Pretty simple for my future.

1 Furlough down, 1 to go.

Then I'm out.

In the future of this industry the pilot groups will have to line up in reverse senority order. Do an about face, drop their trousers, place their foreheads and knees on the floor, and back into the chief pilot's office to collect their meager paychecks from their respective villianous companies.

Furlough
 

They say that a career pilot should expect three to five furloughs before retirement. Are you saying that you will endure one more furlough before you throw in the towel or are you saying that you have another plan?

Skyhigh

And if/when things do turn around - will you do the same? Will you come back on and admit that you were mistaken?

USMCFLYR

My long view of our profession is optimistic. In the next few years there will be some more airline failures and at least one or two legacy airline will go on strike. Contracts will eventually improve for all of us but there will always be furloughs. It may take ten years or so to make this a worthwhile profession but if enough of us demand it we will succeed.

Unfortunately, there will be a lot of pain still to come and some of us are getting too old and too tired to hang in there until things get better.

Are you serious?

My retirement plan- Gyro Captain
 

From: The Road Warrior
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3359/...6cb521a7ae.jpg

Who are "they?" Guess I've just never heard this statistic before.

I disagree Sky. Reference Panam, Braniff, Eastern, ValuJet and others. Many guys and gals have great schedules. I work three day trips mostly, granted when I move to another seat or airline I'll be on reserve, then eventually hold 4 days and so on. Being junior has always sucked, I hope nobody tries to sugar coat that, but there will always be good schedules out there.

As for pay, I don't think an Airline pilot should make more than a neurosurgeon, or 5 times what a firefighter makes. Just my opinion though.

As for the industry, as long as regionals don't start "code-sharing" with their major partners like Republic is doing with Midwest then I think we'll be okay. Most of the guys at the majors are starting to be more aware of what giving away their scope will do.

I'm saying that I won't sit around for 2 or 3 years waiting for a seat in a jet. I'll find a job in my backup career and fly a 150 with the extra money I'll be making. And once I'm there, I'm not going back.

Once I'm past the bottom of a non-major's seniority list, I'm not going back; one way or the other.