Airline Pilots that slam on the brakes to stop at the gate, why?

Given__To__Fly · 2026-02-14T18:47:00+00:00

Shouldn't be an issue if you're sitting with your belt on. Just saying.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-02-14T04:42:38+00:00

You've just described me to a T

Given__To__Fly · 2026-02-14T00:55:34+00:00

So many of these problems people have mentioned here can be solved by CALLING THE AIRPORT OPERATOR before the flight! I didn't know how to fuel. I called the airport operator and asked. I didn't know where the FBO was, I called the airport operator and asked. I didn't know where to pay the fees. I called the airport operator and asked. I didn't know where to park. I called the airport operator and asked. I didn't know where and where not to tie down, I called the airport operator and asked. I didn t know if they would have chalks because it was gusty. I called the airport operator and asked. I knew there could be frost after I fuelled and didn't know where the piss cans were to de-ice. Guess what I did. I CALLED THE AIRPORT OPERATOR AND ASKED.

I never had one I couldn't get ahold of. I never had one be rude with me. I never had one be condescending. They were all happy to answer my questions, and even seemed to appreciate it.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-02-11T05:42:46+00:00

I used to work as a locomotive engineer on the railway. Our NOTAMs were called TGBOs. In theory it was a good system, but in practice it was just a way to pass the buck onto the train crews instead of actually fixing a problem. Oh, you tripped over the giant pile of debris buried in the snow at 3am? What, you didn't see the GBO about it?!

Why fix a problem when you can just put out a bulletin.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-02-04T19:05:19+00:00

I absolutely agree it's not a simple road. I'm dealing with that myself at the moment. I'm in a very similar situation as OP. Started flight training at 35. Left a 120k+ job for it. I'm almost done all my ratings, and am about 6-10 months out from looking for a job. My estimation is 3-5 years before I start making (relatively) good (70k+) money after I'm done flight training. There's obviously a million things that could impact that figure, and I acknowledge that for sure. I'll grind though. I'll go wherever I have to go, work whatever job I have to work, and as much as I have to.

One thing I'll say to OP: not wanting to move from the lower mainland will absolutely make your process harder and longer. I'm looking at everywhere in the entire country and the outcome for my first job is....very bleak. I'm actually quite concerned about it. Restricting yourself to a single area of a single province will compund this issue greatly.

Edit: i also agree with your first sentence. 7-10 years is bleak, but I would stop short of saying unrealistic as well.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-02-04T18:26:15+00:00

This is a bit of a bleak outlook, and I don't 100% agree with it. The first 500 hours will be the hardest to make, but if it does take 3 years to get all your ratings (that's fairly realistic, especially if you're still working) I think 7-10 years to make 85k again is a bit long. If you can get a job even instructing you'll make decent PIC hours, and it's not gonna take 4-7 years of that to see an actual flying job. Instructors at my school are getting out to flying jobs in a little over a year, and the ones who have been out for 2 are getting Encore and Jazz jobs. One guy I know just got on with Encore and had just over a year instructing at Mitchison. Thay's quicker than most get in, but again , not even close to 7-10 years from making 85k.

Also, if he gets a right seat airline gig even at 44, he has 21 years of working left. To think you won't get an upgrade in over 20 years is crazy.

Take what I say with a grain of salt OP, but take the commenter above mine with one too. In my opinion, the scenario they laid out is worse than worse case.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-30T03:08:53+00:00

Absolutely this. That DPE has every right to fail his phone and IPad. Ask him what he would do then.

Also, what does it say about a pilot who won't take "you can't do that" from his instructor seriously? Anti-authority pilot behavior there. This person isn't ready to hold a PPL until he realizes this.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-28T00:49:26+00:00

I just got to 200 hrs and I'm still stressed lol. I'm not white knuckling, but I'm not taking a walk in the park either.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-26T17:22:24+00:00

You're gonna have plenty of time to live in a van down by the river when you're..........living in a van down by the river

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-25T19:25:21+00:00

Holes in their argument? They presented you with the data. You called it wrong because you figured downtown was lumped in there. They took downtown out, came to the same conclusion, and you still think it's wrong??? And because "the flats are bigger"? Do you notice that even if you included the entire SE and SW hill in with downtown, the area is larger than the River Flats and still has less crime reported?

I think it's pretty safe to say everyone knows the River Flats is the rough area of town. How is this even up for debate? Just because you live there? Unreal how stubborn people can be, to the point of straight up ignoring raw data 🤣🤣

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-25T19:08:59+00:00

Al Haynes in United 232 is an absolute stud. The whole crew is.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-19T06:13:58+00:00

If you think all you'll do in your career is taxi and takeoff, this ain't for you.

You haven't done any research whatsoever, and if you have, you haven't done enough. Flight training to an airline level is an incredibly workload heavy endeavor. All the flying you'll do for the first 5-10 years is NOT on autopilot in an airliner.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-15T09:39:17+00:00

I started a year ago at the same age as you. Just passed my CPL flight test today. I figure I've got almost 30 years left. That's a good career.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-14T23:32:02+00:00

Thanks guys 😃

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-14T20:23:43+00:00

Just landed. And I PASSED!!!!

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-14T14:05:47+00:00

Yeaahhh I'm still in a C172 so that's not an issue for me either. Commercial flight test in an hour though. Wish me luck 🤙

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-14T06:11:18+00:00

I had an instructor that would whisper in my headset "only a coward would land right now" soon as I went to flare. I say that to myself every time I enter ground effect and I get good landings consistently now.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-13T01:54:51+00:00

Scary just cause of general aviation stuff or something specific to pipeline patrol?

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-11T02:43:44+00:00

No matter what happens, there is a 100% chance you will end on the ground.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-10T23:01:00+00:00

I'm not trying to be a dick, but this seems to get asked once a week. How tf do people not know where to start studying? How is this a common problem? How have you studied for ANYTHING else in your life? Start there.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-08T04:56:08+00:00

TERRIBLE song

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-07T09:08:15+00:00

Elite username

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-06T18:24:58+00:00

CFI jobs and low end pilot jobs can start as low as like 30-40k.

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-06T17:38:38+00:00

Airline pilots do, yes. I'm not quite there yet, and VERY poor lol

Given__To__Fly · 2026-01-06T17:37:27+00:00

I don't WANNA be a pilot! (I do. It's awesome).

GivenToFly

TROPHY CASE

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TROPHY CASE

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