Inside Scoop: Airline Pilots

[Paul]

Here's a interesting read.

http://information.travel.aol.com/artic ... 0609990001

Paul

[BadPvtDan]

You can also just ask Mike JG. Good read.

[MIKE JG]

Well after having read that, that's probably one of the most accurate articles about what it's really like. My experience has been/was very, very similar to the female airline captain's experience. I too worked as an airline pilot for a largish carrier for 10 years, 9 of those years as a Captain. I have stories that are very similar to hers including how we were treated by our respective managements.

It really is a shame what the commercial airline industry in the U.S. has become, it's embarassing. I always wanted to be a pilot when I was a kid growing up and I certainly have achieved that dream.

However after plying the jetways of the U.S. for the last 10 years I'm ready for a change and am looking to get into corporate aviation for many of the same reasons the article mentions.

It's funny to read about the JetBlue FO in that article and how he freely admits he uses his laptop during flights while he's working. That will surely instill confidence in the public. But sometimes that's what it takes to keep guys awake on a 5 hour flight after only getting 5 hours of sleep the night before.

The work rules are all jacked up and the government knows it. However until someone balls up an airliner because they fell asleep at the wheel, nothing will change. Look at those two guys from Mesa, they fell asleep on a 20 minute flight between islands, and that was in the middle of the day.

Ten years of airline flying was enough for me as well. I doubt I'll ever go back either. Personally it's just not worth it to me. That bit where the corporate pilot is talking about his dogs, that really is true. We have one dog that would act like he'd never met me before every time I came home from a four day trip, sad but true.

I wish all the best to anyone reading this who wants badly to become an airline pilot. It does have its perks, but it also has its drawbacks just like anything else. It's just not for this cowboy any more.

[siuav8r]

I will agree, that article has some good perspectives. I fly for a regional and it isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Times are tough right now and you watch the news everyday wondering if you're still going to have a job or not. It definitely has its perks, but there are also its drawbacks, just as Mike said.

Mike, who do(did) you fly for?

[Victory103]

Nice read and pretty much confirms my decision not to track Regionals.

[MIKE JG]

Tim I flew for ExpressJet/COEX for 10 years.