JetJock16

As I reflect and look forward I can honestly say that I am happy to be where I am and who I’m employed with. Most of us, at the regional level, began our careers as professional pilots with the regional boom. But now I can say with certainty that – that boom is over and has been over for a while now. As mainline cuts not only there capacity but regional capacity, aviation jobs will be harder and harder to come by. US Airlines plans on furloughing 300 pilots, I heard UAL is planning several – several hundred plus furloughs, Midwest is sidelining 35 of their pilots (more may be on the way) plus parking all their MD80’s, TSA has announce they will be laying off, Ahola/Skyway/ATA/Skybus/Big Sky/Champion Air/MaxJet/EOS and a few others have closed their doors. It’s only a matter of time before many others follow suit. The way I see it, the worst is still in front of us.

Future? Well if fuel prices remain high, which I’m curtain they will, we will probably see 20%+ more in reductions nationwide in both flying and pilot positions with a few more bankruptcies and shutdowns. . This will remain until the airlines find a balance, which they will, at least until another crisis happens. So looking forward, the next real hiring push won’t happen until the age 65 rule forces a large number of the nations pilots to retire (I’ve read numbers toping 30+%). Yes this may be many years into the future but for those of us who will be able to retain our 121 jobs or find other avenues to continue our careers, we should and will <if we choose> be able to move up and on. Others will be less fortunate and will more than likely fall into the “Skyhigh” category. What I’m getting at is either strap in, get comfortable and prepare yourself (because if your lucky you’ll be where you are for the next 5++ years and I hope you like were you are) or start preparing for life after the “F” word knocks on your door.

Now the way I see it, those who know they are going to get furloughed are in a real advantage over those on the bubble seeing they can start looking for other forms of employment, in or out of aviation, before the wave hits max force and there are a flood of unemployed pilots fighting for those CFI/91/135/MIL/ etc. gigs.

My question to all of you is……………………………..where do you fall and how do you like your chances?

I wish the best for everyone and take care.

CE750

ASA in 1997.. E120,CRJ then ATR CA..
Hired by American, and furloughed
Swift Aviation Group, CE560 and CE750 CA
2.5 years off from flying to make big $$ in real estate
back to Gemini in the MD11 for a year
then Skybus for a few wonderful months on the A320..
Now.. Citation Shares into the Sovereign..

5 PIC types plus one one the way, 2 SIC qualifications.. 5000+ hours, all passes first try.

I'm a successful pilot!! But my career thus far has been a disaster!

Am I happy? Sure.. as happy as I can be considering how F'ed up the rest of the industry is!

de727ups

Thread seems perfect for our new forum.

Personally, I think when the bubble pops, we'll be back to where we were. Plus, some will have decided to seek other careers.

CE750

didn't even catch it was a new one...

btw.. I came close twice to leaving the profession... twice! But I just can't do it.. frankly flying is the only thing I know how to do GOOD!.. I feel I deserve to be employed in it! Sure I'm a bit confident, but a bit of ego makes for a good pilot, no?

JetJock16

Although, I can see why my thread was moved, my posting was directed toward those at the regional level.

BTW, which part of our turbulent history do you think we'll return to?

de727ups

"I feel I deserve to be employed in it! Sure I'm a bit confident..."

You didn't quit when you could have. You stuck with it and found a suitable flying job vs leaving the career. Come back in six months and let us know if you'd do it over. That's the point of this forum.

JetJock16

A true "Journeymen," I hope CS works out for you.

CE750

I'll book mark this thread and report back.

It's 1/3 skill/resume/experience and 2/3's attitude.. I'm convinced of it! You're story isn't far different de..

thanks for the kind words JetJock.

ZapBrannigan

I like this thread. New pilots need to understand that there are those who came before them who were every bit as talented, who had every bit the ambition, who did everything right... and yet their careers did not follow the "path to the left seat of a 777".

If you had told me 10 years ago that i'd be flying a Learjet today i'd have recommended a drug test. Stuff happens.

BoilerUP

CE750, you wouldn't happen to go by MD11-Dog on another forum would ya?

If so, I'm glad you found a gig at home...