| Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations |
Being realistsic? |
DVA7596
First Officer, B737-800
Joined on July 18 2009
"Try Your Hardest, Reach the skies!"
Southeastern United States
1 legs, 2.1 hours
1 legs,
2.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 17:18 ET by Barrett Sumners
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I am hopiing to be a pilot when i grow up, and i am obsessed with aircraft and aviation...
My brother says im crazy, and my dad likes that i have a dream, so is it possible to be TOO obsessed with aviation!?
I need answers... 
Barrett SumnersFirst Officer, B737-800
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DVA5544
Captain, A320
Joined on February 07 2008
"I'm at a 15° chin-up attitude."
Spiez, Bern Schweiz
34 legs, 58.3 hours
24 legs,
34.9 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 17:22 ET by Alexander Kolb
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To like aviation, you have to be obsessed to some level!
We here at DVA pride ourselves in being Not-Normal people
Alexander KolbCaptain, A320
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DVA3196
Senior Captain, MD-11
OLP, COMM
Joined on June 03 2006
Online Double Century Club
50 State Club
Six Century Club
"pitchpowertrim.com"
Anderson, MO
619 legs, 1,093.4 hours
292 legs,
503.1 hours online
580 legs,
1,026.5 hours ACARS
89 legs,
191.0 hours event
236 legs dispatched, 110.1
hours
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 17:23 ET by Michael Brown
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Don't worry about it Barrett ... I'm sure your fine.
With that said, your studies are THE MOST IMPORTANT thing right now. Study hard, do all your homework, stay out of trouble, and graduate High School. From there you could either sign up in the armed forces and continue on with college. The opportunities will be quite literally at your finger tips if you excel in school.
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DVA2701
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on November 21 2005
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Million Mile Club
Globetrotter
Online Nine Century
Millennium Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Denver, CO
1,041 legs, 3,309.1 hours
997 legs,
3,153.7 hours online
1,020 legs,
3,263.5 hours ACARS
21 legs,
38.4 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 18:01 ET by Dean Shultz
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Sounding like a broken record.. but you can basically do anything you want if you get good grades in school, be it high school or college. Scholarships, grants, etc... Old advice, but good no matter how many times you hear it.
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DVA361
Captain, B777-200
Joined on November 06 2001
Online Century Club
Million Mile Club
Quincentenary Club
Southeastern United States
537 legs, 3,208.2 hours
131 legs,
661.6 hours online
58 legs,
272.3 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 18:14 ET by Andy Jones
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Don't give up on your dreams but don't narrow them either. I'm on furlough (pilot speak for laid off) with no end in sight. So here I am having to try and find another job, another career really, until things stabilize enough for my company to recall me to service. I can tell you that won't be anytime soon, and sadly more pilots are being laid off this month. The point is to have many options available, that way should something come up you can have a career or trade to fall back upon.
Andy JonesCaptain, B777-200
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DVA6295
Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on August 18 2008
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Everett Millennium Club
Moose Club
Kangaroo Club
Flying Colonel
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Two Million Mile Club
Mukilteo, WA
1,809 legs, 5,601.8 hours
2 legs,
3.6 hours online
1,783 legs,
5,531.0 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 18:35 ET by Phillip Hendricks
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Never give up on your dream Barrett.
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DVA6626
Captain, MD-11
Joined on November 07 2008
Six Century Club
Million Mile Club
""PROFILE CLIMB""
Las Vegas, NV
753 legs, 2,288.9 hours
28 legs,
55.2 hours online
747 legs,
2,255.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 18:49 ET by Michael Pare
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I would have a backup plan as for one it is a hard road, and right now there are no pilot jobs, my neighbor is hoping he keeps his job, he walks around on pins and needles right now wondering if he will get that pink slip, he is at the top of his career and his company is trying to sell several of their jets with no luck and that is with steep discounts, still no takers. I would say IF you make it as a pilot for hire, SAVE EVERY PENNY!, pessimistic, no just a realist as it is a great job but a very temperamental industry. I have seen many pilots have to go find some other way to make a living. My neighbor says pilots are just thought of as glorified bus drivers and don't get the respect that they did years ago. I would say do it because you love it and save you're money as it is tough out there. I ran out of money and am now too old at 45 to fly, so it is the virtual world for me, but it docent stop me from loving the beauty of aircraft the majestic machines they are. I am just saying don't hang you're hat on it as is a very tough industry.
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DVA4656
Captain, B757-200
Joined on June 26 2007
Bi-Millennium Club
Everett Bi-Millennium Club
Three Million Mile Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Coquitlam, BC Canada
2,585 legs, 7,949.2 hours
1,989 legs,
5,538.5 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 22:38 ET by Matt Marshall
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join the navy or air force, in canada the air farce.
