It’s easy to forget one of the reasons I became an airline pilot in this age of aviation technology that includes FMS, RVSM, ADS-B, RNAV/RNP, ACARS, VNAV and CAT III, plus the effects of 9/11, bankruptcy, retirement plan terminations, contentious contract negotiations and the normal stresses of a professional aviation career. Not that I completely forgot, but rather I was pleasantly reminded just recently. I’ll tell you how in a moment.
Jumpseat: A Reminder of Why I Chose My Career
Key Takeaways:
- An airline pilot reflects on how his intense career pursuit initially overshadowed the pure joy of flying, which he rediscovered during a formative experience with a Super Cub taildragger.
- Despite progressing to highly automated airliners where he primarily functions as a "systems manager," the author maintains his love for hand-flying aircraft.
- He ultimately completed an "airline pilot cycle of life" by acquiring a robust taildragger, allowing him to reconnect with the fundamental pleasure of flying that first inspired his career.
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