USAir Furlough Recall: My Decision

[Boeing747Driver]

As I'm sure you know, I disagree with pretty much everything you said about ALPA, but I understand your frustrations. I wish you luck, and I hope things turn out well for you for the remainder of your career.

ALPA Cheerleader Alert.

 

[Boeing747Driver]

My fellow pilots,

The November bid includes 165 recalls. With a roughly 10% recall rate anticipated, this bid should exhaust the furlough list and generate meaningful hiring for US Airways.

I have been told to expect the "take it or leave it" letter within the next two weeks, and that classdates will be scheduled in September and October.

Over the last several months I have labored over this decision. I have spent countless hours on the internet on this forum and many others. I have spent hours more on the telephone with former co-workers, other furloughees, family and friends deliberating over the decision.

5 years is a long time. Honestly I can barely remember what the job was like at US Airways. Over the last 5 years i've worked for 2 regionals before ending up at a corporate flight department. I've moved twice. Our son was born and may take his first steps any day.

I wonder whether i'm the same man I was years ago. Honestly I doubt it. When I started my first job as a Jetstream 31 first officer with Chautauqua I never imagined that I would spend the next decade working for 3 regionals, 1 lcc, 1 major only to end up flying a 7 passenger corporate jet. The airline pilot lifestyle was all I ever wanted. I remember looking at that Jetstream as though it were the finest airplane in the sky. I was proud of the aircraft, proud of the uniform, and proud of the job. I polished my shoes, wore my hat, and dreamed of the day that I would make the inevitable leap to the cockpit of a Boeing.

When that day came in 1999 and US Airways began hiring 100 pilots each month after my date of hire, I thought I had won the lottery. The job was almost everything I dreamed of. Most of my frustrations were with the association. I honestly felt as though ALPA was damaging my career far more then they were helping it. At every turn they seemed intent upon building new barriers to prevent the company from competing in the airline industry. The contract was amazing, and I appreciated everything it offered, but as I became more involved and attended ALPA meetings I realized that I completely misunderstood ALPA's mission. To me the union's motto should have been "ALPA: Job security is Job #1". But it wasn't. ALPA protected its most senior members at the expense of it's most junior. It robbed from the poor, to give to the rich.

Later, with thousands of pilots on furlough, ALPA would continue to shield it's most senior members by allowing the company to raise pay-caps, by continuing to allow the outsourcing of an armada of regional jets, by failing its most junior members.

The national union leadership could clearly see that a nationwide whipsaw was in effect couldn't they? How could they successfully represent both the US Airways pilots who had lost their jobs and the regional jet pilots who were reaping the benefit?

Over the last 5 years the airline pilot profession has changed. Compensation, lifestyle, work-rules, duty rigs, and retirement have all suffered. Narrowbody jets with as many as 95 passenger seats are flown by outsourced feeders at a fraction of the pay and benefits that such positions should command... and pilots line up for those positions. Pilots spend countless nights away from their families in pursuit of a lifestyle that no longer exists. Except for those rare few who work for FedEx or UPS, the dream is dead.

The profession does not protect experience. If US Airways were to disappear tomorrow its pilots, should they choose to continue in their profession, would start over. Just as the 1800+ furloughees were forced to find employment as commuter first officers, charter pilots, expatriots (yes, they left their COUNTRY to achieve some measure of success in exchange for their sacrifice)... so too would those who found themselves unemployed due to the destruction of the airline. Who is at fault? Managers who lack the ability to control pricing? ALPA who is incapable of putting a premium on experience and creating a national seniority list to prevent pilots from becoming handcuffed to a single operator?

I'm rambling.

So I made an extensive list of pros and cons. I carried the list with me for weeks and added to it whenever a thought came to me. I stared at that list time and time again trying to see a clear answer. Accept the recall, or abandon the dream in favor of my new life.

I emphasize how much time I put into this because I want the young pilots who read this thread to understand how much time and effort had been put into achieving that major airline position -- and that giving it up has been no easy decision.

But that is the decision I made.

I'm going to remain with the corporate flight department where I am currently employed. It is by no means perfect, but it offers me a lifestyle that could only be enjoyed by the most senior airline pilots. As I write this I sit in a hotel on one of the very rare overnights we are scheduled for. My son's photograph is the wallpaper on my laptop and I can't help but wonder what he is doing right now. Every day he does something that he has never done before and watching him discover the world is just amazing to me. I miss my wife and son after less than 24 hours away. How could I even consider commuting to sit in a Philadelphia crash-pad for days at a time missing out on all of that?

Make no mistake. This has not been easy. I've wanted to be an airline pilot for as long as I can remember. I was that kid -- the one who had no other hobbies, no other interests. I was singularly focused on that airline career.

