Republic Problems
04-24-2014, 08:58 AM
#131
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2013
Position: erj-145 FO
Posts: 166
These are not my words, but people need to know what being at republic is like, what it will do to you, as well whats wrong with this place.
This company is breaking me
I am at crossroad in my life right now, and I really don't know how much longer I continue without making a decision.
I have been an FO here for over 6 years, I am in my 7th year. Prior to coming here I worked for almost 2 years at Colgan. Prior to that I was a CFI for ATP. I am prior military and prepared myself as best as I could financially for this career. I got married during my first year at Colgan and when I was senior enough to hold 1900 Captain at Colgan, I was bypassed, along with many other senior FO's, to street Captains. I left Colgan for greener pastures, or so I thought. During my time at colgan I accrued significant financial debt in the form of credit cards. Even being married, $19,000/yr was not enough to afford a crash pad and commuting expenses.
My first year at Republic I made a little but more, but gained no financial relief. I was home based and making a little bit more, until I was furloughed in 2008. Recalled in January of 2009, I was displaced to commute as 2nd most junior FO in the company. For 2 years I endured 6 on 2 off, 5 on 2 off reserve schedules as well as the destruction of my marriage. Both because of my lack of time spent actually playing the role of husband and partially due to more financial loss. I was near resignation at the time, to save my credit, my marriage and my sanity. Those who haven't worked here when Bart was our CP are unfortunate, because Bart was one of the greatest assets to the pilots. I spoke with him regarding my situation and not only did he encourage me to hang tough, he helped me work out a deal to be able to sit rsv in PHL a few times a month, so I could be home.
I finally got awarded PHL and was able to be home considerably more, since I could sit rsv at home. But being so junior, I was used nearly every rsv day, and fought frequently to defend my contractual rights. Unfortunately my marriage continued to decline. I had unsecure debt I could not pay down, a school loan payment that was over $600 a month. Fast forward to 2013, and my wife filed for divorce. I quickly found myself out of a home, out of a joint income and faced with more financial expenses of living on my own, not to mention the lawyer costs, court fees, settlements etc.
For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry and my career decision to even do this. I have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, and a recent lawsuit has been filed against me from one of the creditors to recover over $3,000. They offered a settlement in a lump sum, but I can barely pay my rent on my salary. I can't move back home because my sister and her kids recently moved home. Bankruptcy could be a last resort option, but will not increase my income to expense ratio. In other words, I'm pretty much ****ed.
That's all just fine and dandy though. Cancelations due to weather in ORD only ensured that I had crawl to my parents to help pay for rent and shut off cable and internet service in my apartment. "Move to a different state" some say, well I can't. I have a dog that stays with my parents while I'm at work, and I will not sacrifice my personal life for this job. I have already sacrificed everything.
"Find another job" some say, but when I was young, this is all I wanted to do, and I worked my ass off to get here. I want what is due. I want the financial stability that SHOULD come with being a professional pilot! I have applied to every major and legacy airline. I have even applied to outside "backup" career opportunities, yet here I sit, stuck.
Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction, beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins. I curse at Comply365 and never read a ****ing thing. My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****. And I am a damn good pilot...confident in my ability to have a safe outcome of every flight, regardless of ****ing memos of a thousand revisions. I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role. This is what the company, on a salary that is less than unemployed government benefit recipients make, have reduced me to. It's almost as if part of me actually wants a reason to walk away from an airliner and never look back....because I don't have the balls to do it myself. I don't have the fortitude to walk away from a lifelong goal, from a career path that has led to a divorce and financial destruction. Yet its as if deep down inside, I want an excuse to say "Well it just didn't work out".
Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book. The questions weren't that hard, but if you never study, you'll never pass. This coming from a guy who never failed an FAA written exam, never busted an FAA checkride, breezed through two initial airline training programs and have never even come close to failing a PC. So now I have a choice, study really hard and do what I always have done and pass with ease, or just say **** it and resign. I really don't know what to do.
