A little rant….

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Hey guys! Whats up? A lot of people have been asking me about my skincare routine...

No. No one asked. Literally NO ONE ASKED.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

As cringy as they are, Boeing has done more damage to the public’s confidence in our profession.

I just flew my first MAX today since the grounding. 176 / 178 passengers. No one, literally no one, asked or cared if it was a MAX 9.

It'll blow over. The negative press/feelings, not plug doors.

 

[poser765]

Speaking as one (a legit Boomer with a birthday in 1954), I'd note that not only is it hard to keep up - despite trying - but it's damned near impossible to ignore or set aside a lifetime of ingrained expectation I'd be willing to bet the same is true for you young bucks once you get to this point in life.

Of course, I won't be around to pay off if I'm wrong; still, I'm guessing many of you will be as surprised at the changes to what you "knew" as the future unfolds as us old farts ... err ... Boomers ... have been.

Oh I agree completely, I wouldn’t say I’m old, but I’m not young either. I’m right on the x/millennial line and even some of the stuff the zoomers (and even the younger millennials) are about is almost foreign to me. But it’s their thing. Not mine.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Ugh, I’m probably gonna regret this when I sober up and get trashed with the usual “Ok..Boomer” type of responses, I try to keep my post upbeat but I guess got a little triggered recently. Yep…I guess I’m showing my age.

During some of my retired free time I occasionally like to watch some YouTube videos on “A day in the life of an airline/corporate pilot“ or any other profession I find interesting. This usually ends up with me going down a rabbit hole with all kinds of profession related videos. Some I have subscribed to are the Blancolirio reports and flying with big Ern. I find them well done and entertaining, for the most part, and take comfort in the fact that “I don’t have to do that anymore” but fun to reminisce. There are other Vloggers that I think put out good content for the general public, wannabes and young folks about aviation that I watch. They maintain a professional attitude, content and I respect their expertise and opinion on aviation related subject matter. Some serious, some comical and some a mix.

My rant has more to do with what’s becoming an increasingly common type of “Vlogger” that seems to pop into my aviation feeds lately. It usually consists of the relatively young, new hire jetjock emphasizing the “I’m an AIRLINE PILOT” mantra while practically filming their entire existence walking around and showing a day in the life…. This also usually include (lately) them walking around shirtless in their hotel rooms as they ready themselves for work. Is this important for the video? Sometimes just a towel wrapped around them as if they just walked out of the shower. I mean, who doesn’t get out of the hotel shower on a layover, wrap a towel around themselves (make sure it very waist low) and think, “Hey, let me grab my iPhone and film a short video and put it on social media for a bunch of strangers to gawk at….maybe I’ll get a chick’s number….or a dude, whatever you’re in to.

During their layovers they then film themselves working out (shirtless, of course) while flexing in the mirror and explaining to their audience this is the “airline pilot” lifestyle. At this point I half expected to see them oiled up, shirtless with jeans wearing Ray Bans and playing beach volleyball prior to checking out of the hotel. I get to see them adding gel to their styled hair, putting on their skincare products, multiple rings on their fingers and wrist bands (I guess this is a thing nowadays) before putting on their uniform shirt which is clearly a size too small to show their chiseled physiques.

Now, I’ll admit, I wish I had their physique when I was younger…I didn’t. My problem is the lack of filtering and this constant insatiable need to film yourself every minute of the day, you know…for content, and then posting all over social media for a bunch of strangers to view as if you’re the most interesting man in the world...you’re not. I thought initially I was gonna see videos about airline flying mostly from a technical side of things. What I get is an episode of “The Bachelor…Desperation Island“ along with someone explaining their laughable Looooong 5 year *struggle* from start of PPL to flying the big jets!

One vlogger I recently came across (Pilot Pete) flies for FedEx. I initially thought, cool….I’ll be able to relate and looks interesting. I quickly grew tired of this young man’s demeanor, the constant over emphasis on I’m an “Airline Pilot” with the accompanying cheesy swagger and smile along with the over exaggerated annunciation of “I’m flying the B767”. The worst is after the flight he usually ask the Capt to “rate his landing” on a scale 1-10 as he’s basically begging for positive affirmation for himself and to share with his audience. Off camera the Capt usually mumbles something complimentary while you watch Pilot Pete soaking in the compliment as if he just received a participation trophy. How about….pack your sh*t up expeditiously so we can get off this thing and get to the hotel van or drive home!

Does anyone else find these videos cringe worthy, embarrassing and unprofessional?? Is it just me? Had I done ANYTHING remotely like this at Brown during my career I would’ve been quickly marched into the CP office and then probably booted off the company property before I had a chance to get my phone out and call the union. Do these folks even take a second to think about how the company could use these videos against them in a disciplinary hearing/firing or how the FAA may view them? Most of them seem awfully young to potentially gamble their careers away like this.

IDK….I guess it’s a much different world and profession then the one I grew up in. Spend less time staring at an iPhone, do your job quietly and professionally. Be humble in success and gracious in defeat.

Here's the Frontier d-bag...........................................

 

[mightynimbus]

.

 

[Skåning]

No tranny’s were harmed in the making of this post.

Not to be an ass but I think we've moved on from that term and it's offensive to trans folks

Of course gingers, and the French, are still fair game to be made fun of because they are soul-less and insufferable

 

[jrh]

I run a YouTube channel. I'll let you all in on a not very secret secret...subscribers and watch time = cash.

