Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Galley Gossip: A question about dating pilots - gay pilots.
- Family of 6 in first class made the purser cry
- Customer service agent boarded the plane to calm passengers down which caused a late push back
- Lady got dizzy and needed oxygen in economy
- Lady ran from economy to first class lavatory seconds before take-off
- We missed our roll
- No kosher meal made a Jewish lady cry
- Had to do a "go-round" at JFK
- Late arrival
- Missed international connections
- More yelling passengers
It was a total scene! By the way, can you possibly find a nice pilot for me to date? He doesn't have to be HOT, just cute enough, and nice...oh and a pilot. LOL
Ron
Dear Ron,
Thank you for thinking of me...I think. I mean that was a crazy flight you experienced and I'm not so sure I want to be connected to that kind of drama. Now if you'd said it was a great flight and you thought of me, I'd be thrilled. But a bad flight? Not good. And that's exactly why I avoid the NY - Miami route at all costs. It's always a tough trip to work.
As for finding you a cute pilot to date, I'll definitely keep an eye out and I'll pass the word along to my mother who is also a flight attendant. Though that might not be such a great idea, considering one of the worst pilot dates I ever had was a blind date my mother arranged with a 757 first officer from New York. Not that I can pick them any better. My friend Cady, on the other hand, always had good luck with pilots and even married one. Perhaps her husband, an international Airbus Captain based in Miami, can be of assistance.
I have yet to meet a gay pilot - that I know of. Now I know they're out there because my friend Stephen is dating one. Not to mention, I've heard quite a few scandalous rumors in the galley, rumors I will not share with you here, only because they are just that - rumors. That said, I have met a couple transgender pilots and mechanics throughout the years who were more than happy to discuss their experiences, like Jamy Spradlin, who recently regained her wings after the Federal Aviation Administration delayed renewing her flying license for nearly a year as they analyzed her psyche for stability after she started hormone replacement therapy.
Recently I read an interesting book, Cockpit Confessions of an Airline Pilot, by Stephen Gary Keshner. Midway through Keshner discusses what it was like to be a Jewish pilot and why he hid his religion from his coworkers. If Keshner felt he had something to hide by poking fun of his own religion to throw his colleagues off, I can only imagine how gay pilots must feel when talk turns to dating and family. Take it from me, it's not always easy working with such a diverse group of men and women. Half the time you're meeting someone new on each and every trip, which means you've got to learn quickly how to work together, meshing different personalities in a confined metal tube for hours on end. At least I have the opportunity to escape a coworker I may not be getting along with by working in a different cabin. I can't imagine what it must be like for pilots, especially gay pilots, who may not feel comfortable sharing details of their personal lives.
On a side note, The NPGA, National Gay Pilots Association, is an organization promoting aviation safety and equal treatment. They provide scholarships to help earn a degree in aviation and access to legal and medical assistance, as well as a social and professional network for gay and lesbian members of the aviation industry, from pilots and students to flight attendants, mechanics, and air traffic controllers.
Another way to find the pilot of your dreams, Ron, is to check out aviation dating web sites like Crewdating.com and Love-is-in-the-air.com. Personally, I'd skip the dating sites and just do what my friend Cady was doing when she met her husband - hang out at Starbuck's in the airport. You're bound to run into a ton of crew members grabbing a quick jolt of caffeine before a long flight. I know that's exactly where I'm going to be before my flight to San Francisco departs tonight.
Good luck with your search and happy travels!
Heather Poole
Have a question? Email me! Skydoll123@yahoo.com
Filed under: Airlines, Galley Gossip
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
danny Jun 15th 2009 9:59AM
this was a fun posting...
over 3M miles on AA out of MIA .... NOTHING amazes me anymore in MIA including the mice in Teminal C ...
that MIA/JFK route is a mess every flight and you don't need to know the gate, just listen you will find it ...
frank96 Jun 16th 2009 12:01AM
Ron, Ron, Ron.
