Time off vs. Time away

WacoFan said:
To me one of the beauties of flying would be that once you set the parking brake you're done.
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Once you're done, you're done. Until your cell phone rings as you're walking down the jetbridge and the dispatcher tells you that instead of being off for the next week as had been promised, you're doing another trip tomorrow which will turn into another two weeks away from home...
 
surreal1221 said:
Cue. . .

You knew what you were getting into, stop complaining.

Stop being realistic and honest about the career. . .You're liable to scare off some junior members who want to fly a 744 or 777 International one day.

. . .

Or something like that. Just wait for it.
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Surreal,

The longer I am in this biz, the smarter you sound... and I am being serious. :D
 
Forced in the terms, that when they have you by the wallet, they maintain pretty decent control of you.

It's true that I cannot represent the opinions of every pilot out there, nor would I try to. It's just one of those things, where I think we have all become numb to the work over that we get some times. Once you get a shot at time away sometimes you can see that it's not what you thought.

i agree that it's still a great career, but it needs a lot of TLC before its a great career to pursue.

before as I said, airlines were a backup job for me.. I didn't really think I would ever fly for one.

Scott, I echo your sentiment... thats prob. why I don't have a positive outlook right now, and we all know you have had one heck of a go at it.

DC3, Yes, I would prob. try to get back into brokering or some such... but it will be tough to get it going without the large client base of loaded students. I've got some corp. contacts etc.

When I was younger i worked for the forestry service, cutting and maintaining trails, parks etc. leading summer youth employment groups. I had a blast getting my hands dirty, spending all my time outside... and the feeling of actually getting something done. I would love to have that job back.
 
fender_jag said:
"Hello, Mr. _____, we've got a ferry flight for you when you get back to (your domicile)."


:whatever:
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They at least address me as "Captain," which sounds a little hokey, actually. If my FO actually called me "Captain," I'd probably crack up laughing.
 
I am so bad with names, that I often resort to calling by position. To those of you I fly with, if you hear,"Hey FO" it's nothing personal... I just forgot your name:beer:

For some reason Hey FA results in a loud Where.. I assume they think im saying FAA
 
Thats why its great to be an FO. I can NEVER say that "Colgan has me by the wallet." For the money I make there is nothing keeping me/us here except for the flying and the hopes of an upgrade.

Ive got my ears to the ground for ANY flying job that opens up near my home or ANY job that I could tolerate for the chance of leaving 121. Before anyone could say that I would be giving up, those that know me also know that I have never wanted anything to do with 121 since the day I started, it is simply a means to an end. I hope to be gone before upgrade because to be honest it is nothing to look forward to. I am relatively senior in equipment now and when I upgrade into the Saab I will go from roughly 30K in the dash with over guarantee and per diem and 15-16 days off per month to 38K as a saab captain. I will be on reserve, have two days off per month, have a commute to who knows where that will be 2 legs and a pack mule and fly less than 40 hours per month on a good month. I could definitely pass on that.

For now though, things are fine to at least keep on keeping on until something else opens up. It could be alot worse.
 
Did you know that flying a Predator B for the Customs and Border Patrol pays more than most 5 year RJ CA pay scales? w.t.h. Fly a big RC plane and make more than lugging 35-74 people around the states... frustrating.
 
kellwolf said:
This past week has made me seriously question why I upgraded and put myself on reserve.
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Yeah...I'm learning that I hate reserve more than anything and I'm not upgrading until I can reasonably expect to hold a line.

I've held a line or been on long call reserve (12 hours) every month since last Aug. I'm a commuter from LIT and it looks like I'm not going to hold long call or a line next month. I'm recently engaged and we're planning to move to Atlanta in the fall because we have both pretty much had it with commuting. But with rumors of more furloughs in the fall I'm pretty hesitant to let her quit her job and move out there with me. All this while saving up for and planning a wedding/honeymoon. Life isn't made to be this complicated.

