New Here

Hello folks.

I’m new here, obviously. I’ve been trolling for a long while and decided to take the plunge. Sometimes I get a little long-winded, but usually I’m just trying to make myself clear.

I’m rapidly approaching 60 years, and am a medically-retired airline pilot. Last time I flew was in 1991. World Airways, Federal Express (in their early days) and finally Midway Airlines. DC-8 / 727 / MD80 equipment. My children have grown, and I’ve been divorced a while and I’m thinking about joining y’all on the highway. I’ve noticed many similarities between our industries, and I’d like to bring one to your attention.

EVERY JOB SUCKS SOMETIMES.

Next time you’re N/B on 294 approaching O’Hare early in the morning look to your right and see if you spot an airplane landing from the East. There was a time when that would’ve been me.


The Perception:

It was nice, landing in the morning from the East. The Sun is at your back, so you can see the airport without squinting. If it’s early, it’s usually before the atmosphere heats up and gives you a bumpy ride down final to the runway.

The Reality:

I’m about to land @ O’Hare, and it’s 0630. I’m coming from San Francisco, where it’s now 0430. It’s about 3:30 flight time, so we departed SFO around 0100. At outstations, crews have to be at the aircraft 45 minutes prior to flight. That makes it 0015. 45 minutes for the crew bus to take you from the hotel to the airport. 2330. An hour to get up, shower, get dressed and all the rest. 2230.

But after I land at ORD, my day’s not done. I have to do a “turn”. O’Hare – Detroit – O’Hare. Depart ORD @0730, and return by 1100. Then deadhead to Omaha to bring out the first flight tomorrow morning. Now I’ve been up all night flying on the backside of the clock.

Sound familiar?


ALL AIRLINE PILOTS ARE RICH

Some are…most aren’t. Young people spend $50-60K on initial training just to get a “shot” at a job. “Pre-hire”? What’s that? Commuter airlines pay new hire pilots with SJS (Shiny Jet Syndrome) less than $10 an hour. So much for return on investment on that expensive training. These young people are flying aircraft with the same level of sophistication in the ####pit, at the same altitudes and airspeeds, and in the same airspace as a 747.

When I flew, I missed EVERY major holiday for the first NINE years.


UNCERTAINTY

I have a friend, who “flies” for American. He’s a good stick, and a great guy. He was furloughed after September 11th, and finally recalled SIX years later. He flew another two years, then furloughed once again. Last November his company walked into US Bankruptcy Court. He may NEVER get back.

ALL pilots are just ONE busted check ride, ONE failed medical, ONE geo-political dust up, ONE fuel crisis from unemployment. Ask the Number One seniority pilot at PanAm or Eastern or even Midway how their careers ended. I say this not to complain, just to bring some perspective. We ALL labor under difficult circumstances. The similarities between our lives are stunning.

Bear with me while I try to make a careful decision.


WashedUp