pt135dog

Wanted to get some opinions on my situation. I was furloughed from a major and I was lucky enough to get a part 135 job flying charters in a seneca. When I first took the job, the owner of the place made it seem like a good place to wait out the furlough. But after flying there a few months, I realized that the way he conducts business is, to put it frankly, illegal. The majority of his business is to a few towns where there is no established IFR route structure. So he took it upon himself to develop "company routes" which are really IFR bootleg routes that wind around hills & terrain. He calls it legal just because he sat down with a sectional chart, plotted coordinates, plugged them into a GPS, took note of the height of terrain along his routes, flew it a couple of times, and states that "we're the only one's out there so it's safe."

His excuse to do this (to make a long story short) is that "the FAA won't work with me to establish a IFR route structure specifically for me, so I can do whatever I want." There is a legal way to get to these places via IFR that doesn't involve bootlegging but it's out of the way and it "costs him money". I always did it the right way and of course, he can't penalize or fire for doing it the right way, but, I was under constant pressure to do it his way because filing IFR takes too long and costs too much $$$ in terms of aircraft usage. In addition, there are the usual part 135 issues where there is constant pressure to fly junky airplanes in bad weather just so the owner can make a buck.

So, I ended up quitting because of the constant pressure to fly illegally. I told myself I was going to fly the right way because my passengers deserved at least that much. Not to mention that I'd like to keep my ATP. So now, I'm not flying, my currency is going down the toilet and I can't find another gig cause no ones hiring. If for some reason, I don't get recalled because of this merger, I wonder if I'm going to be able to get another job when the rebound occurs. And to top it off, he's buddy-buddy with his POI, so reporting him would be a waste of my time and I'd end up looking like the bad guy/problem employee.

just wondering if I did the right thing for my career. I hate to quit a flying job, especially in this market, but I felt that my life wasn't worth this job.

rickair7777

You did the right thing, the industry will pick up and worst case you'll have to do some 135 or 91 (or regional) work before getting another airline gig. Beats being dead or sans pilot certificate.

HercDriver130

ditto... I feel your pain... my currency is in the toilet having been laid off 14 months ago.

pt135dog

Also, how would one explain this to another employer when they ask "why did you leave this job?"

dashtrash300

Exactly the way you explained it to us. Be honest and let them know saftey is always your number one concern.

Grumble

+1. Continuing to operate like that was only going to lead to a.) you losing your ticket or b.) killing someone, includeing yourself. Neither will speed up your recall.

Easy to say from guys that have jobs, I can sympathize with the situation. Classic "what if" scenario.

If you're really that concerned with reporting him, go to the FSDO. If he's buddy buddy with the FSDO, go to OKC. If they won't listen, call your congressman.

USMCFLYR

Agreed. Explain it just the way that you have so far on this thread - without digging into too many details.
You shouldn't be concerned with the prospective employer's reaction to you not wanting to fly in an unsafe manner.
If that employer was concerned with such things, and held that view against you, then you would probably be interviewing with a like-minded company that you just left!

USMCFLYR

Cubdriver

In my work with randomly selected crew members over the last year whenever one of them says something along the lines of "I really think this is too dangerous" or "we need to focus a little more attention to this just to be safe" my respect for that person goes up without fail every time. Discretion is the better part of valor. You were smart to cut loose a job that you did not feel was on the up and up. When other people hear your story they will undoubtedly come to your side.

bozobigtop

If his or her next employer cannot except this explaination, you tell to go kick rocks, it's about time someone stood up to a dirt bag operator that's looking to make a buck at your expense. Good for you!

Likeabat

My thought is that anyone that has been in this business very long (such as a person conducting an interview) is well aware that such "rulebender/breaker" 135 operators exist (I worked for one such operator in the past) and would understand and readily accept your explaination. I would just rehearse you explaination - try to walk that fine line between explaining that you had legitimate safety concerns without sounding completely negative or "whiney". Hard to do, of course, if there is nothing positive to say about the former employer.