cactusmike

Yeah, I haven't heard from ANA and the agencies since January. Things have dried up since the first of the year. That's ok, I have a job right now, as screwed up as it is, and the preference should be on the guys that are on the street.

Alaskadude

When I got hired by JAL for the LAX base in 1989 I really figured we'd only be there 3 - 6 years. Flying with them for 17 years was a bonus I guess.

74plb

Yeah, I figured the job was going to be a 5 year gig myself. I had just gotten divorced, UPS had just started their own airline and didn't hire me so I figured why not?
I still see some of the guys that live in the NW, In fact I went to the range with another LAX based guy today. We then had coffee with yet another Jal-Ways PFE. The job is gone but the friendships continue.
Quite a few guys now work at Southern that you know from the Anc base.
All in all it was a pretty good job even though we were Christmas help and almost okay. The European and Brazilian FA's were alot of fun during and after training. Can't say I miss the LOFT training and annual Ditching though.

Alaskadude

The insane physicals and PE standards are something I don't miss.

I've only seen a couple of the guys since we're kinda off the beaten path up here. So, how does all this affect IASCO? They still have the training department in NAPA I assume?

74plb

They still have the Napa training Facility, but the JAL group now has part ownership somehow. I'm out of touch with what is currently happening with Iasco.
The Jal-Ways guys a pretty decent severance package. As you recall we got a letter thanking us for our service. Yamazaki sent the LA guys a nice postcard when we left, other than that I haven't heard from anybody JAL-wise.
One of the Jal-Ways training Captains lives down the street from me but I haven't seen him since the lay-off announcement.
Did you do any off the Moses Lake stuff? Or did you miss most of it by going to ANC? I don't miss that either...

Alaskadude

I went to Moses Lake once or twice and I am REALLY glad I moved to ANC so I didn't have to do that anymore.

I haven't seen any of the LA guys since our contracts were cancelled two years ago but I have kept in email contact with my Australian training partner and I did contact one of the former ANC captains recently online. The wife had a brief exchange of pleasantries on Facebook with her former boss, the CEO of IASCO about three months ago but that's about it.

For now though, I'm working our store and in my spare time I work on getting the fishing gear sorted out. Other than that, I just wait to see if Mt. Redoubt will erupt again. Some fun.