I have hung on for as long as I absolutely mentally and financially can. I was hoping for an upgrade this year, but while junior Lynx people fill Captain slots courtesy of a favorable integration, the company parking planes at CHQ, I really have no idea when relief is in sight. And forget about a contract...I don't even have to go there.
But what the **** do I do??? Of course I WANT to be a professional pilot. I would hate to give up, but at the same time, I cannot survive like this anymore. And self destructing my career is the last thing I ever thought I would do, yet its the point I've been pushed to.
This company is breaking me
I am at crossroad in my life right now, and I really don't know how much longer I continue without making a decision.
I have been an FO here for over 6 years, I am in my 7th year. Prior to coming here I worked for almost 2 years at Colgan. Prior to that I was a CFI for ATP. I am prior military and prepared myself as best as I could financially for this career. I got married during my first year at Colgan and when I was senior enough to hold 1900 Captain at Colgan, I was bypassed, along with many other senior FO's, to street Captains. I left Colgan for greener pastures, or so I thought. During my time at colgan I accrued significant financial debt in the form of credit cards. Even being married, $19,000/yr was not enough to afford a crash pad and commuting expenses.
My first year at Republic I made a little but more, but gained no financial relief. I was home based and making a little bit more, until I was furloughed in 2008. Recalled in January of 2009, I was displaced to commute as 2nd most junior FO in the company. For 2 years I endured 6 on 2 off, 5 on 2 off reserve schedules as well as the destruction of my marriage. Both because of my lack of time spent actually playing the role of husband and partially due to more financial loss. I was near resignation at the time, to save my credit, my marriage and my sanity. Those who haven't worked here when Bart was our CP are unfortunate, because Bart was one of the greatest assets to the pilots. I spoke with him regarding my situation and not only did he encourage me to hang tough, he helped me work out a deal to be able to sit rsv in PHL a few times a month, so I could be home.
I finally got awarded PHL and was able to be home considerably more, since I could sit rsv at home. But being so junior, I was used nearly every rsv day, and fought frequently to defend my contractual rights. Unfortunately my marriage continued to decline. I had unsecure debt I could not pay down, a school loan payment that was over $600 a month. Fast forward to 2013, and my wife filed for divorce. I quickly found myself out of a home, out of a joint income and faced with more financial expenses of living on my own, not to mention the lawyer costs, court fees, settlements etc.
For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry and my career decision to even do this. I have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, and a recent lawsuit has been filed against me from one of the creditors to recover over $3,000. They offered a settlement in a lump sum, but I can barely pay my rent on my salary. I can't move back home because my sister and her kids recently moved home. Bankruptcy could be a last resort option, but will not increase my income to expense ratio. In other words, I'm pretty much ****ed.
That's all just fine and dandy though. Cancelations due to weather in ORD only ensured that I had crawl to my parents to help pay for rent and shut off cable and internet service in my apartment. "Move to a different state" some say, well I can't. I have a dog that stays with my parents while I'm at work, and I will not sacrifice my personal life for this job. I have already sacrificed everything.
"Find another job" some say, but when I was young, this is all I wanted to do, and I worked my ass off to get here. I want what is due. I want the financial stability that SHOULD come with being a professional pilot! I have applied to every major and legacy airline. I have even applied to outside "backup" career opportunities, yet here I sit, stuck.
Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction, beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins. I curse at Comply365 and never read a ****ing thing. My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****. And I am a damn good pilot...confident in my ability to have a safe outcome of every flight, regardless of ****ing memos of a thousand revisions. I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role. This is what the company, on a salary that is less than unemployed government benefit recipients make, have reduced me to. It's almost as if part of me actually wants a reason to walk away from an airliner and never look back....because I don't have the balls to do it myself. I don't have the fortitude to walk away from a lifelong goal, from a career path that has led to a divorce and financial destruction. Yet its as if deep down inside, I want an excuse to say "Well it just didn't work out".
Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book. The questions weren't that hard, but if you never study, you'll never pass. This coming from a guy who never failed an FAA written exam, never busted an FAA checkride, breezed through two initial airline training programs and have never even come close to failing a PC. So now I have a choice, study really hard and do what I always have done and pass with ease, or just say **** it and resign. I really don't know what to do.
