Why do YOU fly?? I would like to know
Join Date: May 2003
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The choice is clear...
for about the same $$$ you'd get working at maccas
520.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Heya all.
Pilotdreams1977 i understand that what you may have experienced you consider to be tougher than a flying gig in metaphorical siberia, but spend a lil while in somewhere like Ngukurr in the NT for a while then get back to me........
And Continental, yeah i know it does have its moments but i'm just saying that there is alot of cr@p that goes with it day to day as an occupation compared to being able to "maintain the dream" and fond feelings you have for aviation by flying recreationally. And i am by no means giving up! Ok ask me tomorrow.
Juz my half a fuel drain's worth......
-phonebox
Pilotdreams1977 i understand that what you may have experienced you consider to be tougher than a flying gig in metaphorical siberia, but spend a lil while in somewhere like Ngukurr in the NT for a while then get back to me........
And Continental, yeah i know it does have its moments but i'm just saying that there is alot of cr@p that goes with it day to day as an occupation compared to being able to "maintain the dream" and fond feelings you have for aviation by flying recreationally. And i am by no means giving up! Ok ask me tomorrow.
Juz my half a fuel drain's worth......
-phonebox
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Why fly?
What else would I do with the 30-40 years of working life that was allocated to me? Draw up bus timetables using differential calculus - based models on a government computer? Find another $40 worth of refund for some bloke who would grumble about how much I charged as an accountant. Have a job in an office where the most exciting view I get is the one from the tram on the way to work? Sheesh.
Tomorrow morning (OMEL allowing!) the guy next to me will say "All set mate? Your controls" and from that point on, its my show. The rules will guide, the SOP might say how-to, but its my show to run, interrupted by a light cooked breakfast and a cup or two of Earl Grey (white and one thanks) till we glide down the slide and roll onto the bay on a nice Cavok morning somewhere in Oz.
Got a mate who started at VB recently. His words "Can't help it mate -- just sitting there cleared to takeoff, time to push those levers up, always crack a bit of a grin."
If I'd followed through on that uni degree, maybe the worst thing that happened at work might be missing the bus and standing in the rain.
I've got much better stories to tell now! The day the police aide wanted to spear me coz he couldn't spear the other white guy that upset him. Going out in a tinny between charters to catch sea turtles. Watching the look on yank tourists' faces when Brian Rourke at Mudgeegadaart pulled out the long barrel .45 before walking up to the rock art sites (in case the old croc in the lagoon got too close!). The dark drizzly night when the T-VASIS on highest intensity at Tindal speared through the low cloud like something out of close encounters of the 3rd kind with about 100' to go to the DA. Flying over Daly River Mission with the owner of Mango Farm caravan park and campground, now completely under an inland lake following the Katherine floods, a big tough Territorian with tears in his eyes surveys the damage to the business he built up over years, gone. Pre september 11, a tourist visits the cockpit, says he's on tour with a group of singers, captain jokingly says you'll have to sing us a song, so when he goes back to his seat, a 30 voice male choir starts singing German folk tunes all the way into Cairns!
Thank Christ I didn't follow any sensible advice and keep flying as a recreation!
What else would I do with the 30-40 years of working life that was allocated to me? Draw up bus timetables using differential calculus - based models on a government computer? Find another $40 worth of refund for some bloke who would grumble about how much I charged as an accountant. Have a job in an office where the most exciting view I get is the one from the tram on the way to work? Sheesh.
Tomorrow morning (OMEL allowing!) the guy next to me will say "All set mate? Your controls" and from that point on, its my show. The rules will guide, the SOP might say how-to, but its my show to run, interrupted by a light cooked breakfast and a cup or two of Earl Grey (white and one thanks) till we glide down the slide and roll onto the bay on a nice Cavok morning somewhere in Oz.
Got a mate who started at VB recently. His words "Can't help it mate -- just sitting there cleared to takeoff, time to push those levers up, always crack a bit of a grin."
If I'd followed through on that uni degree, maybe the worst thing that happened at work might be missing the bus and standing in the rain.
I've got much better stories to tell now! The day the police aide wanted to spear me coz he couldn't spear the other white guy that upset him. Going out in a tinny between charters to catch sea turtles. Watching the look on yank tourists' faces when Brian Rourke at Mudgeegadaart pulled out the long barrel .45 before walking up to the rock art sites (in case the old croc in the lagoon got too close!). The dark drizzly night when the T-VASIS on highest intensity at Tindal speared through the low cloud like something out of close encounters of the 3rd kind with about 100' to go to the DA. Flying over Daly River Mission with the owner of Mango Farm caravan park and campground, now completely under an inland lake following the Katherine floods, a big tough Territorian with tears in his eyes surveys the damage to the business he built up over years, gone. Pre september 11, a tourist visits the cockpit, says he's on tour with a group of singers, captain jokingly says you'll have to sing us a song, so when he goes back to his seat, a 30 voice male choir starts singing German folk tunes all the way into Cairns!
