Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Update: drone flying in The Villages
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Old 03-09-2024, 09:18 PM
bmcgowan13 bmcgowan13 is offline
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Default Pilot Definition

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianL99 View Post
I have an FAA Private & Instrument Rating.

People ask, "oh, are you a pilot"? I respond, "not really. I'm legal to fly an airplane and fly it in bad weather, but I don't consider myself a 'pilot'. Guys who fly jets in the military and guys sitting up front on your JetBlue flight ... those guys are 'pilots'".

Now I hear that guys who filled out the card that came in the box of their $79.95 drone and mailed it to the FAA, are now calling themselves "pilots" ?

It reminds of reading posts on FaceBook, where someone is talking about their daughter Suzy, "who's is going to Medical School". Well, Suzy isn't exactly going to "Med School", she's taking a 4 day course to be a CNA.
Respectfully disagree with you. I soloed in fall of 1975; ferried new airplanes for Cessna to build time. I was an ATC for 34 years at ZBW. Part 107 sUAS since 2016.

If you have have an Instrument Rating...*you* are a pilot sir. In fact, I always had more respect, admiration, and consideration for the guy (or gal) flying the C182, Bonanza or twin-Beech in the soup than I did the Part-121 guys..and tried to pass that on to all of my ATC trainees.

*YOU* had to balance the workload of navigating, flying the aircraft, calming the pax, and communicating with ATC by yourself. The airline crews (which I love..love...love) had ACARS, a flight director, jet throttles (no mix, rpms and pitch), cabin attendants, GPS and a two-person crew to to do all of the stuff you had to do by yourself.

Smaller does NOT mean easier... Kudos to you captain..

I would buy your coffee if I met you...LOL