I have hung on for as long as I absolutely mentally and financially can. I was hoping for an upgrade this year, but while junior Lynx people fill Captain slots courtesy of a favorable integration, the company parking planes at CHQ, I really have no idea when relief is in sight. And forget about a contract...I don't even have to go there.
But what the **** do I do??? Of course I WANT to be a professional pilot. I would hate to give up, but at the same time, I cannot survive like this anymore. And self destructing my career is the last thing I ever thought I would do, yet its the point I've been pushed to.
04-24-2014, 09:48 AM
#132
Da Hudge
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Poodle Whisperer
Posts: 17,473
Originally Posted by Bzzt
I didn't realize you made it to a legacy in your 20s, that's incredibly fortunate, congratulations. I think your story is far from the norm, but then again there will always be winners and losers, it's obvious you won.
Anyway I've made the best argument against this career I can, I hope it works out for you guys hell bent on flying for a living. For a lot of us it didn't, but maybe times are changing.
Anyway I've made the best argument against this career I can, I hope it works out for you guys hell bent on flying for a living. For a lot of us it didn't, but maybe times are changing.
Keep in mind your attitude has a tremendous effect on it, and your incessant negative outlook likely self-destructed your biggest opportunity lately by turning down CPZ.
04-24-2014, 10:00 AM
#134
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,648
Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp
Yes, I was 25 (almost 26).
Keep in mind your attitude has a tremendous effect on it, and your incessant negative outlook likely self-destructed your biggest opportunity lately by turning down CPZ.
Keep in mind your attitude has a tremendous effect on it, and your incessant negative outlook likely self-destructed your biggest opportunity lately by turning down CPZ.
Like I've said before I use this forum to vent frustration. I come off worse than I do in life. An interesting note is that your career arc is what sells most of us on this career. Unfortunately you seem to be more of an outlier than the norm. Every year I get a bit older and the payoff of continuing to chase the mainline job gets a bit less. I'm approaching the "**** or get off the pot" moment, I'd like this career to work out but it seems increasingly unlikely. I'm not the only one who feels this way, so I try to provide the dark side perspective to guys asking questions.
I won't deny that when the door is shut the career is nice. Unfortunately there is also stagnation, regional schedules, low pay , and commuting that really suck the life out of me.
04-24-2014, 10:01 AM
#135
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: 737-Right
Posts: 781
Originally Posted by 24601
These are not my words, but people need to know what being at republic is like, what it will do to you, as well whats wrong with this place.
This company is breaking me
I am at crossroad in my life right now, and I really don't know how much longer I continue without making a decision.
I have been an FO here for over 6 years, I am in my 7th year. Prior to coming here I worked for almost 2 years at Colgan. Prior to that I was a CFI for ATP. I am prior military and prepared myself as best as I could financially for this career. I got married during my first year at Colgan and when I was senior enough to hold 1900 Captain at Colgan, I was bypassed, along with many other senior FO's, to street Captains. I left Colgan for greener pastures, or so I thought. During my time at colgan I accrued significant financial debt in the form of credit cards. Even being married, $19,000/yr was not enough to afford a crash pad and commuting expenses.
My first year at Republic I made a little but more, but gained no financial relief. I was home based and making a little bit more, until I was furloughed in 2008. Recalled in January of 2009, I was displaced to commute as 2nd most junior FO in the company. For 2 years I endured 6 on 2 off, 5 on 2 off reserve schedules as well as the destruction of my marriage. Both because of my lack of time spent actually playing the role of husband and partially due to more financial loss. I was near resignation at the time, to save my credit, my marriage and my sanity. Those who haven't worked here when Bart was our CP are unfortunate, because Bart was one of the greatest assets to the pilots. I spoke with him regarding my situation and not only did he encourage me to hang tough, he helped me work out a deal to be able to sit rsv in PHL a few times a month, so I could be home.