Matt MarshallCaptain, B757-200
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DVA4069
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on February 18 2007
Everett 250 Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Six Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"War Eagle!"
Southeastern United States
681 legs, 2,227.3 hours
478 legs,
1,098.5 hours online
607 legs,
1,936.8 hours ACARS
25 legs,
59.2 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 22:39 ET by J.T. Coston
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The airlines are really bad right now but it isn't impossible to get a corporate job. Everybody has their own wants and stuff but at this point you have to get what you can take as far as a flying job goes, I can promise you if my corporate connections pull through and I can get a job out of college, airlines or not I am gonna take it. The first job is huge in a pilot's career. Just stick with it, try to get a full ride to a college so all of your money can go towards flight training. I would strongly suggest a backup plan though not mainly because the airline industry is tough but because what if you have a car accident and you get medically unable to fly, you want to have some degree you can make a career out of. I am personally an accounting major and training part 61. Aviation universities or nice, I am just saying my personal career plan. If you have any additional questions or want more specific details feel free to email me man, I will get you straight.
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DVA7421
First Officer, A330-300
E-MAIL
Joined on June 11 2009
"Shoot For The Stars And Beyond"
Johns Creek, GA USA
94 legs, 331.9 hours
64 legs,
289.4 hours online
86 legs,
311.5 hours ACARS
2 legs,
5.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 22:39 ET by Brandon Daly
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Train to be a private pilot
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DVA5270
Senior Captain, B737-800
Joined on September 27 2007
50 State Club
Everett 500 Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Nine Century Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
"p=np"
Charleston, SC USA
977 legs, 1,725.8 hours
578 legs,
894.1 hours online
931 legs,
1,647.1 hours ACARS
43 legs,
67.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 06 2009 22:43 ET by Don Thomas
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"So is it possible to be TOO obsessed with aviation!? "
NO..........You follow your dream.
Don ThomasSenior Captain, B737-800
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DVA5919
Captain, MD-11
Joined on May 13 2008
Everett Century Club
50 State Club
Commuter Conquest
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Quincentenary Club
"...and don't call me Shirley"
Hillsboro, OR USA
507 legs, 1,438.9 hours
4 legs,
3.7 hours online
506 legs,
1,436.4 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 08 2009 18:45 ET by Jack Vogel
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Yes, its possible to be too obsessed if that means you are spending all your time
at the flight sim and not doing your home work.
Follow your dreams, but that means becoming mature so you understand just
what it TAKES to follow them. Dreams have a funny way of twisting and turning
as you grow up.
Just imagine its the early 20th century, and you are OBSESSED with dirigibles,
well, that's what you think you're obsessed with, but really you're in love with
flight.... You have no way of knowing what airplanes are going to look like in
20 or 30 years or 100 years... none of us ever do.
So, the best thing you can do young man, is prepare yourself for the future,
learn about science and engineering and math. But also learn about man's
dreams in literature and myth.
Believe this for a certainty, man has loved flight for centuries and centuries,
that dream will not go away, you get to help push that dream into the future!
Go make it a good one !!!
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DVA4707
Captain, B747-400
OLP
E-MAIL
Joined on July 13 2007
Online Century Club
Double Century Club
Smethwick, West Midlands UK
228 legs, 732.2 hours
174 legs,
566.8 hours online
213 legs,
687.7 hours ACARS
14 legs,
40.7 hours event
77 legs dispatched, 37.5
hours
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Posted onPost created on
October 08 2009 18:51 ET by Tom Rickard
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What is obsession?
It is a personal thing that you have to decide and call yourself, no one can tell you what it is.
Don is correct; you follow your own path, your own dream and if that is FS then let it be. As Jack said though however, if you follow your dream "too much", then you should just give yourself a wakeup call, because as much as we want it to be, they aren't real. Do what you want to do though!
Tom RickardCaptain, B747-400
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DVA6695
Captain, MD-88
Joined on November 26 2008
Century Club
Online Century Club
"We are....Penn State"
Phoenixville, PA USA
153 legs, 206.0 hours
108 legs,
149.6 hours online
149 legs,
200.2 hours ACARS
11 legs,
20.0 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 08 2009 20:26 ET by Jack Urie
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Hey, go get your PPL and move on to CFI. If you get that far, than you can continue on to ATP if the economy works out, stay in the industry in some capacity, or fly for fun and choose another career. Being obsessed with aviation doesn't necessarily mean you have end up flying the heavies.
Dreams should be encouraged, especially by your family. Don't give up and spend the rest of your life wishing you had taken your shot....
