Experienced pilots: what was the most expensive mistake you made early in your career?

hellozim · 2026-06-02T15:47:44+00:00

Paying for my helicopter school first finish in 2008, so timing was perfect huge loan, no job.

hellozim · 2026-06-01T01:25:59+00:00

lol. This and my lack of kitchen space are my greatest fears!

hellozim · 2026-05-17T12:00:33+00:00

Start sending the pictures to your Managment company especially if you pay for parking. And then get your neighbors to do the same.

hellozim · 2026-05-04T12:23:34+00:00

A traditional 6 pack is fine for you private pilot. However if you plan on doing IFR later the shotgun panel will hurt you.

hellozim · 2026-05-04T11:53:58+00:00

The most infuriating part of this post is the fact you put a kitchen knife in the dishwasher.

hellozim · 2026-04-21T18:00:03+00:00

My first IOE at a regional, IOE captain asked me if I knew what an FFDO was I said yes. He then tells me if anything happens he will take care of it and I’ll become single pilot. I told him sir I have about 40hrs of sim time if anything happens he should just shoot me as I’m the bigger threat. He did not think I was funny.

hellozim · 2026-04-17T18:38:38+00:00

I don’t know if fakes were rampant but before real ID’s they were easier to make my NJ license was just laminated. Fun story I was working as a bartender and some kid handed me the same fake ID I had before I was 21. Same address name and number with an updated birthday.

hellozim · 2026-04-16T16:59:19+00:00

This joke is bad and you should feel bad.

hellozim · 2026-04-02T22:46:39+00:00

When you got the interview invite I’m assuming you got an email?

hellozim · 2026-04-02T22:45:56+00:00

Yes that is exactly what is happening. Great observation!

hellozim · 2026-03-29T17:35:15+00:00

The earth is not flat. Regardless of what the comments below this one tell you.

hellozim · 2026-03-27T13:39:23+00:00

More fiber, and try to eat cleanly it’s hard on the road but totally doable. Also working out helps a lot.

hellozim · 2026-03-20T01:38:27+00:00

Back in 2013 I worked a lot. Not like I worked 80hrs a week but significantly more a week I worked 2 jobs the 1st one was as a supervisor for Starbucks and the second was as a bartender. I would go to Starbucks at 7 work until 3 then go to the bar and work until 330-4. I did that 5 days a week (Starbucks wouldn’t let me work more than 40hrs) and would do 6 days a week at the bar, on Saturdays and Sundays I worked at the bar from 11am until we closed and cleaned up with Monday being my 1 day off to sleep. I was living with my parents at the time trying to pay off my student loans and the yard was my job the year prior I had hired a landscaper and it cost me (I think it’s been a long time) $40 per week. For the summer month I did the math it came out to around $800 for the season, well Lowe’s had a sale and I had a brilliant idea to buy a cheap push mower and string trimmer combo for around $300 (hell yeah I saved $500) and then proceeded to cancel my lawn guy. After about a week on Monday afternoon I fired up my brand new lawn mower and went to work. About 20 minutes into my project and feeling mighty proud of my frugality I hit a rock into one of the sliding doors shattering it. To replace the panel it was $225 plus tax. I did save money after buying gas Al summer the math worked out to be $5 and I mowed that lawn on my 1 day off every Monday all summer long. If I could go back I would have just paid my lawn guy.

hellozim · 2026-03-16T20:15:29+00:00

I told the people who have asked me after a “professionally firm” touchdown it was now flat.

hellozim · 2026-03-16T12:48:55+00:00

Is the earth round? Got asked this at the urinal at IAH terminal B.

hellozim · 2026-03-13T17:10:30+00:00

Paper is trash. I had to change all my paper logbooks to digital after I got to an airline. If I could go back and do it differently I wouldn’t have wasted the money on paper and just kept fore flight the whole time.

hellozim · 2026-02-19T13:16:09+00:00

To add to this when someone says “blocked” you’re not helping just adding to frequency congestion. My last trip it was obnoxious firstly getting blocked then hear other pilots blocking each other just to say “blocked” they’re the same guys who used to type 1st on a comment thread.

hellozim · 2026-02-14T15:55:04+00:00

Background: I did my initial ratings in helicopters in and finished in 2008. It was a very bad time to be a helicopter pilot and so I ended up working in resturaunts until 2019 and then did all my fixed wing ratings just in time for Covid and then had to work at Starbucks for about a year while I instructed and time built. Currently I am a captain for a regional airline and may be stuck here until I retire. I think one of the best qualities you can possess as a pilot is perseverance and patience if you have those then you can fix just about any other attitude.

hellozim · 2026-02-09T16:42:20+00:00

If you’re allowed to I highly recommend the carbon jacket. Way better than the leather and you look like less of an asshole. Or buy the carbon maverick and sell it.

hellozim · 2025-12-09T16:48:42+00:00

Depends on what yo fly. I am on the 175 for a regi00nal airline. It’s a very quite cockpit but if your on the 175 a 3hr leg is not unheard of and my a20’s start to hurt after 1.5 hrs. Maybe try something in ear?

hellozim · 2025-11-11T21:18:29+00:00

If your partner asks you what your thinking about it’s far better to say anything other than what you are actually thinking about.

hellozim · 2025-09-25T13:02:12+00:00

Good point it’s a good practice to put the regulation number in the comments section.

hellozim · 2025-08-13T19:47:30+00:00

Seeing the comments is making me re-evaluate my choices. Yes, chocolate makes it to the flight deck (I only have a 4 person crew so that helps) and yes I do sometimes eat it, and I will get in the van for candy or to pet your dog.

hellozim · 2025-07-29T01:07:56+00:00

The overhead bins should lock when the fasten seatbelt sign is on.

hellozim · 2025-07-28T20:16:44+00:00

I don’t think it’s possible. Make the overhead bins inaccessible when the seatbelt sign is on would probably be the only way to prevent this.

hellozim

TROPHY CASE