I finally got awarded PHL and was able to be home considerably more, since I could sit rsv at home. But being so junior, I was used nearly every rsv day, and fought frequently to defend my contractual rights. Unfortunately my marriage continued to decline. I had unsecure debt I could not pay down, a school loan payment that was over $600 a month. Fast forward to 2013, and my wife filed for divorce. I quickly found myself out of a home, out of a joint income and faced with more financial expenses of living on my own, not to mention the lawyer costs, court fees, settlements etc.
For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry and my career decision to even do this. I have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, and a recent lawsuit has been filed against me from one of the creditors to recover over $3,000. They offered a settlement in a lump sum, but I can barely pay my rent on my salary. I can't move back home because my sister and her kids recently moved home. Bankruptcy could be a last resort option, but will not increase my income to expense ratio. In other words, I'm pretty much ****ed.
That's all just fine and dandy though. Cancelations due to weather in ORD only ensured that I had crawl to my parents to help pay for rent and shut off cable and internet service in my apartment. "Move to a different state" some say, well I can't. I have a dog that stays with my parents while I'm at work, and I will not sacrifice my personal life for this job. I have already sacrificed everything.
"Find another job" some say, but when I was young, this is all I wanted to do, and I worked my ass off to get here. I want what is due. I want the financial stability that SHOULD come with being a professional pilot! I have applied to every major and legacy airline. I have even applied to outside "backup" career opportunities, yet here I sit, stuck.
Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction, beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins. I curse at Comply365 and never read a ****ing thing. My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****. And I am a damn good pilot...confident in my ability to have a safe outcome of every flight, regardless of ****ing memos of a thousand revisions. I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role. This is what the company, on a salary that is less than unemployed government benefit recipients make, have reduced me to. It's almost as if part of me actually wants a reason to walk away from an airliner and never look back....because I don't have the balls to do it myself. I don't have the fortitude to walk away from a lifelong goal, from a career path that has led to a divorce and financial destruction. Yet its as if deep down inside, I want an excuse to say "Well it just didn't work out".
Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book. The questions weren't that hard, but if you never study, you'll never pass. This coming from a guy who never failed an FAA written exam, never busted an FAA checkride, breezed through two initial airline training programs and have never even come close to failing a PC. So now I have a choice, study really hard and do what I always have done and pass with ease, or just say **** it and resign. I really don't know what to do.
I have hung on for as long as I absolutely mentally and financially can. I was hoping for an upgrade this year, but while junior Lynx people fill Captain slots courtesy of a favorable integration, the company parking planes at CHQ, I really have no idea when relief is in sight. And forget about a contract...I don't even have to go there.
But what the **** do I do??? Of course I WANT to be a professional pilot. I would hate to give up, but at the same time, I cannot survive like this anymore. And self destructing my career is the last thing I ever thought I would do, yet its the point I've been pushed to.
This company is breaking me
I am at crossroad in my life right now, and I really don't know how much longer I continue without making a decision.
I have been an FO here for over 6 years, I am in my 7th year. Prior to coming here I worked for almost 2 years at Colgan. Prior to that I was a CFI for ATP. I am prior military and prepared myself as best as I could financially for this career. I got married during my first year at Colgan and when I was senior enough to hold 1900 Captain at Colgan, I was bypassed, along with many other senior FO's, to street Captains. I left Colgan for greener pastures, or so I thought. During my time at colgan I accrued significant financial debt in the form of credit cards. Even being married, $19,000/yr was not enough to afford a crash pad and commuting expenses.
My first year at Republic I made a little but more, but gained no financial relief. I was home based and making a little bit more, until I was furloughed in 2008. Recalled in January of 2009, I was displaced to commute as 2nd most junior FO in the company. For 2 years I endured 6 on 2 off, 5 on 2 off reserve schedules as well as the destruction of my marriage. Both because of my lack of time spent actually playing the role of husband and partially due to more financial loss. I was near resignation at the time, to save my credit, my marriage and my sanity. Those who haven't worked here when Bart was our CP are unfortunate, because Bart was one of the greatest assets to the pilots. I spoke with him regarding my situation and not only did he encourage me to hang tough, he helped me work out a deal to be able to sit rsv in PHL a few times a month, so I could be home.
