SkyDog58
Ejection Handle Pulled
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2015
- Messages
- 14,600
- Location
- My own special place.
- Display Name
Display name:
Canis Non Grata
This is my 10,000th post. To mark the occasion as meager and unimportant as it might be, I thought I’d post some random observations in response to some common themes I see on POA. So, here I go…
Very seldom if ever is an aviation business of any sort out to screw pilots. They all know aviation is a small world made smaller these days by social media. This is especially true of flight schools. If you feel they are trying to screw you, take a look in the mirror. You will likely see the person with the real problem looking back at you. The same goes for your CFI. CFIs while not infallible and certainly not perfect are very seldom the reason you are not successful in your progress. It’s most likely that you are not performing well enough due to your own inadequacies.
Your A&P is not perfect and does not know it all. We make mistakes and sometimes do not have the right answer. Troubleshooting some problems can be a PITA. Communication is frequently the key though especially in the form of the pilot adequately explaining the symptoms of a discrepancy with as much relevant info as possible.
I appreciate the viewpoints of our ATC folks who frequently see things a bit differently than do most pilots and I believe for good reason. They see the big picture of what is happening in their airspace while the individual pilot has but a small slice of it. They understand their policies and procedures better than we do and often know the reasons behind them. They are not only an asset when you need them in flight, but their knowledge and experiences supplied in POA posts are nuggets of knowledge and wisdom for the rest of us. Pick them up!
It is a well-known fact that aviation jobs, particularly airlines, require working long hours, odd shifts, weekends, holidays, etc., and requires paying dues in the form of time and effort and frequently for not a great paycheck in your early years. It is also an industry fraught with layoffs, downsizing, bankruptcies, mergers, etc. that affect pay and seniority. You knew that going in. Stop your whining. If you didn’t know it, you are an idiot for not researching the industry before jumping in.
Drinking and driving is foolhardy and demonstrates very poor judgment. Having a record of being foolhardy makes regulators nervous out of concern for not just you but also for the safety and well-being of others. You should not be surprised then when your past foolhardiness comes back to bite you. So, if you are asked to jump through hoops to prove those foolhardy days are in your past, JUMP!
Develop personal minimums. Mine are quite restrictive but I believe it keeps me and anyone flying with me safe. I’d rather disappoint than cause injury or death.
You can’t just pull your airplane to the side of the road in the sky. So, if either you or the airplane aren’t operating optimally, stay on the ground.
IMC is no place for low time pilots especially those without their IR.
Trying to impress friends and family with low level shenanigans will often just leave an impression in the ground.
Well, I have more thoughts, but these are all for now. Don’t want to bore you too much all at once. Take them for what they are worth. I’m not trying to be preachy and hope that I don’t come across as a know it all because I certainly am not. This is just my two cents based on my experiences in aviation. This includes 35 years of aviation maintenance as an A&P/IA. This included time working in general aviation, Part 121 airlines, Part 145 repair stations, OEMs, and US Army helicopters. I’ve held practically every possible position from mechanic to hangar manager. Some of these thoughts are also influenced by my experiences pursuing my private pilot certificate & four ratings (ASEL, ASES, AMEL, Glider) during which time I had numerous CFIs and passed four check rides with four different DPEs. And of course, they are influenced by my experiences as a pilot as well.
Very seldom if ever is an aviation business of any sort out to screw pilots. They all know aviation is a small world made smaller these days by social media. This is especially true of flight schools. If you feel they are trying to screw you, take a look in the mirror. You will likely see the person with the real problem looking back at you. The same goes for your CFI. CFIs while not infallible and certainly not perfect are very seldom the reason you are not successful in your progress. It’s most likely that you are not performing well enough due to your own inadequacies.
Your A&P is not perfect and does not know it all. We make mistakes and sometimes do not have the right answer. Troubleshooting some problems can be a PITA. Communication is frequently the key though especially in the form of the pilot adequately explaining the symptoms of a discrepancy with as much relevant info as possible.
I appreciate the viewpoints of our ATC folks who frequently see things a bit differently than do most pilots and I believe for good reason. They see the big picture of what is happening in their airspace while the individual pilot has but a small slice of it. They understand their policies and procedures better than we do and often know the reasons behind them. They are not only an asset when you need them in flight, but their knowledge and experiences supplied in POA posts are nuggets of knowledge and wisdom for the rest of us. Pick them up!
It is a well-known fact that aviation jobs, particularly airlines, require working long hours, odd shifts, weekends, holidays, etc., and requires paying dues in the form of time and effort and frequently for not a great paycheck in your early years. It is also an industry fraught with layoffs, downsizing, bankruptcies, mergers, etc. that affect pay and seniority. You knew that going in. Stop your whining. If you didn’t know it, you are an idiot for not researching the industry before jumping in.
Drinking and driving is foolhardy and demonstrates very poor judgment. Having a record of being foolhardy makes regulators nervous out of concern for not just you but also for the safety and well-being of others. You should not be surprised then when your past foolhardiness comes back to bite you. So, if you are asked to jump through hoops to prove those foolhardy days are in your past, JUMP!
Develop personal minimums. Mine are quite restrictive but I believe it keeps me and anyone flying with me safe. I’d rather disappoint than cause injury or death.
You can’t just pull your airplane to the side of the road in the sky. So, if either you or the airplane aren’t operating optimally, stay on the ground.
IMC is no place for low time pilots especially those without their IR.
Trying to impress friends and family with low level shenanigans will often just leave an impression in the ground.
Well, I have more thoughts, but these are all for now. Don’t want to bore you too much all at once. Take them for what they are worth. I’m not trying to be preachy and hope that I don’t come across as a know it all because I certainly am not. This is just my two cents based on my experiences in aviation. This includes 35 years of aviation maintenance as an A&P/IA. This included time working in general aviation, Part 121 airlines, Part 145 repair stations, OEMs, and US Army helicopters. I’ve held practically every possible position from mechanic to hangar manager. Some of these thoughts are also influenced by my experiences pursuing my private pilot certificate & four ratings (ASEL, ASES, AMEL, Glider) during which time I had numerous CFIs and passed four check rides with four different DPEs. And of course, they are influenced by my experiences as a pilot as well.
