Mid-life Career Change to Airline Pilot. It's Doable.

SixPapaCharlie said:
I only don't like the hat.
What I do like is we have the option for a really nice leather jacket we can wear in place of the standard Navy one.
If / When I upgrade, that is going to be my gift to myself (Also a 65 Mustang) but the Leather jacket for sure. They are spendy but look cool.

I survived my first line check yesterday. Sat complete, only minor debrief items so I am starting to feel like this is real.
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Even after you retire you may still wonder if it was all real. But you can always re-read this thread and be assured that, yes, it was indeed real.

I had a leather uniform jacket and wore it. Once. I felt like too much like Potsie pretending to be The Fonz, but, hey, there can only be one Fonz.

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That, and the bomber jacket aesthetic smelled vaguely like some sort of stolen valor, whereas the more businesslike standard-issue pilot jacket seems more appropriate for a guy who, during contract negotiations, claims to be worth $500k/yr. But that's just me.

As for the '65 Mustang, I have to agree with The Fonz:

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SixPapaCharlie said:
I don't know what is going on at Chicago but being on the ground there is the busiest I've ever been in an airplane. And don't even think about asking for progressive taxi :)
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This made me laugh. Had a friend that ATC gave the business to at a Class D ... ATC was new ... buddy planned on a trip to see the supervisor ... after landing he requested progressive taxi ... airport was small like Austin Exec so it was hilarious:)
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
HAHAH!!!


This is the car I sold to pay for flying lessons. I want it back.

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When I started flying, I had three motorcycles. I sold my least favorite to pay for primary training and then sold the second least favorite to pay for instrument training.

Edit: which technically probably isn’t a violation of the law of conservation of toys.
 
Bill said:
When I started flying, I had three motorcycles. I sold my least favorite to pay for primary training and then sold the second least favorite to pay for instrument training…..
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So u kept the Harley? Good man….
 
eman1200 said:
So u kept the Harley? Good man….
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Didn’t have a Harley at that time, but world like another one sometime. I really like the current Low Rider ST, it’s a nice take on the classic FXRT.
 
Larry in TN said:
If an FO is on Captain's pay, does he have to take the first upgrade available to him when he meets the requirements in order to keep it?
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I don't think so, but I'm sure Bryan or someone else who actually works there can fill us in on the details.
 
I hate wearing the hat, but what is worse is having to wear the blazer year round if you're on a global fleet. Sitting in a Euro terminal during the summer with a blazer on is a sweat fest. I think the Delta peeps only have to wear the hat during the summer.
 
Can you imagine what the dress code and uniform could look like if SixPappaCharlie got to design it?
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I don't think so, but I'm sure Bryan or someone else who actually works there can fill us in on the details.
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Captain pay kicks in for FOs at 750 hours. That was negotiated during the "If you can fog a mirror phase". It is set to run through the end of 2026 so us newbies are flying our butts off. Crossing that hour count gets you grandfathered in. Nobody knows if it will get extended as it was once in the past or if it will be modified or removed but it is motivation to fly a lot.

As I understand it, the 750 is automatic and not contingent you agreeing to upgrade. I know FOs that hung on to their seniority long past the 1000 mark and I know FOs that were force upgraded at 950. I believe we have plenty of First Officers right now and not as many Captions because of the flow so I think they do from time to time call you up and say Its upgrade time. With the captain pay thing, I can totally see not wanting to upgrade. I am on month 3 and I have 36 people below me on the reserve list this morning. I bet the guys at the top of the FO reserve list either rarely fly or only fly on their days off and make a good deal of money.

From what I have seen so far, F.O. life seems less stressful that CA life.
 
WDD said:
Can you imagine what the dress code and uniform could look like if SixPappaCharlie got to design it?
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I’m having more fun dreaming about the uniforms (or lack thereof) he’d design for female flight attendants.


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