Question for furloughed pilots

[No Respect....]

I have a question for the other furloughees out there......(and anyone else who might know something on this). Recent history, I got furloughed from UAL in March.

For those of you who were lucky enough to find another flying job, how did you do it??? Is it mainly through networking or is there some other technique, pilot employment agency, website, etc. that enabled you to find a job??? How did you start your jobsearch?? Any success outside of aviation as well?? Is there something I don't know about or am overlooking? Are there any websites you have found helpful???

I'm just trying to figure out if any furloughees are having any luck or is it this way all over. I know the industry is bad but there are some people having success......I just want to know....how did you guys hook up with the job???

I even have Federal WIA money. I could it for a type rating if I could find an employer out there who would hire me based on me getting the type rating. That has to save an employer a bunch of money, but so far, no one has took me up on the offer. Any 135 outfits or flight depts. you would suggest checking out???

Thanks for any insight.

 

[bayoubandit]

I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't been able to break through the barrier and am wondering how others are doing it also. I hear guys faxing a resume one day and getting a call the next. I've been sending resumes for a year now and nothing. It seems the others who were furloughed with me are experiencing the same thing, although a few have gotten 135 jobs.

I've had one job offer through a connection flying 135 but unfortunately that all fell apart. Even with connections at the fracs I've had no luck. Makes you wonder if you'll ever catch a break!

 

[LiveFreeorDie]

Flying and Non-Flying Jobs

I had luck finding a job as a simulator instructor. But it is for a contract with the military and I am a military pilot. I know a college in Southwest OK who needs a CFI in the worst way. three fifty up front per student then 17 dollars an hour. No benefits.

Check out the major sim employers for the sim jobs. FlightSafety, Boeing, Lear, etc.

 

[Rick1128]

Speaking from the other side of the desk. In the past I have had the responsibility of selecting and interviewing pilots. All I can say is keep trying. In your situation I would look for someone who requires you to pay for your initial training. Here your WIA funds would help put you at an advantage.

The biggest problem you will have is that employers don't want to hire someone and lose them 6 to 12 months down the road. Many do, but no one likes it. As a furloughed airline pilot, you are garrentee to leave when you get recalled. After what happened during the last big furlough, resigning your senority number will not help. Why? Because at that time, many Chief Pilots had issued furloughed pilots with a letter stating they had resigned their seniority numbers, when in fact thay had not. Institutional memories are long.

Beside, training is not the only item that costs a company when they hire. Selection and interviewing. Getting the pilot worked into the system. And so on. You might have to set your sights a little bit lower.

Good luck.

 

[bayoubandit]

Rick1128,

Could you be a little more specific when you say we may have to set our sites a little lower? Are you talking corporate or 135 or something along those lines? I understand not wanting to hire someone who is going to bail, but isn't that why most guys go to commuters (regional now days), to build time and then move on to bigger and better things. I find it bothersome that companies think that pilots are going to stick around forever. Truth is, when hiring resumes one day, guys are going to bail left and right. It's the reality of the industry.

Any pilot furloughed from a major right now isn't going back for quite some time. For example, if I was hired on by a regional right now, I would probably be there longer now than the first time I flew for a regional. Based only on retirements, i won't be recalled for another 5-6 years, if ago 60 passes, possibly never.

I was basically laughed at the other day during and interview for a 135 job because I didn't have any corporate experience. I didn't know how to react. I did have some choice words for him, but I held them in until I left. You see how rediculous this is.

I find it unbelievable that after a year of looking, nothing has opened up. I'll continue to look, and be one happy camper when a job opens up.

Regards,

 

[tbkane]

BB

I feel your pain. I have been furloughed for a year, and have sent out at last count 221 resumes and not one interview for flying jobs. I have taken a job as an accountant, but hate it and want to fly. I don't know that this will happen.

Keep your heads up, it can only get better.

 

[bayoubandit]

TK

Your right! The only thing we can do is to keep our chins up and keep a good attitude. Sometimes I wonder if the old saying "at least you have a number" is going to hold up anymore. Funny thing is, my wife (she's an F/A) had Duane Woerth on her plane the other day, and he told her exactly that, "at least he has a number." I think we will see if the worst is to come in the near future, from there it can only get better.

