Feel so stupid sometimes
08-05-2008, 08:41 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 182
Even if we all had the crystal ball it would still be a tough decision. About 10 years ago Delta and United were the highest paying pilot jobs and UPS and Fed Ex were quite a bit lower. 2 years ago Express Jet was one of the best regionals to work for and now they are about to furlough 1/4 to 1/3 of their pilots. Even Horizon which is considered a better company and wholly owned is also getting ready to furlough. Mesa, which is commonly referred as the worst is hiring and all of their pilots are still there. There is no guarentee and the 'best' company to work for changes constantly.
I think you should just wait it out to see what happens where you are at. Unless you know for sure you will be gone, there is always a chance that you will still have a job. You were smart to try to stay at your first company and try to upgrade faster, that is the goal, PIC time and on to the majors to start the gamble all over again.
I think you should just wait it out to see what happens where you are at. Unless you know for sure you will be gone, there is always a chance that you will still have a job. You were smart to try to stay at your first company and try to upgrade faster, that is the goal, PIC time and on to the majors to start the gamble all over again.
08-05-2008, 09:10 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: MD80
Posts: 1,111
Even if we all had the crystal ball it would still be a tough decision. About 10 years ago Delta and United were the highest paying pilot jobs and UPS and Fed Ex were quite a bit lower. 2 years ago Express Jet was one of the best regionals to work for and now they are about to furlough 1/4 to 1/3 of their pilots. Even Horizon which is considered a better company and wholly owned is also getting ready to furlough. Mesa, which is commonly referred as the worst is hiring and all of their pilots are still there. There is no guarentee and the 'best' company to work for changes constantly.
I think you should just wait it out to see what happens where you are at. Unless you know for sure you will be gone, there is always a chance that you will still have a job. You were smart to try to stay at your first company and try to upgrade faster, that is the goal, PIC time and on to the majors to start the gamble all over again.
I think you should just wait it out to see what happens where you are at. Unless you know for sure you will be gone, there is always a chance that you will still have a job. You were smart to try to stay at your first company and try to upgrade faster, that is the goal, PIC time and on to the majors to start the gamble all over again.
08-05-2008, 09:30 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: CRJ
Posts: 2,356
You have discovered one of the major differences of working for a wholly owned airline, or simple subcontractor.
Historically, the wholly owned airlines have been somewhat more secure to work at... while none is ever really secure, some do have better records than others, and they are typically the wholly owned ones.
Historically, the wholly owned airlines have been somewhat more secure to work at... while none is ever really secure, some do have better records than others, and they are typically the wholly owned ones.
08-05-2008, 10:20 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 110
The world of aviation is filled with "what ifs". Take your shot, if it misses, take a step back, re-aim and shoot again. Remember that monster name K-Mart from the sixties? Who would have thought a down home country boy from Arkansas could whip their butt? All of life is a gamble and particularly few of us win every time.
If you get furloughed, regroup and look for the best opportunity at the time. It will likely not look anything like any of the ones that were available six months ago or six months from now.
If you get furloughed, regroup and look for the best opportunity at the time. It will likely not look anything like any of the ones that were available six months ago or six months from now.
08-06-2008, 03:13 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: F/O- G-V/550
Posts: 1,163
So, I work for TSA. I can't complain too badly, I was hired out of a Cessna 172 with 750 hours into a jet and have had a pretty good run for the 14 months I've been here. However, with 10 birds going back to Eagle and the downsizing, etc, I am just waiting for my furlough notice. When I get it, I don't even know if I'll ever be called back because the 50 seaters are being phased out. I wouldn't be surprised of TSA as a brand gets phased out and any growth occurs on the GoJet side.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine works for Comair, and switched from the CRJ-200 to the -700/-900 and received an appropriate pay raise and it looks like he'll be escaping the furlough too. He was hired with Comair AFTER I was hired at TSA.
Why did I stay at TSA? I should have gotten a few hundred hours jet time and switched to a better company. My future would be looking a lot brighter right now.
Gotta stay positive....
Meanwhile, a friend of mine works for Comair, and switched from the CRJ-200 to the -700/-900 and received an appropriate pay raise and it looks like he'll be escaping the furlough too. He was hired with Comair AFTER I was hired at TSA.
Why did I stay at TSA? I should have gotten a few hundred hours jet time and switched to a better company. My future would be looking a lot brighter right now.
Gotta stay positive....
I flew for the regionals, I heard of great, profesional pilots get stuck there, for life. Then heard of some people who didn't follow SOPs, didn't do checklists, bust a couple of 121 check-rides end up at places like Fedex, UPS, NJI, SouthWest. What I'm trying to tell you is that unlike other industries, we have little control over our destiny. Most of the time we have to take the first regional job that is offered to us, followed by the first major/corporate job that is offered to us. Can't be switching companies because we feel the need to build up our seniority.
I've heard many, MANY pilots said "should've done that", myself included......
08-06-2008, 06:17 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
It's all a crapshoot man. We were in the same class, I was the only one to bail. Now I'm looking at a furlough too. No regrets. The QOL improvments alone were worth it.
The point is this, you can't predict anything in this industry. Think about how fast EVERYONE was hiring back when we started at TSA. This continued until the end of last year and everybody went from hiring like mad, to furloughing. Feast or famine.
The point is this, you can't predict anything in this industry. Think about how fast EVERYONE was hiring back when we started at TSA. This continued until the end of last year and everybody went from hiring like mad, to furloughing. Feast or famine.
08-06-2008, 10:13 AM
#19
I'm a man of my word.
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Devil's Advocate
Posts: 2,883
bryris, i feel for you man. if i had taken a job at eagle, i'd still be a lineholder AND i'd be based at home. but i went for the quick upgrade time at tsa 
i'm 3 months behind you, so i will get that f-notice before you will. remember, you're not an airline pilot until you've been furloughed, divorced, and bankrupt 
i'm 3 months behind you, so i will get that f-notice before you will. remember, you're not an airline pilot until you've been furloughed, divorced, and bankrupt
08-06-2008, 10:36 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 182
I read somewhere that the average airline pilot is furloughed an average of 3 times during their career. That doesn't take into account any strikes or substantial pay cuts. So take it all in stride and save up for the hard times and enjoy the good times. Worrying or regretting doesn't help you now.
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