Word is out that knee pads are in short supply. Apparently, there’s been a run on this commodity by thousands of airline pilots and their CEO’s begging on bended knees for a continuation of uncle sugar’s financial aid. By all means, let the taxpayer support the lifestyle you have been accustomed to since in your eyes you are essential to the public.

Here’s what is essential for everyday requirements and life. The garbage collector, power supply and water distribution, farmers, ranchers and workers that toil in the fields to feed us. Truck drivers that distribute the processed foodstuffs and essentials like toilet paper. How about fire and police protection and most of all, medical healthcare workers. And let’s not forget the postal service, and certainly the grocery store workers who are essential to stocking and selling the groceries.

My last commercial flight was in February returning from a dive trip. Diving is fun and I miss the three or four trips out of country to pursue this sport but it’s not essential to my wellbeing. In fact, not dealing with airports, airlines, fat people in skinny seats and other negative aspects of commercial flying, has demonstrated that not participating in dive trips is much of a sacrifice.

In the early 80’s I was furloughed for nearly five years, in fact, the whole group of us that were hired in the late 70’s, eventually received our walking papers. We did not get federal financial aid nor expect it. We weren’t considered essential then nor is it now. In this industry sh!t happens! To mitigate this development, you did what any patriotic American did... go out and find another job. It might even require dusting off the resume and pursuing something besides flying.

Back then, the global slowdown took years to recover and I anticipate this one will also. As of now, the American traveler is not welcome in most countries because of our mishandling of the Covid virus. Throwing billions more of taxpayers' money at the airlines will be another example of Federal mishandling.