All of the above really. School was $3k and four weeks (similar to what we do; one week of classroom, one week of backing up, one week on the road and one week of driving test prep). Recruiters were in the school almost daily and companies have varying schedules. Depending on how hard you work you could make close to $100k year one with $70k being common. And an old bucket list item that I could justify to the rest of the family with furlough looming and already having the month off for vacation, and plans that canceled because of covid.

I passed on the opportunity to take EXTO for a while and drive, wish I had now but needed our flexibility here with some things going on.

Our expenses are low so we could swing it. You can also bring family with you which would be fun. Definitely a sacrifice but would get us through a furlough or strike.

Now, if I were furloughed or strike I would also apply to other airlines. I’m really past V1 here but the opportunity to upgrade quickly or do wide body, international flying would keep me from coming back.

This has gotten me wondering what strike/furlough job(s) I’d go after. I pulled my flight times from SWAPA and have started updating my resume. But my resume is aviation and pilot centric. I’ve done non flying jobs in the past but the were aviation oriented. Like unit safety officer with OSHA, fire safety etc rolled up into the mix. But what have the others here done outside of the cockpit to make ends meet during furloughs, strikes etc.

I love being around general aviation, a lot! It is where I started. But, Is there a way to properly monetize being an Airport Bum?
CFI-ing seems like a big liability risk these days.

Anyone have advice?

Aaaand SWAPA forum is down. The link isn’t even on the home page. We got some “editing” going on? LOL

May1 … MayDay, MayDay, MayDay.

SS4M

What happens to probies if an actual strike takes place?

You have a choice of cross and become a scab forever, or get fired and blacklisted from the airlines forever.

Just kidding, the union will tell you what to do, comply with that. Worst case you'll get "fired" and then re-instated. No union will return from a strike with company hostages in the wind.

The importance of the SAV is part of the process we are in by way of RLA. Ultimately I think a strike is very unlikely, but a strong sign of unity through the SAV is very important for our negotiations.

The union will tell you what to do, but there are procedures in place for just such a thing. The longest strike in the last 20 years or so only last 14 days, the shortest being 4 min, so I wouldn't put to much concern into it.

Nothing. You follow SWAPA's guidance. There will be no back-to-work agreement if there are any probie hostages i.e. terminated or otherwise penalized or punished probies. We will not come back until all probies are reinstated, and you should get back-pay like every other SWAPA pilot.

Whatever you do, don’t be put on the list.