I finally got awarded PHL and was able to be home considerably more, since I could sit rsv at home. But being so junior, I was used nearly every rsv day, and fought frequently to defend my contractual rights. Unfortunately my marriage continued to decline. I had unsecure debt I could not pay down, a school loan payment that was over $600 a month. Fast forward to 2013, and my wife filed for divorce. I quickly found myself out of a home, out of a joint income and faced with more financial expenses of living on my own, not to mention the lawyer costs, court fees, settlements etc.
For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry and my career decision to even do this. I have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, and a recent lawsuit has been filed against me from one of the creditors to recover over $3,000. They offered a settlement in a lump sum, but I can barely pay my rent on my salary. I can't move back home because my sister and her kids recently moved home. Bankruptcy could be a last resort option, but will not increase my income to expense ratio. In other words, I'm pretty much ****ed.
That's all just fine and dandy though. Cancelations due to weather in ORD only ensured that I had crawl to my parents to help pay for rent and shut off cable and internet service in my apartment. "Move to a different state" some say, well I can't. I have a dog that stays with my parents while I'm at work, and I will not sacrifice my personal life for this job. I have already sacrificed everything.
"Find another job" some say, but when I was young, this is all I wanted to do, and I worked my ass off to get here. I want what is due. I want the financial stability that SHOULD come with being a professional pilot! I have applied to every major and legacy airline. I have even applied to outside "backup" career opportunities, yet here I sit, stuck.
Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction, beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins. I curse at Comply365 and never read a ****ing thing. My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****. And I am a damn good pilot...confident in my ability to have a safe outcome of every flight, regardless of ****ing memos of a thousand revisions. I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role. This is what the company, on a salary that is less than unemployed government benefit recipients make, have reduced me to. It's almost as if part of me actually wants a reason to walk away from an airliner and never look back....because I don't have the balls to do it myself. I don't have the fortitude to walk away from a lifelong goal, from a career path that has led to a divorce and financial destruction. Yet its as if deep down inside, I want an excuse to say "Well it just didn't work out".
Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book. The questions weren't that hard, but if you never study, you'll never pass. This coming from a guy who never failed an FAA written exam, never busted an FAA checkride, breezed through two initial airline training programs and have never even come close to failing a PC. So now I have a choice, study really hard and do what I always have done and pass with ease, or just say **** it and resign. I really don't know what to do.
I have hung on for as long as I absolutely mentally and financially can. I was hoping for an upgrade this year, but while junior Lynx people fill Captain slots courtesy of a favorable integration, the company parking planes at CHQ, I really have no idea when relief is in sight. And forget about a contract...I don't even have to go there.
But what the **** do I do??? Of course I WANT to be a professional pilot. I would hate to give up, but at the same time, I cannot survive like this anymore. And self destructing my career is the last thing I ever thought I would do, yet its the point I've been pushed to.
Brother, I empathize with you.
04-24-2014, 10:05 AM
#136
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Position: Admiral
Posts: 726
Originally Posted by Bzzt
Finally here is something to consider for the OP. on average the money you have invested in the stock market doubles every 7 years. If you were to take the money you got from your inheritance and invest it while working at an engineering job (even aerospace if you truly love airplanes) you could easily scratch your flying itch with your own plane on the side. For argument's sake lets say your inheritance was 80k since that's what you'll be spending on your flight training, and let's say you would have spent 42 years in the career.
Years 1-6: 80,000
Years 7-13: 160,000
Years 14-20: 320,000
Years 21-27: 640,000
Years 28-34: 1,280,000
Years 35-41: 2,560,000
Based on the average long term stock market return (9.4%) and long term annual inflation (3.22%) a 42 year span would be worth $935065. This is assuming that you don't take a massive hit to your investments during a bear market. Over a 42 years that would be equivalent to earning $20359/year.
