The guys furloughed after 9/11 sat around for a while. It was really bleak. Allegheny hired a few in 2002, and mid year ACA began hiring a lot. Colgan did some hiring in mid 2002 and a lot at the end of 2002. Many furloughed ExpressJet got jobs on the 1900 at Commutair. Then in 2003 it got bad again. ACA began furloughing and most airlines were stagnant. The Iraq war and SARS really messed up the airline recovery. At the end of 2003 and early 2004 Express Jet and American Eagle started recalling and hiring. ASA,TSA and others began hiring many. It was amazing how fast things opened up.

SWA, Jetblue, Netjets, and other LCC's were always hiring off and on, and in 2005 CAL started to hire. 2007 almost every airline was wide open for hiring.

My point is it has looked as bad as now or worse before.

 

Unfortunately, AGREED! Mathematics do NOT lie.

 

Outofwork, you will fly again, it comes down to...how much pain are you able to take?

 

Thank you for the encouraging words...a year in counting and i continue to hold on

 

I've spend too much money on flight training and have invested too many years instructing to give up now. My thoughts go out to everyone walking the street right now. I know that I have to wait in line behind you guys and gals...but hopefully my turn will come. If not...there's always Law Enforcement.

 

There are two people who can predict the airline industry: God, and a damn fool. Just play the game and hope for the best.

 

How can anyone project anything further than a day or two in advance in this industry. I don't mean that in a pessimistic way. It's just way too dynamic to say what it's going to be like in 15-20 years from now. Anything that could occur more than 10 years from now and could possibly benefit you should never be part of your equation in success.

Don't give management that kind of satisfaction in banking on something that might happen 10 years down the road when all those guys running your business are set to retire on their golden parachute before you ever get to that point.

I'm not saying to give up at all but work even harder at trying to have a plan B. That way you don't have to rely on being a pilot to pay back all those stupid loans.

5 years from now doesn't look all that great for me so I had to start my own business. Yeah it's a lot of work but it keeps my mind of the constant turmoil in aviation and I have a pretty good chance on paying my loans off before I have to retire.

Being a pilot is what it is. So if you don't like being furloughed you are going to have to change something else as we have no real control over what happens in the industry. We are too diversified.

 

Relax guys...I'm former TWA and have been out since '03.

Thanks ALPA!

X

 

looking to go back??

 

Fixed it for you