If I won the lotto I'd walk away tomorrow. They're not even getting my 2 weeks notice
 
OldTownPilot said:
You'd give them a days notice?

Tell the cappy he is not needed and fly that (thing) to LIT and never look back.
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I think that's theft. :) Just wait till there's WX in ATL, divert to LIT and THEN never look back. I had an FA last week just not show up. We had a 4+ hour sit in base, so she went home. Come time to board for the flight, no sign of her. Yeah, she just never came back. It was one of those "I'm sick of this place. They treat me like garbage, and I'm only staying for the flight benefits. Now those are crap. I should just quit." Well, she put her money where her mouth is, I'll give her that.
 
TUCKnTRUCK said:
Did you know that flying a Predator B for the Customs and Border Patrol pays more than most 5 year RJ CA pay scales? w.t.h. Fly a big RC plane and make more than lugging 35-74 people around the states... frustrating.
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Go ahead and get you one of those jobs! It may be harder than you think, especially if you don't have any time flying one already.
 
kellwolf said:
I think that's theft. :) Just wait till there's WX in ATL, divert to LIT and THEN never look back. I had an FA last week just not show up. We had a 4+ hour sit in base, so she went home. Come time to board for the flight, no sign of her. Yeah, she just never came back. It was one of those "I'm sick of this place. They treat me like garbage, and I'm only staying for the flight benefits. Now those are crap. I should just quit." Well, she put her money where her mouth is, I'll give her that.
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There seems to be alot of that going around! A former co-worker did basically the same thing and was threatened with them not providing a good recommendation letter to another employer. He was one of the very best FAs they had (experience at a couple of other carriers--reliable--pleasant--conscientious).
Apparently, you can push people only so far, before they push back.
 
Qgar said:
There seems to be alot of that going around! A former co-worker did basically the same thing and was threatened with them not providing a good recommendation letter to another employer. He was one of the very best FAs they had (experience at a couple of other carriers--reliable--pleasant--conscientious).
Apparently, you can push people only so far, before they push back.
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It's a moot point over here. Even if you give them 2 weeks, you're placed on "no re-hire" status.
 
Really? Unless things have changed at Colgan, as long as you leave on good terms, you can return. Obviously, you lost your seniority and start at the bottom, but it has been done in the past.
 
TUCKnTRUCK said:
I am so bad with names, that I often resort to calling by position. To those of you I fly with, if you hear,"Hey FO" it's nothing personal... I just forgot your name:beer:

For some reason Hey FA results in a loud Where.. I assume they think im saying FAA
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A few weeks ago I flew with a captain who thought he was almost as awesome as that Fedex guy with the website devoted to himself. He called me "junior" the whole trip. I wanted to kick him in the nuts by the end of it. One of our middle aged flight attendants thought it was funny and got into it as well. Until I started calling her "senior".
 
OldTownPilot said:
You'd give them a days notice?

Tell the cappy he is not needed and fly that (thing) to LIT and never look back.
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You've got the right idea.

If the hypo that Screaming_Emu mentions should ever occur, which I wish it does - good luck Joe, either complete your last leg into Atlanta that has a >3.5 hour sit. Find a ride to LIT, jumpseat home, and right before the door closes - call the CP and tell him you're done and you'll ship your company materials back.

Ah. . .that'd be a great. I might have to become a commuter just for the chance to be able to do such a thing.
 
surreal1221 said:
You've got the right idea.

If the hypo that Screaming_Emu mentions should ever occur, which I wish it does - good luck Joe, either complete your last leg into Atlanta that has a >3.5 hour sit. Find a ride to LIT, jumpseat home, and right before the door closes - call the CP and tell him you're done and you'll ship your company materials back.

Ah. . .that'd be a great. I might have to become a commuter just for the chance to be able to do such a thing.
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The last thing I'd say is "screw you guys...I'm goin home!"
 
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