So ya want to be a pilot....

[Duke{CLR}]

I have been doing a lot of reading on the Buffalo Colgan crash over the last week because the NTSB had hearings on it and released some information. During my searches I ran across this article that is surprisingly accurate considering that it comes from the NYT.

The Reality of a Pilot?s Life Defies a Glamorous Stereotype - NYTimes.com

[BlackArrow]

It is sad what pilots have to go through just to get to their job......

Something has to change.

[Duke{CLR}]

It is sad what pilots have to go through just to get to their job......

Something has to change.

There will be a huge pilot shortage when the economy takes off again. Two years ago regional airlines like Colgan couldn't find enough people to fill their classes. Here at American Eagle we have it better then most regionals but we had a hard time filling up our classes because the time to become a captain is longer.

[mapes]

There will be a huge pilot shortage when the economy takes off again. Two years ago regional airlines like Colgan couldn't find enough people to fill their classes. Here at American Eagle we have it better then most regionals but we had a hard time filling up our classes because the time to become a captain is longer.

Duke just outta curiosity do you read Salon's Ask a Pilot column? Although I'm not a pilot the guy who writes the column seems to be pretty good. Just curious though

[Duke{CLR}]

Duke just outta curiosity do you read Salon's Ask a Pilot column? Although I'm not a pilot the guy who writes the column seems to be pretty good. Just curious though

I haven't, any linkage?

[mapes]

Ask the Pilot - Salon.com


You have to sit through a small ad for sec ...

[Duke{CLR}]

Although I disagree with some of what he said he knows his stuff and after reading a bit it appears that he flew for American Eagle in the 90s so he can't be all bad. This is much better then the idiots I have heard on the radio and seen on TV talking about the Colgan crash.

[mapes]

I defiantly like how he debunks the media hype

[Duke{CLR}]

I defiantly like how he debunks the media hype

99% of the "aviation experts" on TV are so bad it's ridiculous.

[Apache Warrior]

99% of the "aviation experts" on TV are so bad it's ridiculous.

99% of any "media Experts" are terrible.
Apache

[Apache Warrior]

99% of the "aviation experts" on TV are so bad it's ridiculous.

99% of any "Media Experts" are terrible.
Apache

[MR_MADHATTER]

I tried to get my pilot's ticket a long time ago but I was always short on either time or money. I got as far as a few solos in a 152 on my log book and my job got in the way. I was working massive overtime building ultralights. It was the 80's ultralight boom. I got to fly those sometimes (didn't need a certification). I have a few hanger stories about flying ultralights. I flew some of my friend's planes. A couple of Bonanzas and a Skyhawk. I always wondered what would have happened if I had become a pilot instead of an A&P.

You got it right about the media "experts". I have to scream at the TV sometimes.

Sometime in the future, if I have enough money and recreational flying hasn't gone to hell, I want to build a plane of my own. I think I would get as much fun out of building it as I would flying.

[Duke{CLR}]

I tried to get my pilot's ticket a long time ago but I was always short on either time or money. I got as far as a few solos in a 152 on my log book and my job got in the way. I was working massive overtime building ultralights. It was the 80's ultralight boom. I got to fly those sometimes (didn't need a certification). I have a few hanger stories about flying ultralights. I flew some of my friend's planes. A couple of Bonanzas and a Skyhawk. I always wondered what would have happened if I had become a pilot instead of an A&P.

You got it right about the media "experts". I have to scream at the TV sometimes.

Sometime in the future, if I have enough money and recreational flying hasn't gone to hell, I want to build a plane of my own. I think I would get as much fun out of building it as I would flying.

The FO I'm flying this month in going to Virgina to look at a Piper Cherokee. It has 1900 hours on the engine and airframe and is only 19K. I was surprised at how inexpensive small aircraft are these days. You could buy it and have someone give you the required instruction then build up you hours that way. Your A&P would come in handy as well. You could do someones annual in exchange for some instruction.