Just over two years ago I was hired by one of the major airlines, and I feel like I have reached my career destination. I am pleased with the career progression I am likely to have for the next about fifteen years before I reach retirement age. The level of professionalism I've encountered pleases me as well, it is a notch above the regionals in consistency and quality, whether I am flying with line pilots, completing training, or dealing with management. I knew that the grass would probably not be as green as I hoped once I arrived, and that became true quickly enough, but the switch was still worth it.
I am based on the Boeing 737, and yes, it is a flying truck, but a very nice one that has significantly more advanced avionics and more stable flying qualities than the Bombardier Canadair CRJ 200 I shepherded around for thirteen years.
I was on reserve on the west coast for six months, then was a lineholder trying to get trips partially crossing the Pacific to Hawaii. I didn't even realize that my airline flew the 737 nonstop to Hawaii from the west coast until I was almost hired there; but you know what, all the majors do. The first flight at night in cruise flight during IOE my Check Airman Captain started a long briefing on possible navigation, communication, and weather difficulties, and ditching procedures and it hit me, the engines are very reliable but it was still very minutely possible a flight would lose both and have to ditch. It has happened before.
After a year I became based in the middle of the country, just in time for the spectre of Covid to hit. I saw it coming on the videos and tweets online, and knew we were in for it if the government didn't respond as quickly and aggressively as reasonably possible. And the government did not. And that is as nicely and respectfully as I can frame it. I spent last year hardly flying, while on reserve, but grateful that Congress passed aid not once, but twice, to ensure my minimum pay gaurantee for most of the year. In late September my pilot's union passed a negotiated agreement with our management to reduce our work hours, and thus pay, in a proportion tied to how much our flying schedule had decreased as compared to 2019.
Last year was a tough one for everyone, but as my Pastor says (too much according to my brother in law): "I sense that our community has a sense of loss and suffering, and we need to lament about that". And we do. over 390K covid related deaths in the USA as of this writing. Our friends, families, work groups, cities, states, nation, we need to lament what we have suffered and lost; the loved ones and friends, and the suffering, and sacrifices we have endured during this age of cover.
But there is something else we should lament: our continuing descent into this madness of Trumpism, which is seriously challenging the very nature of our shared reality, damaging the fabric of our society, and fracturing the security of our Democracy. Oh, sorry if you didn't know I was anti-Trump. Yes, I am a "never Trumper". I would like to write more, but I would also like to finish this update. If you'd like to know more about my opinion on Trump and his Presidency, follow me on twitter @crossky, and please check the Christian Blogs and Sites I like on the bottom right side of the blog.
On the top right side I've updated the links to include my favorite aviation safety resources, all are highly recommended. Only one airline pilot blog is left on the set of links, "Decision Height", written by a retired airline pilot, not updated often but an excellent set of stories for your reading. I've become concerned about aviation safety, not only at the professional and airline level, but for private pilots and general aviation. Kathryn's report is a comprehensive site that has many general aviation accident information.
It is heartbreaking to see that many private pilot and general aviation accidents are easily prevented, if only the pilot acts responsibly, in accordance with the regulations, and not in a careless and reckless manner. Annually, many family and friends are sent to an early grave (and perhaps Heaven's glories) when they tragically perish at the hands of pilots "making stupid pilot mistakes' (to be blunt). I hope to develop a set of resources available to help educate PASSENGERS so that they can evaluate the safety of the private pilot they are about to fly with, and to determine if the risk (and a real risk it can be) is worth it. Airplane passengers are attuned to evaluating whether someone they meet is a safe car driver, but they have no frame of reference or information to use to do the same for a private pilot they are about to go flying with. If you have an opinion on this or suggestions I would surely like it if you share it with me in a comment.
I will be flying again soon, starting in February, after I complete recurrent training. I hope to write a new post then. Thanks for visiting my blog!
