Back to talking about flight benefits. It's a lose-lose situation for us to complain. Every other employee group is pretty happy about them except for us. Mesaba and Compass are happy because there are no more per segment fees to sit in first class. Plus they use to get on NW mainline flights after NW anyways so no change there. DL like it because no more lowly Comair folks taking their seats on their own aircraft and I'm sure they like that fact they still get same priority on the lowly regional aircraft...even though we all do the same job. So it sucks, but we really have no teeth to fight the loss of benefits. Everyone else doesn't care and is happy about. Comair's group is the only one that got screwed in the deal.

 

I was just thinking about this the other day. Do I really want to ever be recalled to a place where I will spend the next 5 or more years on reserve, sitting in a crash pad and having 7 hard days off a month, while they screw with my soft days constantly? Do I want to go back to an airline where time to upgrade to captain will be more, probably much more, than 10 years? Sure, there are medical and dental, but even at my third year FO pay, I'd be making around what a McDonalds manager makes (or less). When I first got to JFK, I remember an FO sitting in a couch complaining. He stated "I hate this place, I hate Comair, Comair has taken away my love of flying, I don't even have a desire to fly a plane anymore." I looked at him and said "Well, quit." He looked startled, as if he was put on a spot. He is senior to me now, and that means he is still at Comair if he did not quit yet. I loved flying at Comair for the next two years, until September 2008 when all the F word stuff was out there. I held a line until December 08 and was furloughed Jan 09. In that few months at the end, I too felt angry and p'ed off at Comair (and Delta), and I still am. I still fly planes, not jets, but I still love flying. The Comair gig has changed my life in so many ways, mostly bad, but in the end, it brought me to this point, and I am pretty happy (poor but happy). I learned a few things along the way, and for the younger guys, take note:
1. Learn another trade, it really helped me when F time came
2. If you don't like the company, leave. Don't work somewhere that makes you hate something that you once loved.
3.There are ways to make a lot of money in aviation, being a pilot isn't one of them. If you think $50K is a lot of money, then you are mistaken.
4. Life is too short to be spent on a Pleather couch in the crew lounge
5. If you are still employed at Comair, be ready, things are probably going to get worse.
6. JB and all upper management are not gods. Feel free to email or call with your concerns. Being furloughed makes it a lot easier, because you just don't care what they think. I have chatted with JB several times since furlough. He is pretty honest, and the news ain't good.
7. Don't sit on APF reading the ramblings of a furloughed pilot that just found a deal for an 18 pack of beer for $9.99!!!! It's spring, it's Friday night....grab your girl (or guy), hug them, kiss them, get out there, and live life! And when you get home (hopefully late), make love until the sun comes up! And when it does, realize it is the dawn of a whole new day, where your dreams and goals can take form and become reality!

"To alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!" (HOMER SIMPSON)

 

The sooner you guys realize that Comair did you a favor by furloughing you, the better off you'll be!

 

I do not feel I will be recalled this year, probably summer 2010. I was responding to an earlier post stating, "recalls were probable", per the alpa message.

 

as much as it sucks working for Comair....at least its a flying job that pays the bills. We all know comair isnt the greatest airline in the world to work for but right now, its 200 times better than unemployment. There isnt d!ck out there right now as far as flying jobs are concerned and I would more than grateful if Comair called me back. I realize that some of you guys are stil workin for them and are frustrated at the situation your in up in JFK, but believe me, be grateful you have a job at least. All Im sayin is think about all the guys that dont have a job right now that are struggling to stay afloat before you go saying that its better to be on the street than flying for Comair.

ps.....I have been looking for jobs outside of flying but where I live in MI the unemployment rate is 13+ percent and anything is tough to come buy.

 

I hear ya, ive applied to all my home town flight schools. All of which showed me the stack of resumes they had laying around. Then I went for some good paying jobs outside of aviation. All of which told me I had no experience and there are hundreds of better applicants out there. Now im seriously looking at a burger flipping job or a pizza driver gig. I was actually told by a company that they would not hire me because I was over qualified. I wish I could just find a job in what im qualified for! flying

 

Good news...we now get 75% off fedex standard overnight, 2-day delivery, and international shipping. It is on Deltanet.

 

The SOCC has a pool going for what date and time we'll go over our monthly target of 152 cancellations as this is our first month of increased Northeast flying. We're well on our way!

 

How many did we have on day 1?

 

LOL....I'm gonna guess the middle of next week