04-24-2014, 10:07 AM
#137
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 490
Originally Posted by 24601
These are not my words, but people need to know what being at republic is like, what it will do to you, as well whats wrong with this place.
This company is breaking me...For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry...Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction...beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins...My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****...I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role...Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book..
This company is breaking me...For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry...Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction...beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins...My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****...I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role...Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book..
Get the fluck out of this business!! I don't want my family in the back of your aircraft, whether you sit in the left seat or the right seat!! No need to punish your pax and coworkers for your bad luck and bad decisions!
04-24-2014, 10:11 AM
#138
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: 737-Right
Posts: 781
Originally Posted by Bzzt
That had less to do with a negative outlook and more to do with unfortunate financial circumstance. My wife was out of work at the time and we quite simply couldn't afford the pay cut + a month without pay + lodging during training. I wanted to go to CPZ and I really liked the people I met during my interview. Unfortunately I just couldn't make it work.
Like I've said before I use this forum to vent frustration. I come off worse than I do in life. An interesting note is that your career arc is what sells most of us on this career. Unfortunately you seem to be more of an outlier than the norm. Every year I get a bit older and the payoff of continuing to chase the mainline job gets a bit less. I'm approaching the "**** or get off the pot" moment, I'd like this career to work out but it seems increasingly unlikely. I'm not the only one who feels this way, so I try to provide the dark side perspective to guys asking questions.
I won't deny that when the door is shut the career is nice. Unfortunately there is also stagnation, regional schedules, low pay , and commuting that really suck the life out of me.
Like I've said before I use this forum to vent frustration. I come off worse than I do in life. An interesting note is that your career arc is what sells most of us on this career. Unfortunately you seem to be more of an outlier than the norm. Every year I get a bit older and the payoff of continuing to chase the mainline job gets a bit less. I'm approaching the "**** or get off the pot" moment, I'd like this career to work out but it seems increasingly unlikely. I'm not the only one who feels this way, so I try to provide the dark side perspective to guys asking questions.
I won't deny that when the door is shut the career is nice. Unfortunately there is also stagnation, regional schedules, low pay , and commuting that really suck the life out of me.
04-24-2014, 10:17 AM
#139
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,940
Originally Posted by 24601
These are not my words, but people need to know what being at republic is like, what it will do to you, as well whats wrong with this place.
This company is breaking me
I am at crossroad in my life right now, and I really don't know how much longer I continue without making a decision.
I have been an FO here for over 6 years, I am in my 7th year. Prior to coming here I worked for almost 2 years at Colgan. Prior to that I was a CFI for ATP. I am prior military and prepared myself as best as I could financially for this career. I got married during my first year at Colgan and when I was senior enough to hold 1900 Captain at Colgan, I was bypassed, along with many other senior FO's, to street Captains. I left Colgan for greener pastures, or so I thought. During my time at colgan I accrued significant financial debt in the form of credit cards. Even being married, $19,000/yr was not enough to afford a crash pad and commuting expenses.
My first year at Republic I made a little but more, but gained no financial relief. I was home based and making a little bit more, until I was furloughed in 2008. Recalled in January of 2009, I was displaced to commute as 2nd most junior FO in the company. For 2 years I endured 6 on 2 off, 5 on 2 off reserve schedules as well as the destruction of my marriage. Both because of my lack of time spent actually playing the role of husband and partially due to more financial loss. I was near resignation at the time, to save my credit, my marriage and my sanity. Those who haven't worked here when Bart was our CP are unfortunate, because Bart was one of the greatest assets to the pilots. I spoke with him regarding my situation and not only did he encourage me to hang tough, he helped me work out a deal to be able to sit rsv in PHL a few times a month, so I could be home.
I finally got awarded PHL and was able to be home considerably more, since I could sit rsv at home. But being so junior, I was used nearly every rsv day, and fought frequently to defend my contractual rights. Unfortunately my marriage continued to decline. I had unsecure debt I could not pay down, a school loan payment that was over $600 a month. Fast forward to 2013, and my wife filed for divorce. I quickly found myself out of a home, out of a joint income and faced with more financial expenses of living on my own, not to mention the lawyer costs, court fees, settlements etc.
