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The Noisy, Sweaty Hell of Small Planes
I spent the better part of five years — from, roughly, autumn of 1985 through the late summer 1990 — immersed in the world of general aviation, as it’s also called, slowly building time and collecting the various add-on licenses and ratings I’d need for an airline job. When I think back to those years, my memories aren’t especially fond. Frankly, as I see it, those are 1,500 hours — two full months aloft — that I’m never getting back. There was much about general aviation flying that I did not… (www.askthepilot.com) More...
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I've instructed, dusted crops (that was the term back then), charter, towed banners, dropped skydivers, you name it. Then I flew for the majors for 29 years. Now I'm a Cub pilot. Enjoyed it all, every minute and every airplane. Some people see themselves as just jet pilots, military, whatever. I just wanted to be an aviator.
I don't agree either. I was building my time in the same way at the same time as the author of the article with one big difference: I was doing it in Florida where the heat and humidity are far worse than what he experienced. Sounds like a whiner to me! Wonder what his take would be on the cost of doing that 1,500 hrs with today's prices. GA (with intrusion by the FAA) has priced itself out of reach of many prospective pilots. He ought to be thankful for what he has instead of complaining about it. Just call it sweat equity.
I'm not sure I completely agree with the author's viewpoint, but it's an opinion and he's entitled to it.
He's definitely entitled to his opinion, but I think its rubbish aviation elitism written for non-pilots who don't understand the truths of the transportation industry.
As a former flight instructor and former turbine pilot (corporate jets not airline) I'm wondering how he can complain he spent 1500 hours he'll never get back in GA but think Boeing 747 KJFK-VHHH is time well spent. Sure the seats are comfy. But 14 hours monitoring the autopilot, maybe re-programming the FMS route, transferring fuel etc. and watching the Arctic pass outside your window (in between sleeping in crew bunks) may pay a *lot* more but isn't what Id call exciting or a bucket list item. He seems to miss the fact that his passengers think of riding in his 747 the same way he thought of riding in a 172. Its just a means to an end.
As a former flight instructor and former turbine pilot (corporate jets not airline) I'm wondering how he can complain he spent 1500 hours he'll never get back in GA but think Boeing 747 KJFK-VHHH is time well spent. Sure the seats are comfy. But 14 hours monitoring the autopilot, maybe re-programming the FMS route, transferring fuel etc. and watching the Arctic pass outside your window (in between sleeping in crew bunks) may pay a *lot* more but isn't what Id call exciting or a bucket list item. He seems to miss the fact that his passengers think of riding in his 747 the same way he thought of riding in a 172. Its just a means to an end.
I spent a lifetime flying, from students in a Cessna 150, spraying crops, co-pilot/mechanic fighting forest fires in a B-17, and finally moving into corporate flying, and having the opportunity to finish up my career in corporate jets. It was a 50 year career, and I wouldn't have traded any of it for anything.
Most of us pay dues of some sort while working our way up the ladder of success. Whining about it doesn't help get through it. I would bet you were more skillful at hands on flying of a 182 than you are of a 747...which you might not have to hand fly except on the runway! I'm pretty sure I wouldn't trust you to fly my Pipistrel Sinus without a very thorough check-out first.
