Who else has aviation background\history?

[68RR]

Fast55 and GT.. Did you see what Horton received this week?? Dougie can't understand why people aren't happy.....

[564826]

I've been on a plane once or twice.

[68RR]

I've been on a plane once or twice.

yeah, me too!!

[MY LITTLE PONY]

DCC on B-1's, cross-trained to NDI and now in QA. Only on the weekends now and a GOV Inspector for the DOD on the weekdays.

[564826]

yeah, me too!!

Solid!

[68RR]

Solid!

kinda scary the first time!! LOL!!!

[564826]

kinda scary the first time!! LOL!!!

You'll never forget your first time. Hahaha!!!!

[68RR]

You'll never forget your first time. Hahaha!!!!

"My thoughts drift back to erect nipple wet dreams
about Mary Jane Rottencrotch"

[564826]

"My thoughts drift back to erect nipple wet dreams
about Mary Jane Rottencrotch"

Classic!

[R3_82GT]

How was it working civilian aircraft vs. defense stuff? I'm sure the experience can vary, but I've always wondered what it was like on the other side.

Commercial (we did interiors for the Sultan of Brunei's planes mainly) was fast paced and we created lots of cool stuff. We had guy in the mockup shop that could create most anything (they were into cars big too). The 56+ hour weeks got old after a couple of years and if things broke you got sent to the other side of the world on short notice. I did lot lots of test flights and other cool stuff on transport aircraft too though.

[68RR]

A dirty job, but somebody gotta do it!!

[Couver]

^^^^^

Two worst ones for me on cleanup was one of our jets hit a coyote on rollout it was kinda nasty. The worst was one of our jets (F/A-18) hit a pelican that was full of fish. There was pieces parts everywhere and it reeked to holy hell.

[68RR]

had a 767 come into heavy ahead of schedule.. flight crews were refusing to get on the plane. Shipping container of live eels in the fwd cargo broke...nuff said....
then there was the A-300 that came in with a shitter tube that separated, dumping all its contents on the top of the center wing section.. big time corrosion repair..

[F8LSVT]

Excellent job!

No one is learning how to fly these days. According to FAA database, PPL's are down almost 85% from 10 years ago. Combine that with military trained pilots staying longer(and cutbacks), makes for a colossal pilot shortage. Most domestic carriers have won monetary concessions from just about 100% of our nations pilot unions. (mostly through bankruptcy) Meanwhile the pay for executives have quadrupled during this period.
The cost of pilot training has gone up dramatically, while starting pay has gone down. Most younger guys/gals do not want to incur 100,000 worth of student loans(debt) before working for entry level wages. Just a WAG, entry level pay at regionals are in the low 20k range.
With all that said, the new part 117 rest rule requirement has been implemented and the result is that 30% more pilots are needed to staff.
In addition to all that, the average age of pilots are climbing. Thus a steep retirement curve is predicted for the next ten years.


Airline CEO's have just want they wanted, cheap pilots. The cost is/will be detrimental to the traveling American. Cabotage from foreign carriers is a real threat. Just wanted to share with the aviation savvy members here.

I will be out of the airline biz (flying) in 6 years as mandatory retirement is 65.

The retirements in the next several years are staggering. Anytime I see new pilots, it gives me hope for US routs flown by US pilots.

I had actually planned to start back on my instrument work and cfi rating by now but life happens unfortunately. Luckily I haven't suffered a MAJOR setback just minor stuff. I still am dedicated to finishing all of my training, just may be closer to next year before I get to start back. I guess flying runs in my family's blood even though I never got to fly with any of them due to death, ect, my grandad, my uncle, and my cousin all flew either recreationally or crop dusting.

Flying for a living is really all I've ever wanted to do. I've got a decent job working for Caterpillar but I'm not truly happy there. Crawling around and standing on your head putting a blast hole drill together gets old after awhile.

[TruestreetTim]

My Grandfather was a crew chief. My mother was the first female to graduate from the Air Force school in Minot. She also became the first female instructor there. She sought further training at Chanute AFB where my Father was instructing (pretty sure you can see how I came into the picture). He was also on capsule rescue during shuttle missions.

After spending time at Tinker and Ramstein, they ended up in the 188th in Fort Smith. Father passed in 81 and my mother retired soon after to care for my sister and I.

As for myself; I spent 2 years in hell at Spartan Aeronautics in Tulsa during the late 90's (I don't recommend it lol) and got my private which has since expired. I ran flight lines for FBO's mixed with civilian government contracts for 9 years. Spent 30 days at Fort Chaffee on a freshly cut, dirt/mud runway for NASA/Boeing testing of the C17 to name one of the many excellent times I had......I miss all of it.