OllieNotts:
Talking to a pilot instructor just before Xmas that is exactly what they do now. The auto pilot is the most fuel efficient way to fly a plane and if you start over riding it you could find yourself sacked quickly.
Why do you always seem to be telling people they’re wrong? You seem to come across a bit angry at times, quick to put someone’s post down and think you know better. Chill Winston.
I wasn’t trying to put anyone down, just trying to contribute positively with what I know, sorry to offend…
No offence taken - Pimpdaddy.
I was just relating how unfazed my wife was, each time she was asked to cover the cockpit. I’m sure the pilots were very switched on. Just that when the flight is progressing normally, they seemed to have little to do. It’s amazing how some women (my wife included) have no interest in the technical side of things, while you or I would give our right arm to be sat in the Captain’s seat at 37,000 feet. She does admit though that it is very peaceful up the front, especially on a night flight when the cockpit is darkened and there is a full moon bathing the clouds in light, and you can see the stars clearly. Sometimes even shooting stars too.
My wife normally works Business class galley, so this is a photo she took recently of the view from her ‘office window’ between meal services. Not bad Eh !
By the way, for all you budding pilots, here is a link to a youtube video featuring a Belgian tv programme where the presenter is set a challenge every week. In this episode, he is challenged to learn to fly a Boeing 737 within one month. He has to be able to take off, fly a circuit, and land a real 737 completely unaided by the Chief pilot sat next to him. Amazingly, a Belgian charter airline actually supplied the tv company with a brand new Boeing 737, newly delivered from the factory and only a month old.
I wont reveal the ending as to whether he is successful or not, but if you have 50 minutes to spare and can put up with the subtitles, then it is a very interesting programme if you have ever wanted to fly a big jet.
Truckulent:
Ex forces pilots can have trouble getting work flying civilian commercial aircraft. Fighter pilots especially so. Risk takers and all that nonsense.
Regarding commercial airline pilots. They may well sit there for hours appearing to do nothing but the reality is they are there in case anything goes wrong as much as anything. Much pilot training is about dealing with the what ifs and not about actually flying.
It’s a great job in some ways (and one I would love to do.) But it isn’t that well paid (relatively, unless you’re on for BA or another top firm) and the responsibility is pretty high. Also, a lot of drivers would baulk at the ongoing training and assessment I would imagine.
Id like to start off by saying that I don’t mean to negative, just want to add to what you’ve said which is pretty spot on. From what I understand the ex fast jet guys don’t fit into some airlines because of CRM (or their lack of it), the desirable ones are the ex multi engine (VC10, Tristar, C130s etc) but either way they all get jobs either flight testing, training other forces around the world etc.
Winseer:
Isn’t becoming a pilot one of those things that regardless of how much time and money you put into it - you’ll never get a job out of it.
Airline pilots have to be ex-forces with 2000+ hours flying time? - You’re not gonna get that flying a cessna out of biggin hill at flying school methinks…
Again a good post & I don’t mean to be negative in any way. You’re right in saying you’ll pretty much stand very little chance of getting a job out of it. I don’t think all have to be ex military, some outfits like a good mix for CRM purposes, you can get 2000+ hours flying tuk-tuks out of biggin hill by instructing, those are the kind of people airlines want for TRI, TRE, SFI roles.
Rhythm Thief:
I’d like to be a train driver, but I’d have liked it more if I’d been born in, say, 1931 and could have driven steam locos.
Although I too have an interest in railways, and particularly in steam motive power, I once heard a programme on the radio about dieselisation, and engine drivers universally considered the introduction of diesel motive power as the best thing that had ever happened in their job. A driver who did not want to be moved off of steam was unheard of. While a steam engine may be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, I would imagine that the footplate was a pretty filthy, noisy and uncomfortable working environment.
You’re absolutely right. As a born scruff, I’d have been in my element in a filthy dirty dangerous working environment. I’d have loved working on steam locos.
I wouldn’t mind trying my hand at a bit of general haulage and trunking. Would like to do plant/low loader work at some point moving machinery about.
Im always on the look out. Where I am now was always going to be a stepping stone but the hours are good and I’m home every day. Might try tramping when the kids grow up.
We hear about Cushy jobs that are well paid, crap jobs that are poorly paid, and even cushy jobs that are poorly paid ( ) but what about crappy jobs that are well paid?
Rhythm Thief:
I’d like to be a train driver, but I’d have liked it more if I’d been born in, say, 1931 and could have driven steam locos.
Although I too have an interest in railways, and particularly in steam motive power, I once heard a programme on the radio about dieselisation, and engine drivers universally considered the introduction of diesel motive power as the best thing that had ever happened in their job. A driver who did not want to be moved off of steam was unheard of. While a steam engine may be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, I would imagine that the footplate was a pretty filthy, noisy and uncomfortable working environment.
