents, crabby 65+ year old 170 lb. flight attendants that were 4 axe-handle wide, all-nighters, foreign countries, sleep deprivation, mergers, seniority squabbles, company threats, food poisoning, no food, bad coffee, bidding, pulled away from my family for weeks at a time, fleabag hotels, late cabs and maniac cab drivers, bidding vacation, waiting for gates, weather, low visibility approaches, aircraft de-icing, PCs, Gestapo FAA and company check air man, medicals, commuting to and from work in unspeakable weather, the parking lot from Hell, parking lot buses, inter-terminal busses, spring break, Christmas rush, Easter rush, PA "PC" announcements, insurance, unscheduled drug and alcohol testing, noise violations, customs lineups, dry cleaning, terrorism, security passes, rude security personnel, high gas/oil prices, pay cuts, pensions reduced/eliminated, rush hour traffic, that infernal alarm clock, crash pads, catching cold away from home, lackadaisical crew members, sexual harassment threats, flight attendants and co-pilots implying that they are a gift to aviation after being there a year, back biting, gossip, cell phones, aircraft cram courses, plus laying my job on the line several times a year with simulators, quick access data recorders to spy on pilot procedures, endless procedural memorization and Annual Recurrent Training days.

Then I woke up and joyously found myself still retired! Whew!!!
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Thought some few of you could relate and enjoy this, others will wonder what the Hell I'm speaking about.
Best regards,
trapperP
'Hold short at 26R for AA heavy inbound - and keep holding!'

I lost my medical in 04 and have had the same dream at least once a month since. The nightmare part for me is that somehow, I've let them talk me into coming back to do just one flight to help out the schedulers and now I'm going to have to come back permanently. Then I wake up screaming in a cold sweat, turn on the light, shake out the cobwebs and realize that everything is OK. It was just a nightmare.

Posts: 8529 | Registered: 09 January 2011

Ignored post by Todd Williams posted

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I just reread this thread and an old joke came to mind...

Little old lady is walking down the Jetway to board her flight, when she meets a guy walking up the Jetway. He's wearing blue coveralls and is covered in pieces of toilet paper and hunks of crap sticking to him all over. Clothes, skin, hair.

The little old lady says, "My God, young man! What happened to you?"

He says, "Well it's my job to empty the toilet holding tank on turnarounds and every now and one accidentally pressurizes and when I open it, the contents explode."

The LOL says, 'Well, my goodness. Why don't you find another job?

The attendant replies, " WHAT? And give up a career in aviation?"

Posts: 11729 | Location: Florida | Registered: 25 October 2006

Ignored post by jetdrvr posted