Furlough details (esp at TSA)
 

I am expecting to receive a furlough notice from TSA here before long and honestly am welcoming it. I want to go back to school in the spring to finish up a professional certification and need 1.5 to 2 years of time to get it done.

Two questions come to mind:

1. Is voluntary furlough still an option with the company? If so, how does this work? Can I set the dates that I want to leave and come back?

I have a tough time believing that anyone at TSA would be this accommodating. I'd just as soon let someone junior to me keep their job b/c I want to get out for a little while. However, I WILL want to come back after the certification is complete and would like my seniority back.

2. Any ideas (I know its just a guess) how long a furlough would likely last? Maybe it'll last a couple years anyway. That would be very convenient.

Did you try calling a chief pilot or a union rep?

Ed, Doug, or Randy could easily answer these questions...i do know that they were not allowing CA's to downgrade out of order.

Just give me my f-notice and let me explore my other options in life. I am sick of getting payed **** for doing a job that only a small percentage of our population can do. However, sometimes you have to lose something to realize what you had. That's what I want. In the form of a furlough. That way I can come back if I realize this is the greener pasture.

It takes about 5 weeks before you start to get the itch! well that's how long its been for me since getting F'd by the Bridgeton Gang

Carl, I understand your frustrations. However, the job pays what the market can withstand. There is a long line of people willing to fly for food. It is this large saturation of folks wanting to "live the dream" that causes the wages to be so low.

However, believe it or not, according to the bureau of labor statistics, airline pilots are still in one of the upper paying professions out there. Considering your youth (mine too), and relative inexperience, I think the pay issue isn't as much a problem as some make it out to be. Just my humble opinion.

BTW, having worked a desk job before switching careers, I can attest that based on direct personal observation, the grass isn't really greener. There are some small plots that have a greener hue, but by and large it isn't. Other professions provide things of value that the airlines will never provide, PERIOD. But, then again, if you love to fly, you better go buy an airplane or something or you'll long for it after a few weeks.....been there done that too.

Oh, I'll never stop flying. I just want to explore my options that might include a better QOL. For me, that's being home almost every night. I have got a rough idea of what I want to do (but don't want to share it for fear of someone stealing it) that will allow me a better QOL and with relatively better pay. Plus, I will have enough time to do some on-the-side flying for a small cargo outfit. That being said, I still have some research to do and many questions to ask.

I don't think so. You joined the regionals didn't you, was your intention to drive down the wages? There will always be applicants whether it was a high or low paying job. What's criminal is that the unions haven't been able to rectify this problem. Regionals 25 years ago had same pay and qol if not better than the regionals of today, anything wrong with that?? 1985 pay vs 2008 pay shouldn't be exactly the same. I'm not sure if pilots are to blame for that.

Where would you go to look up that kind of information...??? serious question

Quit with the Junior high name calling.... What are you 12?