So why aren't you all "Real World" pilots?

[Ryanamur]

I was a pilot. Got my PPL at the age of 17 and joined the Canadian military to be a lawyer. A strange turn of events brought me back to
flying for 6 years. I withdrew from pilot training half-way through chopper training (age 23... believe it or not, I know some Canadian Air
Force pilot who still hadn't received their wings after being in the military for 11 years!). After leaving the pilot branch, became an
operations officer and a public relations officer. During that time I completed my civilian CPL and my multi-IFR. Now at age 24 (1998) we
saw a big change in the skies in Canada. That's roughly the period when Canadian and Air Canada were in a bid war against one
another. AC won the bid and this had for effect of basically freezing entry points on small regional feeders as all the oportunities for
moving up to the big guys were cut in 1/2. So, I decided that my career as a pilot was at an end. I left the military in 2002 and became a
manager in a para-public institution. I haven't flown since 1999 and miss it very much. I'm sure at one point I'll get back to flying for the
pure enjoyment of it but that probably won't be for another 5-10 years as I have two young children.

Phil

[TonyH]

I'm sure at one point I'll get back to flying for the
pure enjoyment of it but that probably won't be for another 5-10 years as I have two young children.

Then when they grow up they go off to University and you have no money left for flying

[Ryanamur]

TonyH wrote:

I'm sure at one point I'll get back to flying for the
pure enjoyment of it but that probably won't be for another 5-10 years as I have two young children.

Then when they grow up they go off to University and you have no money left for flying

Nah, I paid for my University and pilot training. I'm sure they can do the same. Plus, I work at a University. If I can stick it out, they get 70%
off!

[SaVas]

My dreams of becoming a pilot were dashed when I was 8 years old. I was sleeping on the top bunk and fell off hitting the back of my
head at the base of my skull on the edge of a metal trashcan. To this day, I cannot ride rollercoasters, merry go rounds, swings, etc
without running the risk of having a blackout, so there isnt much of a chance I could pass my medical because of this and I wouldnt want
to risk peoples lives on the ground or in the air if I did blackout

I have known a few pilots and my ex was IFR certified (her father had seven airplanes with his air service business, from a Cessna 172
up to a Super King Air - his largest) and we flew on those on a few occasions. Didnt have any blackout issues on any flight I have been on
but the risk is there.

Now I am a logistics coordinator for a global company, though I was in college for 7 years getting degrees in scientific illustration and
drawing and painting with an emphasis on marine biology and vertebrate zoology....go figure.

Ive just always loved flying.

[olseric]

It came down to making a decision on whether or not I wanted to trapse across the country for training.

In the end, I decided to stay closer to home and ended up going to a tech college, earning my associates degree, and becoming a full-
time police officer.

Then came SEP 11 and the beginning of the airline industry's major downturn. Pilot layoffs, pension sellouts, bankruptcys, etc.

In retrospect, even though I may have made my previous decision based upon the wrong reasons, I made the right one.

I will get at least my PPL someday though. That is a given.

[Maximus3070]

Doing my PPL right now so far only 6.5 hours but only 15 so gota wait till 16 to go solo

[jboweruk]

Too old by the time I realised flying was the true love of my life. Anyone know a priest that will marry me to a 747-400 by the way?

[SWAFO]

I have quite a few hours, but I'm not one to brag , so naturally I won't be revealing the total amount (you could do a forum search if you
really wanted to find out! I think I discussed it a while back.)

[DanSteph]

Maximus3070 wrote:
Doing my PPL right now so far only 6.5 hours but only 15 so gota wait till 16 to go solo

My instructor first ranted at me saying that the simulator gave me bad habit but
it seem finally the simulator training wasn't so bad an he was enough confident
to leave me solo after only 6h30...

Was a great moment of my life...

Dan

[SWAFO]

I remember the first time I soloed like it was yesterday. Wow! Makes me feel so goddamn old! Those were the good old days... now I'm
a crusty/drunk (38 year old) airline captain!

[HH-60CC]

SWAFO, is it true, for airline pilots you can tell who was trained in the Air Force or the Navy by the way they land? Air Force pilots land so
smooth, a person could be drinking thermal nuclear hot coffee with out spilling a drop. On the reverse side, the navy pilot touches down on the
runway no less than -800fpm. . Sorry, I had to

[Ryanamur]

HH-60CC wrote:
SWAFO, is it true, for airline pilots you can tell who was trained in the Air Force or the Navy by the way they land? Air Force pilots land so
smooth, a person could be drinking thermal nuclear hot coffee with out spilling a drop. On the reverse side, the navy pilot touches down
on the
runway no less than -800fpm. . Sorry, I had to

You got it wrong. Navy and Marines pilot don't land at -800 fpm. Their landings are very smooth in the range of -50fpm. It's not their fault if
the ground (or the carrier) raises up at a rate of -750 fpm



Post Edited ( 09-30-05 17:34 )

[DanSteph]

Ryanamur wrote:
There landings are very smooth in the range of -50fpm. It's not their fault if
the ground (or the carrier) raises up at a rate of -750 fpm

Dan

[HH-60CC]

good one

[TonyH]

My instructor first ranted at me saying that the simulator gave me bad habit but
it seem finally the simulator training wasn't so bad an he was enough confident
to leave me solo after only 6h30...

Was a great moment of my life...

Good going Dan, that's impressive. You should really try to keep it up. If powered flying's too expensive, gliding can be a much cheaper
alternative. At least here in the UK most clubs are run on a non profit basis, you don't pay the instructors, just the launch and rental of the
club gliders. And soaring the thermals like a bird is a truly wonderful experience.

I remember the first time I soloed like it was yesterday. Wow! Makes me feel so goddamn old! Those were the good old days...
now I'm
a crusty/drunk (38 year old) airline captain!

Me too, first solo March 1977. Now I'm a crusty/drunk (48 year old) salesman and occasional glider pilot.