It's been an interesting couple of last weeks here (at work) for me. I'm really enjoying my job and I love the flying, and I love the airplane. The fact is, I think, I'm getting pretty good at what I do. And that brings on another problem where I really find myself confined in my role of First Officer where I'm stuck doing the same thing more or less every day with no real challenge.
It really spoke to me as an individual, first, but also as a pilot. In an industry where competitors are said to even "sell their mothers for a job", where is the line where we should simply say "enough"? In an industry where two type A personalities usually find their way in the same little enclosed space for many hours in a day, how can you build your character so that you remain respectful yet assertive in your duties?
The soft harmonics of then powerful 1200hp turbine harnessed right in front of me were almost like a quiet, soothing hush to my mind. Sitting at FL200, basking in bright rays of sunshine, I was at loss.. How could this happen? How DID this happen?
Only a few days ago, a small event had occured. A non-event. But decisions were made and actions taken, and despite the best of intentions, all hell broke lose. […]
As my poor captain dialed the number connecting him to our beloved boss, his expression went blank as our boss told him what he thought of our collective decision. He hung up the phone and remained quiet, stunned for a few moment, until finally he looked at me. "I don't know if I should even be repeating this" he said, still struggling with the thought, "but... apparently.. we can't NOT go because of the weather". I stared at him, taken aback and still trying to process the sentence. You can't not go because of the weather...
