Comments on: Flying Cheap and Fear of Flying http://fearlessflight.com/flying-cheap-and-fear-of-flying/ Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:09:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Capt Ron http://fearlessflight.com/flying-cheap-and-fear-of-flying/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Capt Ron Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:13:35 +0000 http://fearlessflight.com/?p=771#comment-28 As someone who can date the onset of his passion for aviation back to watching a movie called, "God Is My Co-Pilot" somewhere around the 2nd grade, I can identify with the deceased Colgan pilots as well as pilots everywhere. And as frustrated as I have been with airline managers during my career, I do not believe that anyone ever willfully intends to see harm done. I'm an advocate for everyone stepping up to acknowledge their role in accident prevention. The low pay and working conditions at Colgan and other carriers like them are in part a consequence of the passion that many pilots share. Collectively, pilot supply not unlike that of the abundance of airline seats drives the price--pay for pilots and the cost of tickets in the case of airline seats. It's difficult to not step forward at the prospect of a pilot job when you have dreamed of becoming one all your life--albeit perhaps not yet 30 years. Until those jobs go unfilled for lack of willing and qualified pilots, the compensation offered is not likely to change significantly. Until that time, we all--pilots and managers together--have to rise to a higher level of accountability to ourselves to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. As someone who can date the onset of his passion for aviation back to watching a movie called, “God Is My Co-Pilot” somewhere around the 2nd grade, I can identify with the deceased Colgan pilots as well as pilots everywhere. And as frustrated as I have been with airline managers during my career, I do not believe that anyone ever willfully intends to see harm done. I’m an advocate for everyone stepping up to acknowledge their role in accident prevention. The low pay and working conditions at Colgan and other carriers like them are in part a consequence of the passion that many pilots share. Collectively, pilot supply not unlike that of the abundance of airline seats drives the price–pay for pilots and the cost of tickets in the case of airline seats. It’s difficult to not step forward at the prospect of a pilot job when you have dreamed of becoming one all your life–albeit perhaps not yet 30 years. Until those jobs go unfilled for lack of willing and qualified pilots, the compensation offered is not likely to change significantly. Until that time, we all–pilots and managers together–have to rise to a higher level of accountability to ourselves to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

]]> By: Steve Teague http://fearlessflight.com/flying-cheap-and-fear-of-flying/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Steve Teague Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:48:12 +0000 http://fearlessflight.com/?p=771#comment-27 Dear Capt. Ron, Right on! Your are stating facts and telling the truth. BUT.....I am so pissed off at Colgan. I do not blame the pilot or co-pilot. They were two young people with a deep enthusiasm and hope that, one day, they would accumulate enough hours and experience to join one of the majors. Heavy snow, icing, and a myriad of difficulties on this flight. The answer was training, training, training. I trult do not believe either pilot had enough. One of them had to deliver pizzas in order to cover his / her rent in between flights. That is what bothers me -- the profit motive over ever thing else. These pilots for the smaller, regional carriers should be members of the Airline Pilots Association with all the rights and repsonsibilities that entails. They should be as well trained as any pilot working for Delta, United, Delta, American, etc., etc. Being an airline pilot means you are a true professional -- you can do something that people that they cannot expect to do for themselves. Same as an Oncologist, a Dentist, a professional Accountant. I honestly believe the two pilots on that doomed flight loved to fly. It is all they wanted to do and be. Passion for your profession counts for a lot. God bless and receive all of the people on that Calgon flight. And, to quote your comment, let everybody understand what happenened (including the NTSB) and make those changes that will improve the airline safety. I hope you agree. Sincerely, Steve Teague Dear Capt. Ron,

Right on! Your are stating facts and telling the truth.

BUT…..I am so pissed off at Colgan. I do not blame the pilot or co-pilot. They were two young people with a deep enthusiasm and hope that, one day, they would accumulate enough hours and experience to join one of the majors.

Heavy snow, icing, and a myriad of difficulties on this flight. The answer was training, training, training. I trult do not believe either pilot had enough. One of them had to deliver pizzas in order to cover his / her rent in between flights.

That is what bothers me — the profit motive over ever thing else. These pilots for the smaller, regional carriers should be members of the Airline Pilots Association with all the rights and repsonsibilities that entails. They should be as well trained as any pilot working for Delta, United, Delta, American, etc., etc.

Being an airline pilot means you are a true professional — you can do something that people that they cannot expect to do for themselves. Same as an Oncologist, a Dentist, a professional Accountant. I honestly believe the two pilots on that doomed flight loved to fly. It is all they wanted to do and be. Passion for your profession counts for a lot.

God bless and receive all of the people on that Calgon flight. And, to quote your comment, let everybody understand what happenened (including the NTSB) and make those changes that will improve the airline safety.

I hope you agree.

Sincerely,

Steve Teague

]]> By: Marcia Silberman http://fearlessflight.com/flying-cheap-and-fear-of-flying/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Marcia Silberman Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:43:47 +0000 http://fearlessflight.com/?p=771#comment-25 Hi Ron, Thanks for the time you take to help all of us that are fearful and phobic. Your words are rational and comforting. Of course, you already know that! I was so happy after the trip I made last summer to TN and NJ and NY. I look forward to any email from you in hopes that it will stay with me for my next trip. Hope all is well with you and Diane. Thanks again.....Marcia. Hi Ron,

Thanks for the time you take to help all of us that are fearful and phobic. Your words are rational and comforting. Of course, you already know that! I was so happy after the trip I made last summer to TN and NJ and NY. I look forward to any email from you in hopes that it will stay with me for my next trip.
Hope all is well with you and Diane.
Thanks again…..Marcia.

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