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

 

[NuGuy]

Double post...

 

[Airline Driver]

Things do happen for a reason. You may not see the reason for months or even years down the road but trust me they do. Something even better might be just around the corner and when it does happen you will not even look back.

Take some time off collect unemployment. Dust off the resume and pound the pavement!! We all love flying airplanes or we would not put up with half the crap we do.

Good luck and stay positive.

 

[TAWS]

I remember getting furloughed from XJ. The CPs were great - you could tell that they hated doing it, but it was something they had to do.

Right now you probably have that feeling that you've just hit the bottom. Trust me, it'll get better - you just need to push on and you'll find something better.

Things happen for a reason. One day you'll look back and realize they did you a favor.

 

[Dannone]

I find it amazing that people go to work for airlines that have terrible reputations and then are suprised when they get treated poorly. Hold out for a better job and you won't be writing wo is me.

 

[Texx]

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.

Interesting that you open up like this but on another thread you make a smart$ss comment to a pilot fighting for his job. http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=114319

If you really think that any airline is going to give you a pat on the back and say thanks for your hard work you have missed the boat on the industry. You have to fight for what you have coming to you but be a professional about it.

Good luck.

 

[suupah]

I find it amazing that people go to work for airlines that have terrible reputations and then are suprised when they get treated poorly. Hold out for a better job and you won't be writing wo is me.

so CAL, UAL and AMR are all airlines with bad reps? What about Xjet?

 

[blingair]

I'm sorry to hear about you and all my associates who are losing their jobs, their income and their stability. Such an event can't help but affect one's measure of self as a person. That being said, it would be hard to find a retired captain who hasen't been furloughed, divorced and/or who hasen't been on food stamps at least once in his or her career. Its a part of the business and the life of a professional pilot. I think we never choose to be pilots but are born to be so and to work in any other profession is a total bummer. The airline business is cyclic and we're in a down turn. Things will improve again and when they do you will have learned some valuable, albiet, tough life lessons. So try and stay positive and find a quality airline (thats the hard part) to fly for next time and be inland enough when the next tidal wave of down turns hit.
I do agree that a good chief pilot is very rare but the one I did have told me one time that "if it was easy, everyone would be doing it."
For everyone who is getting the axe, try to realize that its out of your hands and try to get through it the best you can and be greatfull that when things turn for the better and you are employed again, (if you still want to) how fortunate we are to do what we do. Thats my thoughts anyways.
And, for anyone who is out of a job, pilot or not, they get a nice cold beer from me, gratis; if I still have my job then.
B.

 

[MALSR]

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.

My friend, a lot of us are screwed just like you, and a lot more will follow. If you think things are bad now, just wait until Israel bombs Iran thus driving oil to over $500.00/barrel overnight. Buckle up fellas...more than half of all airline pilots will be on the streets in due time.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

When the market took a downturn in the early 90's, we received over one thousand resumes at a charter outfit that I was working in Ft. Lauderdale flying Navajos's and 402's,that is the reality of this business. It will get much worst, I'm afraid

 

[time builder]

When the market took a downturn in the early 90's, we received over one thousand resumes at a charter outfit that I was working in Ft. Lauderdale flying Navajos's and 402's,that is the reality of this business. It will get much worst, I'm afraid

And when 2001 hit, the flight schools in my area were filled with furloughed airline pilots who were instucting just to stay current. Sounds like we might be headed in that direction again. Problem is, who are you going to instruct with gas prices the way they are? Foreign students?