Any pilots?

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If I had to do it all over again (knowing what I know now) I would still do fixed wing. Rotary has a limited future, except in the military.

IMO ... the problem will not be the jobs for fixed commercial, but the pay as the airlines try to save money.

FWW ... on a side note ... I saw an old Air America buddy this morning. He was visiting from Tampa. He served 8 years in the Laos/Cambodia area during the RVN War and he said that he was making almost $45,000 a year (with overtime & etc.) in 1968 and that was tax free too. This guy is a older & crazier than me and was a "Site 85" guy too.

$45K doesn't sound like much money today ... but that was big bucks back then and tax free too.

I started flying very young and was really into it at 16 y/o with my paper route money. Other kids were spending their money on pinball machines and I was flying real planes.

When I went on active duty as a 8404 FMF Corpsman, my pilot's license was my ticket into Marine Rotary Air. My lifeguard cert. also got me out of a lot of duty too (life-guarded at the O pool as my duty).

Moral of this BS ... is go for the the pilot's ticket ... especially if you can get it on today's GI Bill ...

Good luck man ... and NEVER take that aircraft for granted ... N E V E R ... I am OCD on triple checking stuff.

EDIT ... PS ... I forgot ... my Air America friend said that many of the pilots in their area ... averaged almost 200 hours (and more) a month.
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4000 hours give or take, currently flying F/A-18C's....I think a combination of civilian/military is the way to go, that's why I need to find a guard/reserve job and join an airline.

 

Currently a corporate pilot on a Falcon 2000. Been flying since I started in the late 70s, and now am just trying to hold onto a job for the next 15-20 years so I can retire. Lost my best corporate job after almost 20 years as a result of Obama demonizing corporate jets, and now, 2 years later, I'm gritting my teeth and holding my breath as he does it again.

 

What squadron?

 

Yup! I've been up there a few times myself.

 

copilots are considered PNF (pilot not flying)
vice versa when captains are not and the copilot is flying
attitude can determine altitude

time for recurrent training ??

 

We tend to call junior pilots 'copilots' in my world.

 

meanwhile, in LAX



KNX 1070 EXCLUSIVE: Feds Probe Possible Arabic-Type Markings On Southwest Jets
September 21, 2011


Federal agencies were working with Southwest Airlines on Thursday to determine who has been vandalizing their aircraft with mysterious markings since February, several Southwest jets have been vandalized with mysterious writings that show up on the underbelly of their 737 passenger aircraft.

The writings — which some have interpreted as being either Arabic or Arabic-type symbols — appeared to have been done with a chemical process that reveals the text once an auxiliary power unit is turned on and heats up the outside skin of the aircraft, according to Feldman.

While it remains unclear how many aircraft are involved, the trend has reportedly increased in recent weeks.

Southwest Airlines has ordered its employees not to discuss the matter with the media, Feldman said.

In a statement to KNX 1070, Southwest said it is working with authorities to find those responsible for what the company called “vandalism”, but it’s not clear how many people are involved.

Both the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigations is working with Southwest, but the airline denied this is a safety issue and would not provide any more details.

 

Old thread, but I will jump in....Retired UH60 Instructor Pilot...still flying now teaching at the home of Army Aviation...teaching the UH60 Initial Entry Rotary Wing course...I am still having a blast after 17 years of flying!

m.a.c.

 

ETA chiming in here. Im at just over 250 with my PPL. Was almost done with my instrument a couple years ago and my mother passed away. The financial change with a difference in rent pretty much stopped my flying goals for now.

I come from a family immersed in aviation. My father flew during the glory days-Connies to 747/DC-10. When pilots were truly respected for the knowledge and responsibility they had and still have. My mother was a flight nurse and also "slung hash" on central California runs with United when at least one flight attendant was required to be an RN. You don't get initials like mine without family involvement in aviation.

I know one day I will get some kind of paycheck from flying but wont give up the primary bread winner of working in healthcare. I figure I can instruct and build up time while doing what I'm doing. I went and got a BS in Aviation Administration too. Had a job in airport operations at a local Part 139 airport and although it was the most fun I've had in any form of employment it didn't pay for shit.

Flying is awesome but the glory days are done and gone. I do have a friend who flys commercially and has made it work well for himself. He's always posting pics of vacation trips with his wife from all over the globe.

 

Going on year 5 at the regionals and still have to have two jobs to make ends meet. My suggestion, be a doctor and make a shit load of money then buy an airplane and fly for fun. I work 14 hr days for about 90 seconds of fun. Some days its worth it though. Fly safe!

 

Lesson learned last night- Trust the instruments. Ended up in a spot that I never want to see again...but complete faith in the ADI got me home safe.

Also...Shooting the ILS to mins is interesting. Descent to TDZE+100 is even more interesting.

 

LMAO even though I work with MDs who do own airplanes I also have a friend who is an Emergency Med MD who only does that to fulfill his desires to own/operate firearms in tactical situations for fun. Everyone tells him he should have been a military MD. He is currently on a local SAR and is also a doc for a local PD. Read between the lines there. Even the glory days for MDs have gone in the crapper. They mostly subscribe to HMO and western medicine ideals which can really suck if they don't have a conscience. Of course this is dependent on specialty and how big your ego is. The MDs I meet who really like their jobs are anesthesiologists. The pilot MD is one and owns his own surgery center. If you saw him you would think Homer Simpson but he is super smart and very cool. So yes as an MD you can own a plane and have the means to fly it as often as you choose...just make sure it isn't one of these:

 

Care to expand on this? Sounds like major pucker factor with little to no knowledge of the events.

 

Glad to see fellow mil aviators sportin Tacos!!!
Flying has been my life, just as it has for many of you. Flew Vipers for several years and been in the Warthog for the last two.
Cheers!

 

I love flying!

Im a private pilot right now, but have plans to start my instrument training this spring. I was hired by my flight school after i received my license, and im pretty excited to see what doors might open for me to make aviation a career!

 

i wish i was a pilot

 

WHY? So you could pilot here and pilot there?

 

Right now I'm a diver driver (skydive pilot) for a local dropzone. Just finishing up multi commercial, then putting in for the airlines...Don't wanna stay long in there, just get experience and pic turbine time then try and go the corporate route.

 

CH-47(Chinook) guy here...awfully close to breaking the 1,000 hour mark but merely weeks away from redeploying. I'll be honest, I'd rather redeploy =)