If Not Flying, What Else.......?

[Dog14]

For those of you/us out there looking/treading...can you give us some examples of how you're "surviving" w/o flying??? I'd especially like to know how the family guys are doing!

 

[DH106]

1 kid, 1 mortgage, 1 furlough letter, 0 job offers.

Survival? Started a business on the side years ago, producing CD-ROM-based marketing materials for companies (i.e., interactive demos, computer-based training, etc.). Good furlough protection --- pays the bills. But like the rest of the 7,000 furloughees, I'd really like to get back in the cockpit.

The airline I'm furloughed from (like most out there) is doing worse every day.

Went to the AirInc job fair. I've got internal letters of rec at 8 airlines. To summarize:

1) Corporates and regional airlines aren't interested because they think I'll leave them for Southwest (even though an interview isn't even a possibility until 2004/2005)

2) The national airlines aren't interested because they think I'll get called back (even though my carrier is doing worse every day -- the bankruptcy rumours are starting)

3) Southwest won't start hiring for a LONG time.

Bottom line? Just gotta' put on a happy face.

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

3 Kids, Wife, Mortgage and Rent

I am surviving with a sim instructor job at FlightSafety. It is a huge pay cut from when I was active duty military. But it leaves me open to go train with SWA when I get out of the pool.

Cheers

 

[750driver]

I'm currently working for a major Insurance company. Luckily I have a "backup" in the IT field, mainly working with local & wide-area networked computer systems. Only problem is, the computer field is hurting just as bad right now.

I can definitely relate to DH106's post. I am experiencing many of the same issues with potential employers.

 

[Ty Webb]

This time around, I have been lucky- but during the last Aviation Depression (1990), I was just out of college, with a whopping 600tt in my logbook, looking for that first job. . . . so I headed down to FL where I sat in my beach chair, studying for the FE written, sending out resumes, and consuming rum at an alarming rate . . . . sure that like the class ahead of mine, a "commuter" spot was going to be opening up for me, preferrably at Chalks's, but I had irons in the fire at several others, including Midway Connection, and Britt, if anyone remembers them!

Little did I know that Braniff would shut down, Eastern, Midway and Pan Am followed suit (and their associated feeders), and there were ten thousand airline pilots on the street and looking for even the entry-level positions . . . . it would be years before I would finally find a job. The last straw was when I went through a three-round interview for a King Air FO job that would have paid $13,000./yr. I started off competing with 10 guys for that job, worked my way down to the last two. They hired the other guy, but told me that, when the next slot opened up, it would be mine. Well, here I am, almost ten years later, and I am still waiting for them to call me for that job!

Luckily for me, I had an Emergency Medical Technician certificate I had picked up in college, so I worked nights on an ambulance in Tampa. Not much cabbage, but I managed to get married, have a baby, and buy a house. When the baby came, I switched to days, and picked up an evening job, working as a ramp rat for Fedex. That was kind of painful, working in and around the airplanes when I wasn't able to get a flying job, but it paid OK for a side job, had good benefits, and it was good excercise. To this day, I say "Hi" to the rampers and look at them,, not through them, as so many Fedex pilots did to me- felt like I was invisible, half the time!

Anyway, I had bought a beat-up old Piper Arrow just after college (for $17,000.) and leased it back to a flight school, so Iwas basically flying it for fuel . . spent a lot of time flying around in the Bahamas, the keys, and anywhere else I could find a few people willing to pitch in and go somewhere.

Anyway, long story short, when I started seeing movement again, I got myself current again, and eventually hustled a 402 job out of S. FL then got an FO job on a bizjet, then got a co-captain job on another bizjet, full captian, and now here I are, pushing buttons in the Electric Jet, a second year FO.

Looking back, it was a long, hard road, and I think the most important thing I can tell anyone in that position is to stay positive, keep networking, don't give up, because eventually, it will work out.

You still have to live your life in the meantime, so try your hardest to enjoy this time as best as you can. Learn a new industry or skill, and you'll be back on the flightdeck with a new perspective, I am sure.

Sorry for the novel. Very best wishes for everyone in this difficult situation.

 

[T1bubba]

I'm currently working for a goverment contractor doing some computer/statistics stuff for them. Not the most exciting job, but it pays about the same as I was making before I left active duty so I can't complain. I was able to get the job because I already had a security clearance (a big plus in the DC area) and I had done some statistics as part of my master's program.

Before that I was unemployed for a while then bartended for a while.

With any luck I'll be back to flying soon after the new year...

Good luck to everyone.

T1bubba

 

[pegasus]

worked as a troubleshooter for pharmaceutical sales people trying to integrate silly little laptops into their sales talk. Then invested people's checks in their 401ks and now answering phones for people questioning their telephone bill. Terrible jobs, terrible pay. Just holding on for grim death. This forum has helped keep me sane.
Hats off to Slug for the Pizza Hut job. I had a friend who was a single seat ftr pilot, a badge wearer (Top Gun grad equiv) and ended up flipping burgers at McDs. He was so good that they promoted him to assistant mgr. At the class for asst mgrs they all had to say what they had done b4. No-one believed him! He now flies 747s for a very well paying outfit. Never give it up.

