haha....the 135's are capable of 9999 fpm on the VSI...or so i've been told. :D

although...it's no rocket ship like a straight wing lear.

Close enough?

http://www.diggerhistory.info/images.../camo-girl.jpg

No chance. ;)

Yes, Shiny Jet Syndrome has alot to do with it.

How many of you would give your left nut to drive a Porsche RS Spyder around Daytona? Would you do it for free? Would you refuse if they offered to pay but pay pennies? Or would you demand to get paid as much as a pro race car driver? If you wont do it, there are THOUSANDS right behind you who will.

Its NO different in aviation. Because of the avaition explosion in the mid 2000's, companies couldnt get pilots fast enough to cover airplane deliveries, so they lower the mins to get more people in. And of course, pay has never been adjusted because there are COUNTLESS people who would it for basically free, just to fly a nice new shiny jet around. "S.J.S."

Here it is...an Embraer 140 Regional Jet...ERJ140
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...76_4769328.jpg

I would love to spend some time in an old Lear 24 (or 35 for that matter). :D

(btw, due to my long tenure at the airline - 18 years - my salary is actually pretty good, much higher than the much publicized 16-20K that junior regional airline first officers are (wrongly) paid).

Two of my many rides over the years....


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242445100.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242445339.jpg

Two more of my fav rides.
 

One for the commute, the other for the commute...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242447039.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242447060.jpg

Hat’s off to you professional pilots. I left the aviation field in 1991 due to the pay, not that it was real bad I just had other business opportunities that paid 4X (family business) what I was making flying in the charter capacity C-414, C-501 & many others. I grew up flying; private license at 18yo empted lavs and fueled planes though high school to be around aircraft and pilots. Flew what ever I could get my hands on, Cessna’s, luscombs, T-craft homebuilts, mostly tail draggers off of grass strips. I flight instructed through college at a university part 141 flight school had to tell a few flight students that golf was a safer vocation; some people should not operate high speed machinery. Went to school for the aerospace business degree. I flew for 3 years as charter pilot for a high end fixed based operator in Wyoming. Loved it!

Flying is certainly my first love, my rational was that if I made enough money I could own my own plane and fly when ever I wanted an when I wanted, well I got to do that I however was capped out with piston twins C-310 & C-414, Beech Baron’s still plenty of challenge in the rocky mountains mostly for business and pleasure. After living in Montana & Wyoming for a while I got introduced to backcountry flying, AKA Mountain flying 1500 Foot grass strips in Montana and Idaho. Flying Super Cubs, C-180, and C-206’s.

I was addicted, big time! got to fly, camp, fish, hunt in areas with no people. Heaven on earth for me. I still keep current in the little stuff, I like a tail draggers because like 911 you need to keep on your toes, they have a tendency of swapping ends when you lest expect it, they also allow landing areas that a tricycle gear air plane would have difficulties.

My point in this is, many people like me leave professional flying because the pay is not great and there are many things they fail to mention in the brochure i.e. living out of a suite case and changing jobs with companies & flight dept’s that may not last. I have several friends that I flew with that are flying wide bodies on international routes for freight companies and the airlines. I offend wish that I had stuck it out, they sometime tell me that they wish they had gone the business route like I did. I still keep a hand in it and believe that no matter what your flying, airmanship & training are the only things that will keep you from making a smoking hole.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242448317.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242448355.jpg

My dad was an Alaska bush pilot. Knowing what I know now at age 40 (way too old to be worth a salt as a fighter pilot) I wish I could trade my time to be a bush pilot. It's all about the 'real' stick-and-rudder time down low.

I have 21 hrs in one of these..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242499601.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242615416.jpg

i miss my turboprop.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../8/1302816.jpg

Sometimes I miss the turboprop too, actually I really miss the handlebars. That is a great control system. I never installed tassles or a bell though.

What was the nickname for the ATR? I flew with an ex-ASA guy the other day but I can't remember what he called it.

Thanks for giving us the crappy 200s of the fleet BTW ;) I just spent the last two days in 863AS, 864AS, and 865AS. 863 was by far the most craptastic of the three.

Man you guys are spoiled... What's with all them television screens? You guys have DVD players in your cockpits? Real airplanes have steam gauges. ;) :p

if it was a real airplane, it would have FADEC....:p

Even if I do not attain my goal of becoming a pilot, I will experience bush flying before I die, hopefully in AK. There's nothing I can think of that would be more fun.

Some folks are born with an aptitude to fly, others are not. In my days as a primary flight instructor in the Navy I saw quite a few well screened applicants who simply couldn't "get it". Unfortunately some are pushed through for various reasons (usually legal) with predictable results. My current ride:
http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...767cockpit.jpg

the frog\ cloud plow\ flying dumpster

one of our maintenance guys used to tell horror storys about 863.. it always concluded with "we gave that buggy piece of sh*%$ to the mormons"

Ray, I'm guessing you're with Delta out of Atlanta?

Scott, yes he is, and the ATR was called the 'Party Boat" when I was there, partially because it had a crew of 4 and all the hot, junior F/A's were stuck on it and it had 20 hour overnights in Panama City, i.e. Club LaVela... whew,. the stories i've,.... uh,.. heard,...

