A pilot does...

[JS]

When you see a pilot, he's not getting paid.
When you see a pilot going through the same security you go through, he's not being paid.
When you see a pilot walking in the terminal, he's not being paid.

blah blah blah...

This is false. The pilot is most certainly getting paid. Now, if there were one person who did all these non-flying tasks and another person who flew the plane, then you would have a point that the first person is not getting paid. But the fact of the matter is that it's the same person, and the pilot cannot fly the plane without doing all these non-flying tasks.

For example, if the pilot makes $100 an hour, spends one hour flying the plane and one hour in so-called "unpaid" prep time, then you could say he's really making $50 an hour for all work.

 

[UAL_TECH]

That's better.....

FWIW, pilots (note the general usage of the word) sign off maintenance performed every day and it's specifically allowed by the FAR's.

As for test flights, that airworthiness statement can be signed six ways to Sunday, but the airplane can't go into revenue service until a pilot signs off on the test flight - only then does the FAA consider the airplane truly airworthy.

Finally, per the FAR's, the pilot-in-command is ultimately responsible for the airworthiness of the airplane. Doesn't matter how many mechanics have signed the logbook, the PIC is on the hook just as much as the mechanic.

I'd say that the routine acceptance of a mechanic's signoff is in fact a testament to the faith pilot's have in the machanic's abilities. If only that could always be a two way street.....

Jim

BoeingBoy,

Well Sir, you are one of a kind and (IMHO) one of the last. You will always have my respect and if the majority of the Pilot Profession were like you, then I doubt we would be in this situation. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Greed and ego has divided many of your and my profession to the point of adversarial proportions. Hopefully, some will learn from the past and build on it.

Good Fortune to you Sir and don’t take my ‘distaste’ with the actions of ALPO personally.

Take Care,
B) UAL_TECH

 

[UAL_TECH]

I would say it's just customary. I know CPA's who are paid by the hour.

Then you should have had a CPA 'Me-Too' clause in your last contract...

UT

 

[CV580ETOPS]

Cry me a river, no one forces you to be a pilot.

And I guess you forgot the part of the six figure incomes you all make.

ohhhh ...nevermind. I'm not even going to try and dignify such blatant ignorance with a response.Why bother? :down:

 

[primowon]

Free at last. Free at last. God almighty free at last! I retired as a pilot seven years ago. After reading the drivel about how good pilots have it, and how easy it was to have gotten it, I just thank my lucky stars not having to deal with the mental midgets who have, and still, demean a once honorable profession.

I won't repeat previous posts that reference sacrifices made by those that had the brains and fortitude to persue their dreams - check rides, physicals, hours, time away, yada, yada.

My goal from day one was to one day fly as an airline pilot - the apex of the profession. I was motivated by that thought getting my college degree to qualify for a flight position. I thought about that as I had sams shot up my tail pipe. I thought about that making poverty wages to build time. I thought about that while missing holidays and birthdays with my kids, etc.

We live in an unprecedented era. When growing up, I was taught to respect your fellow workers. Now we live in a time whereby you feel entitled to spew deleterious literary venom without reproach. It is easy in an age of internet anonymity.

Our time on earth is like sand in an hour glass. How will you be remembered? We all had choices. I regret not a nano second having ever again to deal with the mental midgets who feel as justified and entitled as those who sacrificed and gave so much.

Kiss my grits!

 

[Busdrvr]

I just couldn't pass this one up....

For the record, I'm on a LOA from my former airline, and quite frankly doubt I'll ever go back. Sadly, it's just not worth it. Ironically, I can look back approx 4 years to my "furlough" day and see that as one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Mechanics: I simply can't understand why you continue to do what you do. It boggles my mind that you're expected to arrive at work an hour early so you can get searched like you're a convict EVERY DAY, work your butt off for a 40 hour week and then enjoy the return trip to the prison gates (30 minutes to the parking lot) all for less an hour than you'd get to fix a fricken Saturn. You guys ALWAYS impressed me with your professionalism.

I can't say I "dreamed" of being a pilot. It was always a job, a good job, but still just a job. I was able to go back to school while furloughed and made more than double last year what I would have made as an 7th Year 320 pilot. I was home for Christmas, Thanksgiving, every weekend was open and I was at every school play/athletic event and birthday. I don't get pity because I left the job. If you've never been one, under todays enviroment, you really have know idea what you're talking about.

When I was 12, I thought the coolest job in the world would be a Gynocologist. You wannabes have the same level of ignorance about the pilot profession that I had about the GYN thing. you may think it's a great view from the office, but looking at a fat ugly smelly......thunderstorm between ORD and DSM 4 times a day gets a little old. Roadwarriers? Yes, you fly a lot and are also gone from home. But there are two differances. One, you have a transferrable skill. You can say "screw this" if your time away gets to be too much. Secondly, if a pilot's job is like a very underpaid Gynocologist, then your's is like a porn star. Granted all that.....travel gets a little old, but you're at least going somewhere. We aren't. And you can show up for the flight hungover, sleepy or with a little ambien ready to go. BIG diff.

Yep, we can quit. After dedicating 20 years to a profession, and being one of the best, it's tough to walk away. If I had to do it again, would I fly? Heck no. Sadly, a vast majority of the best and the brightest currently in the profession will tell you the same. It'll be OK for the next 10 years, but after that, I'm a little scared of the "new talent" this "profession" attracts. I guess I'll have to buy a Winnie to do all my traveling when I retire. It'll be safer than flying.

BTW, my buddies who stayed in the military make, on average, around $60K more a year than those who got out to fly for the airlines. But tickets are still cheap right?

 

[N346PS]

I just couldn't pass this one up....me either, whats the difference between a pilot & a mechanic other than job description? Not a damn thing both are driven by perfection, the airlines were considered to be "the best of the best" that was then this is now. I was a mechanic I didnt have sams shot up my tailpipe I was the guy that crawled up that tailpipe to make sure that engine worked right. Most mechanics spend as much time as pilots do "building time". But it paid-off in the begining, I got to work for the airline that inspired me to get into aviation, it was the one that had the smile. But then things changed, that eastcoast airline that everyone said "wow there still in business" bought a couple of very good airlines. I was always proud to say "I work for PSA", after the merger it changed to im in the transportation business. But the paychecks got bigger so I stuck around, then after several moves things were going downhill very fast I was "offered" the opportunity to retire I took it. Would I do it again not a chance in the world. But I hope the future of aviation is not as bleak as some people here claim because my nephew has his sights on the airlines when he retires from the USAirforce, hopefully when that happens wages will be where they should be.