You guys can say what you want, but within two days I have gotten two new calls for contract work.

Yes they both are overseas (One London, one Nigeria but spend most of your time in London and Paris) but they are brand new corporate jets and paying VERY well.

Things are getting better in the industry, its just at a slow pace.

Well I'm for strict regulation.

I think the flight crew on any public carrier should receive a very decent minimum wage. At they same time they should be subject to strict licensing requirements so that guys like the guy that flew the Colgan plane into the ground would be weeded out. There should be strict physical and mental fitness tests that need to be passed, and there should also be very stringent requirements regarding hours flown on a particular type of aircraft etc.

If this isn't an appropriate area for strict government regulation—I don't know what is.

Like I said, very glad that I am close to retiring.

Europe has the "strict physical and mental fitness tests" and uses them for the most part to weed out people that would be fine flying the airplane but are not the top 3-4% of the pilots, forcing the rest to have another career. This is NOT how its supposed to be used but that does not stop them.

We do far stricter medical tests than 99% of the rest of the public. We do a flight (or simulator) check every six or twelve months. When was the last time any of you guys did a re-check of your drivers license skills? Never I bet ,yet everyone spouts off that the pilots need more checks. The most dangerous part of ANY flight is driving to the airport to get on the jet, but getting killed in a car accident is not as exciting as an airplane crash.

More regulation is NOT needed, as you cannot regulate safety. I do agree that higher pay and more experience is needed. Regulations? Not in my silly mind but then I have only been doing this for 38 years now flying for small companies like Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Bombardier.

Oh by the way, you guys ram more regulations in MY world, it need to carry over into the passengers world as well. More tests for me and you guys get them as well. After all, we wouldnt want someone going silly inside the airplane while we were on a flight would we!

Joe A

What are you saying here that I am missing?

I have sat at Narita, CdG, Kennedy etc. etc. countless times, waiting for my flight, watching people go by. Whenever you see an overweight, tired, vacant-looking guy in a Captain's uniform—you can bet your pension that he's flying for an American airline. Small point and anecdotal.

Still. I would like to see my pilots fit and alert. I would like all my pilots to be military graduates. People who've done serious flying and are in the right mental and physical shape to convey hundreds of people across empty oceans at great heights. Really I would. And I am happy to pay a little more for this privilege.

So sorry, but I really think that this is an industry that should be far more regulated—everywhere—than it currently is. And I think you guys should be paid top dollar. At every port of call at which you stay the ancient wines should be uncorked, the fatted lambs slaughtered and the virgins bathed in milk. You deserve no less.

I hold you in the highest esteem for what you do day in day out. But I welcome the most stringent regulations imaginable to weed out the losers that have no place in the left seat (and the buckets of bolts that have no business being in the air).

About nine years ago I ran the San Diego Rock-n-Roll Marathon. When I finished, I had gotten separated from my friends, couldn't find their car and didn't have a cell phone with me. Three guys in the parking lot asked if I needed a ride. They were pilots for Northwest, who had just flown in to run the race. We all went to In-N-Out Burger to gorge ourselves and then they drove me back to my friend's place. Very cool guys and obviously in top shape.

Hey pilots! Want a job?

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From the AOPA daily blurb


Crop dusting soars
The aviation industry may be struggling, but the one bright spot is crop dusting, which is booming. The recent farming boom has boosted demand for crop dusting, and while salaries for pilots at small airlines may start at just around $20,000, skilled agricultural pilots typically earn between $60,000 and $100,000 a year. The Wall Street Journal (8/14)

I'm interested. Do you need prior tank plane experience?

Also, I probably need to get my tailwheel endorsement (I've got some hours in a Super Decathlon but I'd need to get the sign-off).

I actually instructed a guy who was a former cropduster (he wanted an Instrument Rating so he could go after U.S. Forestry Service stuff flying their tank planes, since he had tons of tank plane experience). Lots of fun stories. A bit "cowboy" and can be dangerous if you're not careful, but if he was any indication, it'll make you a damn good stick/rudder pilot.