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Old 11-06-2022 | 05:55 PM
  #219  
FourFans130
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Joined: Jun 2017
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From: 747 FO
Default Another perspective: It's a long game.

Originally Posted by Brownose74
Thanks for the replies. It is a real shame that things have turned so badly in ANC. I have chatted with several other crew members, and most are very unhappy with these lines. Only two pilots I have talked to are okay with them—go figure-- they live in ANC. And yes, as a probation pilot, I want to keep a low profile and not ask too many questions or display any unhappiness. I am very privileged to be here, and it's been a dream of mine for many years. But, unfortunately, everything has been sliding down on the QOL scale since I got on.
As far as VTO and VOTRs look at snapshots, it seems like those are being taken really fast. Same as the reserve lines (which the vast majority have four reports to boot). This renders a junior guy with the 6-8 report schedules.
Regarding moving out to SDF, it seems that the vast majority (both CA and FOs) will bid out. Most pilots commute to ANC, and everyone is itching to get out. My entire class of 16 is awaiting the bid to bid out. It will be hard to leave ANC with so many senior guys wanting to bounce, but who can blame them?
The seat lock issue is also a problem. A lot can happen in another year, and I don't know if I can keep up with these schedules. Being on probation makes matters worse as it is not affordable to buy tickets, and not having a commuter clause for other carriers helps.
This has come as a shock to many new pilots and me. I would have thought about moving over if I had a clue that this was how things would play out.
I hope these lines were a flop due to the peak and the long bid period.
By the way, I found a B&G post, but it seems like the vast mojirty of pilots suggest leaving for another airline as things here will get worse rather than get better. So maybe I should heed the advice.
Hello fellow brown probbie. I feel your pain. 74 at ANC still on probation. Just wanted to chime in and share some perspective that's been shared with me and that I found helpful. It's All Perspective. Your unique situation with family, marriage, kids, community, etc will always be unique to you, and someone else's solution for their take on the same problem you face will invariably be different than yours, and will often be inappropriate as a "fix" for your problems. HOWEVER No matter where you go work long term, there will ALWAYS be something that's a thorn in your side. I currently work with USAF reservists at all the airlines...they ALL have something they routinely complain about and that makes them question their choices.

For reference, I did a career in the USAF (no retirement), then a year at Atlas, and I'm just finishing year one here at Brown. In all that time I've continuously witnessed "the grass is always greener" syndrome. A different airframe, a different base, upgrade to a new position, a new company, a new domicile, the list goes on...and on...and on. We are in the business of flying airplanes, there are precious few ways on making a living doing that where you:
A: work for someone else (meaning you don't have the constant stress of running your own business)
B: make a lot of money
C: are home often
You can have 2 of those...at best.

So if we choose to work at a major, either pax or cargo, we will be gone a lot. There ways to MINIMIZE that, but not erase it. That's where your relationship with your spouse is the most critical item. A simple trigger point here: If she's supportive and on your team, you can make it work in the long run. If she's not on board, find another place.
Past that: That's where the perspective comes in. Just like investing, do not judge this job by the short term ups and downs. If you look at this year vs last year, you will be constantly chasing a QOL that is largely imaginary or embellished by nostalgia. Yes, QOL from last year...as applied to my current situation...will very often seem better, but that's dreaming. Dwelling on that possibility is a waste of time. Instead, realize that this job is cyclical. In the long run, working at UPS, Delta, United, etc can be fantastic...but only if you approach it with a long-game perspective. A healthy long-game perspective requires a positive mindset in order to take a realistic view of facts, allowing a healthy decision making and analysis process in your choices. Focusing solely on short term pain or gain will rarely help that.

For example, on the 74 at UPS I could focus on how I flip my body clock every flight (nearly). Or I could focus on the fact I get to do one-to-a-full-stop to relatively good destinations with longer layovers...(P.S. 75 guys don't get that nearly like we do). That means I get more time awake on my layovers to talk with my wife on the phone, write posts on forums, read, exercise, etc. I'm currently on a 44 hour layover in Asia. I choose to take a long game perspective in that. Someday I may choose to go to the 75s at SDF for a shorter commute. But that's a family decision and it's not one I need to make right now. What I DO have to decide right now is how I view my everyday life. If I take a positive view every day, my overall outlook will be much healthier, more positive, and more circumscribed, allowing me to approach future decisions from a healthy place. If, on the other hand, I am constantly negative and focused on how much my current situation sucks (for example I can't leave my hotel, the food is expensive, and I can only go to the gym inside), the entire inverse will become true as I become more negative...that would obviously lead me to quitting this job, or at minimum being the guy no-one wants to go on trips with. I come to that conclusion having done two probationary years, back to back, and having witnessed first hand many men who have taking both of those two roads (positivity and negativity).

I'm still months away from seeing the fruits of that labor, naming higher income. However what I do with my attitude today will help my approach that decision about shortening my commute, which will happen later, with a better attitude and perspective. I'm not saying it's easy, no important task ever is, but it is worth it.

You may well find the best option is to change airlines, but I believe if you base that decision almost exclusively on a first year experience at a one of the places where the first year is the roughest, you're not giving yourself or this job a real chance.
It's a long game. Approach it with a long view.

In short: Hang Tough. Probationary year, or even years 2 or 3, are not representative of how this career will play out.
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