 

[No Respect....]

Yeah, I have sent out my fair share of emails and faxes for jobs but nothing yet. Just like a buddy of mine told me the other day, "being furloughed is like the kiss of death". (In regards to getting a job) There could not have been truer words spoken.

Is it worth it to take a few days and drive around to different cities out there and just walk in to some of these places?? Or is this pretty much an act of futility?? Any one ever have any luck here?

Are there any companies that you guys have heard of that like the guys that get the WIA money, hence no training cost for them upfront?? If I could just find a few of those.......

 

[Stanky]

Hey,

I'm a United guy who was furloughed on Halloween last year. I spent a few days working as a car salesman, then got a job on a ship. It was fun but didn't pay squat. I was furloughed from the ship and worked as a janitor for awhile. Just when I was at my breaking point, I got a job as a DC9 Captain in Nairobi, Kenya. While I was driving home from the county health clinic after getting my shots, my cell phone rang and I was offered a job as an MD80 Captain in Tunis, Tunisia.

I ended up taking a the third offer that I got, MD88 Captain for a 121 supplemental carrier. This place sucks pretty bad, lousy work rules, unbelievable schedules, low pay, etc. But at least, for now, it's work.

Hang tough. Apply worldwide if you're able to relocate. It's going to be a long ride, and if your major job never comes back, it's important to stay active in aviation for whatever comes next.

Check the Web, there's still a lot of stuff out there.

Good luck.

 

[NorskAir]

I have been furloughed for close to a year, after 6 months sending out hundreds of resumes and knocking on doors I was lucky enough to secure a 135 job. The only reason I got this job was because the chief pilot was my student 10 years ago, he actually prefers to hire furloughed pilots.

It seems like sending out hundreds of resume is a waste of time, what might give results is to visit operators "face to face", and use your network of friends and former colleagues.

Unfortunately it seems like "furloughed" is a swear word in the 135 and corporate world and some individuals actually seem to take pleasure in your misfortune.

 

[P3-Adub]

Have you offered a guaranteed length of employment ? I know UAL will allow up to 2 years after your recall to finish a commitment and this worked for me. I am on the bubble and began looking after 9/11, I stumbled across a corp. job close to home and took a leave to lock it up. A bird in the hand ! Hopefully there is a pilot still on the property that would have otherwise been out in March. Heard yesterday there may be more furloughs to come at UAL ??? I'll be joining the ranks soon if that is true. In any case, most corp. operators have a thing against someone who will be leaving when recalled despite the fact that most resumes I have seen, when I was a chief pilot, showed a lot of movement in this industry, airline experience or not. Very few career corporate pilots list only one or two jobs on a resume. Not all that uncommon to see someone with a new job listed every couple of years. Have you tried hand carrying in resumes ? Most employers are besieged with resumes these days and making personal contact just may make the difference. Get ahold of an NBAA memebrship directory and use it to target your specific area. No biz jet experience ? Most pilots don't have corp. experience when they get their first break. It has been my experience that they hire the individual and not always the resume. First impressions are just as imprtant in the corporate world as was the interview with the airline. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I will see if I can help out some.

 

[bayoubandit]

P3

Thanks! I have walked in resumes to every operation at TEB without any luck, and contacts elsewhere have walked my stuff, no luck there also. I have told everyone I have talked to that I am willing to commit to their operation. I'm not trying to be greedy in finding the best out there, I'm just looking for a steady flying job that will pay the bills, and one that won't kill me. From what I can tell, it hasn't been a personality or attitude problem (I'm just happy when I get to talk to someone about a job), it's just the fact that I'm furloughed from AA.

I'm not able to defer my recall due to an agreement I have with my union. Besides meeting face to face and trying to make phone contact, I don't know what else to do besides being patient and hoping for the best. My observation is that there seems to be quite a bit of hipocrasy for lack of better words in the hiring practices out there.

 

[U2FDX]

If anyone out there is interested in CapeAir- Cessna 402's with a base in St. croix for the winter and Massachusetts during the summer send a resume to [email protected].

I sent a resume and honestly did hear back the next day; with USAirways furlough status. I do not know alot about the company at all but, it might be a good fit for some of you out there.

Good luck!!

a fellow furloughee