For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry and my career decision to even do this. I have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, and a recent lawsuit has been filed against me from one of the creditors to recover over $3,000. They offered a settlement in a lump sum, but I can barely pay my rent on my salary. I can't move back home because my sister and her kids recently moved home. Bankruptcy could be a last resort option, but will not increase my income to expense ratio. In other words, I'm pretty much ****ed.
That's all just fine and dandy though. Cancelations due to weather in ORD only ensured that I had crawl to my parents to help pay for rent and shut off cable and internet service in my apartment. "Move to a different state" some say, well I can't. I have a dog that stays with my parents while I'm at work, and I will not sacrifice my personal life for this job. I have already sacrificed everything.
"Find another job" some say, but when I was young, this is all I wanted to do, and I worked my ass off to get here. I want what is due. I want the financial stability that SHOULD come with being a professional pilot! I have applied to every major and legacy airline. I have even applied to outside "backup" career opportunities, yet here I sit, stuck.
Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction, beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins. I curse at Comply365 and never read a ****ing thing. My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****. And I am a damn good pilot...confident in my ability to have a safe outcome of every flight, regardless of ****ing memos of a thousand revisions. I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role. This is what the company, on a salary that is less than unemployed government benefit recipients make, have reduced me to. It's almost as if part of me actually wants a reason to walk away from an airliner and never look back....because I don't have the balls to do it myself. I don't have the fortitude to walk away from a lifelong goal, from a career path that has led to a divorce and financial destruction. Yet its as if deep down inside, I want an excuse to say "Well it just didn't work out".
Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book. The questions weren't that hard, but if you never study, you'll never pass. This coming from a guy who never failed an FAA written exam, never busted an FAA checkride, breezed through two initial airline training programs and have never even come close to failing a PC. So now I have a choice, study really hard and do what I always have done and pass with ease, or just say **** it and resign. I really don't know what to do.
I have hung on for as long as I absolutely mentally and financially can. I was hoping for an upgrade this year, but while junior Lynx people fill Captain slots courtesy of a favorable integration, the company parking planes at CHQ, I really have no idea when relief is in sight. And forget about a contract...I don't even have to go there.
But what the **** do I do??? Of course I WANT to be a professional pilot. I would hate to give up, but at the same time, I cannot survive like this anymore. And self destructing my career is the last thing I ever thought I would do, yet its the point I've been pushed to.
This company is breaking me
I am at crossroad in my life right now, and I really don't know how much longer I continue without making a decision.
I have been an FO here for over 6 years, I am in my 7th year. Prior to coming here I worked for almost 2 years at Colgan. Prior to that I was a CFI for ATP. I am prior military and prepared myself as best as I could financially for this career. I got married during my first year at Colgan and when I was senior enough to hold 1900 Captain at Colgan, I was bypassed, along with many other senior FO's, to street Captains. I left Colgan for greener pastures, or so I thought. During my time at colgan I accrued significant financial debt in the form of credit cards. Even being married, $19,000/yr was not enough to afford a crash pad and commuting expenses.
My first year at Republic I made a little but more, but gained no financial relief. I was home based and making a little bit more, until I was furloughed in 2008. Recalled in January of 2009, I was displaced to commute as 2nd most junior FO in the company. For 2 years I endured 6 on 2 off, 5 on 2 off reserve schedules as well as the destruction of my marriage. Both because of my lack of time spent actually playing the role of husband and partially due to more financial loss. I was near resignation at the time, to save my credit, my marriage and my sanity. Those who haven't worked here when Bart was our CP are unfortunate, because Bart was one of the greatest assets to the pilots. I spoke with him regarding my situation and not only did he encourage me to hang tough, he helped me work out a deal to be able to sit rsv in PHL a few times a month, so I could be home.