Specifically, on YouTube, the threshold is 1000 subscribers and 4000 hours of watch time in a rolling 365 day period to get monetized. I've run my channel for years and I'm not there yet, probably because I'm super focused on being informative and don't care about going viral. For someone only out to make money, this is a fairly low threshold to meet.

After getting monetized, how much money a person makes is hard to determine, but it's not nothing. Anywhere from a few bucks/month to a few thousand bucks/month.

As a content creator, there are numerous strategies for making the most money. In a perfect world, you'd be an entertaining subject matter expert who puts together lengthy videos on topics of interest to the general public. Tons of subscribers, tons of hours of watch time.

Or you could spam out as many short videos as frequently as possible of chicks doing jumping jacks with no bra.

And thus, you get a ton of stupid content on YouTube. Plenty of content creators don't care if it bugs the heck out of a retired airline pilot. They want as many subscribers and watch hours as possible because ultimately it equals cash in the bank.

The only thing you can do is not subscribe or watch a single second of their videos. It's as simple as that.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

Not to be an ass but I think we've moved on from that term and it's offensive to trans folks

Of course gingers, and the French, are still fair game to be made fun of because they are soul-less and insufferable

Fair enough. No offense was intended.

In some circles that include trans folks, the term has come full circle, like queer.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

Fair enough. No offense was intended.

In some circles that include trans folks, the term has come full circle, like queer.

Edit timer got me.

To further concede the point, I wouldn’t call any individual a tranny. Some cultural references like tranny porn seem to get a pass but my use in a forum like this fairly invites a rebuke.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

I thought you guys were talking about something else.



I say, long live the Tranny!

Final flight brings end to AirTran name

AirTran Airways, the little airline that made a big difference in Atlanta, has flown its final flight.

www.ajc.com

 

[///AMG]

Like others said, don't watch it. It is dumb. You will be dumber for watching. The mil side has their own idiots too. It is a pandemic if you will. It will go away once this flash moment of airline hiring frenzy goes away. But also, one might wonder why a major airline pilot decides to do this? Perhaps because year one pay sucks, even now today. I think this newest generation has somehow had it beat into their heads that they will make money off social media, and that everyone can be a star. I actually think it is probably pretty hard work if you are making anything notable at all, but that is just an assumption. I'm sure a few topless dude shots help that income from a specific demographic of viewers. That all being said, maybe it is good if airline pilots are adopting a more healthy, physically fit, lifestyle

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

Oh please let me have a pilot record me and ask to rate his landing.


“I’d say about a 2/10. You were a tad fast, could have held it off a bit longer, and man that nose wheel came down kinda hard. Let your viewers know that you still need more practice…”

 

[///AMG]

Oh please let me have a pilot record me and ask to rate his landing.


“I’d say about a 2/10. You were a tad fast, could have held it off a bit longer, and man that nose wheel came down kinda hard. Let your viewers know that you still need more practice…”

Why must you keep publicly describing my landing technique? Let me see....check, check and check

 

[ChasenSFO]

Everyone thinks they're interesting these days, but most people aren't. Because most people are normal. And nothing is interesting about normal.

 

[roundout]

It’s pretty easy to avoid tranny porn if you don’t want to watch tranny porn.

Binge watch YouTube and TikTok videos featuring puppies and kittens for a week and the airline content will disappear.

On the other hand, if you like tranny porn, continue watching tranny porn without complaining about tranny porn.

No tranny’s were harmed in the making of this post.

 

[Autothrust Blue]

Coming to you LIVE from my disciplinary hearing where the Chief Pilot and my ALPA rep both look pretty pissed off…like and favorite this and hit the bell to get notified about what happens next! #shorts

(just kidding - it would appear some of this is if not expressly encouraged by certain corners, it’s at least tacitly approved, which, eh, whatever.)

 

[N826AW]

I see things a little differently. While I agree a good chunk of the content is cringeworthy, I can imagine a 15 or 16 y/o N826AW being pretty interested in following a pilot on social media and learning the ins/outs of their day. I follow a female Southwest pilot on the 'gram. I bet many of her followers are young women who have an interest in aviation, identify with her, and *hopefully* see themselves in the profession because of her. I think that's pretty cool.

 

[Itchy]

Narcissism is narcissism. That’s all this is. I personally never watch. I do however watch Bronco once in a while. Gryder, meh, NO. Whatever flips your flopper.

 

[MikeD]

Gryder, No. BlandCornholio……No, especially on the midair where he couldn’t understand, or did not know (though he should have) basic formation roles and responsibilities; and was on a tangential rant of blame. The rest of aviation videos…….I largely have no interest. Perhaps some people do. To me, it’s like a professional chef that goes home after work……I’m sure cooking food is the last thing on their list of wanting to do.

 

[A300Capt]

The only pilot Youtube thing I watch is a missionary pilot in New Guinea flying a Kodiak I discovered a week ago. He does an awesome job and really enjoy his stuff.

Hey Don….

I’ve seen his videos too. He does good work and for the right causes. Some of the grass strips he flies in and out of look like a blast….from my couch.

Unfortunately, the “look at me” aviation influencers seem to far outweigh the “let me show/tell you about the career”.

There’s a young kid out on the west coast (Fly with Owen) that seems to be able to fly anything on the corporate side that isn’t nailed down. Impressive list of aircraft he flies and seems pretty professional in his attitude.