Anyone in the industry knows that they are the least respected employees in the aviation community. They want us to think that lives are in their hands, but they won't acknowledge that it is the maintenance departments that make jets safe for flight. If their "skills" are so important, why are there switches/buttons in the cockpit for Autopilot, Autoland, Takeoff, GoAround, Autobrake, Autospoiler, Autoslat??
Once the plane has stopped and the doors are opened, the pilot can go (stagger/swagger) home and be assured he has nothing to worry about. The AMTs responsible for the airworthiness of the plane are held responsible for their work for years after the work is complete. Even if someone comes behind them and screws it up. Even if they leave the avaition industry. If the auto pilot fails on commercial airliners...no need to panic. There are backup systems.
At any given time, there are tens of thousands of lives flying on the work of each AMT who has ever worked on the jet.
2007-11-27 21:25:15 · 10 answers · asked by duckredbeard 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Thank you for your enlightenment. To all the aviation maintenance technicians in the world, thank you for a safe trip and an enjoyable ride. Everyone, a round of applause please.
2007-11-27 21:39:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, here's a perspective from someone who does both jobs.
When you are a pilot, you have to make decisions within a few seconds, not talk to buddy over there while having a smoke and a coffee to hash it out. A pilot is at the mercy of the weather and the condition of his aircraft. The mechanic just gets the phone call to come to the crash site or where the plane diverted to.
When you are a pilot, you are instantly and personally responsible for your mistakes. There aren't too many mistakes that a mechanic can unilaterally make that will kill him or even other people (not too many mechs go on test flights and some I know even refuse to). Many mechanic mistakes (like leaving a tool in the wing or not torquing a bolt correctly) could take years to cause an accident (or not at all) and will most likely be caught on the next check. All of the items essential to safety on airliners are RII (required inspection items) and require an independent inspection and sign off just like flight and engine controls on all planes.
Remember not all pilots are highly paid, under worked airline captains. Pilots have to spend years (ten or more) making less than apprentice wages and working terrible hours before they get a $40,000/year F/O job with an airline. There are more white collar mechanics (maintenance managers, production managers, QA managers) than there are white collar pilots.
A good mechanic should respect what a pilot does and a good pilot should always respect the work the mechanic does. The lives of the passengers are in both of their hands. But I'd say the pilot's more so.
Oh and by the way, please don't forget the airport operators and ground staff, air traffic controllers, meteorologists, fuelers, cabin crew, and government employees (FAA, NTSB, etc) who also keep the skies safe.
2007-11-28 04:27:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Are you a little jealous? I mean come on. We couldn't fly the plane without you, you are correct. But when I lost a cowling off one of my engines because an AMT didn't notice the cracks during the last inspection, who landed the plane single engine? Wasn't the AMT.
We need to stop this attitude of who is better. We both have very important jobs to do and couldn't do our jobs without the other. You are right that our lives are not glamourous. We are treated like dogs by the management and most of the other employees.
2007-11-27 22:43:23 · answer #3 · answered by IFlyGuy 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well I wasnt aware that if you lost 2 engines somewhere over the middle of the atlantic in a 747 a AMT would come down on his white horse with lightning bolts shooting out of his *** and fix the problem... I mean that has to be the guy going through emergency procedures and land the aircraft with all those lives of board right?
Obviously not one life has ever been saved from the quick thinking of a flight crew and there knowlege of aircraft systems... I simply cant beleave those stupid cocky pilots can you??? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
2007-11-27 21:51:29 · answer #4 · answered by alwaysavailableanywhere 2 · 5⤊ 1⤋
If the plane crashes he dies first (in theory - lol).
The captains pay, trust and status are based on his level of responsibility in 'worst case' scenarios, and his position in the operational hierarchy.
In even the BIGGEST aircraft, the pilot is the BOSS of the aircraft at the most CRITICAL times - when it is being operated. Even in a 777, he is the one who must be prepared to make the FINAL decision. He decides whether to press the auto-land 'button' or to tackle a unique circumstance manually.
Everyone is a part of the team, but the pilot is the boss when the plane is IN USE. Not even the C.E.O. of the airline has higher authority when there is a hazardous situation inflight.
2007-11-28 03:59:50 · answer #5 · answered by stingjam 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
While most people don't know about the autopilot and think the pilot is in control the whole time. Most people probably think that planes only get fixed when they have too, and that they don't have checkups
2007-11-28 14:32:33 · answer #6 · answered by cuuldude101 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow.. you are so right. Who needs pilots anyway? It's not like their jobs are difficult and require years of training or anything.
You make me laugh and I'm not even a pilot. It's obvious that the guys fixing the planes have a huge responsibility but c'mon..."they want us to think that lives are in their hands". OBVIOUSLY!
2007-11-28 17:43:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
You are so right, I agree a pilot is just a glorified driver. More than 80% of accidents is anyway pilot error where a perfectly good maintained aircraft crash because the pilot made an error. If the mechanic makes an error chancess are good that he will be charged before a court of law.
2007-11-28 04:20:13 · answer #8 · answered by Jan 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Well you can't blame the people who think that way...just the clothes alone show a dignified position and command respect...the posture of a pilot shows his command of his rank and position, and just like the military people think they are the highest position in aviation so naturally they get the highest pay...the prestige,, the reputaion, the pride come all in a package of a pilot is all what people see not anymore what his pocket say..
2007-11-27 21:34:02 · answer #9 · answered by E@rthGoddess 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
the visible tenth of the floating iceberg.
We are the team. pilots, maintenance, ATC, cabin crew....
2007-11-28 02:46:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