a question about nerves.

[cpwhit1]

I'm hoping to become a naval officer after I graduate in 2009. At the moment I am just looking for some advice other than my local officer recruiter and my Father. As of now, my first choice would be to go into aviation, but there are some things that concern me.

Almost every time I fly on commercial airlines, I get nervous. I'm not afraid of heights (looking out the window is actually what calms me down). The reason I get nervous is because I don't feel safe. I don't know the pilot, he has my life in his hands, what if he was the lowest in his class....all of these thoughts race through my head. I have the same issue with being a passenger in somebody's car (but to a lesser extent). I just like having my life in my own hands.

You may be asking, "Well then why the hell would you want to fly for a living?" Whenever I think about flying my own plane (of course, by "my own plane" I mean the Navy's plane), I get the feeling that it's the only thing for me....nothing else would suffice. When I think about flying in the Navy, It's a whole different ball game....I know I'll be safe, I'll trust those around me, and I can rely on the fact that everyone has been trained by the best in the world.

Has anyone out there had similar thoughts or experiences? Should I steer clear of aviation? This is something that I really want to do and I have become very passionate about it, but I want to know what some of you think about this situation.

PS...I want to fly the new Growlers or P-8s (cause my old man flew p-3s).

 

[TheBubba]

If its something you want to do, apply and go for it. If you don't, you'll be sitting around 20, 30, 40 years from now wondering if you could have done it. If you try, you'll know the answer. If you get your wings, it'll be one of the best feeling in your life. If you don't, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you gave it your best, and that you served your country as a Naval Officer.

Bottom line, you seem like you know you want to be a Naval Aviator. My advice is go for it.

 

[Swanee]

Q:What did they call the guy who finished last in his class in medical school?


A: Doctor.

 

[HeyJoe]

Hvae you at least flown in a general aviation aircraft of some sort to see if you like being at controls and have same misgivings?

 

[DSL1990]

You may be asking, "Well then why the hell would you want to fly for a living?" Whenever I think about flying my own plane (of course, by "my own plane" I mean the Navy's plane), I get the feeling that it's the only thing for me....nothing else would suffice. When I think about flying in the Navy, It's a whole different ball game....I know I'll be safe, I'll trust those around me, and I can rely on the fact that everyone has been trained by the best in the world.

Has anyone out there had similar thoughts or experiences? Should I steer clear of aviation? This is something that I really want to do and I have become very passionate about it, but I want to know what some of you think about this situation.

i'd think this would be a case where you should definitely work on a private pilot's license yourself first. to save money you probably don't need to get the whole license- just take a few test flights and see how you feel.

 

[Gatordev]

As others have said, try and get a few lessons in GA and see what you think. If it's still an interest, have at it and apply, however....

The reason I get nervous is because I don't feel safe. I don't know the pilot, he has my life in his hands, what if he was the lowest in his class....all of these thoughts race through my head. I have the same issue with being a passenger in somebody's car (but to a lesser extent). I just like having my life in my own hands.

You may be asking, "Well then why the hell would you want to fly for a living?" Whenever I think about flying my own plane (of course, by "my own plane" I mean the Navy's plane), I get the feeling that it's the only thing for me....nothing else would suffice. When I think about flying in the Navy....I know I'll be safe, I'll trust those around me, and I can rely on the fact that everyone has been trained by the best in the world.

Those things in bold will also happen in Naval Aviation, and if you believe the guy next to you won't screw up, whether he's an IP or a seasoned aircraft commander, you may find yourself chatting it up w/ St. Peter (and his 72 virgins, of course). When you become more experienced, you'll most likely have some job where you don't fly and you let someone much less experienced than you fly while you teach. Will this be a problem? Who knows, and w/ more experience, your discomfort may go away, but just be aware that because it says NAVY or MARINES on the side of the plane doesn't mean no one has problems avoiding the ground or another aircraft.

 

[MasterBates]

Gator hit it on the head.

When I was a Stud ,the first time the IPs kept me from killing myself more than once, and I kept us from morting via midair.

In the fleet, I almost killed myself and my crew one night on takeoff. I have kept hinges from killing me as well.

