Being let go on probation

[11thHour]

Most of us go through rough patches in life (I'm in a real bad one myself right now - probably losing my medical). Whatever you do, don't sit and stew over it. Talk to some close friends or family. It's happened, life will go on. It can be hard to see out when you are at the bottom of the pit, but eventually you make it out. Best of luck to you.

 

[Ezralite]

I completely agree. Things will get better. I'm just a little edgy right now.

My last post wasn't directed at you. I'm frustrated because I don't take alcohol and flying lightly. I just don't want to be made out as something I'm not. Since I've started this thread I've been flooded with PM's of people wanting to help me and offering job leads. I don't want this thread to turn into something that makes me out to be a young punk who has issues with alcohol...all due to some overblown story of something that happened a year ago.

I appreciate all the help and encouragement from everyone so far and all those that have sent me PM's.

It seems to me that your problem is not that you drink too much, but that you don't drink enough. If you had put in the effort required to build your tolerance up then you wouldn't have been shaking your fanny up on a table after three and a half white wine spritzers.

Also, you might want to buy a pair of steel toed boots, find the guy who was showing everybody the party pictures, and kick him repeatedly in the nads.

 

[flyboyike]

The fact of what happened a year ago in training (which was nowhere near the big frat party it has been made out to be on here....if it was I think I, and pretty much the entire class, would have been let go right then and there) would come back to bite me after a year of me trying to be the most professional and courtious pilot I possibly could.

One of the inherent problems in this industry is that too often it puts in power small, miserable people who have long memories and short tempers. Meaning, you never know what will be held against you and when. Never mind one year down the road, some of these SOBs remember things for decades.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Go fly cargo. You're not "drunk" until you're being carried out on a board to be thrown in the street. "Too drunk" is only used in extreme situations (eg. "Bob got a little too drunk last night and wound up at the morgue".) And no cheese-eating punk will cost you your job over what you do when you're not on duty because no one believes that what you do when you're not on duty is any of their business.

Last I heard Ameriflight and Flight Express were still hiring. Airnet is hiring in to a pool, I think. Something to think about, anyway.

Regardless of what you do, don't sweat this kind of thing. Maybe they needed to get rid of some junior F/Os and don't want to pay unemployment. Maybe some anti-fun type is still playing payback for all those lockers he was stuffed into. Who knows. Relax, go get another job, and call that chick and tell her to lose your number.

 

[Thurman Merman]

You have to be careful, we had a guy fired for going hard the night before recurrent, which I thought was the whole purpose of recurrent. The company drove him to the hospital for a BAC test, was above FAA(company) limit and was terminated. Company reasoning was he was on duty at the start time of recurrent and violated company alcohol policy. Weak and ridiculous but technically correct.

 

[cfi_greg]

As long as I have been at SkyWest I have seen very few people fail there probation ride. More fail there upgrade then probation at SkyWest. I don't know why everyone is so scared of the non-union thing. It was way worse when I was at Eagle.

This guy is not even talking about SkyWest. He is TSA or Eagle. My guess Eagle they had very hard probation/check rides.

I didn't even know Skywest had a first year probation. Pretty low key here compared to other airlines with unions.

 

[imacdog]

I didn't even know Skywest had a first year probation. Pretty low key here compared to other airlines with unions.

Your first year pay certainly reflects a probationary year.

 

[cfi_greg]

Your first year pay certainly reflects a probationary year.

Yes indeed it does, but as far as the sim and oral or should I say what oral.

 

[siucavflight]

No oral for Skywest guys?

 

[Amish RakeFight]

No oral for Skywest guys?

I'm picturing the chick in your avatar asking that question in a very disappointed voice! :beer:

 

[siucavflight]

She is hot!!

 

[Ezralite]

No oral for Skywest guys?

They don't have time for oral when their management is always giving them anal.

 

[siucavflight]

Has something changed in the states? When I left Eagle the Skywest guys were paid the best, great work rules, and large bonus checks. What are they doing to the Skywest guys?

 

[cfi_greg]

Has something changed in the states? When I left Eagle the Skywest guys were paid the best, great work rules, and large bonus checks. What are they doing to the Skywest guys?

Nothing at all! But don't let anyone in on the secrete. Besides if your airline isn't doing well the next thing to do is bash the ones that are.

 

[taysha]

Dont put the company you got let go from on your next application. Go back to your CFI job and make it look like it was continued employment from Day1.

 

[Abernathy]

Dont put the company you got let go from on your next application. Go back to your CFI job and make it look like it was continued employment from Day1.

Also, always take advice from this guy.

 

[OPECJet]

Also, always take advice from this guy.

What does he say about your avatar?

Pretty well a spineless move by Eagle if you ask me. If the dude is a problem child, fire him. Don't have the training dept do it...

On that note, I'll sure as hell feel safe next time I'm on Eagle knowing the training department is used for disciplinary measures. You sure learn a lot when you fear for your job....

 

[laserman2431]

What does he say about your avatar?

Pretty well a spineless move by Eagle if you ask me. If the dude is a problem child, fire him. Don't have the training dept do it...

On that note, I'll sure as hell feel safe next time I'm on Eagle knowing the training department is used for disciplinary measures. You sure learn a lot when you fear for your job....

In theory, I agree with your statement. from a practical point of view, the company would be irresponsible for doing it any other way than what they did.

Even though a person on probation can be fired without cause, there are many ways for the employee to challenge the termination. By documenting a failure through an FAA approved training program, the company significantly reduces their exposure to risk. I don't like it any more than you do but that is just the way the system works.

 

[xshuttlefa]

I'd like to express my thanks for the advice given by most of the people here. I have,unfortunately, found myself in the same position as the original poster (let go on probation after recurrent didn't go so well) and was also wondering about what to do.

I don't want to hijack this guys thread, so if you want details, please PM me.


I just wonder how many more posts there will be like this. There are quite a few low-time guys coming through recurrent right now.

 

[laserman2431]

That's a good point. I know most training departments would hate to admit this but I think the supply and demand does have something to do with how strict they are. Less than a year ago most regionals were hiring almost anyone with a pulse. Now most are looking at a furlough. Training can afford to set the bar a little higher now. Of course, that's no excuse. Just emphasizes the need to be on top of your game at all times. If you know your systems, memory items, limitations and maneuvers cold, there's not much they can do to you.