NEMA From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 680 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2277 times:
Hi Everyone,
I would really like to get an idea of the percentages of a.net members that are either enthusiasts like myself or actually working in aviation.
Please post your position, either enthusiast and to what level or, working the industry and in what capacity. I find that both professional and enthusiasts leave some really valued replies to some interesting threads on this site, it would be good to know roughly what the divide is.
I personally would have loved to be involved in the industry and about 14 years back i applied for a ground crew job with British Midland. They sent me an application form and i didn't return it. Almost out of the blue a couple of weeks later, they sent another and then another a few weeks after that, they were really eager and i bucked out. Reason...one of the comments on the form stated, Your weight must be appropriate to your height. Although i had a slightly enlarged midriff, i really wasn't considered fat, but this put me off applying.
Thanks in advance to your replies.
There isnt really a dark side to the moon, as a matter of fact its all dark!
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 1, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2267 times:
I work in Maintenance, 5 nights/week in Line Mx & Major mx, currently on B732SF,B752SF & B752PCF.
I enjoy myself & get paid for it.
I don't know if I can do anything else apart from Aircraft Maintenance.its everything to me.
RW170 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 430 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2262 times:
I'm a corporate employee - don't want to say much more here beyond that, but PM's are welcome. haha
Transpac787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3139 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2260 times:
Currently I work ramp/CS. Personally, I think this is one of the best jobs you can have when you're young. My work schedule works perfectly with my school schedule, as I only work on the weekends. Besides, flight benefits are one of the greatest things invented, despite the hot & cold reception they get on a.net. It's often what prevents a lot of people from ever leaving the industry entirely, as they are quite literally addicted to the FB's. I know I am!!
Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 1): I don't know if I can do anything else apart from Aircraft Maintenance.its everything to me.
The airline industry really does seem to be unique in how the work involved can be simultaneously enjoyable yet addicting.
N710PS From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 1166 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2233 times:
I am and have been employed in the aviation world in every form on the frontline level except for Mechanic and Flight Attendant since I was 18 years old.
There is plenty of room for Gods animals, right next to the mashed potatoes!
United319 From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 513 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2224 times:
Worked for FL for A year and a half, now all im gonna say is that im with the airline of my dreams....the screen name says it all
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2215 times:
I am an enthusiast and have been ever since I lived close to Teesside airport and remember seeing Dan-Air Comets going out in the early 70s. My wife has worked for SAA for 29 years so that is my closest connection to aviation.
After Monday and Tuesday even the calendar says WTF...
Faustino927 From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 263 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2211 times:
I worked for Pan Am from 1979 to 1991. Then I worked for American from 1992 to 2003. I am also an enthusiast and love anything in aviation.
Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.
LDIkaros From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 175 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2209 times:
I am just an aviation enthusiast. I never worked for an airline and probably never will.
I love to travel, though, and that started my interest in aviation. Flying isn't just a way to get me from A to B but it is part of my whole travel experience.
Mauiman31 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 434 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2203 times:
Now an enthusiast and FF for work. Was a FA for almost 3 years in the late 70's. Wonderful time and memories. Quit to go back to university and finish degrees and never went back to work in the industry.
DC10BHX From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 199 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2203 times:
I have worked in freight forwarding in the UK since 1984 and have been involved in Airfreight operations since 1985. My sign off reads my attitude to life.
Flipdewaf From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2006, 1525 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2195 times:
Quoting Andz (Reply 8): I am an enthusiast and have been ever since I lived close to Teesside airport and remember seeing Dan-Air Comets going out in the early 70s. My wife has worked for SAA for 29 years so that is my closest connection to aviation.
I'm learning to fly at Teesside, nice little airport I think. Im not technically employed so I suppose I'm just an enthusiast although I'm learning to fly at the moment and am doing my masters degree in Aerospace engineering/Buisness. I used to work for a composite firm.
Faustino927 From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 263 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2192 times:
Quoting Mauiman31 (Reply 11): Wonderful time and memories. Quit to go back to university and finish degrees and never went back to work in the industry.
I quit with American after 24 years of work as a F/A. Started college to become a Registered Nurse which is what I wanted to be when I graduated from High School. It is never to late. I started my aviation career with Pan Am.
Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.
WILCO737 From Greenland, joined Jun 2004, 8476 posts, RR: 78 Reply 15, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2189 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD MODERATOR
Hi guys,
I used to be an enthusiast and then I was lucky enough to start working in the aviation business. Worked as a ramp rat and now I am a pilot on MD11F for LH Cargo...
