About One Year Later: A Follow Up
 

At about this time in 2008, airlines big and small started to throw around the F word and by August, many found themselves on the street and applying for unemployment for the first time in their lives. Quite a number of you have been in touch with me regarding unemployment claims, resumes, type ratings, expat flying. Now, at almost the one year mark, I am curious to know how everyone is doing.

Unlike my avatar poll, this one is anonymous to encourage greater participation. I would greatly appreciate it if you send me a PM about your personal circumstances. Thanks.

You missed two that I feel are just as relevant.

1. Upgraded to CA/Eq
2. Downgraded to FO/Eq

and

3. Displaced due to capacity reduction.

I put 'other' because I am fueling/towing planes now instead of flying them, so thats still an aviation job. I should be flying a B200 shortly though.

Getting hired in 2008, and then having the offer withdrawn when things started falling apart, was a let down but the best thing to happen in the long run. It forced me to pursue a realistic and viable option.

Been a busy year...Shoot you a PM after some sleep. Just drove 29 hours straight on just three bad cups of coffee, but I still had to check APC before I hit the hay :rolleyes: LoL

I would say everyone's on the same boat they were around June of last year, with the exception of downgrades, furloughs, and displacements.

Yeah...but that's quite a lot :o

I was reading the furloughed thread a while back and in doing some basic math, it looks like about a tenth of the regional workforce is on the street, so I suppose by the numbers that's a quite a bit unfortunately.

I've been on medical leave since July '08. Sorta sitting this one out.

I've been furloughed since Oct. 08 and took a job dispatching at a 135 operation. Just starting to hear about some possible openings, and since I've got my foot in the door...

Furloughed August of '08. Back to working at the FBO for now. They have been recalling some pilots, but sounds like it might be a while before they call anymore back.

How about:

"about to be furloughed" (at Mesabi)

I was two weeks away from going to Comair about a year ago and then classes got canceled. Now I am lucky enough to have a flight instructing job back home.

I am one of those furloughed in august and havent touched a airplane since. I am on a gamble that my company will not go out of buisness and someday I will be recalled. If not I will be so far out of currency that I will not be able to get a job anywhere.

That is what happened to me
 

If your company goes out of business then you are in a whole new level of trouble. Hopefully you can find another flying job soon.

Skyhigh

Well you seem to be doing fine. But I believe that a large amount of the furloughed guys are going to be in the same position. The lack of flight jobs is immense and many will be doing whatever until they get a recall.

Thank you to everyone who participated in my non-scientific poll and who sent me PMs. I really appreciate the responses. I am no statistician, but looks like about 60% are still flying in some capacity while the others have had to make the difficult decision to do something else at least for now. The economists are mostly saying there are signs of a turnaround, with a more concrete turn in the Fall. I have always said that this country will probably go through another lackluster Christmas season before a real recovery occurs. Employment usually lags everything else by 6 months to a year. Many will not be able to hold out that long.

I have no idea what the "new normal" is going to look like, but I am confident the future cannot be as dim as it has been the last 24 months or so. If there is anything your APC family can do to help you, I hope you will ask.

Believe it or not, I'm still waiting to hear from FAA about medical. This has been a long and arduous journey. I've come this far. I'm not about to give up.

Still collecting unemployment (started 12/08), while looking for gainful employment.

On the other hand, parish Priest has approached me several times and questioned me as to whether or not if I've ever considered being ordained as a Deacon. It's definitely a higher call to service. :)

I have a passion for both.......flying & teaching the faith.:cool:




atp