A view on 2009. What do you want this year?

[MichaelP]

I looked at a British forum and saw their enthusiastic plans for flying in 2009.
It's a different culture with many more people flying just for the fun of it and they are generally upbeat.

On New Year's morning I took the bus to Boundary Bay... It was dead here.
In the UK I used to try to be the first person airborne in the New Year... All for fun!

I get a lot of very negative feedback from pilots who work in the aviation industry in Canada and New Year's morning was no exception.
I was standing at Ladner loop when a pilot - flying instructor I know came jogging by... He was surprised to see me and stopped for a chat.
The turboprop job came to an end when he had completed his training in the aircraft. He did not get along with the training captain he was put with and this led to less than ideal CRM... He's seen the industry even with one of the best employers in this locality, but even the best have some pilots with less than good attitudes.

Another friend was being asked to fly when that Airbus report of the '"worst icing" was in effect... He didn't and now they'll look at him with jaded eyes as there were many others who flew at that time.
It's one's personal limitations I suppose, (PDM and regulation as well!), and if we survive it's either for making the correct decision or we're just very lucky.
There's a lot of lucky pilots out there, and a few who's luck ran out...

What I would dearly like to hear in 2009 is positive experiences from the commercial pilots in the commercial jobs.
It is very depressing to hear only bad experiences from the people I am somewhat responsible for training...

So I hope that all forumites here have a successful 2009 and a Happy one too.

Perhaps like the other forum you would like to share what you hope to do in 2009.

I'll kick it off here, this is what I hope for:

1. Many more fun flights with aerobatics and cross countries to fun places.
2. More time in Thailand
3. Make some money... This will probably mean moving and changing jobs
4. Hear good things from the people I have helped and encouraged in aviation.

[Just another canuck]

I wanna win the lottery so I never have to work again... the only flying I'll have to will be from lake to lake in my turbo beaver on amphibs!!!

[xsbank]

The 'problem' with aviation is that most of us got into the industry because we loved to fly - loved the challenges and the learning and the new skills. Then we thought, "if a little flying on weekends is good, flying for a living must be great!"

That's like learning to ski and getting a job as a ski instructor... taking a hobby/interest and trying to make a living at it. Or liking driving a car so you start teaching driving or go and drive a truck. It gets old fast.

In fact, unless you are VERY lucky, flying for a living generally sucks. Among other things, the hours are bad, the equipment is usually older than you and the pay is dreadful. Oh yeah, lots of operators are sub-humans, too. This is why there are so many bitter pilots out there, a lot of whom are trapped by seniority numbers or lack of any sort of translatable skills (what use is an unemployed pilot, unless you also have a medical degree?).

I still enjoy what I do for a living, but I have not actually flown for fun for, oh, 10 years. That too is a vicious circle - don't rent for a while, then have to pay big dollars for a checkout. I could buy an airplane, but there are reasons why I don't (swapping the airplane for food, is one).

So, despite it being sad and disappointing to some, the fact is that the job, for a vast proportion of pilots, not only sucks but is dangerous, too. I'm sure there are 'human factor' students who would have something to say about pilot's attitudes and accidents.

Anyway, to paraphrase, you can't please all of the people all of the time, so make sure you are getting your own satisfaction, and be sure that you are spending your life the way you really want to.

Many really do like to fly for money....

[Just another canuck]

Despite my above post, I actually do enjoy flying for a living. That said, I agree with everything you posted as well. Some of us have jobs in this industry which are very enjoyable while others do not. Some fly nice machines and some fly shit machines... of course some of think the nice is shit and shit is nice.

I've worked for three companies in aviation... about to start the fourth. The first one was like working in a prison. The second kicked ass. The third was fun as hell, but the only thing more dangerous is getting shot at or crop dusting I guess.

About to take a shot at another place and hopefully it works out well... if not, I'll still move on to another. I'll never give up on this career choice... it's what I love. It's one of those few jobs out there that requires/demands passion. The day a plane flies overhead and you don't look up, change careers.

