Wasn't Compass sold to Trans States?
http://transstates.net/TSHRelease.pdf

 

I was on COLA in the middle of grad school and they wouldn't extend the leave for any reason--even though we had people on the street begging to come back. At the time I couldn't justify giving up on my master's degree just because someone at the company decided to start playing hardball with those of us trying to better our situation. It's a perverse industry that keeps people on furlough who want to fly and makes people in school quit their studies to come back. And a weak union that allows it to happen.

And as for my commitment to the industry, I'm not so committed that I am not going to have a backup plan--just like we always need a plan B for every eventuality on the flight deck. I'm 31 and there is no reason I should blindly commit my life to the ups and downs of an uncertain industry. As a recruiter, I would be concerned about someone who had no other skills or interests than flying an airplane. I'd be looking for people who would make good managers, instructors, mentors, etc.

Anyway, I do appreciate everyone's advice.

 

Actually, many airlines, such as Southwest, prefer the person who all they ever wanted to do is fly airplanes. Just saying...

 

Don't mean to sound confrontational, but you base that assertation on what, exactly?

I know a guy who was hired at Southwest back in 2007 who was out of aviation and sold insurance full-time for a while, then got back into aviation full-time but kept selling insurance as a side gig, was selling insurance as a side gig to his full-time flying job when he was hired, and continues to do so now as a 4th year FO.

 

This is flightinfo...where opinion counts as fact;-)

 

That's YOUR opinion

 

In about ten years the majors are gonna be losing THOUSANDS OF PILOT per year, that is if they all make it to 65. big cliff at all the majors coming up over the horizon.
Fact of the matter is I could be a great time to get into aviation.
Many of the haters on this board never have done manual labor or sat in a dead-end cubicle for 50K. You will have to wade through the next 5+ years for sure, but help is coming at most ALL carriers

 

And right around the corner is $4/gallon gas. Mark my words this will slow any kind of growth in the economy. A $50k/year desk job beats a $24k/year 200 days on the road job. I wouldn't recommend this job to anyone i like. Spend the money elsewhere, open your own business. Don't spend $100k to do this. It isn't worth it.

 

$4/gal gas *might* hit this summer, but it won't be here to stay.

Not yet...

 

Just like all those thousands of Vietnam pilots that were suppose to retire all at once? Not going to happen, there will never be a shortage of pilots for the jobs at the majors. There might be a shortage for regional jobs that start at $20,000 a year but even that will be short lived. Don't believe the hype. Majors as we know them now might not even be around.