There was a time in our history when loyalty to one’s company was appreciated and normally reciprocated , resulting in in lifetime employment, a sincere concern for you and your family and upon reaching old age, a gold watch and a little retirement . Unfortunately this is not the case today. Corporations, especially airlines, have now adopted the concept that employees are nothing more than a debit on the accounting ledger and that everyone is replaceable. In other words, loyalty to a corporation, and especially an airline, in our world today, is a fool’s errand. It is probably safe to say that there are many who still cling to the dream of a more civil time and pilot history has shown how airline management has used the loyalty, or as some call it our tribal mentality, to turn us against our fellow aviators and convinced the associations to take actions to protect your tribe even if it is to the detriment of all the others. Until pilots wake up and start thinking of their profession first and foremost, corporate managers will continue to use your loyalty to diminish your career expectations.
More than two decades ago there was a very proud and excited aviator standing in front of the mirror hardly able to believe that he was seeing himself in that blue uniform, hat and all. That dream is now gone and the memory bitter sweet due to the immoral and unethical actions of the corporate leaders who have worked to successfully to pad their personal bank accounts while destroying the dream that led so many of us to this once great company and once proud profession. If the merger between AA and US Air happens it will be to add to the already millions of dollars these criminals garner for themselves not to further anyone’s career as a pilot. It is way past time to refocus loyalty on the goals and objectives of restoring the airline pilot profession, if it is not already too late.