So thank you everyone for all of the advice, the insider information, the emails and PMs, the phone calls, and the friendship you have provided to help me make this choice. I wish all of the US Airways pilots -- east and west -- the very best. There is something about that airline. Something more than airplanes, tugs, and people. It will survive and prosper in spite of itself. East and West pilots need to come together and take back ALPA.

No more meetings at high priced resorts. Hold your meetings where pilots can attend -- airport hotels at the domiciles. Spend your membership dollars as if they were your own. No more meals at 4 star restaurants. Protect your junior pilots. They are the foundation upon which the profession is being built. Defend their jobs as if they were your own...failure to do so will cause more and more pilots to "look out for #1"... The result of that practice is apparent. G0-Jets, SkyBus, Virgin America...

Good luck to all, and thank you. The experience I gained flying by your sides has made me the pilot that I am today. I will not forget the lessons learned.

All my best,
FurloughedAgain
Furloughed March 02

PS - If you are furloughed and sharing my decision has helped you make your own, please rate this thread above. It would be nice to know I helped.

Mike I will miss the action you created at the union meetings.

I don't know what the future holds, but it is not too bright IMO at USAIRWAYS.

Good luck with the corporate job.

Jeff

 

[PHXFLYR]

It was much brighter prior to the merger announcement, that's for sure.

PHXFLYR

 

[aa73]

Wow, that was one of the best-written posts I've ever read. You my friend have a GIFT! Anyways, kudos on making what seems to be the best decision in light of the situation. Best of luck to you, Furloughed. The best things I can tell you are: a) be flexible in the future, you never know when another airline opportunity may come knocking - and a good one at that - and 2) enjoy that son of yours, they grow up way too quickly! cheers,
73

 

[XBOEINGDRVR]

Well , I was faced with the same decision and I chose not to return as well. I guess the 10% recall figure says were not alone. I think I was missing the memories of the period of my life and not so much the company. I think you and I both made the right decision, as I am happy at JB. Good luck, and try not to labor over the decision- you have an obligation to your family before some airline.

 

[General Lee]

Is that why you're a die hard delta Bit*h? You feel "cool" in your uniform? Worse than that, you feel "cool" when little kids look at you and think you're "cool"?

The most pathetic thing I've ever read on E-Tripe.

They take your money.
They take your work rules.
They take your retirement.

but as long as you get to wear that gay ass, 1982, "cool' double breasted, italian sub commander outfit, you feel all is right with the world. I'm sad for you. How depressing will that blue Wal-Mart vest be after this?

Wow, you sound really cool and very much informed. NOT. No work rules were taken. We got a large check ($180,000 for me) for the claim sale to cover for pay cuts (USAir guys got a $4400 check for a XMAS bonus, and I got $180,000 as an FO), and we are getting another check (over $50,000 up to $250,000) for the pension dump, plus we get a B fund (DC fund) in our own names which we can take with us, and an 11% contribution each month by the company for it. You are such a joke. Make sure you do some research before you look dumb. I said furloughed again made his own decision, but he wanted some advice and I gave it to him. He continually came on here looking for advice, which in reality was him reaching out for help, wanting people to tell him not to return. It is his choice, but it could be the wrong one. Regardless, you sound like a complete noodle.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[sqwkvfr]

Thanks for sharing that FurloughedAgain.

My boss was the operations director at TWA when they were effectively dissolved and our fleet/operations manager was one of his right hand guys.

Our fleet manager likes to tell this story:

When he got out of the Navy, the only opportunities for him (being a mostly helo guy) were in management at TWA or a turboprop operator out of Texas who told him "we can't pay you much, but we can give you stock."

He went to TWA

......that other operation was a company called Southwest Airlines. Had he taken the job, he'd be number 10 on their seniority list right now.

These two guys are great for career guidance, and your post ranks right up there with some of the most thought-provoking stories that these guys tell.

 

[Sandhawk]

Look at the bright side, FurloughedAgain..............

When you hit 60 (or 65) at Walmart, you will probably keep flyin or move into upper management.

When the rest of us hit 60 (or 65), the rest of us will go to work at Walmart as well....as a greeter - "Welcome to Walmart!"

Best of luck to you - you are better off staying away from this dump!

 

[WSurf]

kids don't join the wrong click and try to avoid you because you "aren't cool anymore.

You mean being an Airline Pilot is still Cool?

 

[Captain Overs]

I haven't read through all the posts so forgive me if I repeat something already said. I admire your post. So many people think this career is all about chasing the big paycheck and flying heavy equipment over seas. It's nice to see someone realize its about time spent with family and quality of life.

What good if making a ton on money flying a 777 if you don't have time with the family? I've never heard anyone retire and say "You know, I wish I had flown more."