Question for Furloghed/Laid off Pilots

[captnmayday]

With over 2500TT and ATP, I have a crappy aviation job. Low pay, many days away from home and F^%$# old equipment. Everyone tells me to be happy to have a flying job as there are lotsa airline pilots out on the streets. I am thankful, but realisticly, would any laid off Airline pilot go back to the rock bottom jobs? or would you just wait the storm to pass?

 

[iflyhigh]

Captmayday:

Whether a furloughed airline pilot would take a job at the bottom depends how bad he wants to remain in aviation.

I know guys that are furloughed flying bank checks at night some are flying freight in C402. If a furloughed pilot wants to remain current they may take almost anything. I did say almost. If crappy maintenance or a place they might loose their license they would definintely think twice.

What some furloughed guys are looking at is never getting back to their major airline job. It is going to take a years to recall 2000 + pilots at UAL and 1800+ pilots at USAir. Take into account AMR and DAL, guys in their 40's think they may never go back.

With SWA not hiring, then they have to remain current in some job till something better comes along.

 

[MyStockSux]

Hello

Have you looked at or applied to all these airlines that are hiring? http://www.megaone.com/willfly4food/

Check this site out (if you have not already done so) and send EVERYONE that you want to work for a clean cover letter and resume. Be patient and fly safe in the meanwhile and NEVER lose hope of your dreams coming true.

-MSS

P.S. NEVER GIVE UP! It will be worth it. Trust me, I know...

 

[captnmayday]

MyStuck ....


Thank you for the encouragement ... You are the first who has given me some hope. I will keep on trying and keeping the dream alive!!!

Capt.

 

[furlough-boy]

If I'd waited for the "storm to pass" I'd be coming up on two years of umemployment.

It just takes 10x the effort to get a job now, but they are out there.

Good luck!

 

[Stanky]

Keep Pressing

Hey,

When I first got furloughed at United I took a job as a night janitor in an office building. Eventually I was offered some flying jobs in Africa and after that I got a job flying MD88's all over the western hemisphere.

The answer to the question is, we all do what we have to do. None of it is as fun as working for a major, but you have to keep pressing and hoping that things will get back to normal again someday.

 

[MyStockSux]

Capt!

You da' man! Great to hear that "hope" in your post! I sat in a ATA 737-800 cockpit today (for the first time!) and I can't wait to fly that puppy! I took the LONG road to a major (15-years since my first solo) and I DO NOT regret a thing!

Fly safe out there!

-MSS

 

[metrodriver]

I know guys who went form flying heavy stuff to flying a caravan or other small cargo stuff, I've seen people doing construction jobs, pumping gas at fbo's, working at home depot, throwing boxes at fedex or ups, van driver for hotels, you name it.

captmayday: be happy to have a job with your 2500 hrs, seriously.
I know a guy who is the chief pilot at a small 135 outfit and he gets several resumes a week from guys with 10.000 hours, people from TWA, United and others that have cut way back. A lot of small companies don't hire these guys because they complain too quick (maybe their experience tells them they are about to get in a situation they don't like, something you haven't experienced yet), or if something that matches their qualifications a little bit better comes along they're gone, and those 135 companies know that chance will not be as big with a low time pilot.
So be happy where you are and ride out the storm

 

[f9driver]

Furlough Return

At Pan Am in the 1980's, ninety percent of the furloughed pilots came back, some after as much as 10 years on the street. Most said they had never worked so hard and they thought we were spoiled and lazy. lol