Reality of the Airlnes

[CX880]

Well today is my first day on furlough, it's a very sobering experience. I walked into the unemployment office, with the other poor citizens who most likely made wrong choices in their lives, I guess I'm guilty of that as well... I had to disclose what an airline pilot makes during his miserable year. I'm pretty sure they were shocked...

I went to the headquarters to turn in all my stuff, there was no ceremony, no thanks, no good luck, not even a have a nice day. I'm particularly angry at the CP, who not only didn't acknowledge me by saying thanks for flying our airplanes and what you did for the company, but he even got annoyed at a question I posed him. I felt like breaking down right there and telling him how I really felt.

After one of the most unprofessional CP meetings I've had, as I walked out the office and the building I realized that we as pilots are nothing more than numbers. It's going to be a struggle for us to bring this industry like it was when I wasn't even around. I have no idea if Unions are responsible for employee/management relations but all I know is that it's not right. It's really unfortunate, many of us have families and are away for long periods of time we put up with the conditions only to be furloughed because a few guys in the office feel it might be a safe thing to do. To which I might add I was used up until the very last day.

Then I come to sites like these and see pilots fighting and arguing about little things. No one has the right answer but we at least need to be backing each other instead of fighting.

For those of you reading this that would like to get into the airline flying, this the reality of the airlines and in all honesty with the proven idiocy of management around the industry added by the fact that they can't make money so forget about higher wages, I predict being a pilot is going to be nothing more than glorified bus driver. And I'm begining to doubt unions also, since I got furloughed from a second ALPA carrier, I guess they're only good for when things are on the up and up. It's going to be interesting to see how it's going to be on the down and down.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Go pick up a case and put the game on.

 

[Mel Sharples]

Reality sucks. Airlines are a sh!tty, sh!tty business. You are right: pilots are nothing but a number. A commodity that they can't get enough of at times, and can't get rid of fast enough at others.

Please tell them to make room at the unemployment office. You won't be the last pilot to be going there. Many more of us will be right behind you.

Good luck finding another job! I would hate to be in your shoes.

 

[Soverytired]

I'm very sorry for your loss and your present situation.

Bear in mind that your situation is not unique, however it may feel like it right now. Furloughs have been happening as long as there have been airlines, so consider yourself in excellent company and treat this as another mark of a true airline pilot.

APC has some good suggestions on what to do with the big "f" (see link below). However bummed you must be, I'd highly encourage you to follow the articles advice and get cracking. Time is of the essence, because sooner than you realize, your flying currency will degrade and put you out of the market.

However rough it might seem now, try and remember just how impossible getting an airline job seemed when you were a newly minted private pilot. You're infinitely better qualified now, and your next flying job could be right around the corner.

And if your last job was Mesa, I can assure you . . . the next job WILL be better, and this little career hiccup might just be the nudge you need to get to a much, much better job.

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/...oughed?_11_tips_to_guide_you_20080504314.html


Best of luck.


"If you stay proactive, you will be at a big advantage over your peers. The ones who sulk, feel sorry for themselves, begin to hate the industry, and have a bad attitude won't be doing very well in an interview. . . Be realistic, but not despondent. Watch your attitude at all times, as you want to stay energetic and optimistic while seeking a new job."

 

[JSky26]

Sorry to hear about your troubles...

I wouldn't give up on flying for a profession though. There are still good jobs to have. With a little luck and patience you can find yourself a nice job in corporate aviation. I think a lot of people forget sometimes that there are other jobs out there besides the airlines. Now don't get me wrong, there are some dirtbag operations out there and no one is immune to the economy, but overall, business has been good.

I'm going to quote BoilerUP here and say that in some corporate flight departments you are treated as an asset rather than a liability. The Chief Pilot is a guy you can go have a beer with rather than someone you loathe. Now, I've never seen the airline side of things but from my (albeit limited) experience in corporate aviation, the above statement really holds true.

Keep your head up and good luck!

 

[eatme]

I went to the headquarters to turn in all my stuff, there was no ceremony, no thanks, no good luck, not even a have a nice day. I'm particularly angry at the CP, who not only didn't acknowledge me by saying thanks for flying our airplanes and what you did for the company, but he even got annoyed at a question I posed him. I felt like breaking down right there and telling him how I really felt.

Well what was the question and how did he respond?

 

[FSIGRAD]

I remember the first time I got furloughed, the CP walked into the room an said....

"Boys- your not an airline pilot until you get furloughed. Congrats! you all just became airline pilots!"

The CP then went on to say he's been furloughed 7 times. (I have now been furloughed 3 times myself.) My advice is to go on a bender for about a week and then just get on with your life. Good luck.

 

[McNugent]

Trans States??

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

Well today is my first day on furlough, it's a very sobering experience. I walked into the unemployment office, with the other poor citizens who most likely made wrong choices in their lives, I guess I'm guilty of that as well... I had to disclose what an airline pilot makes during his miserable year. I'm pretty sure they were shocked...

I went to the headquarters to turn in all my stuff, there was no ceremony, no thanks, no good luck, not even a have a nice day. I'm particularly angry at the CP, who not only didn't acknowledge me by saying thanks for flying our airplanes and what you did for the company, but he even got annoyed at a question I posed him. I felt like breaking down right there and telling him how I really felt.

After one of the most unprofessional CP meetings I've had, as I walked out the office and the building I realized that we as pilots are nothing more than numbers. It's going to be a struggle for us to bring this industry like it was when I wasn't even around. I have no idea if Unions are responsible for employee/management relations but all I know is that it's not right. It's really unfortunate, many of us have families and are away for long periods of time we put up with the conditions only to be furloughed because a few guys in the office feel it might be a safe thing to do. To which I might add I was used up until the very last day.

Then I come to sites like these and see pilots fighting and arguing about little things. No one has the right answer but we at least need to be backing each other instead of fighting.

For those of you reading this that would like to get into the airline flying, this the reality of the airlines and in all honesty with the proven idiocy of management around the industry added by the fact that they can't make money so forget about higher wages, I predict being a pilot is going to be nothing more than glorified bus driver. And I'm begining to doubt unions also, since I got furloughed from a second ALPA carrier, I guess they're only good for when things are on the up and up. It's going to be interesting to see how it's going to be on the down and down.

Must be from Trans States. RZ isn't worth the paper your furlough letter is printed on. Nor is MW, RL and HK. I hope the old d!ck wad flight manager EP got a recall and furloughed again. Just about every low manager and up treated all pilots with less respect than most people give to their dogs.

Don't worry mate a lot of us have gone thru this, and if you only drink yourself silly for one week instead of three, you can get on with what ever it is you find to keep the bills paid and your credit respectable.

Their are other flying jobs out there. I would get started pretty damn quick though, they won't last long with the current state.

PtP

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

Don't feel bad. This happens in all industries, not just aviation.

My ex-wife, who was a nice person by all measures, got on the wrong side of some big spenders where she worked, which was a charitable non-profit service organization.

Despite being a professional, and having 10 years of higher education, when they fired her, they had security watch her as she collected her stuff, and then escorted her from the building.

It's the new American way...

Nu