The SHOW: Airlines still a "good gig"??

[zippy]

Sorry to see the Queen of the Skies depart US passenger aviation.

The Boeing 747 'Jumbo Jet' Takes Its Final U.S. Commercial Flight This Week
https://jalopnik.com/the-boeing-747-jumbo-jet-takes-its-final-u-s-commercia-1821365922

The last flight will be Delta's Seoul to Detroit route, but it seemed appropriate to use an old Pan Am photo.

Mainline Pax carriers yes, but folks can still enjoy the ride back from deployment on an Atlas 747-400...

 

[ChuckMK23]

They were buying Bombardier C Series jets partially for that but Boeing cried foul and used their army of lawyers to slap a huge tariff on them. The 321neo is nearer to the 757 in terms of seats and range. 737MAX may have been an option for that but I wouldn’t be surprised if Delta wants to stick it to Boeing.

Boeing butt hurt over Canadiens cancelling the Super Hornet deal....

Boeing: We Cannot, Will Not Stop Bombardier Trade Dispute

Boeing said it sees the 100-150-seat market as a $4 billion opportunity worldwide, including $1 billion in the U.S.

http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/boeing-we-cannot-will-not-stop-bombardier-trade-dispute

 

[ChuckMK23]

Interesting read - seems like "cost control" is the topic of the day.

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/12/airlines-rising-costs-threaten-to-drag.html?m=1

 

[HAL Pilot]

Cost control, maximizing share holder profits, etc. is always the topic of the day with management. It never changes.

 

[Fallonflyr]

Yep, once you realize you are a high cost widget and not part of the “ management team”, the easier life gets.

 

[phrogdriver]

Yep, once you realize you are a high cost widget and not part of the “ management team”, the easier life gets.

I think that’s the most important issue for aviators to think about when they leave the military.

For all its faults, in the USN and USMC, aviators are part of the management. You aren’t running the whole place, but generally you have a say in how things run in your individual organization. In most civilian flying jobs, you’re being hired to be a meat servo. Some people like that, some don’t

Your skills as a naval aviator are valuable both in flying and in managing. Think carefully about which skill you think will lead to more job satisfaction.

 

[Python]

Your skills as a naval aviator are valuable both in flying and in managing. Think carefully about which skill you think will lead to more job satisfaction.

Flying.

 

[phrogdriver]

Flying.

Good. Everyone has a different answer. I just throw that out as food for thought.

 

[Fallonflyr]

If you like flying and managing, volunteer to do union work at your company...some guys love being tied to their phone and you can make a difference for your fellow pilots.

 

[zippy]

Interesting read - seems like "cost control" is the topic of the day.

http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/12/airlines-rising-costs-threaten-to-drag.html?m=1

Investors never like money going to anyone but themselves...

I think that’s the most important issue for aviators to think about when they leave the military.

For all its faults, in the USN and USMC, aviators are part of the management. You aren’t running the whole place, but generally you have a say in how things run in your individual organization. In most civilian flying jobs, you’re being hired to be a meat servo. Some people like that, some don’t

Your skills as a naval aviator are valuable both in flying and in managing. Think carefully about which skill you think will lead to more job satisfaction.

That’s the beauty of Airline life- you can have both, you just won’t be both at the same place with few exceptions. Two of my peers have either started or continued to run non-profit organizations while being airline pilots and there are plenty of other folks that have their own businesses that they manage on the side.

 

[wink]

If you like flying and managing, volunteer to do union work at your company...some guys love being tied to their phone and you can make a difference for your fellow pilots.

Ah....or become a check airman, chief pilot, fleet manager, manager of training or operations. Plenty of management jobs on the company side. An arguement can be made you will do more for your fellow pilots as a Chief Pilot or Safety dude for the company. About half of the Chiefs I have come across in 27 years had also done Union work. Some do Union work after leaving company management.

 

[Fallonflyr]

Ah....or become a check airman, chief pilot, fleet manager, manager of training or operations. Plenty of management jobs on the company side. An arguement can be made you will do more for your fellow pilots as a Chief Pilot or Safety dude for the company. About half of the Chiefs I have come across in 27 years had also done Union work. Some do Union work after leaving company management.

Our chief pilots have been neutered by HR...they are essentially useless.

 

[HAL Pilot]

I think that’s the most important issue for aviators to think about when they leave the military.

For all its faults, in the USN and USMC, aviators are part of the management. You aren’t running the whole place, but generally you have a say in how things run in your individual organization. In most civilian flying jobs, you’re being hired to be a meat servo. Some people like that, some don’t

Your skills as a naval aviator are valuable both in flying and in managing. Think carefully about which skill you think will lead to more job satisfaction.

You don't think the military cares about costs? What about all those broken planes? Not enough planes? Old planes? Lack of pilots? etc. Same thing different name.

Most pilots want to be pilots, not managers. And as others have pointed out - there are plenty of manager positions available to the pilots at an airline that want to do both.

So I counter your "meat servo" bullshit with better family life, more time off, extremely less bullshit, a hell of a lot more flying, great benefits, one hell of a better paycheck, etc.

Every airline pilot on here has experienced military aviation. We can knowledgably compare the two. You on the other had have zero experience with being an airline pilot.

 

[Deleted member 24525]

It’s a good gig.
I like the time off, and am exploring other ways of self improvement. Some guys golf, some guys run marathons all over the world, some guys ski every slope they can. Flying for free, making more than an O6, and having 15 days off a month allows them to do it.
Additionally, lot of guys have side hustles-be it a non profit, or their own companies.

The last few times I had days off-I didn’t do diddly. I slept in and hung out in pajamas drinking coffee. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I thought it could be.

 

[Hotdogs]

Good. Everyone has a different answer. I just throw that out as food for thought.

As an Osprey guy - You wouldn’t fit in the airline community. They actually have to stick to timelines and find their correct landing locations. I just throw that out as good for thought.

(I’m fucking kidding, don’t get all butthurt on me )