… There were a few Harry! My dad was on the railway (hence the ‘GCR’ in my user name) straight from school in 1954, finishing as a passed fireman i.e., ‘passed out’ to drive if needed. When his depot was being wound down (it was closed in 1966) he left in 1964 and got another job lorry driving - thanks dad(!).
The old boys from those days now have regular reunions and it turns out quite a few left the railway rather than stay on. Now some of those left because they didn’t fancy a transfer to another yard or whatever, but some (dad included) weren’t interested in diesels. Having said that most of the time served drivers (aged over 55 plus) were only to happy to sit down in a clean cab for the rest of their days!
I recently asked him if he regretted not staying on BR full time, seeing as his pay/pension etc would have been far superior to what he ended up with, and he still said no. Mind you, he was also getting his steam ‘fix’ as a volunteer at the GCR Loughborough
from 1975 onwards!
I reckon the only way you could better that view, was if you were heading westbound on the M62 over the Pennines into a beautiful sunset, slowly passing a Tesco truck as the rays of the setting sun glinted on the blue trailer paintwork and Tesco logo, while the music from the Jean Claude van Damme Volvo ‘splits’ advert was playing on your cab stereo.
Rhythm Thief:
I’d like to be a train driver, but I’d have liked it more if I’d been born in, say, 1931 and could have driven steam locos.
Although I too have an interest in railways, and particularly in steam motive power, I once heard a programme on the radio about dieselisation, and engine drivers universally considered the introduction of diesel motive power as the best thing that had ever happened in their job. A driver who did not want to be moved off of steam was unheard of. While a steam engine may be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, I would imagine that the footplate was a pretty filthy, noisy and uncomfortable working environment.
… There were a few Harry! My dad was on the railway (hence the ‘GCR’ in my user name) straight from school in 1954, finishing as a passed fireman i.e., ‘passed out’ to drive if needed. When his depot was being wound down (it was closed in 1966) he left in 1964 and got another job lorry driving - thanks dad(!).
The old boys from those days now have regular reunions and it turns out quite a few left the railway rather than stay on. Now some of those left because they didn’t fancy a transfer to another yard or whatever, but some (dad included) weren’t interested in diesels. Having said that most of the time served drivers (aged over 55 plus) were only to happy to sit down in a clean cab for the rest of their days!
I recently asked him if he regretted not staying on BR full time, seeing as his pay/pension etc would have been far superior to what he ended up with, and he still said no. Mind you, he was also getting his steam ‘fix’ as a volunteer at the GCR Loughborough
from 1975 onwards!
Am I right though in thinking that by the time you’d become a driver on a steam loco you’d reached the top of the tree and the job was relatively easy? Isn’t in the fireman who is doing all the shoveling and hard graft? I suspect it was them who were keen on moving to diesels.
Not always, but I can only go on what I’ve heard from my dad and his old cronies. Certainly at his yard (Annesley, Notts) which was almost all given over to freight, a crew would often work the ‘out’ trip in their respective roles, and then swap jobs for the trip back. This was perhaps not the case on the mainline ‘crack’ expresses, but more likely on freight, ‘semi-fasts’ or ‘stoppers’.
You’re right about firing being graft though. He once put it into perspective for me… "see the contents (anything from 4 to 9 tons) of that tender? That’s all got to be shovelled by me!!
When I was a young lorry driver back in the late 1960’s, nearly all the middle aged and older blokes, including my Dad who was also a lorry driver, were all saying,this jobs no bloody good. You should get a better job than drive lorries. A lot of them could have packed it in, and got other jobs, but very few did. All I ever wanted to do was drive lorries. Also to own and operate my own lorries. Didn’t get that far, as my lorry driving was cut short with a bad RTA. I’ve stayed in the transport industry as a part-time TM.
If I had my time again, I would still drive lorries.
Cheers Dave.
Drift:
I work for a great firm driving a rigid but I am thinking of a C+E and want to get into moving plant, depends on the job, conditions and how your are treated would be important and the as long as the wage was not stupid, yes I think I would change for the experience.
Go for it by all means but you will find it very hard getting a start on c/e on plant, i don’t think they will insure you. I have had a lot of trouble getting work on c/e as the insurance company tell them if they can hire you or not seriously. you have more chance with a big firm but a driving test for every job you go for, most likely people to give you a shot as a new driver on c/e is bulk tipping because nobody wants to do it because its hard graft.because you need to use a shovel ALOT. LOL
Last year I had a chance to go up with the small cargo aircraft that’s part of the company I work for charter fleet. It was Southend to near Lillie picking up tractor and harvester parts and back to Southend. They only have one pilot for the job, so I got the co-pilots seat it was pretty good, but being only one pilot in London air space he was pretty busy.
I don’t think they’re paid very well compared to airline pilots, but I think its probably more interesting flying. But when you talk to them especially the one that do the freight the job seems very similar to a truck drivers job, especially as they can spend a week tramping round Europe going from one job to another.
) but what about crappy jobs that are well paid?