Apparently, you're unaware that PILOTS have a reputation in this industry. Well, how do I say this?.......they're known to be......err...ummm.....cheap. Alot of them make SIX FIGURE incomes but are known to hunt through the cabin in search left-over newspapers or will ring a flight attendant for any left-over first class meals. Speaking of meals, go out to a hotel restaurant with a pilot (I did, a few times) but quickly learned splitting the bill meant, they ate a 4-course meal and I ate a hamburger. But, the bill was split 50-50. It just amazes me that they can bring home 10 thousand a month, yet a flight attendant at a commuter airline who brings home 18 thousand a YEAR will gladly buy a round of drinks at a bar on a layover. Go Figure!
Gay Pilots in this industry are rare. It's a man's cockpit. They barely tolerate women in the cockpit. The few gay pilots I know keep a very low profile. In addition, I know one transgender pilot. Many pilots refuse to fly with her. In contrast, I know one transgenger flight attendant and everyone loves her. She's wonderful to work with and carries a positive attitude at all times.
Last thing, Ron. Meet a nice NEW YORK guy via https://www.urbanoutings.com/index.asp
and GOOD LUCK!
Ron Jun 16th 2009 3:53PM
Frank Frank Frank...
I enjoyed reading your comments, they gave me a chuckle. Truth be told, I do know a couple gay F/O's, and to your point, I'm not really interested in dating them...I'm not sure about cheap, but they're a little too cocky for their own good! I asked heather to be on look-out, after reading her post about love on an airplane, I figured who better to play cupid in the sky than her?! Right? ha ha. Thanks for your tips on meeting nice men in NY, the only problem is, I live in Boston....sigh* Unless this Nice New York man was a flight attendant......hmmmm... :-)
frank96 Jun 17th 2009 9:34PM
Ohhhh, A Bostonian. And, here I thought you were coming "home" on your flight from MIAMI, (the SIXTH Borough of New York) to JFK. You made me laugh too. You're observations on your flight. They sound over the top to alot of people, but to a flight attendant, heck, that's an average day.
Hey Bob (the singing pilot). You can find gay people at Home Depot. They're in the garden section or buying paint.
The one place I didnt think I'd find a gay pilot was arriving at the airport on a hotel van after an overnight. He was on another crew. As we were waiting for our roll-aboards curbside, his flight bag came off and on the side of it, he had a bumper sticker which read, "Gay by nature, proud by choice". I thought it was very brave of a PILOT to have on his bag. What a statement though. Maybe, it was meant for his colleagues? Just maybe.
And, to Ron. I know your dating situation and I know your post was "tongue in cheek" for the most part. Dont date a profession. Date someone who brings you JOY.
Ron Jun 16th 2009 3:54PM
Heather-Thanks for answering my question, this is a great post, and as always Brilliant!!!!!
Bob the semi-talented singing pilot Jun 17th 2009 9:03AM
I am not a gay pilot......but I do know how to dress myself without looking like a complete dork.....and wouldn't be caught dead drinking white zinfandel.
I'd say good places to meet pilots, outside of the airport, are:
1. The golf course
2. An Irish pub in Paris or Rome
3. National rifle association meeting
4. Repulican convention
5. Home depot
6. Airport hotel gym with rusty eqiupment
7. Airport hotel bar with depressing mauve decor from the 1980s.
8. Showroom floor at a GMC dealership.
9. JC Penny's men's clothing section near a rack selling pleated khaki dockers
But then again, the above mentioned places would not likely yield a gay pilot.....unless he is a "bear."
There are gay pilots out there, but yes, they keep a low profile.
It's hard enough for pilots to admit they secretly vote for pro-labor Democrats, let alone come out of the closet.
;-)
Ron Jun 17th 2009 11:16PM
LOL!
Bob, this was great, and gay pilots aside, I am SO* glad you don't drink White Zin! But on a serious note, I hope a gay pilot would not be @ Penny's buying pleated pants......after all, he would be GAY!
ann Jun 23rd 2009 5:38PM
A flight attendant friend of mine said that pilots will take their b.j.s from anyone. so good luck.
Ashley Jul 3rd 2009 12:45PM
This was a great read.
Free dating at http://thehotspotguide.com