killbilly
Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Through an odd confluence of events, it turns out that I am related-by-marriages to a Midwest MD-80 driver who was recently furloughed with 13 years of seniority.
He's a low key, gray-haired genteel sort with more than 18,000 TT. The kind of guy you imagine calcapt or MD11 pilot to be (if you've not met them.) We chatted a bit about GA, he was agape at the prices I presently pay to rent airplanes (and I get some good deals, sadly enough) - when he was learning to fly, he was paying $28 per hobbs hour.
But we talked a bit about the whole RAH thing, and a bit about flying in general, and he had some interesting things to say...
Although he jokingly advised me to get my IR and then stop and never pursue it as a career, he did offer to help me out if I ever needed anything. Nice to know there's a family connection, so to speak.
He's a low key, gray-haired genteel sort with more than 18,000 TT. The kind of guy you imagine calcapt or MD11 pilot to be (if you've not met them.) We chatted a bit about GA, he was agape at the prices I presently pay to rent airplanes (and I get some good deals, sadly enough) - when he was learning to fly, he was paying $28 per hobbs hour.
But we talked a bit about the whole RAH thing, and a bit about flying in general, and he had some interesting things to say...
- By and large, the pilots of Midwest do not hold a grudge with RAH pilots. They know it's management politics, and it's, "a few idiots and **sholes" who are alienating RAH drivers. They know how badly most of the RAH guys feel about this, and most of these guys have been in the business long enough that they've been on both sides of this kind of whipsaw crap. They understand.
- He's never been a "union guy" but believes that given the necessary evil, ALPA is the best option out there for pilots since they have the most experience with pilot issues, particularly with violations.
- On violations..."you will violate at some point. it just happens if you fly long enough. I don't know a senior pilot who doesn't have at least one in their jacket."
Although he jokingly advised me to get my IR and then stop and never pursue it as a career, he did offer to help me out if I ever needed anything. Nice to know there's a family connection, so to speak.