Thank Christ I didn't follow any sensible advice and keep flying as a recreation!
Last edited by ITCZ; 20th Dec 2003 at 21:48.
Join Date: Aug 2003
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I think it was the famous author Neville Shute who summed up why pilots fly, when he said that it's good to subject one's life occasionally to danger because it "breeds a certain sanity in dealing with everyday trivialities"
I really enjoy flying even after 23 years of it and despite the fact that I'll never achieve my dream of flying for the military. When I was doing my ab-initio training at Archerfield, I applied to get into military aviation - my maths was very average. So I wrote the top-ranking general officer asking that I do the full battery of tests, confident that I could do well; I didn't get a guernsey.
I showed my letter to a good friend who flew Spitfires in WW II and asked for his comments. I can still remember his old face; the white but still immaculate handlebar moustache. After reading the letter, he paused looked me dead in the eyes and with the most quite voice he said: "my boy this would've worked in my day, but I could've told you that this would not work in yours".
Anyway I did get into the military as a supply officer and got my CPL through a military flying club so I learnt to fly an Arrow II the military way! So in a round about way I achieved my dream. I became a flight dispatcher for a major airline; evetually got my "dream" aviation jobs which I promptly lost in quick succession because of economic circumstances...and I still love flying. I consider myself lucky ad am grateful that I can fly whenever I choose regardless of the aircraft type. On the other hand, I've got some mates who lost sight of the "dream" and are actually working for the majors and they hate it - sad.
So if you're flying as a hobby, part-time job, or full-time job be grateful because there are other out there, who due to finances or health reasons, will never be able to fly. When I feel a bit down I remind myself of that fact!
Aye,
MJP
I really enjoy flying even after 23 years of it and despite the fact that I'll never achieve my dream of flying for the military. When I was doing my ab-initio training at Archerfield, I applied to get into military aviation - my maths was very average. So I wrote the top-ranking general officer asking that I do the full battery of tests, confident that I could do well; I didn't get a guernsey.
I showed my letter to a good friend who flew Spitfires in WW II and asked for his comments. I can still remember his old face; the white but still immaculate handlebar moustache. After reading the letter, he paused looked me dead in the eyes and with the most quite voice he said: "my boy this would've worked in my day, but I could've told you that this would not work in yours".
Anyway I did get into the military as a supply officer and got my CPL through a military flying club so I learnt to fly an Arrow II the military way! So in a round about way I achieved my dream. I became a flight dispatcher for a major airline; evetually got my "dream" aviation jobs which I promptly lost in quick succession because of economic circumstances...and I still love flying. I consider myself lucky ad am grateful that I can fly whenever I choose regardless of the aircraft type. On the other hand, I've got some mates who lost sight of the "dream" and are actually working for the majors and they hate it - sad.
So if you're flying as a hobby, part-time job, or full-time job be grateful because there are other out there, who due to finances or health reasons, will never be able to fly. When I feel a bit down I remind myself of that fact!
Aye,
MJP
I still smile when it's a 'greaser'
I'm never bored, because the scene changes every second, and there's always something to check
I still get a buzz from taking someone for their first flight as a passenger.
I still smile when I step out the door, and send the lucky pilot off for a solo circuit in the Cub
I get a real kick looking out from the lead of a formation of RV's skimming the stratocumulus along our magnificent coast
I still think flying's better than golf
I intend to keep committing this crime until my medical runs out - but I've had a fortunate 41 years so far.
You've just gotta keep that feeling!
cheers,
I'm never bored, because the scene changes every second, and there's always something to check
I still get a buzz from taking someone for their first flight as a passenger.
I still smile when I step out the door, and send the lucky pilot off for a solo circuit in the Cub
I get a real kick looking out from the lead of a formation of RV's skimming the stratocumulus along our magnificent coast
I still think flying's better than golf
I intend to keep committing this crime until my medical runs out - but I've had a fortunate 41 years so far.
You've just gotta keep that feeling!
cheers,
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Bullwinkle...
I have a perfectly good positive attitude and i think in the best interests of this post it would be good to make the posts non-personal don't ya think?
I am hopeful of a decent job one day but like everyone discovers progression is a slow progress. Would be interested in your background since your knocking my attitude.
And don't live in Ngukkur but have had a fair few friends that have.
I have a perfectly good positive attitude and i think in the best interests of this post it would be good to make the posts non-personal don't ya think?
I am hopeful of a decent job one day but like everyone discovers progression is a slow progress. Would be interested in your background since your knocking my attitude.
