What's everyones backup career ?

[crashpad]

Back to the mattresses and working for my Uncle Mario in the Sicillian linguini mines.

 

[AutoBus]

This isn't even close to 9/12/01 and the next few years after that.

WRONG!! In 9 to 12 months ALL airlines WILL be bankrupt, unless the economics change.

The lone possible exception is SWA, although even they are running scared.

I have to wonder when a program like the ATFSB (Air Transport Fuel Stabilization Board) gets formed.

Seriously it's that bad.

 

[satpak77]

This isn't even close to 9/12/01 and the next few years after that.

Uh, I doubt it. Back then the "airline business model" at least had $25 a barrell Crude Oil to fall back on.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/crude1.html

In 1998, the last known "airline hiring boom" (I may be off a year +/-), Crude Oil was $9 to $12 a barrel !!!

Crude Oil is now $120, per http://www.nymex.com/index.aspx

Crude is ten times+ what it was 10 years ago (1998). If we continue this cycle, in 10 more years, if it ONLY doubled (to $240), we should all high-five each other.

 

[UALX727]

I have lived most of my life considering what I would do if the world, as I knew it, went to hell. After many years of wasteful worry and trying to apply logic to folks that exist without it, I have chosen to live until I die. My realm of expertise is within the walls of a simulator, cockpit, or bathroom stall (excluding MSP). Outside of those locales, my opinion, thoughts, judgements are futile and my efforts to rearrange things are a distraction from my family and my time which are too important to sacrifice.

My backup will be decided when the need arises to have one. As a result of being poor for the first ten years of my aviation journey, my default emotion is worry and strategic planning. Given our environment and the state of ethics in this country, I will continue to enjoy myself, responsibly, until the status quo changes. I have turned FNC, MSNBC, and CNN off. My television experience is now relegated to Little Bear, Franklin, or the Wiggles. Life is too short to give a %#$@ about matters that do not require your input or consideration. They will be what they will be.

Don't spend money like you're in the NBA, save a little, invest a little, and enjoy your life. The circumstances surrounding GoJets, Freedom, Skybus, Virgin, etc......who cares? What will you do about it if you have the opportunity? My guess is little. Life is full of choices; so let people make them and therefore, live with them.

Dude, that is one of the best posts I have read on this board to date.

 

[SuperFLUF]

I guess I would choose to become bitter and cling to my religion and my guns.

Would that require me to relocate to PA?

 

[Exskydiverdrivr]

I've flipped some houses in the past. D@mn! they've screwed that one up too! Since I live in Nevada, I could open a brothel. Help me out guy's - I'll need to staff it so send me the phone # of every slu, uh make that "loose woman" you know.

 

[Flybet3]

Question is just what it says...yes, I know we are Pilots forever and we can't leave the blue yonder, the friendly skies, etc etc blah blah. For some the sky is the limit, for us the sky is home, etc etc ad nauseum.

Now, back to reality, paying the rent and light bill dictate otherwise, and reality sets in. Only so many ex-ATA/Spriit/EOS/Aloha/Frontier etc pilots (read: all airline equipment) can go to FlexJets or SWA.

FedEx and UPS ain't hiring.

What is everyones back-up plan? Is it temporary/between airline jobs or will it be permanent?

Discuss....this is arguably the WORST era of commerical aviation job/career prospects and security in history.

Midget porn pays good I've heard. The porn industry is always growing, lot's of pilots at the hotel just "surfing" the net LOL

 

[sqwkvfr]

Greenhorn on the Cornelia Marie.

 

[Nightrain_080]

I guess I would choose to become bitter and cling to my religion and my guns.

Would that require me to relocate to PA?

Nice...LOL...comrade obama at his finest.



My serious back up plan is move to Alaska. Fly a Bush plane and find myself a place to drill for oil in ANWR

Until then burn gas, wood, oil, paper and get some food storage.

 

[learflyer]

This isn't even close to 9/12/01 and the next few years after that.

9/11 didn't have the cost of fuel attached to it (yet). This easily dwarfs 9/11.

 

[Benhuntn]

So UAL puts his head in the sand and hopes the boogy man doesn't find him and that is one of the best posts....????

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

I have lived most of my life considering what I would do if the world, as I knew it, went to hell. After many years of wasteful worry and trying to apply logic to folks that exist without it, I have chosen to live until I die. My realm of expertise is within the walls of a simulator, cockpit, or bathroom stall (excluding MSP). Outside of those locales, my opinion, thoughts, judgements are futile and my efforts to rearrange things are a distraction from my family and my time which are too important to sacrifice.

My backup will be decided when the need arises to have one. As a result of being poor for the first ten years of my aviation journey, my default emotion is worry and strategic planning. Given our environment and the state of ethics in this country, I will continue to enjoy myself, responsibly, until the status quo changes. I have turned FNC, MSNBC, and CNN off. My television experience is now relegated to Little Bear, Franklin, or the Wiggles. Life is too short to give a %#$@ about matters that do not require your input or consideration. They will be what they will be.

Don't spend money like you're in the NBA, save a little, invest a little, and enjoy your life. The circumstances surrounding GoJets, Freedom, Skybus, Virgin, etc......who cares? What will you do about it if you have the opportunity? My guess is little. Life is full of choices; so let people make them and therefore, live with them.

Don't forget to vote! Local, State and Fed.

 

[Lear70]

So UAL puts his head in the sand and hopes the boogy man doesn't find him and that is one of the best posts....????

Only in that the old adage "life goes on" is appropriate here.

I was wrongfully terminated from a Major airline... they continue to make sure I can't get hired anywhere that's going to be a career during what may have been the last chance for me to do so prior to this downturn. I still take the time to enjoy my family and live life.

I'm flying 20+ days a month, home 9 or so, missing a lot of my son's formative years, living out of a suitcase, making decent money but not fantastic, but I try to still enjoy the little things as life goes by.

That's all he's saying... keep it in perspective. Some people lose EVERYTHING and can't even feed and clothe their children. It hasn't become that bad for most pilots yet. Yes, it's tough. Yes, people need to seriously buckle down and plan for the worst, make a contingency plan, but then, when you've done as much as you can...

Sit back. Go fishing with your kids. Dip your feet in the sand when you overnight somewhere a beach is close by. "This too shall pass."

 

[LJDRVR]

Two words:

SUGAR MOMMA

 

[Propsync]

I quit the airlines last year for a shipping company. I figured my next move involved a commute and being junior/furlough fodder. Seeing what housing and gas was doing to the economy, I bailed. I needed to save for retirement now, it's hard to do if you're unemployed. It's even worse for many because now is the time to dump a bunch of money in. I gave up more days off, but I'm home every night and always off weekends. I don't worry about gas other than how it effects yield. I haven't flown in a year and don't miss it a bit. There are some that live for flying, good for you. I'm just not that guy.