Mikey got a new camera.......Updated May 2008

matias · Post by **matias** » 06 Jan 2008, 03:07

Hey Mike--nice pics...you ever fly with Ryan Goldman. He is my buddy and he is an FO for Express Jet out of IAH.

Note--those hornets probably said blue blasters instead of blue blazers. That is a squad based out at Oceana.

Thanks

MIKE JG · Post by **MIKE JG** » 06 Jan 2008, 03:18

Nope, never heard of him.

ronniegj · Post by **ronniegj** » 07 Jan 2008, 17:44

Say Mike, have you made that transition to 737's yet?

Ron

MIKE JG · Post by **MIKE JG** » 07 Jan 2008, 19:33

No, I'm waiting on Southwest to call. With the age 65 law passing last month, that throws a big monkey wrench into things for me. I might go to training this year, I might not. If I do it will be in the second half of 2008. So I continue to swim in the hiring pool until then. That in combination with $100/barrel oil has really put the brakes on their hiring/training. In fact I just found out that they do not plan to interview anyone for all of 2008. To further complicate matters, 20 or so already retired SW pilots, who had to retire under the age 60 mandatory age requirement, have re-applied to work there again. So.........I litterally have no idea when I might get a call for a class date.

At least I have a good job to chill out at until then. Only problem is that I bid all three of my vacation weeks in January and February of this year thinking I wouldn't be around for much longer.

Oh well.........more time to work on MAIW projects.

Makadocias · Post by **Makadocias** » 07 Jan 2008, 20:37

Switch jobs mate?
You become salesman at Schiphol at the TAX FREE area and I'll go flying Embraers

I'd love too

Would be nice but I'm not good at maths, sience etc. which is a must for becoming a REAL pilot.....

That's why I love FS so much.......... here I can fly!

ronniegj · Post by **ronniegj** » 07 Jan 2008, 21:42

Sorry to hear that, but on the other hand, I was afraid that the issues mentioned might lead to layoff's of newbe's, some perhaps you are safer where you are for the moment. IAC you're still flying, and every mile flown is another mile closer to the big jets. Hang in, and best wishes!

On another note, that means that the opportunity may still come up for you to snap some pic's for me of both civil and military terminals airside at Robert Gray some day, time permitting, and if you ever return there. I was able to get a good many pic's from the parking lot side, and a few from inside to model windows, etc. My camera isn't up to long distance of any detail of the military terminal, but have a general idea to work with, and of course GE. Can't do more than vague textures with what I have. Flew in and out of there recently, but wasn't able to get window seat, so no pic's were taken. I may never get anywhere with this project, but then again, who knows!

Ron

CelticWarrior · Post by **CelticWarrior** » 08 Jan 2008, 10:27

Sorry to hear your plans have become a bit unstuck Mike. If it makes you feel any better the UK has undergone a similar thing recently. Many of my civilian colleagues who were due to retire at 60 have applied to extend to 65, oddly enough it may work in my favour as it's not in my best interest to retire from the Army until I'm 50 (Dec 09).

However, what we've found is that many of those who applied to work until 65 actually retire way before that, one only carried on for 6 months! He decided he'd rather be retired. It's quite amusing to see them come to work on public transport for a change using their newly acquired bus passes.

What has changed a lot is the additional tests potential employees now have to undertake, such as psychological and psychometric analysis (that's me scuppered .

).

MIKE JG · Post by **MIKE JG** » 15 May 2008, 16:37

Here's a teaser from my next to last trip at ExpressJet. I'm finally going to training with SWA in a couple weeks. So by July I should be out flying again, this time taking pictures from the right seat of a 737.

Took this out in Tuscon yesterday waiting to depart. The pattern was literally full of F-16s. The poor tower controller had his hands full, I was in heaven!

A nice surprise indeed, from the UAE Air Force, here's a Block 60 "Big Spine" F-16 sitting in the runup area ready for another training sortie.

I'll post my other pictures tomorrow.

CrazyDunc · Post by **CrazyDunc** » 15 May 2008, 17:15

I Like

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 15 May 2008, 19:07

Great pic Mike, and congratulations.

Paul

btaylo24 · Post by **btaylo24** » 16 May 2008, 01:37

Nice pics mike. really enjoy looking at them.
Barry