A few weeks have gone by since we were shamefully delivered the news by Wayne Heller that Lynx Aviation would be dismantled. I’m sure like everyone else the last couple weeks have been a time of many emotions usually returning to outright anger over what has transpired. As we witness the unwelcome end of Lynx Aviation as an airline, I believe there are some points worth mentioning. Undoubtedly the natural inclination after reading this would be curiosity as to the author. It doesn’t really matter.

The story of Lynx Aviation has been written all but the last few pages of the last chapter. Unfortunately it will be known by those who worked here and by those with knowledge of the circumstances, as a tragedy. Even after the fate of our airline had been sealed unbeknownst to us, we were the topic of a Denver Post article that was one of the most complimentary articles ever written about an airline. In a time of unprecedented fuel price volatility, our aircraft was the most fuel-efficient in the sky. With public perception of the airlines at an all time low, we delivered a service to our passengers that rivaled any airline’s. After reading that article most of us would have thought that the future of Lynx Aviation was not only bright but also assured. In that context it’s no surprise that we were blindsided by the news that our operation would be disposed of. Point number one: after three years of superior performance we were owed a significant explanation of why Lynx was not a viable operation that included supporting evidence for closing Lynx. Needless to say a three-sentence press release in addition to a “webcast” devoid of any financial numbers, details, specifics regarding efforts for Lynx’s future was infuriating.

Perhaps what bothers me most about the circumstances is what Brian Bedford’s decision has seemingly stolen from many of us. The lost income, the temporary loss of career progression are both insignificant in comparison to what he seems to have successfully taken: the loss of passion for a career in which we are exceedingly skilled. I can’t count how many times this week I’ve heard “I might just leave aviation.” I could hardly blame anyone for considering a different career path after the experience of two months under his “leadership.” Point number two: Don’t let “Frank Lorenzo-in-training” decide your career. If this is what you want to do for a living, don’t let an airline executive make your plans. Fly planes, live where you want to live, earn money, repeat.

Lastly I say this. Someone told me a story once about a pilot sitting in a terminal waiting for a flight. Another pilot came up to him clearly in a hurry and asked if there was any chance he had a couple quarters. His phone was dead and he needed to make a call. The pilot reached in his pocket and pulled out all of his change and said “take it, if we don’t take care of each other nobody else will.” The guy needing the quarters sat on the Southwest hiring board…. Point number three: Republic pilots make a convenient target for our rage, and if you’ve witnessed the same behavior this last month from some embarrassing examples as I have it’s hard not to think that their pilot group consists of anything but those. However, any adult knows you can’t stereotype. Unfortunately this anger plays into Bedford’s management strategy of divide-and-concur, leaving all of us bickering like children while Bedford reaps the benefit of a divided pilot group playing us off of each other. We’re better than flipping each other off as we taxi by. Make no mistake the individuals responsible for the death of Midwest, Lynx and soon Frontier, are Brian Bedford and Wayne Heller, not the employees who signed up to earn a living flying airplanes.