type of work found?

[Starlizard]

Poll for furloughees. What type of work have you found?

1) hired by another airline, or other flying job
2) gone back to the military
3) non-flying work
4) living at home with mom and dad collecting unemployment

 

[spanky2]

2

 

[snoopy_1]

If going back to the military was an option, I think that's the choice I would make, but it's not an option. I'm still looking for another flying job.

 

[b757driver]

#4 - well, not exactly - living @ home with VERY UNDERSTANDING wife supporting me as the federal government keeps extending my unemployment benefits!

Did 737 type rating earlier this year with WIA funds. Passsed with flying colors, applied to targeted airlines/corporations, even non-flying jobs - absolutely no hits on OVER A YEAR. Have THREE ICAO ATPs with THREE jet type ratings but no jobs - not even an "equal opportunity" interview. Now that would be really nice. And they tell me it's a wonderful life. Really? More like a crap shoot!!

 

[Hagar17]

I work on my dad's farm.

Just got off the tractor (no sh!t).

The work's a lot harder, the pay's a lot less, but I feel cleaner at the end of the day.

Hag

 

[b757driver]

Hey Hagar, do you have any openings on that farm?

I've got lots of experience driving pieces of tin and handling lots of S**T!! Should be an ideal fit.......

Good luck to you.

 

[HAL]

#1

But it's a long way from 767's in Hawaii to Navajos in Alaska. But at least it's a job!

HAL

 

[b757driver]

HAL,

Try B737s back to flight instructing on C172s for size! Did that 10 years ago and this time around, can't even find that. Whoever said that furloughs and layoffs are "charater building" or "an opportunity for reassessing your life and finding new things" clearly has NEVER been furloughed/laid off!!!!

I can tell you it does absolutely NOTHING for either of these....

From someone who knows only too well..(5th layoff in 12 years with no golden egg......)

 

[HAL]

HAL,

Try B737s back to flight instructing on C172s for size! Did that 10 years ago and this time around, can't even find that. Whoever said that furloughs and layoffs are "charater building" or "an opportunity for reassessing your life and finding new things" clearly has NEVER been furloughed/laid off!!!!

I can tell you it does absolutely NOTHING for either of these....

From someone who knows only too well..(5th layoff in 12 years with no golden egg......)

b757driver,

I was teaching in 172's for a few months before the Navajo job came along. I know what you mean!

And you're right - the 'character building' statements are just people rationalizing their way through other people's pain. It sucks!

HAL

 

[Andy]

I'm surprised there are so few back in the military. I'm currently sucking off of the government teat in the reserves. SSDD, but it pays the bills.

 

[b757driver]

ANDY

Unfortunately, not everyone has that option. If only I did, I'd have been there yesterday wanting to know where I sign!

Like you, I'm sucking the Govt teat basically because they keep throwing money @ the problem in the hope that that will cure it! Maybe they should try to fix it first?!?! Also, I hear that unemployment has gone down the second straight month, so if you believe in statistics, things are getting better - somewhere.

Have had unemployment extended TWICE and now possibly for an unprecedented third time. Got $14,000 WIA funds earlier this year for a type rating. Did that, got no job, not even an interview anywhere. Now another agency is about to offer me more to do the same!! Is this madness or what????

I would much rather work for a living like I used to, but I guess when the opportunity is constantly denied you (yes, you guessed it - there is NO such thing as "equal opportunity" employment) what other alternative is there? I'd do anything legal provided it paid more than unemployment and had prospects. I don't even care about "benefits" anymore. And before I get flamed for that last statement, you need to know that I have previously done other work including all the P/T menial jobs you can think of - not just once, but THREE times. Let a first timer have a go; I've done my time. Why should I return for a fourth time for an indefinite period? I know what I am capable of and what I have done. I have no skeletons in the cupboard and at the last count I did not have three heads. I have NEVER let any employer down in the past and it was not my fault that the mgt never got their act together to save my previous airline. I gave up 15% of my salary plus blood, sweat and tears and all I got in return was a year of unemployment.
I have done my bit, now it's someone else's turn. Just wish the govt would actually DO something constructive like monitor the hiring practices of various aviation companies - you would not believe the scams I have uncovered so far and all of them legal apparently.
Oh well, I can't change the world, so just keep throwing more money in my direction and maybe it will happen. It sure ain't no picnic!

 

[metrodriver]

b757, have you tried Transmeridian? I know it's not a lot of pay, but it's a flying job. I have talked to a few guys who had given up on flying but they got a job there

 

[b757driver]

metrodriver

Thanks, yes I have, about 2-3 months ago. The usual - no response. I guess I'll try again and maybe give them a call even though they don't like to get calls. Not sure how else you are supposed to follow up; it's what every "prudent" job hunter is supposed to do.