Everyone has a bad day. When you fly multi-crew either as a Stud or Naval Aviator, you have to stay on your toes just like a single seat guy, because your bud in the other seat might be having an off night.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Everyone has a bad day. When you fly multi-crew either as a Stud or Naval Aviator, you have to stay on your toes just like a single seat guy, because your bud in the other seat might be having an off night.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/20/eveningnews/main3854375.shtml

They overshot their destination by 15 miles, ATC was trying to hail them for 25 minutes, they were asleep! HAL, what is the scoop on Go! Airlines?

 

[HAL Pilot]

Go! is part of Mesa, the shittiest regional in the business. Lowest paid, longest duty time, worst work rules - an accident waiting to happen. They are run by Frank Lorenzo's clone J O Orenstein.

Go!/Mesa came into interisland flying a couple of years ago with the idea that they would run Aloha out of business. They used proprietary information they got from Hawaiian and Aloha during their bankruptcies to build their business plan. Hawaiian and Aloha have both sued them over this. Hawaiian won $80 million (Go! is appealing) and Aloha's suit is coming early next year. Aloha actually had the better case and is expected to get a bigger judgment.

Go! is losing money left and right as they are not even charging 50% of the price of flying a pax. J O said when they started that they could lose $20 million for 5 years if that is what it took (to run Aloha out of business). It's backfiring as they have the lowest load factor despite their fares. But it is also bleeding Hawaiian and Aloha as they have to somewhat match his fares. It is especially maddening as there is no way he will succeed in running either out of interisland flying but it is costing us big money.

Hopefully this will be the nail in their coffin that shuts them down.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Almost every time I fly on commercial airlines, I get nervous.

You should feel nervous...given the opportunity, airline pilots will try to kill you!

Reality - look at the safety records. You have a better chance of dying walking accross the street or in your car.

 

[el douge]

I have a friend who flew with Mesa for a little while and he said the same thing. Terribe airline to work for. He got out as soon as he could. He now flies for Northwest. I can't believe those pilots fell asleep!

 

[bb1125]

When I think about flying in the Navy, It's a whole different ball game....I know I'll be safe, I'll trust those around me, and I can rely on the fact that everyone has been trained by the best in the world.

I think I understand what you're saying hear and I agree with you. I was a maintainer for 10 years with the Navy and I truly believe we are the best. The first time I ever flew a GA airplane was in IFS and it scared the crap out of me. Seeing the way the civilians did maintenance was scary. And when I found something on a preflight that would down a Navy aircraft in a heartbeat, they looked at me like I was crazy.

We definitely have higher standards IMO. But we have to. Our environment is lot more dangerous. So, believe Gator and MB when they say you can get killed here too. We may do things better than the civilians, but we push the envelope a lot farther and we're also human and make mistakes. All it takes is one.

Like several others have said, fork over a few bones and try flying. Flight school isn't the place I would want to find out flying isn't for me.

 

[A4sForever]

.... I can't believe those pilots fell asleep!

While it IS hard to imagine on an inter island flight, I can state without equivocation that pilot fatigue in the airlines is a HUGE problem. I was "tired" for over 30 years and am now just realizing what it's like to sleep "normal" hours.

Several years ago, one of our freighter crews fell asleep (all three guys) on an extended posit-and-hold on the runway @ JFK. It was a zero-dark-thirty go and the crew had been burning the candle at both ends for several days following repeated re-routes and changes to their schedule. They were only awakened by the banging on the side of the aircraft by the airport "follow-me" crew ...

It happens ... and with the exception of the pilots ... no one in management, the government, or the traveling public really gives a damn until and unless it affects THEM.

 

[P3 F0]

You should feel nervous...given the opportunity, airline pilots will try to kill you!

Holy sh*t.

cpwhit, one thing to keep in mind is that aviation training is kind of slow. It's a lot like getting into hot water one toe at a time. By the time you strap into a cockpit, you'll have had so much training and so much exposure to Naval aviation (I'm not talking fleet exposure, but relative to a civilian) that you probably won't be thinking twice about it. You'll be more nervous about getting downs and losing your focus.

 

[Swanee]

Go! is part of Mesa, the shittiest regional in the business.

I just flew on a United Express flight operated by Mesa from ord to orf and back... Neither flight was on time, one due to mechanical failure (shit happens) the other because they didn't have a pilot for a 6am flight... When a captain did show up he was a bit disgruntled at having to do another leg on what was supposed to be his day off...