UCLA -

"A friend of mine interviwed at Fedex late 1999, he said two people who interviewed with him turned down the job, they went to the airlines. One guy did not show up for the interview at all. In those days, a major airline was the ultimate gig."

In mid-late 1997 there was a cover article in the Air Inc magazine. It pictured a pilot standing in front of two 747s I believe (United and FedEx w/o saying so). The gist of the article was that this pilot had offers from both - a pax carrier and cargo. It listed out several categories (like 10 or so) and compared the two. Some were tangible (like 401k, pay scales, etc...) and others were not like QOL, night flying ,and the one I remember - would you want to eat in the restaurants in the terminal or eat out of a snack machine in the cargo building.

In the end - - without actually saying it - - the article basically said that you should go with the pax carrier.

A decade later I wonder what that same article would say?
DARN! When was NetJets **needing** pilots?
DARN DARN DARN!

USMCFLYR

 

Carl:

I'm pretty certain I flew on AirTran Express RJs out of ATL in 2006 (and I think they were the same company providing RJ-feed to DAL; ASA or ASE).

I remember thinking it was ironic--a low-cost carrier was using an even "lower"-cost feed.

And isn't JetBlue using those Embraer "mini-buses" (said like Dr. Evil)?

I have a friend who was furloughed from UAL, got on with Citrus, and currently is on a 4-year mil-leave. Why? Without being specific, he said the culture at AirTran was different, and he wasn't ready to go back to the turmoil of United.

BTW--I flew in the Air Force with your Chief Pilot. Great guy--but I never would have guessed he would be your CP...we just seemed like ordinary guys back then.

And I can second what USMC said about freight in the 90s--there was a FDX guy at my UAL interview--already flying as an F/E at FDX. He didn't get hired...probably counting his blessings right now.

 

AT did have RJ's a few years ago. it was temp contract while waiting for deliveries, had to be longer ago than 06' though....Think it was air Whisky doing them but not sure. AT did the same thing with Ryan and their Airbuses while they were waitng on 73's to be deliverd

 

Super rich maybe it takes crime, but financially independent and well off is another matter. Aviation is just not the place to become rich anymore.

SkyHigh

 

"Aviation is just not the place to become rich anymore"

I don't know. Maybe you shoud speak for yourself.....

 

Well there are some exceptions; However, you are most likely enjoying the sunset on one of the last big paying airline jobs.

SkyHigh

 

National went down in 2002. If you had taken your 757 time to UPS then, you'd be in the top half of the list in the ONT domicle as an F/O. Or you could have gone to Southwest. Instead you chose to walk away for personal reasons.

More power to you. Just don't exepct those of us who have had success with the career to take your comments at face value.

 

In 2002 there were a few thousand guys on the street. I would have given a finger to have been able to get on with Frontier, UPS, SWA or anyone else that had at least the promise of a west coast base one day and a real pay check.

It is statements you make like that which leave me thinking that you are really out of touch with the realities of the present job market.

I was just one of thousands who were out there treading water on unemployment at the time. Few of the better companies were even hiring. The best I could have done was to get hired at a regional for 18K. None of my friends from National, or those who I have keep track of, were able to get on with SWA, UPS or anywhere else worth mentioning after N7 went down.

My choice was to drag my family to another crummy city, live in near ghetto conditions at yet another miserable regional (or start up) or to go home where I knew at least I could provide a safe and meaningful life for my family.


SkyHigh

 

"I would have given a finger to have been able to get on with Frontier, UPS, SWA"

You have said in the past working for SWA wasn't worthy of your time.

Someone with 757 time in 2002 had options. Those options didn't meet your min standard to continue in the career. More power to ya for that decision. I just don't think it's wise for folks to look at your career path and make decisions about their future based on your personal decision to walk away.

The career is a sacrifice. Skyhigh is telling you the downside. Read it and be informed. But also be informed that Sky chose to leave when he did. There are many who have stuck it out since 2002 and been successful. I see it all the time. They are my F/O's....

 

It is true. I never intended nor have I ever applied to SWA. However in the winter of 2002 had I thought I had a chance at it or any other company of substance I would have eagerly applied (and did). No one was hiring.....

I had options. Mostly poor ones. I could have sold our remaining meager possessions I suppose and headed off to another "C" grade airline experience. Maybe I could have carted the family off to a third world country and flown away to leave my loved ones behind in a strange land? If I were single and did not have a pregnant wife and two small children perhaps I would have wasted another decade or two but I have responsibilities.

The odds of success and additional sacrifices required of me at that time were not worthy of my efforts given my circumstances then or now. It is absurd to me that after nearly two decades of daily efforts in my aviation career to be dumped on the street and not even able to get a job that would offer much more than 20K per year and a thin hope of a better future.

I think that I am an excellent candidate to offer career advise to those who wish to have a family life and to enjoy a middle class or better lifestyle. I lived through almost every stage of the progression of an airline career. I have explored the depths and the hardships this profession offers and have experienced nearly every corner of civilian aviation. In comparison since my flying days I have also seen the benefits the outside world offers.

You worked for a few companies and stumbled into a jackpot. Hardly a background to be able to understand the challenges faced by new pilots today. If someone wants to know what it is like to live the dream I will pass them on to you. However if someone is trying to evaluate the profession and are interested in the risk versus return of the venture I will be happy to serve.


SkyHigh