 

[Iflyamouse]

wife, 3 kids, mortgage, car pymt

I enjoyed reading this string of posts. It made me feel like I'm not alone.

I've been out of the cockpit for 13 months now after 5 years of flying for 135/121 carriers. I spent 5 1/2 tough months in the unemployment line before finding a job selling computers. It pays the bills, a little more than first year FO pay at my major, but like many others ... I sure miss flying. I check the message boards and look at the employment websites every week, but not being in the industry makes it tough to network and find the contacts you need to get back in. Plus, having a house, a wife, and kids in school, I'm a little reluctant to move or even commute. I plan to head out to the airport soon and at least get checked out in something. Although, I find it tough to shell out $70 an hour to fly a plane when I used to get paid to do that.

I'm tinkering with the idea of starting my own business, and then possibly going back to a regional or 135 outfit if I can get on. That way I can supplement that horrible first year pay with my own business. But until then, I just read about how bad the airline industry is doing, get depressed about how long it will be before I get called back, and then put a smile on my face in front of everybody. It's working. I don't really recommend it, but it's working.

 

[DH106]

Iflyamouse, I understand completely.

You make an interesting comment, "...possibly going back to a regional or 135 outfit..."

I'm amazed at the tough time I'm having getting an interview with any regionals. And, I've got internal letters of rec at several of them (plus no accidents, violations, etc.). Sure, nothing's worse than starting FO pay, but at least it's flying. I'd take a regional job in a heartbeat!

I was a 1900D Capt for 3 years, ready to transition to the RJ. Then, I got hired at a "well-respected" airline on the MD80. I did three weeks of MD80 groundschool, and was then furloughed. The funny thing is, in a 2-month period, I left my regional job with much seniority, started the new job, bought a house, wife had a baby, and then got "semi-permanently" furloughed.

What's worse, I'm astonished at those out there who act "disappointed" that I'm not at least flying for a 135 outfit. There's a story here: I did 6-months time working for one of the world's worst 135 outfits. It was single-pilot, multi-engine all-WX pax charter. The company had no maintenance personal, as the owner was faking signoffs. To top it off, the owner had a volitle personality (including throwing phones, books, staplers, screaming, etc.), and he kept a loaded revolver in his desk drawer. The guy was a psycho. In the 6-months there, I was threatened, experienced 8 alternator failures, 2 magneto failures, an engine failure, partial elevator control failure, and numerous other "anomolies."

To the military pilots or those few civilians who were lucky enough to escape the 135 outfits, I say "all the more power to you." I wouldn't wish 135 flying on my worst enemy. I am thoroughly convinced that the only way to make money in 135 flying is illegally --- incidentally, that was also why I made such a lousy 135 pilot for this guy. I'm too "regulation-oriented" for that kind of work. But, I'm here to talk about it. I've flown with many FO's and Captains who were former-military (all great to fly with). After hearing these stories, they've all remarked about how they never figured civilian flying could be so screwed-up.

The way I see it, I put in my time on the 135 job. I risked my life. It's over. With all the regionals hiring, that's where I want to be right now (of course unless a major calls me).

Anyhow, like I said, it really grinds at me when I hear others tell me I should at least be at a 135 job --- especially when they've never flown 135, themselves. So, unless anyone has otherwise to say, then Iflyamouse, maybe think twice about that 135 thing.

 

[Iflyamouse]

DH106 - I appreciate the advice, it's something I've thought about a lot ... what kind of a job am I willing to take? I think the only way I would do 135 is if it were jet / turbine charter or somewhere with a good reputation. I'll agree with anyone that says this is the wrong attitude, but I feel like I've already "paid my dues" and I'm not willing to sell my soul (or my house) to get back into aviation, at least not right now. Paying the bills and providing for my family is more important at this juncture.

I certainly don't have a pride issue or anything like that about going back to a regional carrier ... other than first year pay. I would jump at the chance to sit right seat in a Jetstream 31 again! I'd be thankfull just to have a job in this market!

Sorry to hear you've had trouble finding a job in the cockpit. I wish you luck, and if that doesn't work, I hope you can at least find something that keeps the creditors away.

Back to the phones ... and then the job search sites!

 

[750driver]

I'm amazed at the tough time I'm having getting an interview with any regionals. And, I've got internal letters of rec at several of them (plus no accidents, violations, etc.).

DH106, I'm also experiencing the same situation here. My last flight was Sept. 2001 and since then, I've only been able to get 1 interview. It was with a very well-known Regional Airline. I had 2 Captain LOR's and showed up there with about 20 candidates on that particular day. 5 of us were in our late 30's, or early 40's, all with 5000 - 9000 hours TT. The rest were lower to mid-time younger people. Maybe it's just coincidence, but none of us in that group of 5 were hired. The interviewers were actually hostile compared to feedback we received from the other pilots.

I recently sent a resume to my former company; also a well-known Regional where I spent 3 years working. The resume was hand-delivered along with LOR's from 4 senior Captains I started with 10 years ago. Needless to say, I have not heard back from the company.

It's difficult to keep your head high when you've worked so hard to earn your experience, and now you see it doesn't make any difference. Granted, the market is saturated with pilots. At this point, a good paying non-aviation job seems to be the only option. I can't put my family through this any longer; they have needs and desires too, and it's time to make that a priority over a jet job.