What's everyones backup career ?

[JoeMerchant]

You got that right.

'Herding cats'

Ford & Harrison are "shooting fish in a barrel"....

 

[Lear70]

Hindsight: What do you suggest?

Some of us tried to go military but couldn't get into the aviation side for whatever reason, so we stayed civilian, and are now too old to have it as a backup (I'm 36, I don't think they're going to let me into the Warrant Officer course for helicopters which would be my choice).

Your idea is great for the under-30 RJ crowd, but those of us who are left need a better solution than just telling us to figure out a backup plan then provide no real alternatives.

I have operated a small side business for 10 years that has often made even better money than what I make at work, so I'm not hugely concerned for myself, but many don't and there aren't many options for replacing a $60k-80k position.

That's why many of us have been facetious, as there are still only about 40% (or less these days) prior military who have it to fall back on, and many really don't have a solution. Certainly they can pare down and prepare for the worst (which I was advocating earlier) but, at the end of the day, if things go bad, you can't just give up and end it all... life goes on and you make the best of it.

"Necessity is the mother of invention".

 

[Smarta$$]

Back to the ER as a Nurse...never took my hand out of it and people are always sick and or hurting themselves...if it is a layoff I might try and take the time and go to PA school.

It pays as much as a commuter captain...but is a lot more work and not as fun!

Gaylord focker? Is that you?

 

[satpak77]

Guys...I see some pretty funny responses here, but I was actually looking for serious answers besides Porn Star and Rodeo Clown, etc.

Seriously, what are your plans?

 

[JJET44]

Fly for an oil company..

Oh wait, I already do .

Hey Fly,
Do us all a favor. Next time you fly the boss, go back and kick him in the ba11s.

 

[800Dog]

I plan on marrying the General's rich wife soon after she dumps him! Should happen very soon. Will post some pics of our wedding. Plan to just kick it on what used to be his boat!

 

[TWA]

Chippendale's.

Seriously... I'm that hot. Chicks dig scars, and airline glory lives forever.

I'm thinking of using some of my uniforms in my costume. I have 5 different color combinations... maybe mix and match a little. The Flexjet blue compliments my eyes...

You sir, just lost your man card.

 

[Lear70]

You sir, just lost your man card.

ROFLMAO!

I was wondering how long it would take someone to bite... NO pun intended, whatsoever!

 

[Lear70]

Guys...I see some pretty funny responses here, but I was actually looking for serious answers besides Porn Star and Rodeo Clown, etc.

Seriously, what are your plans?

I know you're serious, and there's no good answer. Seriously.

Some people always planned to fall back into Real Estate - well, that obviously isn't going to work for about 2 or 3 years.

Some people were thinking about regionals... along with 1,000+ people already on the street and another 1,000 likely after the summer when furloughs start to sound good to the Legacies (especially those who have merged and need to lean out capacity).

Some people have been talking overseas flying. The IBEX CRJ contract just came up to 10 consecutive days off per month on their commuting contract and $8,000 per month tax-free if you stay out or buy an off-shore PRIMARY residence and live there.

India, Asia, Europe, even some parts of the sand box, all are looking for pilots in a serious way and will continue to do so and could probably employ every aviator here who gets laid off.

Problem is, su esposa /esposo... will they be able to hack it with kids going to foreign country because 10 days off isn't enough when commuting takes a day or two each way; you'd have to bring your family or keep them somewhere close.

So, you have three choices:

1. You collect unemployment, food stamps if you can qualify, and both you and the wife work $12-$15 an hour jobs or one does some serious eBay sales. Not hard to set up, and there's always a niche, but it's long days at your computer for $200 or so a day (why do you think I'm on here when I'm not flying or out with the crew or home with the fam?)

2. You find some niche job that's missing in your area. I've stumbled across 3 or 4 with my tinkering in cars, boats, and eBay stuff. You can find it if you look hard enough.

3. You can leave the country and go ex-pat. Hard to make it back after that - a lot of people never do, some because they just don't want to take the pay cut, some because they truly love the international flying once they get hooked and don't want to come back to a domestic schedule that may be long-term or permanent.

Them's the choices. Pick one.

Now... if you were looking for specific options under #2, you can't steal my ideas, but I have a few I wasn't planning on using because they either bore me or I don't have the patience for them.

 

[Dude]

If it gets really bad I'll open up my own Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs. Free cholesterol, baby. Joe, you get free dogs and kraut.