We both truly believe age is more a state of mind than a physical limitation. Accepting age as a restriction is self-limiting and self-defeating.
Young and old alike should live life to the fullest. I suspect that others in this group who are older will admit that time passes quickly… very quickly. Why not spend the limited time we have enjoying life to its fullest?
You seem like a person who understands the importance of enjoying all that life has to offer. Your attitude will serve you well 50 years from now. There might be a day when you remember some old guy in an anal discussion group offered this sage advice. Maybe the thought will occur right after you’ve safely landed an Airbus A380-800!
2 Likes
I’ve sat in the cockpit of an A380. I prefer the A350 ER. Of course piloting a 747 would be my dream job. I’ve watched a crew fly a 747. Its so different to the modern planes but so unique
1 Like
Best wishes for that, and that you’ll never be stuck flying a Boeing 737 MAX.
1 Like
737’s are the only aircraft my airline flies. I’m aware of the issues involving the rollout of the 737-800, but I still feel safer in that plane than I do driving on an expressway where half the people are driving while texting. Before I moved from Illinois, a driver posting to Facebook ran a stop sign instantly killing a pregnant mom and her three young children. I also sold my Harley after a friend was killed when a texting driver hit him at a stop light going 50mph. Flying Aeroflot is safer than driving on American roads.
1 Like
Human sacrifices to the gods of the valley of silicone. It’s a breathtakingly weird world we’re living in right now.
I grew up during a time when the illegal drugs available were seldom adulterated, and STI’s could be easily treated with a big ole shot of penicillin in the ass.
Now, a line of coke can kill you and the tablet of what you thought was Xanax is actually a fatal dose of fentanyl. And because humans killed and ate primates for meat, we have AIDS. In so many ways, life was simpler back then. Risk management has never been more important.
1 Like
I grew up with a paranoid and homophobic parent who was sure I’d get aids from sitting on a municipal bench that might have felt a homeless person’s body once before. It’s important to keep things in perspective as well, but you’re right, things sure have changed.
The aids epidemic should have never been ignored.
I know I have to earn my time on smaller aircrafts. I’ll be looking at getting my type rating on the A320 Family
We acknowledge potential risks in our little group, hence why we are very reluctant to have new ‘members’ and monitor everyone’s regular screening. Thankfully we haven’t encountered any problems in the near 18 months we’ve been together.
A smart move considering the risks. I often complain technology has made life more complicated, but the ability to test is a good thing. Test kits for drugs are also available to prevent fentanyl deaths. I’ll stick to my consumption of good old fashioned cannabis. An alcoholic and abusive father turned me off to alcohol years ago. Ironically, it was a good thing.
1 Like
The drugs tests for pilots are some of the most accurate and sensitive in the world and can detect cannabis for over 28 days since last use so its worth it. Most major airlines breathalyse all crew before each flight. Its seems only good practice. Fentanyl is an opioid based medication so will show up in all standard drug screens and many tests can provide immediate results