And don't live in Ngukkur but have had a fair few friends that have.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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phonebox. I don't doubt that many many folks on this site have had to do their fair share of hard jobs but when you get that "decent job" and look back it won't seem nearly as bad as it does now.
Whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!
Whatever doesn't kill me only makes me stronger!
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phonebox
Just a word of advise mate i wouldnt knock the bullwinkle his done more than his fair share of remote area and truly deserved his big break.
Ive said it before and I'll say it again if youve lost "The Dream" take 6 months off and see how you feal after that.
'Thats about all I have to say about that'
rail
Just a word of advise mate i wouldnt knock the bullwinkle his done more than his fair share of remote area and truly deserved his big break.
Ive said it before and I'll say it again if youve lost "The Dream" take 6 months off and see how you feal after that.
'Thats about all I have to say about that'
rail
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Geez thanx for your "advice" handrail. If bullwinkle did his time out bush then he should understand what its all about.
Thanx for the positivity ref +10!! Its easy to lose perspective of where we are trying to go though when your out in the boonies but luckily it seems to come back now and then...
Happy New Year everyone.
Thanx for the positivity ref +10!! Its easy to lose perspective of where we are trying to go though when your out in the boonies but luckily it seems to come back now and then...
Happy New Year everyone.
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As previously mentioned said;
A) It beats the hell out of working for a living.
B) You just can't beat the feeling as you break out on top of cloud or fog to a beautiful sunny day, while the everyone else has to crawl to work in the fog and rain.
C) You will end up with all sorts of great experiences and memories.
A) It beats the hell out of working for a living.
B) You just can't beat the feeling as you break out on top of cloud or fog to a beautiful sunny day, while the everyone else has to crawl to work in the fog and rain.
C) You will end up with all sorts of great experiences and memories.
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Japan, flying the Glider Tug, eating great Japanese food, looking at lovely Japanese Ladies and continuing the neverending search for a bad bottle of Red.
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I flew because I loved it! Simple as that.
I absolutely hate, with a passion all whom have not been in the same position could not comprehend, the situation I now find myself in of not having a full time flying job and finding it almost impossible to gain what I need to make me more 'employable' (night time)
I will never give up either! And why?
Read the top line again.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
I absolutely hate, with a passion all whom have not been in the same position could not comprehend, the situation I now find myself in of not having a full time flying job and finding it almost impossible to gain what I need to make me more 'employable' (night time)
I will never give up either! And why?
Read the top line again.
You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: North son, I say go North..........
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Whinge whinge whinge...
Its hot out there, its hard bloody work, the conditions are tough...
So put your head down and ar*e up and bingo you get to where you want to go.
I have seen LOTS of guys move through, every singe one of them that had the right attitude and a real work ethic is now flying bigger better and higher!
Most of us worked hard to get the lic, digging holes in rock, labouring, pulling beers. Then you crack it and you go and live in sh*tsville. How many people who have lived and worked on an Aboriginal community can honestly say they hated it? You learnt life skills there. Southern's would pay (and do pay me for tours) to do tours out there. Agreed though there has to be certain conditions. The ole Lake Evil days of busted accom is not on. Yes we have remote bases, yes they all have above average accom. Yes it is tough, yes it is a choice.
I tell ya theres nothing better than sitting in 1A on a 73 at 0100 and hearing the F/O make an annoncement and its a bloke who worked with you, let alone on the return the same again.
Supply and demand, well there may be alot out there but how many are really employable? How many people with a CPL can't handle a 210? LOTS!
Me who do I fly for? Basically models once a year (www.flynac.com.au) and to go fishing every now and then, oh and whenever we have a VIP.....
Happy flying to everyone...
GO WELL.
Its hot out there, its hard bloody work, the conditions are tough...
So put your head down and ar*e up and bingo you get to where you want to go.I have seen LOTS of guys move through, every singe one of them that had the right attitude and a real work ethic is now flying bigger better and higher!
Most of us worked hard to get the lic, digging holes in rock, labouring, pulling beers. Then you crack it and you go and live in sh*tsville. How many people who have lived and worked on an Aboriginal community can honestly say they hated it? You learnt life skills there. Southern's would pay (and do pay me for tours) to do tours out there. Agreed though there has to be certain conditions. The ole Lake Evil days of busted accom is not on. Yes we have remote bases, yes they all have above average accom. Yes it is tough, yes it is a choice.
I tell ya theres nothing better than sitting in 1A on a 73 at 0100 and hearing the F/O make an annoncement and its a bloke who worked with you, let alone on the return the same again.
Supply and demand, well there may be alot out there but how many are really employable? How many people with a CPL can't handle a 210? LOTS!
Me who do I fly for? Basically models once a year (www.flynac.com.au) and to go fishing every now and then, oh and whenever we have a VIP.....
Happy flying to everyone...
GO WELL.