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DVA3809
First Officer, B767-300
OLP
Joined on December 12 2006
Online Century Club
Triple Century Club
East Petersburg, PA USA
329 legs, 829.1 hours
124 legs,
239.2 hours online
291 legs,
767.0 hours ACARS
25 legs,
52.9 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 09 2009 00:28 ET by Garen Evans
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The forecast is, economy notwithstanding, very good for commercial pilots. In 10 years you'll be right where you want to be - if you're prepared.
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DVA7596
First Officer, B737-800
Joined on July 18 2009
"Try Your Hardest, Reach the skies!"
Southeastern United States
1 legs, 2.1 hours
1 legs,
2.1 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 10 2009 10:43 ET by Barrett Sumners
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Thanks guys
Barrett SumnersFirst Officer, B737-800
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DVA7767
Captain, B757-200
Joined on September 24 2009
"work the problem, no guessing"
Midwestern United States
25 legs, 44.1 hours
24 legs,
42.6 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 24 2009 09:33 ET by Randy Johnson
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Barrett,
Just like you...I fell in love with airplanes, aviation and all things space related very young. I just loved everything about it. You MUST be disciplined in your approach in how you go about making your dream a reality. If your not discplined...you may end up getting married very young..with children (you can read between the lines)...and then "for the most part" you can wave goodbye to those aspirations. So you need to stay focused...and not be swayed or tempted for what you want NOW by forfieting what you REALLY want in the FUTURE! For me...I joined the AF as an Air Traffic Controller. I was stationed at Hill AFB, Utah from 1979-1984 when the F-16 first came on line. On August 4th, 1983 I became the first AF ATC to receive a ride in the F-16. I am 52yrs old now...and it seems just like yesterday! Barrett...time flys by. Don't waste a second of it.
Good luck and Godspeed to you my young friend! Now...get off the computer and go study!! hahaha
Randy JohnsonCaptain, B757-200
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DVA3787
Senior Captain, CRJ-200
OLP
Joined on December 01 2006
Double Century Club
50 State Club
Online Double Century Club
"Small planes don't make small brains"
Western Europe
277 legs, 515.9 hours
204 legs,
397.0 hours online
244 legs,
456.2 hours ACARS
39 legs,
80.6 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
October 25 2009 00:15 ET by Mark Salter
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Since most major airlines require any four year degree, it would be smart to get the degree in something to fall back upon. This could be almost anything.
If it's your dream, then definitely go for it!
Mark SalterSenior Captain, CRJ-200
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DVA7633
Assistant Chief Pilot, B737-800
OLP
DISPATCHER
Joined on August 07 2009
B757 100 Club
Event Half Century Club
Everett 500 Club
Million Mile Club
Millennium Club
Online Nine Century
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
"When the clouds roll in, I roll out."
Minneapolis, MN USA
1,183 legs, 3,139.3 hours
939 legs,
2,593.2 hours online
1,137 legs,
3,016.6 hours ACARS
80 legs,
171.1 hours event
3 legs dispatched, 2.8
hours
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Posted onPost created on
October 25 2009 01:22 ET by Luke Hubers
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I don't think it is possible to be to obssessed over aviation. Your not the only one who wants to be a pilot. I've been interested in aviation for a couple years now and now my interest has really came alive. All I can say is do your research and make sure to have something to fall back on incase the aviation industry doesn't work out right away. Just remember your not the only one who has the dream to becoming a pilot. Good luck in the future ahead.
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DVA7829
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on July 08 2006
Century Club
Midwestern United States
107 legs, 151.1 hours
101 legs,
138.4 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 25 2009 05:15 ET by Gary Locke
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Barrett.....LIVE YOUR DREAM. I was raised by an aviation enthusiastic dad, and his dad, worked for Stinson Aircraft. Growing up my dad woud take me to CMH and DAY airport for planespotting. I lived in a small Ohio farm town, and when I was a senior, my guidance counsler was no help to me in pursuing a aviation career, but I pursued.
My dad found a school in St Louis, which trained in airline operations, and the rest is history.
22 years now and I never tired of it.
And my bedroom is filled with aircraft models, aircraft photos, aviation books...lol
Like my Facebook says...Just A Aviation Geek
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DVA7829
Captain, CRJ-200
Joined on July 08 2006
Century Club
Midwestern United States
107 legs, 151.1 hours
101 legs,
138.4 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
October 25 2009 05:16 ET by Gary Locke
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Barrett...shoot me an email and I will see if one of my best friends, who is a captain on the EMB 170/175 at my company can give you some pointers on how to obtain your dreams of flying
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