I wasn't even aware of OOT until someone recently suggested I start this thread here. (I had posted a question about Vegas on B&M).

I have been flying since 1977 and have accumulated a little over 15,000 hours of flying time. Besides an Airline Transport Pilot license, I also have a CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor), and Flight Engineer license (not much use to me now since 727s no longer fly passengers in the U.S.).

Through the 80s I was strictly a light airplane pilot, accumulating hours wherever I could: Saturday junkets to Atlantic City in a twin engine Piper Seneca; flight instructing; flying a politician around Virginia; flying HAZMAT out of Dulles airport (Stinger rocket motors for the army).

I've had ownership (or part ownership) in 3 different airplanes: Piper Cherokee 180; Grumman Yankee; and Piper Turbo Arrow. I lived in Hawaii for 2 years and flew to all the islands out there, renting aircraft from the Hickam Aero Club. I also spent 3 months in Japan and flew with the Yokota Aero Club. At that time I was a computer programmer and engineering manager providing on-site support to the military (CINCPACAF, and PACFLT in Hawaii; 5th Air Force in Japan).

In early 90s I finally decided to fly full time and took about a $65k pay cut to go fly for a regional airline, Atlantic Coast Airlines, out of Dulles airport in Virginia. I flew the Jetstream 32 (19 seat turboprop), the Jetstream 41 (29 seat turboprop) and the Canadair Regional Jet (50 seat jet) while at ACA. I also did simulator instruction, line checks, and gave new hires their Initial Operating Experience (IOE) while there.

I got hired by a major airline in 2000 and 'flew sideways' for about 6 months (flight engineer on the Boeing 727) before moving to the McDonnell Douglas MD-88, configured with 142 seats. In early 2007 I moved to the Boeing 767-300ER (the ER stands for Extended Range...it carries more fuel than the standard model) and began flying international routes. Most of those have been to Europe, but I've also been to Africa and South America.

My older brother flies for the same company, on the same airplane, and at the same base as me. We've actually had 2 flights together (Amsterdam and Nice).

I love the job, but the profession sure ain't what it used to be. Now that I finally made it to a major airline (the "Bigs") after 20+ years of building time, pay has been slashed at most airlines and we've lost our pensions. At 54 years of age, I am pulling down about $110k. I say "about" because we are paid by the hour -- it's not a salary.

I do like the fact that the job affords me a great deal of leisure time. This month I was flying on the 1st and 2nd (completing a 3 day trip to Nice) then had a day off and flew a 3 day trip to Moscow (Nov 4-6), followed by my current trip to Sao Paulo (Nov 7-10). After that, I'm off until Nov 25th when I fly a 3 day trip to Vegas, my first domestic trip in over 2 years. That's 14 days off...pretty nice.

I also like the fact that I never dread going to work. I couldn't say that in my previous life as a Systems Engineer. The worst part about my job now is that I live in D.C. area but fly out of JFK in NY. That means that I have to go hop a flight to NY to get to work. Commuting is a fact of life for many airline pilots; very few of our NY based pilots actually live in the NY area.

Anyway, that's a basic intro and I'd be glad to try to clear up any questions/misconceptions about flying in general (either GA or Airline flying) or day-to-day aspects of the job.

BTW, let me say that when it comes to PAs to the passengers I absolutely hate the hackneyed phrase that so many pilots and flight attendants use: "Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight." So trite and to me it almost sounds like a cruel taunt.

How competent are most pilots? Ever flown with a guy and though "Thank God i'm flying this plane and not him"?

And i'm sure if i don't ask someone else will .... and this is OOT so......... Bang any stewardesses?

Why are passengers required to put their seat backs forward for takeoff and landing?

How many times have you landed a number/girl using your uniform?

what's the deal with airline food?

Its cool you like flying good for you. Were I you I would go back to a regional , private jet setting. I would chew off my left arm , strap myself to a duck, or drive up to 1500 miles to avoid spending a day like a jerkoff in an airport in todays environment. I feel bad for the skilled pilots who take it in the shorts, but the rest of the industry deserves to fail and spend eternity in bankruptcy.

What do you think about the pilots who lost their licenses for overshooting the airport because they were on their laptops? Is this standard for a pilot and these 2 just f'ed up or was this out-of-line behavior?

How often during a flight are you actively flying? Kind of to the above question, what do you do during your "down" time in the cockpit?

From a professional standpoint, how impressive was Captain Sully landing that plane in the Hudson?

my dad just built one of those corvair things and we keep having one disagreement: for a small plane like that, is it better to fly in cold air or warm air? he contends that its cold air because the propellers "bite" better whatever the hell that means, but my position is that cold air is worse because it is thinner.

How many stewardesses did you bang? Did you guys have orgies at every city? Did you have one mistress in every city or did you prefer to go on the prowl every night in a new city?

Actually it's the opposite. Warm air is lighter and the performance of an airplane goes way down as the temperature (Density Altitude) increases.

PilotMatt, maybe you can answer some of these questions, because OP has all but disappeared.

what is your take on the two pilots who overflew there destination a week or two ago

Are you a member of the mile high club?

OP said after the 10th he will be off til 25th or w/e
So I assume thats when he will return

lol

What are your thoughts on skydiving? I feel that skydivers and the aviation community are very closely intertwined and we (I'm a skydiver) greatly look up to and are thankful for the proficient pilots.

What are your thoughts on the state of the commercial aviation industry currently and its recent troubles? Are all the cuts and layoffs beneficial or are there obvious things the companies could be doing behinds the scenes to greatly alleviate the problems.

Thanks

P.S. Private license is on my to-do list in the next couple years!

One more question, what is the most desirable piloting positions? Chartered private jets? Commercial airlines? Cargo shipping pilots?

all the jump run pilots ive met were skydivers and a bunch of skydivers are pilots

ever had a UFO experience?

this post.

how painful is it when someone farts in a closed cockpit with no circulation

OP,
Have you died in a plane crash since starting this thread?

I'm (optimistically) assuming he posted the thread, went to bed, and is going to answer questions when he gets up today.

Probably, but it's more fun to bust his chops this way.

Brand new OOT guy, I'm willing to cut some slack as this has some excellent thread read possibilities.