Speaking of A4s, I’ve been meaning to make this post for a while now:
On the very first page of this thread there was a discussion about challenge, rigor, and “big-boyness” of airline flying vs. military flying. Phrogdriver and Baconator/Bogeyspotter/Joboy were all discussing (arguing?) with A4s, simply unable to see A4’s POV that airline flying was the “peak” of airmanship. A4s asserted that the military is where you cut your teeth and have great adventure, but the airlines are the big leagues of flying.
I remember reading this a long time ago, and rereading it again a few years later, each time thinking that there’s no way that A4s is right about this. Now I’m still a youngin’ in the industry (5.5 years as of now), but I feel like I have enough knowledge to generate an informed opinion on the topic. I have flown the 737, A320, 757, and 767. In the airlines I have flown domestic and international. I have flown to S. America and Europe. I’ve done a little Pacific flying to Hawaii. I am NOT a Captain, and I know that matters. I am a sim instructor at my airline, and as such I am required to have “captain knowledge” and role play as a Captain during unbalanced training events. I fully acknowledge I haven’t been there and done that as a real Captain, but I do have some insights beyond just being a FO.
All this to say: my original position was reinforced. Airline flying is much easier and simpler than military flying. It’s not even close. That isn’t meant as a dick measuring statement. And I understand the nature of the missions at each place are different with different levels of risk. When deciding whether a transoceanic airline flight is more “big league” than launching off the boat, aerial refueling, joining your wingman, executing a tactical mission, then recovering aboard an aircraft carrier, I honestly don’t know how A4s took the position he did. And reading that first page again, that IS his position. He states that there’s just “something” about it. And that something is ineffable. A je ne sais quoi.
An airline career is excellent. It affords me a dream lifestyle, an awesome opportunity to raise my family with a fantastic QOL, and the mechanism to build true intergenerational wealth. I’d recommend it to anyone, and I’m so happy I did it. Ideally, I’d recommend airlines+reserve/ANG for the ultimate 1-2 punch. However, I’ve waited a long time to see if A4s knew something I didn’t. Turns out, he didn’t.
On the very first page of this thread there was a discussion about challenge, rigor, and “big-boyness” of airline flying vs. military flying. Phrogdriver and Baconator/Bogeyspotter/Joboy were all discussing (arguing?) with A4s, simply unable to see A4’s POV that airline flying was the “peak” of airmanship. A4s asserted that the military is where you cut your teeth and have great adventure, but the airlines are the big leagues of flying.
I remember reading this a long time ago, and rereading it again a few years later, each time thinking that there’s no way that A4s is right about this. Now I’m still a youngin’ in the industry (5.5 years as of now), but I feel like I have enough knowledge to generate an informed opinion on the topic. I have flown the 737, A320, 757, and 767. In the airlines I have flown domestic and international. I have flown to S. America and Europe. I’ve done a little Pacific flying to Hawaii. I am NOT a Captain, and I know that matters. I am a sim instructor at my airline, and as such I am required to have “captain knowledge” and role play as a Captain during unbalanced training events. I fully acknowledge I haven’t been there and done that as a real Captain, but I do have some insights beyond just being a FO.
All this to say: my original position was reinforced. Airline flying is much easier and simpler than military flying. It’s not even close. That isn’t meant as a dick measuring statement. And I understand the nature of the missions at each place are different with different levels of risk. When deciding whether a transoceanic airline flight is more “big league” than launching off the boat, aerial refueling, joining your wingman, executing a tactical mission, then recovering aboard an aircraft carrier, I honestly don’t know how A4s took the position he did. And reading that first page again, that IS his position. He states that there’s just “something” about it. And that something is ineffable. A je ne sais quoi.
An airline career is excellent. It affords me a dream lifestyle, an awesome opportunity to raise my family with a fantastic QOL, and the mechanism to build true intergenerational wealth. I’d recommend it to anyone, and I’m so happy I did it. Ideally, I’d recommend airlines+reserve/ANG for the ultimate 1-2 punch. However, I’ve waited a long time to see if A4s knew something I didn’t. Turns out, he didn’t.