...kind of reminds me of my old Miami days on the same airplane (not that this married guy ever saw anything first hand, but I heard about it).

Si. Yourself?

I don't want to talk about. International is great if you're into elbow skin.

18 years at Eagle. LAX based on the Embraer RJ, but I have also been based in MIA, JFK, DFW, ORD and BNA over the years. I've only lived near two of the bases however - LAX and MIA. I commuted to the other bases. I have a number with AA - if they ever hire again. :rolleyes:

18 years. That's a bunch of dues paid. I suppose it's the same for us all. You pay yo' money and take your chances. AA seems to be a good outfit. Do they have a flowthru?

They do - and I have a number - but it's going to be financially painful for a couple of years after I step over for this mid-forties age guy. That's the way it goes though.

You may never make captain there either if you dont get there soon, or stand the chance of being based somewhere you dont want to be and being on reserve as a captain when youre 60ish. We had a Northwest guy on our jumpseat a few years ago that I will never forget. That was his situation. Junior captain at age 58. Still on reserve and commuting from ATL to MSP. There are at least 10-15 guys here that I know of at my fractional that are still waiting to be recalled to AA. That would be a tough decision.. There are plenty of lifers at ASA..

I was talking with a guy the other day ,that flys a Metro on night freight/mail and he referred to the aircraft as the "Death Pencil"---I had a chuckle.

The way our flow through agreement works, if I have a number (I do), I have to go when called over. I can't tell them "never mind".

The thing that might help me is that AA's list is OLD (in terms of average age). They haven't really hired in almost ten years and their junior guys are all mid thirties and above. The majority of guys there I believe are in their mid 40's and older, and most of their captains are 50+. They'll have quite a few retirements over the next ten years, so that should help me move on up the list.

We'll see.

AKA San Antonio Sewer Tube.

I thought the Metro guys referred to it as the "dildo of death" at my old place.

Nice to know the crew feels the same way as the passengers.

do you want the actual numbers? Happen to have the data.

Kurt,

This used to be the case but not these days. Their flying is greatly limited and most have 3-5000 hours total time, which is not a lot of time. Their training is very good but then these days most civilian pilots are trained well.

If you can get past the initial stage and into a seat where you are making some descent money its a good job. Still, ever 6 months we get two chances to lose our career, a checkride and medical, and its EVERY 6 MONTHS that we do this.

Am trying to be like Singpilot and retire in the next few years so I can fly this more often: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242760881.jpg
Slipping to a landing "in the bush" in Western AZ.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242760931.jpg

Just about down

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242760953.jpg

Rolling out on a 1200 foot strip in the boonies.

Until then I get to fly this to pay the bills:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1242760994.jpg

Challenger 605

Joe;

I'll give ya a hint.

Retirement under the present conditions ain't what was planned for.

Keep flying.

I think the ultimate ironic job would be for Joe A. to fly Dr. Phil someplace.

Amen to that, brother!

James,

The problem is that Dr. Phil is a jerk (cannot say the "A" word here) and not a nice guy to fly. I have heard this from several sources that is has a real temper. Friend of mine knows a pilot who charters out a Cessna Citation that he is half owner of.

They picked up Phil in VNY or BUR and were taking him to Dallas. About half way the stew comes forward and tells the Captain that he needs to come in the back, that they have a problem.

He goes back and finds that Phil has evidently spilled something (was told red wine) and that one of the pax were writing on the side walls of the interior. This is a big red flag and is not done on a private jet without massive payments of money to re-do the damage. The Captain had a discussion with Phil and was trying to get him to be a bit more considerate. Evidently Phil told the Capt to "FO."

Wrong move as the Captain returned to the cockpit and started a descent into New Mexico. Was told that he dropped the entire family in Las Cruces and took off for home. Its not nice to pi$$ off the Capt/part owner of the jet and Phil found out that being an A**hole does not always work. It as well would not work on me and I have absolutely no desire to fly or for that matter meet him unless he can conduct himself as a gentleman.

Singpilot, know what you mean and my retirement took a big hit in the last year. Just got the statement last week and its back up 10% and hope it continues this direction.

Joe A

I got a statement last month (for the first quarter of the year) and it showed this BIG graph with a rising trend from the lower left to the upper right, like 45 degree slope. Then I looked at the units of the graph.

.9% up total scale. Made $61. dollars last quarter. Immediately went for a cheeseburger and a coke.

Am now even for the year.

On another subject; +1 on the Dr. Phil. He is partner in a plane at Clay Lacy. Is typed and 'qualified' if only in his own mind. Does not fly because no one will fly with him.

On another subject. Captains' perogative. Dropped DeNiro in Guymon, Oklahoma cross country after he chewed out studio president on flight phone while in studio G3. Said prez called me and told me to strand him somewhere, and he'd better have to walk to town.

Anyone familiar with Guymon? I am. Robert DeNiro is.

Sing,

Mine actually went up just short of $10k in the last 3 months. Have my 401k in "River Source" and they have done a very good job.

Good one on Guymon OK... been through there and there is absolutely NOTHING there. Hope that Bobby enjoyed it there. Sorry but "stars" do not mean squat to me, they are just someone who can memorize lines and who hollywood wants to push that week.

Heard that Phil flies a Citation at times. Your comments mirror what I have heard.

Great Story!