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It's Time for a Minimum Wage for Airline Pilots
from FlyWBA
wrote 3 years 14 weeks ago
This is a story as old as aviation. It's why we have ALPA, such as it is, etc. Unions have been out of fashion for some time, especially since Reagan fired the controllers, but maybe its finally time to re-think the problem. The race to the bottom will never end until someone sets a floor. Maybe now that we've seen the Crash and the beginnings of the Great Recession, are beginning to understand its causes and costly repercussions--and who benefited and why-- we can get past the de-regulatory group-think that has dominated American politics and business for more than 30 years. Read the ads in FLYING--many operators are using "student" pilots who are PAYING to fly right seat in commercial operations in order to "qualify" for paying jobs.
Yes, Matilda, safety is a money problem, always has been. Airlines need to make money, no question about that. But they'll keep screwing their employees (and paying the CEO the BIG bucks) in order to stay "competitive" until someone says "enough." Unfortunately, its not just the airlines' with this problem. Just read the paper or look down the street at the empty houses. Will your kids have a better life to look forward to?
The Mystery of the Two-Seat Abyss
from FlyWBA
wrote 3 years 3 weeks ago
Ooops! Meant to say IO-320's.
JP
The Mystery of the Two-Seat Abyss
from FlyWBA
wrote 3 years 3 weeks ago
As I recall the Derringer used the same fuel injected IO-360 engines (requiring 92/96 fuel) as Piper's Twin Comanche, which was once the most popular multi-engine precisely because of economy of operation. Low purchase price helped, too. I don't know that the absence of rear seats was the primary cause of the Derringer's demise. Two more seats aren't of much use in the training environment where it would have been mostly employed. In any case, too bad it didn't make it, the performance was impressive.
Playing Telephone
from FlyWBA
wrote 2 years 23 weeks ago
Speaking as a CFI who's been at it for a good long while, who's been flying and providing training in LSA since long before they magically morphed into LSA, I have to admit to more than a bit of skepticism (if not quite cynicism) on the subject. Nothing to do with LSA, per se, but the notion that 20 hours of training (even if the required proficiency could be achieved--not bloody likely IMHO) is adequate to routinely produce safe pilots is ludicrous on its face--sounds like happy sales talk to me. 35-hour Part 141 courses are a little better, but not much, and even 40 hours is a nearly impossible goal for most. The national average for Private Pilot training completion is something like 70 hours, to say nothing of the huge percentage who never finish. Could it be that a major reason for the high dropout rate is unreasonable expectations fostered by bait and switch advertising? The proficiency requirements aren't that different, PP vs LSP.
So, inquiring CFI's (me anyway) want to know: how long did it take you to solo; how long to complete your training; did you feel like you got the training you needed to be a safe and comfortable pilot; have you sought additional training now that you've completed the LSA course--and if yes, what kind and why?
FWIW, I have more to say on the subject at http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/ressxbx3/id29.html
BTW, whatever happened to Recreational Pilots?
Jerry
Arlington, WA
Stop Loss
from FlyWBA
wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago
Those of us who've been around flying for a while soon come to value the new friends we make and being part of the flying "club" as much as the flying itself. Unfortunately, most FBO's don't make much money either from their flying schools or from the local airport bums. "Salesmanship" is not the answer. Genuine friendship and good times can pay the bills. That's what people are looking for. But, given that there is no way a CFI can make a living unless they live with their parents, that means its up to us old-timers to provide the stability, skill, continuity, long-term friendship and cameraderie that young newbies on their way to real jobs elsewhere will never be able to muster. Whether at an established FBO, as a one-person full-time "flying school" or part-time free-lancer, for those of us who love flying and are fortunate enough not to have to rely on a CFI's wages (or who have figured out how to live on next to nothing), the opportunities are endless. And for those of us who are dedicated to flying, who love what we do more than the money we could make elsewhere, there simply is no substitute. Get out to the airport and discover the friends you haven't made yet, share the skills you spent decades honing and the perspective that only experienced pilots can bring to flight training.
You'll never regret it.
Jerry Painter
Wild Blue Aviation
FlyWBA.com
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