I finally got awarded PHL and was able to be home considerably more, since I could sit rsv at home. But being so junior, I was used nearly every rsv day, and fought frequently to defend my contractual rights. Unfortunately my marriage continued to decline. I had unsecure debt I could not pay down, a school loan payment that was over $600 a month. Fast forward to 2013, and my wife filed for divorce. I quickly found myself out of a home, out of a joint income and faced with more financial expenses of living on my own, not to mention the lawyer costs, court fees, settlements etc.
For the last year, I have become incredibly, and I mean incredibly bitter. Not only towards Republic and the Union but the industry and my career decision to even do this. I have over $10,000 in unsecured debt, and a recent lawsuit has been filed against me from one of the creditors to recover over $3,000. They offered a settlement in a lump sum, but I can barely pay my rent on my salary. I can't move back home because my sister and her kids recently moved home. Bankruptcy could be a last resort option, but will not increase my income to expense ratio. In other words, I'm pretty much ****ed.
That's all just fine and dandy though. Cancelations due to weather in ORD only ensured that I had crawl to my parents to help pay for rent and shut off cable and internet service in my apartment. "Move to a different state" some say, well I can't. I have a dog that stays with my parents while I'm at work, and I will not sacrifice my personal life for this job. I have already sacrificed everything.
"Find another job" some say, but when I was young, this is all I wanted to do, and I worked my ass off to get here. I want what is due. I want the financial stability that SHOULD come with being a professional pilot! I have applied to every major and legacy airline. I have even applied to outside "backup" career opportunities, yet here I sit, stuck.
Over the last year, I have set in motion a series of self career destruction, beginning with my attitude. I hate coming to work here. I resent Jepp revisions, FOM revisions and bulletins. I curse at Comply365 and never read a ****ing thing. My FOM has cobwebs and I don't even know what my SOP looks like. When I come to work, my attitude is, as long as we don't ****ing crash, I couldn't give a ****. And I am a damn good pilot...confident in my ability to have a safe outcome of every flight, regardless of ****ing memos of a thousand revisions. I have come to see myself as nothing more than a seat warmer, a gear monkey. A backup to someone who makes more than double I do, and if he screws up, I catch it. If he passes out, I save the day and land the plane. This is my role. This is what the company, on a salary that is less than unemployed government benefit recipients make, have reduced me to. It's almost as if part of me actually wants a reason to walk away from an airliner and never look back....because I don't have the balls to do it myself. I don't have the fortitude to walk away from a lifelong goal, from a career path that has led to a divorce and financial destruction. Yet its as if deep down inside, I want an excuse to say "Well it just didn't work out".
Today I busted the first aviation test of my career, by way of failing my oral for a PC. Why? Because I never studied. Never even cracked a book. The questions weren't that hard, but if you never study, you'll never pass. This coming from a guy who never failed an FAA written exam, never busted an FAA checkride, breezed through two initial airline training programs and have never even come close to failing a PC. So now I have a choice, study really hard and do what I always have done and pass with ease, or just say **** it and resign. I really don't know what to do.
I have hung on for as long as I absolutely mentally and financially can. I was hoping for an upgrade this year, but while junior Lynx people fill Captain slots courtesy of a favorable integration, the company parking planes at CHQ, I really have no idea when relief is in sight. And forget about a contract...I don't even have to go there.
But what the **** do I do??? Of course I WANT to be a professional pilot. I would hate to give up, but at the same time, I cannot survive like this anymore. And self destructing my career is the last thing I ever thought I would do, yet its the point I've been pushed to.
This is no different than that hypothetical question you get during an interview "what would you do if you smelled alcohol on the captains breath". Same situation here my friend. If you are a Captain, you should understand your responsibility here. What does your training, experience, and judgment tell you here?
04-24-2014, 10:33 AM
#140
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,648
Originally Posted by Loon
I don't agree with the $hit or get off the pot moment. I'm 41 and I will keep trying for a legacy til the &$@ing cows come home. I don't care if I'm 61(hopefully that won't be the case). Don't be fooled by the adage that some rj lifers sing about not "being able to afford the pay cut"; they're full of $hit.
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