PARADOX FREEDOM

The restaurant on the Fuerteventura beach served fresh grilled calamari that were worth remembering.

During the meal we talked about everything and nothing, the typical philosophy of a meal with friends who dedicate themselves to different things in life.

• You pilots have a freedom that no one else has. The comment was left a bit in the air and made me think.
• A relative freedom…. – I thought.
• The crew has set when we they have to wake up (and if we are a bit disciplined) when to sleep (now you get up at 9:00, the last day at 02:00 and the next one at 21:00), we know what we must dress (there is no other option) and the girls how to make up ( limits are set by the company).

With work days and days off assigned (like everyone else), we are also forced to live at a certain distance from the workplace (the airport) go through security measures (just like passengers) we work every day and even (depending on the country ) do a daily breathalyzer alcohol test.

• We know that we are obliged to touch certain buttons or levers on the plane and make certain checks at very specific times, as well as use a very specific and standardized phraseology among ourselves so that communication is efficient.

• We have an obligation to meet very specific times for boarding, closing doors and taking off (the famous slots).
• Fly in very determined routes, pass over points at speeds and heights set by control for the good of air traffic.
• Go to pre-selected hotels, eat food on a certain flight and rest for the scheduled hours to start over again.
  In free time, yes, a lot of freedom, because we hardly take our work home with us, but at work…

Little Freedom

Note: It is not a criticism of the system, in fact, it is probably so, to comply with the essential parameters of aviation (safety, efficiency, comfort, economy). The writing above is a reflection of someone who loves freedom like any other human being, but loves FLYING more.

Meanwhile, may you find peaceful skies.

Enrique. Team Qrewmentor