I see from your profile that you are furloughed. How successful have you been in this game? What have you been trying?

 

[LAZYB]

HAL

I thought you were going to Avantair. Or was it one of your fellow Hawaiians?

 

[HAL]

LAZYB, you must be thinking of someone else, maybe another one of the Hawaiian furloughees on this board.

HAL

 

[LAZYB]

You HAL guys all look the same...

LAZYB, you must be thinking of someone else, maybe another one of the Hawaiian furloughees on this board.

HAL

Ah, it was Jim.

So are you flying for Grant, Penn Air...?

Best of luck

 

[HAL]

Re: You HAL guys all look the same...

So are you flying for Grant, Penn Air...?

Best of luck

I'm working for Warbelow's in Fairbanks, flying Navajos around the northern half of Alaska.

www.warbelows.com

 

[C77MD80]

I found work..........

 

[jamhamms]

Every time I get furloughed/laid off (three so far), I go make more money as a Registered Nurse. Great degree because I can work darn near anywhere, and the field is 94% women. Not bad, but I'll leave again for another flying job.

 

[climbhappy]

MERRY CHRISTMAS JAM HAMMS, OL DOG YOU

JAM HAMMS,

what's up? just finished ioe on the MD-80, at southeast airllines in St. pete... call me, we'll catch up.



DG

 

[jamhamms]

Gordo!
Check your PM for contact info - I'm at work, and my address book is in my laptop at home.

Sorry to all for the personal post.

Merry Christmas to everyone!!!!!!!

 

[Seeniner]

My own things...plus

After getting furloughed, there were a few routes to take for us former military types:

Hop back into active duty military (not for me)

Jump into the Guard or Reserve (not for me initially)

Do something else (my route).

I have done a combo of the above. First I played Mr. Mom. Then I realized I wasn't getting recalled in 6 months, so I did various jobs. Finally I realized I knew people with talents that could be harnessed and put to good use.

This good use is what we call consumer empowerment...Knolwedge is Power.

Want to save thousands on a new car? Can Spam on your own? Fix your credit? Prevent ID Theft? Visit www.InsidersSpeak.com and you'll see how to do all of this and more.

Oh, on top of making a great living empowering people, I'm also now a Guard part-timer...must get the flying fix.

See

 

[usmc33]

I find it interesting when I read through the 'military transition' postings and read about the military not giving a crap about families as a reson to leave AD and go to the lines. For all you f'd pilots out there, tell me how much the lines care about your families when they let you go with no pay...especially when you've been doing your job to standard and above standard. At least in the MIL, when you're doing your job to par or above and they let you go (RIF), they give you a severance. I'm posting this in the transitions forum too. Feedback should be interesting.

 

[AA717driver]

usmc--If anyone was looking for warm-fuzzies from the airlines, they were dead wrong. It's an ice cold business and you are meat.

I love the companies that whine and cry about you having no loyalty then s**tcan you at the slightest burp in the economy.

I'm lucky. I got 4 mos. of furlough pay and I just got hired at a local corporate job. But it's hard to get any joy from this when so many of my friends and "board buddies" are on the street.

I'm hoping and praying that everyone who wants a job finds it--and keeps it. Good luck all.TC

 

[b757driver]

Well, here's another "hard luck" story. After 15 CONTINUOUS MONTHS of unemployment after having been laid off, I finally got a flying gig - with a price tag!

I'm being outsourced!!! Not a SINGLE interview with any US airline in all that time. Presumably I was not "competitive" enough whatever that means - only been flying jet transports the past 14 years, some international too, but clearly, not good enough to even warrant an interview. Now, for the SECOND time in 12 years, I'm headed overseas because that's where there is work for me. Aparently they don't give a s*&t how current you are, so long as you're typed and have >3000 hours experience, they don't care!! Isn't that amazing. Not only that, but I will be flying heavy iron, internationally, salary not great but good. Of course, I have to leave family and home (again). I wonder if I will be any "good" when I return down the road to find work with an AMERICAN company. It seems it's a crime for an American to want to work for an AMERICAN company. Why is it that most foreign lines are doing pretty well while we are still bleeding heavily here at home? Something is VERY wrong with this picture.

But I'm only doing what I've been forced to do. Also, it's "good" for the American economy, so I've been told. I fail to see how my foreign employment is going to help the American economy. It's only going to put additional stresses on an already difficult situation. Oh well, it's still better than enforced unemployment any day!!!