[spinjob]

2008 was a good year for me, I earned my PPL, Float rating, and most of my CPL rating.
I've got high hopes for 2009 too. Monday i will be having my Cpl Flight test, and Tuesday I'll be starting my multi rating, as well as my instructor rating......it's going to be another good year.

It seems that everyone is so negative about the future of aviation with the down turn of the economy. However I'm not letting it get to me, I've seen this before and i know i can get through it and come out where i want to be at the end of it. When 911 hit i had just come out of school as an AME, most companies were laying off licensed AME's let alone hiring apprentices.
Well i struggled through the bad times, working where ever i could....3 yrs later i had an AME license, 3 NDT level 2's, and a CRJ 7/9 type rating. Surviving bad times is all about your attitude, and taking opportunities when they come about.

I'm really looking forwards to instructing this year, despite the "recession". I've enjoyed learning to fly, now I'm really looking fwd to helping others learn, and to continue learning myself. (not to mention logging hours without the horrible cost of fuel and rental prices)

My goals for this year;

1.) Pass my CPL flight test,
2.) Get my Multi IFR,
3.) Get my Instructor rating prior to April
4.) Take the time to enjoy and appreciate what I'm doing.
5.) Get a Second AME license (gotta do something when the weather's bad)
6.) if i can earn some more money, then an aerobatic rating would complete a great yr.

[raven54]

I wanna win the lottery so I never have to work again... the only flying I'll have to will be from lake to lake in my turbo beaver on amphibs!!!

I'd be happy with a job..

[Just another canuck]

I wanna win the lottery so I never have to work again... the only flying I'll have to will be from lake to lake in my turbo beaver on amphibs!!!

I'd be happy with a job..

I am.

[Odysseus]

2008 was good to me, I got upgraded, got my ATPL, flew ALOT, almost too much. Even though at times I get sick of the working conditions, the company politics or whatever, as soon as I take off those problems don't seem to matter much anymore. I just love the simple things, like breaking out of the clouds at sunrise, or taking off from the middle of nowhere in the arctic and having the northern lights just light up the sky. It's magic. For 2009, I hope I get to go places I've never been, hopefully make a bit more money, and above all I want everyone to stay safe.

[Meatservo]

I hope nobody dies
I hope no one loses their job
I hope lots of people decide to fly when they travel
I hope we don't have any more "parliamentary perogies" for dinner.

[E-Flyer]

For 2009:

- Get to know more people in this industry
- Find a flight instructing job
- Enjoy my place and time as I can never regain the few moments I just spent writing this !



I wish everybody a great year, yes even those whom I've had my disagreements with !

[Ref Plus 10]

2008 was a magnificent year in my world, 2009 only promises to get better!

1: See Alaska in a DC-3
2: Get float rating
3: HAVE FUN!

[Old Dog Flying]

Hopefully we all survive the new year and get to enjoy some fun flying...I know that I will if I can ever clear the tons of snow from in front of the hangar. If not I'll get started on a 1:32 scale Fleet Canuck to go with the Grumman "Alley Cat"..but I'm certainly happy not to need a flying job.

Now how can I get that "985" into the Alley Cat?????

[snoopy]

It is hard to survive as a professional pilot in this business, and keep the faith (and I don't mean the religious kind). Many of us fly because we love it, and are often taken advantage of by shady employers or other "professionals" who have become so jaded they are unable to be kind. To work in this profession, one must usually sacrifice ties to friends and family - whose lives go on without you - and live in places where it can be hard to have a life. The pay is often so bad you can't afford to travel or fly for fun, or whatever else it is that you might like to do. There is no real support from within, or without of the industry for real safety, professionalism, good pilot decision making and good airmanship so those that practice these traits often go it alone - unthanked, unrecognized and unrewarded.

Do we quit or keep trying?

