Today I heard an old song that took me back to 1998.

It reminded me of a time when I was driving on a short road trip in my old rusted Jeep Cherokee. I was a new hire FO at Horizon Air. When I moved to PDX for the job earlier in the year my entire life's belongings fit inside it. I recalled the feelings of despair and sadness I felt, powerless to make a change in my life. After 10 years as a professional pilot the best I could do was $492 every two weeks flying for Horizon and to be treated like a worthless slave by my newest employer.

I was loosing hope since being on the job for a few months by then the reality was sinking in that the promises made during the interview were not being kept. I knew I had to make a change but didn't know how to do it. In the airline system your advancement is tied to your seniority number and I was a prisoner to it. My future rested on the actions of others and upon the winds of fate and it was a very uncomfortable position to be in. People grew old and irrelevant the the right seat there and I did not want to join them.

I was caught in a trap. My dream was dying right in front of my eyes and I didn't know how to save it. Alaska Airlines liked young success and at 30 years old and didn't have time to burn. I also knew that I was suckered in and was stuck there for at least two years. During that road trip I contemplated all of my options and couldn't come up with any reasonable alternatives.

Recently I met a guy who was an older FO for Horizon Air. He told me that he was growing increasingly miserable and unhappy as an FO and couldn't see a way out. I did my best to console him but all the while I was thinking "thank God I am not in that situation anymore". The song and this guy I met brought all that back to me.


SkyHigh

 

My nextdoor neighbor from El Campo has been working for UPS going on 19yrs. He loves it. My old CFI works for NetJets and he loves it. My very first CFI is an FO for CAL on a 737 and he loves it. I'm a CFI and use to love it. Now I'm just wanting to finish my last ten students (for the money), then I'm moving on to regionals. So far I love it... But everythings a job. You always want something else. I could be a captain for UPS and probably still wish I was doing something different... Like they say; If you can't love the one you want, love the one your with. (someone give me a grammar check on that last sentence I can't figure it out if it's right or not lol.... *cough*Tony *cough*...)

 

All the people you mentioned seem to have reached a goal or at least are well on their way. What about the rest? What about the majority who don't reach their goals or in my case had a difficult time of things? My CFI got hired by Horizon at 23 and is still there. I can report you than he has accepted his situation by now but is definitely not happy about it. What about your friend at CAL? If they merge he most likely will be out of a job and will have to start over at a regional. Love is fickle. I didn't start out as a Skyhigh. Twenty years of sacrifice and of being kicked to the curb helped me to see the light.

SkyHigh

 

Well, I am passing trhough the vary same situation right know hoping that it comes to a happy end. By the way, what would be the song?

 

I am sad to report that I don't actually know the name of the song. It was just something that came across the radio. I hope all works out for you.

SkyHigh

 

I don't know any rest. I've only known a few pilots and they have all seemed to make it and I have more going for me now than they did. If 10-20% don't make it then they don't make it. But regionals seem to be hiring more now than ever and there is nothing but room to progress. You just have to make it happen for yourself. If you didn't then that's not anyone elses fault including the industry. You chose to work at a company that has one of the longest upgrade times ever. You could have chosen a different route at different points. Sorry yours didn't work out, however for my guys it has and I'm on the same course.

 

Sky,

Don't turn on the radio again....

V/r,
LAFF

 

That is what that back up career is for.

 

was it "poor poor pitiful me"?

 

That is not good planning if you are in a field where you need a "back-up career" WTF is that all about?