Unless you are in the industry or somehow affiliated with it, you will never truly understand what it takes to be part of aviation as a whole. There is just so much to it on so many different levels. I am only just now scratching in the dust on the peaks of Everest.
In the past I always used to refer to pilots as "glorified bus drivers" but then I quite obviously never understood a 100th of what it takes to actually become a pilot. By pilot in this context I am referring to a commercial (professional) pilot and higher. Even after I got my private pilot’s license I still kinda thought "oh this isn’t as bad as everyone makes out" and thought I was quite something. Let me tell you, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Naïve bordering on stupidity to the maximum extreme!
I have learned a whole new respect for the guys and gals taking care of our skies and everything associated with it on the ground. It’s not easy. It’s scientific, precise, so strict, and on so many levels, wrought with inherent dangers. All this put together makes it so much safer for you (and me still) the traveler, getting to where we want to or need to be in one piece. Every aspect is covered and drilled into you. If a flight is slightly delayed there’s usually been an issue that had to cleared for our safety. If the flight is a little bumpy, chill. The pilots are not God (even though some might act differently) and have no control over the weather. And if you land a bit hard on the odd occasion then just accept that out of the 100s of landing that each of these guys do monthly, they cannot predict every single circumstance 50 feet off the ground traveling at 300kph aiming at a runway that, to draw a comparison, is like you driving at 200kph into your driveway.
The past two weeks has been an absolute eye opener. I’m using the term "eye opener" extremely loosely. I really mean "sheer terror"! I am only a 1/4 of the way through the ground school lectures and already I’m battling for air. It was supposed to be 4 hours a day (9-1) for 8 weeks and I thought I was mentally prepared for it. The information came at me with such force that almost equates to a baseball bat swung full tilt in the gob which made me feel completely overwhelmed, bruised and scarred and I just wanted to crawl up and die. On completion of day two I was so shaky I must admit my mind was jumping back to projects in shitty places like Angola because that’s where I am comfortable as that’s what I know. Comfort zone / Security blanket.
Day 3 I woke up with a vengeance. To hell with all this doubt. If I had tried to study everything I know about IT that I learned over the last 10 years in a short 8 weeks I would be just as flabbergasted to say the least. Get a grip dammit! What are you going to do? Wimp out now at the first little hurdle? HELL NO!!! To quote the famous words of NASA, "Failure is NOT an option!" So now I have jumped in head first and am hitting it with everything I have.
The school was kind enough to let me sit night school as well so with the exception of two lectures I missed because night school started 2 weeks earlier, I get to sit every lecture twice and it’s not the same course material at night as during the day which makes for some variation which is nice. Different subject, different lecturer, different people. Yes that also makes for an extremely long day though starting at 9am and finishing at 10pm but it’s worth it and it’s only for 2 months and besides, I get a double whammy of 1st class lecturing. I have to keep reminding myself that A/ No one said this would be easy and B/ This is what I want and if it were easy I would get bored and would walk away looking for another challenge. I’m demented like that. What ever happened to "following the path of least resistance"?
Next time I see those chaps (and chipettes) with 3 stripes and most especially those chaps (and chipettes) with 4 stripes, they will most certainly get the respect they deserve from me. No more snide bus driver comments. And if there are any bus drivers reading this, I think you are kewl too! Respect bruv!
It’s late, I have school tomorrow, goodnight.
X
How inspiring! I’m glad you are not giving up and it will be worth all the effort in the end. I hope all is well even if you are giving up your days and nights for 2 months - just in time for my next visit! Will keep you posted by looking at end Sept.
Love and miss you lots!! Bean xx
OK, respect for the “bus driver”, but what about those lovely girls that bring you drinks and snacks during the flight. Now, they have my respect (and admiration), they earned it.
WG
BEAN! - Thank you my sweetie! It will be worth it I know. Ohhh I will still be here end of September so PLEASE let me know when you plan your trip so I can plan accordingly!!! I dont want to miss you this time! Love you my gorgeous Bean. XXXXXX … Miss you loads!!!!
WG - Ohhh of course…. I have always respected the hostie! In flight entertainment without the need for a telly! Hmmmmm… The good old days! Ths way I can introduce you to all of them matey.
Yippee, only a couple of days until I climb those stairs again. Turn left and avoid all the riff raff. Take a comfortable seat and enjoy a refreshing glass of bubbly while the lovely hostess massages my feet. The only annoying part is that I don’t get to see what the lords and ladies in 1st Class are getting.
Can’t wait to watch the in-flight entertainment. I’ll probably watch a bit of telly as well.
WG
WG - Hopefully one day I can invite you for a tour of the 4 stripers room where it all happens. That way if you get lost on the way back to your seat you can just settle down and get comfortable in 1st class courtesy of the flight deck. Who needs a telly when you are flying an exceptional airline sporting God’s greatest gift to air travel, the in-flight entertainment!
You can break down any profession and make it seem as insignificant as possible. Aren’t surgeons glorified butchers? What about accountants? Oh, they’re just desk clerks with a little extra calculator knowledge and a 6-figure salary.
I’m a pilot, and it greatly annoys me to hear people referring to my dream profession that I’ve poured money, time, and my heart (and brains for that matter lol) into as “glorified bus driving.” Those ignorant people are the same who don’t read the safety briefing cards and who live life as jaded, depressed wrecks.
Alex - I hear you wholeheartedly and if you carefully read the spirit of this post you will see that I am agreeing with your point 110%. I was once one of those ignorants that snubbed the pilot profession thinking it was just a boys club for joyriding cowboys. That was until I changed my profession and started CPL/ATPL lectures. So please accept my apologies for my past transgressions and accept those of the others out there that are still clueless but don’t have the means to be enlightened. Fly safe mate!
I did understand that you agreed with my point; please excuse my hotheadedness regarding this subject, but I have faced much opposition in my life from almost all my friends and, to my horror, my own family, regarding professional flight. For long period of time, I have had to rely only on myself for motivation and drive, but it has made the final goal all the more worth it! It is good to find another enlightened individual out there. Keep the pointy side forward, the dirty side down, and the nose wheel on the centerline
Alex - That’s a pity man. I guess I have been very fortunate with the support that I have gotten from friends and family with regards to me doing this. It was a massive lifestyle change and a huge gamble but I am indeed loving it. Are you CPL or ATP? Where you flying? Where was your training? Take it easy mate. Happy flying!