I vote keep trying, but with the following in mind:

2009 A Pilot's Resolution:

• Do what you love,
  Love what you do,
  Love yourself,
  Surround yourself with positive and supportive people,
  Be positive and supportive of others,
  Don't apologize for who you are, or change yourself to please another,
  Always upgrade your skills and challenge yourself in new ways,
  Set a good example,
  Be kind to animals,
  Be kind to people,
  Be kind to mean people, but send them packing,
  Don't discriminate,
  Whether you fly professionally, personally, or both - fly for fun.

All the best...
Snoopy

[Brown Bear]

I just want winter to end, so I can come out of my cave and enjoy a few salmon. Maybe dine on some fresh road kill.

Spent 2008 building my new cave by the water. Went to Cuba. The cubs all did well in school. Logged another 300 hours. All safe hours. No scratched paint for yet another year. Paying attention in the final 5 feet of a flight has it's benefits, I guess.

For 2009? I'll settle for world peace. A cure for cancer. Safe flights for everyone.

[twinpratts]

a 32 Gig IPOD touch

[bilko]

I want the price of oil to go back to 140 a barrel so they will start to drill again.

[MichaelP]

I like snoopy's response... 'Sounds like a real person, there's too few these days.
Be yourself in 2009 and try not to reflect what you believe the media and society expects of you.

[-Charlie-]

Learn as much as I can about flying. Take advantage of opportunties and become the best instructor/pilot I can be!

[moocow]

Well 2008 didn't turn out to be as great as I hoped. While I got an interview with both Cathay Pacific & Dragon Air's cadet training scheme, I messed up both. The only bright side is that I probably didn't get black list by Cathay Pacific since I passed both the hand-eye coordination and the basic English test. However, I'm greatful that my former boss at an insurance company (don't stone me please), gave me a job with no interview required. So this is the plan for 2009 assuming weather conditions are good:

1. Finish my Oracle Database courses at BCIT and get my Oracle DB Master certificate.
2. Get a night rating & float rating.
3. Work toward my CPL.
4. May reapply to Cathay Pacific.

[Old fella]

For 2009:

1. More Great White Burgundy for my Cellar.
2. $3000.00 so we can sun our arses down south when the cold wx hits.
3. Chase the old dear around the bedroom.

[petite]

Health Happiness Love

[benoit.baril]

What do I want this year?
1) Win her back! (Yeah, I fucked up - she told me on X-mas that she was moving out, definitely)
2) Keep this job.
3) Find a place to call home - this habit of moving every few months keeps haunting me.
4) Of course I also want: health (even if it means less alcohol), more time with friends (even if it means more alcohol), the strength to remain positive, fun (lots of it), more time off, more sleep and a blue fish (to go with my other fishes & frogs).

[square]

$

[Hedley]

A few days ago, we did a first (for us): a three Pitts,
three generation formation takeoff

My 16 year old son in the lead, his grandfather on the
right, and me on the left, on a rather skinny 75 foot
wide runway.

I let the kid lead for a few minutes after takeoff, then I
took the lead, and slid forward, with the kid moving into
#2 of the right echelon on my right wing, with his grandfather
tucked into #3 on his right wing.

In 2009 I hope to do a three generation formation
aerobatic loop, despite Transport's best efforts to
the contrary (we're going to the Tribunal again, Jan
23rd, to once again discuss our peculiar "lifetime ban"
from performing at airshows in Canada - you are all
invited to attend).

I'd like to get it into the Guiness Book of World
Records - the three generation formation aerobatics,
not Transport's now eight-year-long campaign, though
I suppose that both are equally remarkable!

I guess I have a funny view of aviation - for me,
its about being with my family and friends, which
appears to be the opposite from everyone else here!

A few years back, Gene Soucy retired from the
airshow circuit. He discovered that he didn't know
anybody in his neighborhood - he'd never spent
much time at his house before. So, he went
back to doing airshows, where his friends were

[Panama Jack]

I wanna be a Rockstar.