Years and years ago, a fellow squadron pilot got a nice offer with a great corporate flight department. They sent me off to school for a type and ATP in very nice corporate jet. Back and less than a month later, he got an airline offer. I advised him to spend a year at this position; then leave. “You never know what the future might have and this is a golden job”. Off he went to the airline job. I had no dog in the fight; it didn’t matter to me. A decade or so go by and I happen to be seated next to his old chief pilot at an NBAA forum having lunch. One thing and another, recognizing my background; he asks “ how is John Doe? He really left us in the lurch. He won’t be forgotten, if you know what I mean?” Yes, I do.
No matter what one thinks, professional aviation is a small city of about 110,000 pros and in a city that size, you bump into people you know all the time.
GF