I myself have been out of professional part 135 flying, just celebrated my 1 year anniversary! I was laid off Feb 09. I miss the flying, some cool FBO people I met, and having real responsibility, BUT hated the schedule, erratic pay, having to use my own credit card for expenses and then chase the admin at the office to get paid, unable to hold a girlfriend since I was never home(and hearing "pilots have girls in every city they hook up with"..Oh yeah that's true! LOL), and only having 5 days off a month.

Today my first class med lapsed, and my currency in the Citation(I was a CE550 capt 4700 TT). Very hard to get a job out of currency, and I don't have the $5-7K to pay on my own for FlightSafety or SimuFlite to renew it. Since I have not sat in a jet now for a year, I'd prob need some work for sure.

After I was laid off flying the Citation, I did the car sales thing, worked at a new and used car lot. Everybody I worked with was amazed and dumbfounded that I was a pilot and now I was working with them. I was fired at the car lot after 6 mos working there, my 24 year old know it all general sales manager boss told me I was'nt pushy enough with customers to get them to buy.. BTW I'm 35 and it was hard working for a narcissistic 24 year old BS artist boss...So I'm back on unemployment stuck with the dilemma what I want to do. I don't want to waste my time, I need something decent.

I am considering a new job in counseling/social work, photography/video production or graphic design. I am considering going to school for one of these professions, hopefully under WIA beneifts. I look up and get sad when I see a jet fly over, but I remind myself we all have to do what is right for us. And the crap economy and greedy business people who run these aviation companies have ruined the profession. The love for flying is there, but the body, mind heart, and business climate can't fulfill the dream.

Stay strong, and go with what is good for you and supports your life. We only have one life and one body, no need on wasting it and giving it away to some entity that takes it from you.

Good luck, safe flying for those who still are

G

(laid off CE550 Capt Feb 2009)