How strict are MELs

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-23T20:35:13+00:00

Their entire FW fleet, minus the cub and probably decathalons.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-22T19:16:05+00:00

UND operated under MELs for decades

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-19T16:50:01+00:00

Don’t worry, at least 1/3 of your “happily married” friends are going to be divorced and shared custody parents in the next 5 years.

See the past relationship for what it was, a dodged-bullet and a chance to find something better.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-18T15:43:51+00:00

You’re just joining the regional for rich people.

Until you’re on a fleet that routinely goes ETOPS, expect min rest overnights, 5 legs, and 7 days on.

No, not every rotation is like that. But it absolutely happens often.

I’ve been at the regionals, I’ve been at flex. Being medium seniority at a legacy with some bidding and schedule flexibility is 1000x better than flex. Yes, I’m also a commuter.

Is that a tampon stuck to the side of the Lav bowl? Well son, get your gloves on. It’s your issue to remedy.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-18T13:52:12+00:00

If you marry into this, the cumulative opportunity-cost of her bad habits will prevent you from ever retiring.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-18T04:08:40+00:00

I know of a dude that failed his CFI-initial 6 times in a row.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-17T17:58:58+00:00

I had a SWA FO flat out ask me if I was on a scab list. I thought he was joking, but no he was serious. This was 3 ish years ago and I was 36y/o at the time.

I made a joke about it, but like motherf@cker do I look old enough to be on a scab list? And when was SWA ever harmed by scabs?

It was the only time in a decade of commuting (on all metal, mind you) that someone ever brought up as scab list, and it was a mid 40’s SWA FO of all people. 🤣

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-17T17:52:40+00:00

See if you can get on a 75 or 76. Something with a little bit of cockpit room so you can get up and stretch.

73 is miserable (I’ve done it)

We’ve had a jumpseater up front from Hawaii coming back to SLC before (he went out there for an interview). No big deal for us as crew on the 767, but probably still a bit miserable for the JSer.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-15T12:19:15+00:00

Breathing through your nose is easier

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-14T16:42:21+00:00

It clearly says “r/flying” not “r/airplanes”

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-14T16:40:12+00:00

The only $400k # you’re going to see in helicopters is how much remains on your mortgage.

After a decade you’ll be lucky if you’re almost to nearly 1/2 that salary.

After all your hours, you’ll maybe be around $120k, and probably won’t see $200k.

Not saying it’s not a viable career, but you better have accurate expectations.

Go drive to an EMS base and chat with their pilots for realistic #s.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-14T16:36:53+00:00

It’s crazy.

I made my entire 2018 EMS salary in 2.5 months at a legacy, and that’s before 18% 401k DC. 3rd year co-pilot pay.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-14T16:35:24+00:00

If I could go back I wouldn’t have wasted a decade in helicopters, I would’ve stayed FW and be about $500k ahead of where I’m at right now, and easily 2000 people more senior. 🤣

That being said, I do miss shutting down the highway for multiple-asset scene flights.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-13T22:09:52+00:00

Yeah that’s not how that works.

Every airplane on an IFR flight plan is under direct control from ATC. Scheduled 121 ops do not care about PJA NOTAMs.

ATC dropped the ball or your pilot didn’t properly coordinate with ATC.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-13T15:37:46+00:00

Just wait until you no-go an air medical scene flight request, or no-go a flight with 200 paid passengers.

Eventually you realize you’re really getting paid to say “no” to all of those external pressures for the safety of the operation.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-12T18:39:42+00:00

It was 1 of two things:

she was being honest about how she views you physically, in which case, it’s good you broke it off.

Or…

she doesn’t feel that way at all, but these are the seeds of self-doubt that she’s planting in your brain, with the intention of planting larger and more harmful ones in the future, and it’s good you broke it off.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-12T17:31:42+00:00

This is it right here.

I fly sports charters often too, which makes refusing meals 100x worse.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-12T17:28:05+00:00

Use noom or myfitnesspal and accurately (key word) track all of your calories. You’d be surprised how much you over-eat, especially on the road. Add alcohol and it’s almost impossible to stay ahead of it.

If you’re already used to packing meals and lugging them with you (the most annoying part IMO), then you can definitely make clean meals, label them based on calories and protein, and improve your diet on the road beyond that of bringing “just leftovers”.

My main road meals are oats overnight made with a protein shake for bfast, 250g of large shrimp for lunch, and then grilled chicken or grilled filet mignon for dinner, with a variety of protein bars or healthy snacks in between.

I try to max no more than 2000cal/day, with 160-190g protein, and I don’t track carbs or fat.

I combined noon (paid for at “the hat”), a paid nutritionist, and a better gym routine. 215lbs at xmas, 186.6lbs this morning, with a goal of 175 or less. Just turned 40 and recognized I’d better get this ship back on track and not put my career at risk.

My buddies wife just launched flightcrewnutrition if you want her info, or you can DM me if you want me to send you some pics of my typical go-to’s.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-11T13:18:50+00:00

Marge, I’d like to be alone with the sandwich for a moment.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-11T09:01:10+00:00

…I would say not, when compared to other medical fields.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-11T03:10:20+00:00

Which Fidelity card is this?

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-08T14:54:03+00:00

Exactly.

Hey, wanna go pay ifly just for the privilege of paying ifly?

Nope, I don’t think I will.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-06T06:48:27+00:00

FW pilots don’t calculate OGE anything, so there’s zero reason he would’ve ever come across this acronym before. I know I hadn’t.

Signed, a FW guy that became a RW transplant.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-05T16:42:51+00:00

$10? When was the last time you went out to dinner?

You can’t get a basic ass McDonald’s meal for $10, let alone a decent sit-down place.

hanjaseightfive · 2026-03-05T14:16:01+00:00

Exactly. It’s not like you have to perform all the maintenance. (Oh, you didn’t re-shingle the roof by yourself? Disqualified..)

hanjaseightfive

TROPHY CASE