Good luck to those that remain and are still looking. Review all your options and go with what is best for you.

 

[AA717driver]

Keep in touch b757driver. Good luck. I certainly gave the overseas option a long look.

Some people are getting on at Orient Thai. I guess it's a good deal if you are into that side of the world. Take care.TC

 

[viking737]

Who you gonna work for, b757driver?
Are you AA furloughee?
Congratulations in finding a job!

 

[b757driver]

Thanks AA717driver & viking 737 for yr wishes.

I apologise for not replying earlier but I've been a bit preoccupied with training the past month and have limited computer access where I am.

No, I'm not AA furloughed - I'm laid off from a company that went bust a couple of years ago. I'm currently working for Air Atlanta Icelandic and almost done with 767 simulator training before starting IOE on various ETOPs routes - a first for me! I'm in the first 767 class of the year and there are 6 US pilots including 1 furloughed 767 AA guy and another UAL furlough. The others are are from my previous company. It's quite a different gig than a "normal" airline but what is normal nowadays? Anyhow, it beats unemployment and you got to do what you got to do.

I did look @ Orient Thai but the deal @ AAI was much better all round. Orient Thai is desparate for 757 guys but the pay sucks and you have to pay yr own way out plus yr own accommodation and yr own recurrent sim - approx $1800! No thank you. Where I am now they pay for everything. Can't say it's for everyone and it's far from ideal but it is a pretty flexible deal, so far. Ther is always a price to pay in this industry.

Still mazes me how after 15 months of nothing in the US, I can suddenly go from "not being competitive enough" to getting through an interview plus written tests to a job on a widebody flying all international. They don't seem to have that LOR or buddy buddy mentality here. If you got the ticket and the experience and are available and can be flexible, that's all it takes.

I'll keep you posted once I'm on line.

757 driver so to become 767 driver!

 

[MachPi]

I'm an AA furloughee (in the last bunch in March).

I'm a hideously practical person, and unwilling to put in yet another year or two at slave-wages at another company which may or may not be a going concern in the long term. I'd already decided to take advantage of the Montgomery GI bill to go back to school to do something that was a) monetarily worthwhile and b) worthy of the kind of respect that I'd laughingly assumed I could find in aviation.

My wife, after putting in a year at school to get her pre-reqs out of the way, has been accepted at nursing school.

Long story short, I've decided, after much research, to sort of follow in her footsteps. That is, I'm going to get my own BS in nursing, then go on to become a nurse anesthetist. I'll have to spend a little time at school with some clueless 19 and 25-year olds, but in the end it'll be worth the trouble.

Years ago, after two painful years waiting for the AF to give me a classdate, I finally made it to UPT. Eleven years later, I left the AF. Six months later I got hired at AA. I was certain I knew what my career trajectory was going to be. But 9/11 happened, and along with everyone else, I was rudely awakened to reality.

Although I feel now that I've wasted the last 14 years of my life traveling down a blind alley, I also know that I'm not dead yet. I have a family, and will not subject either them or me to the nearly endless amount of preparation that becoming a medical doctor entails. But I can manage to become a nurse anesthetist in six years, and eventually enjoy the 100 to 250k salary that nurse anesthetists command.

Money, of course, isn't everything; I personally had decided to apply to med school 14 years ago---but then the AF finally called with a classdate, and that avenue closed off for me. So it goes. I no longer have the time to do now what I could've done 14 years ago, but I can get close.

And, eventually, unless AA goes the way of Eastern or Pan Am, the company will recall me from furlough. But by then I plan to have an extremely lucrative fall-back position. I never again will allow myself to be at the mercy of circumstance, criminals, or the economy. People will always need hospitals, no matter what happens in Afghanistan, Iraq, or New York.

I used to love to fly. I still like flying, but I refuse to end up as some burnt-out expat, divorced because he was never home. That's no way to live.

My point is only this: we're pilots, and all intelligent people. There are many things out there in this brave new world for intelligent people to do. Don't lose sight of the options.

Finally, I congratulate those of you who are or will be lucky enough to back the right aviation horse, and be able to retire after a full career at a company that makes all the right decisions. I congratulate you on your luck. It's a great gig if you can manage it.

 

[learflyer]

Hey, good luck to you. Everywhere I fly to when I look in the paper, there seems to be lucrative nursing positions available. Some even have large signing bonuses. It seems they are always so short handed on nurses. You will have your pick of wonderful opportunities in that field for the rest of your career! I wish you the best.