B747forever From United States of America, joined May 2007, 16575 posts, RR: 11 Reply 16, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2185 times:
I'm an enthusiast, dont work in aviation, and will probably never do that either.
RAFVC10 From Spain, joined Sep 2005, 1980 posts, RR: 7 Reply 17, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
Only enthusiast.
When I studied my career of economics, I worked in the travel agency where my mother actually spends her last years before her retirement. There I get my acknowledges about Amadeus and Galileo systems, learned about strange airlines and aircrafts and is an exciting world.
Now, my wife works, as I said many times, in the travel agency which prepares all my job flights and sometimes I go there to help her with my very stange flights and trips.
Regards,
Gerard
El dia que los gilipollas vuelen, no podremos ver la luz del sol!
Egmcman From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 898 posts, RR: 9 Reply 19, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2165 times:
I am not employed in the aviation business. However I now live near to my local airport so that makes up for it. I don't get to spend much time as I would like watching aircraft but you can't have it have both ways.
Leskova From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 6075 posts, RR: 72 Reply 20, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2163 times:
I used to own a travel agency, these days I work for an international chain of travel agencies - but I'm not in sales (left that in 2003 when I had to close my own office down) or ticketing (left that in 2005) any longer, these days I work as a project manager, currently responsible for two projects affecting the division of the company that I'm employed by (covering three countries).
Aside from that, I'm also responsible for all teams that load and distribute our airfares in those three countries, as well as for the ticketing teams in two of the three countries... and I'm responsible for our ticketing automation and fare loading/distribution software...
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11136 posts, RR: 63 Reply 21, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2156 times:
I don't currently, but I plan to. I considered pursuing my aim of being a pilot straight after I left school, but thought it would be wiser to get a degree first, so that I have something to fall straight back on if I don't make it to being a pilot. Half way through my last year of the course, so starting to think about what I want to do afterwards.
Pilotboi From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 2366 posts, RR: 10 Reply 22, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2147 times:
Enthusiast and Employee - Ramp agent for Delta at DAB.
Ryanair737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2146 times:
Half way through my PPL, after I leave college next year I am going to get a normal job for a year or two to raise a bit of cash whilst still building flying hours, then hopefully enrol onto a integrated course when I am 21 or so.
That being said if there is demand for pilots in the UK in a few years time, it is not always gaurenteed.
Sbworcs From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2005, 793 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 2144 times:
Recent enthusiast who works in Admin!!
The best way forwards is upwards!
25 Srbmod: I've been an enthusiast since I was a kid (Originally I was into military aviation, with little interest in commercial aviation) but getting into the
26 CanadianNorth: Both. Been an enthusiast ever since I can remember. Been a cabin service agent for Air North since June, but I'm leaving the airline at the end of the
27 AerorobNZ: Gate Agent at AKL. Have been with the airline for 2.5 years. Hopefully by next week I will be in Station Control centre training as a Turn Coordinator
28 BE77: Enthusiast - light ac owner with +-900 hours private, travel quite a bit domestic and international for business.
29 NEMA: Thanks for the replies to date. Some nice posts and a couple of members who I recognise from regular inputs on here. Seems that more of you are, or ha
30 Letsgetwet: I'm doing it the other way around. I worked for 30 years as an engineer for a very large chemical co. Now I'm collecting a very nice pension , and in
31 ThrottleHold: Been in the aviation business since leaving school. Have flown the BAe 146, B737, B747, A320 and currently an F/O on the A330.
32 Joness0154: I'm both I suppose. Just got hired by an aviation consulting firm as a consultant (airport planning, environmental, financial). I will have my CFI in
33 OA260: Always worked in the industry since I left school. Alot of family in the same industry also. I have always wanted to work in the airline/travel indust
34 Motif1: Enthusiast - just love airplanes and flying. Recently I developed liking towards Elite privileges too. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to become A
35 113312: Working in aviation since 1971 and an enthusiast since, well, forever.
36 Novak500: just an enthusiast, grew up close to YYZ Rich
37 EWRCabincrew: CO as a flight attendant for 20 years, ISM (purser) the last 10. Just as big of an enthusiast, too. Loving every minute of it.
38 NG1Fan: Frequent user over the last ten years. Went flying as a child when my father was qualifying for his PPL. Love flying, became an enthusiast when I got
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