So, what do you do in the final week before everything in your life changes suddenly and completely?
As mentioned in my profile, I'm an ex-Navy submariner, having served in both ballistic missile and fast attack submarines for 20 years. During that time, especially while serving on the fast attack boats (submarines have always been and will always be "boats" vice "ships"), I became accustomed to preparing for deployments which ranged from three to seven months. Preparing for a deployment involves everything from ensuring that your loved ones are well-prepared for your absence to ensuring that your last will and testament is up to date. As I prepare to leave home for ground school on Nov 30, my preparations are tempered with a different attitude, because this is not a deployment of a few months, where I will come home to a loving family and within a few days everything is back to normal. This is a complete change in our life style, and I must admit that the uncertainty of what lies ahead helps keep my excitement in check. It is not just the uncertainty...the things that I know bring their own apprehension.
I know that I will be paid about $24 per hour, with only about 75 hours a month guaranteed. Most of the uninformed public have no idea how little new pilots are paid, and many flatly refuse to believe it when told. You simply do not become an airline pilot to become rich, you do it firstly because you love flying, and secondly because once you achieve some seniority, your flight schedule will allow significantly more time off than your typical 9-to-5 office job. I have a long time before I will have any seniority, so lots of time off is not likely in my immediate future.
That brings me to something else I know. I know that I will not be flying out of Chicago O'Hare airport, since my airline does not have a Chicago domicile. I suspect that I will either be domiciled in Detroit or Memphis, meaning that I will be a commuter, having to travel from my assigned domicile to my home in Chicago on my days off. Naturally Cathy and I could sell our house and move to my new domicile to avoid this, but the combined poor housing market and the volatility of the airline industry (can you say "furlough?) make this a poor choice financially right now.
Other than the fact that I've been assigned the CRJ-900 aircraft, and that my (old) age has positioned me at the top of my class when it starts on Dec 1, I don't know a whole lot about what lies ahead. This brings me to one item that has occupied this final week, reading and studying, trying to learn what is in store. I received a copy of the company Flight Operations Manual (FOM) on Monday, and I've been buried in it as much as possible, while being sensitive to the fact that I need to spend as much quality time with Cathy as possible before I leave.
Because she has reached sufficient age, Cathy and I took our dog Nikki in to have her "plumbing" removed, and to have some puppy teeth extracted. Doggie orthodontics...who could imagine? In any case, Nikki has come through the surgery and bounced back quickly.
I did have to set some time aside to deal with an unsettled issue from my previous career this week. As I mentioned in my preface post, I was previously the COO and VP of Technical Operations of an election equipment company, and I have been notified that the California Secretary of State is going to subpoena me to provide testimony in an on-going dispute her office has with my previous employer. Although I offered to be available for deposition this week, they stated that it would likely be sometime later in December. Gee, how nice...concentrate on ground school while preparing for a legal deposition.
This week is Thanksgiving (US Thanksgiving, since Cathy is Canadian we also celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving in October), and Cathy and I have been invited to attend Thanksgiving dinner with our neighbors Guy, Connie, and my little Army buddy, Vito. They are great neighbors and we are fortunate to have them as friends.
Speaking of friends, Cathy and I are hoping to get together with our friends Rick and Joan this week. Rick worked with me in the elections industry, and in 2007 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I suspect that many people who are diagnosed with this horrible form of cancer take one look at the survival statistics and feel that they have been given a death sentence. Anyone who has ever known Rick will testify that he is absolutely the most positive, up-beat, not to mention nicest persons in the world. Instead of becoming sullen and defeated by his cancer, Rick has endured the painful chemo treatments and the corresponding side effects with uncanny dignity, and has chosen to live each day of his life knowing what a gift each day truly is. Rich has been my inspiration for some time and his desire to achieve as much as possible out of life that helped inspire me to take the plunge into an aviation career. Rick has touched a lot of lives, and I'm blessed to have been one of them.
I was also fortunate enough to crew what may be my last flight in the Falcon 10 this week. I'm hoping to be able to make the occasional flight with Gene and Ty in the future; I know that I will really enjoy flying the CRJ-900, but there is simply no way it can possibly fly anywhere as nicely as the Falcon. I'm also hoping to get in one more flight in the Bonanza before I leave on Sunday, but it does not look likely.
Some last minute shopping, arrangements to celebrate Cathy's birthday early, medical appointments, study some more, start packing, ensuring the Nissan is ready for the coming road trip, winterize the motorcycle, etc. etc. This week is probably one of the busiest I can remember in a while. As Sunday approaches Cathy and I both are getting more apprehensive, not about the rigors of ground school, but about being separated for such a long time. We've made the necessary arrangements to cope with the extreme pay cut I will experience as I pursue this dream, but it is hard to make arrangements to overcome being separated from the ones you love. Until I gain the seniority to get some decent time off, I have to trust that my love of flying will keep me motivated, and my personal faith and love for Cathy will keep our relationship strong. At least she has her "daughter" Nikki to keep her company!
I certainly have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week, and I wish the best to everyone. Next stop, ground school!
As mentioned in my profile, I'm an ex-Navy submariner, having served in both ballistic missile and fast attack submarines for 20 years. During that time, especially while serving on the fast attack boats (submarines have always been and will always be "boats" vice "ships"), I became accustomed to preparing for deployments which ranged from three to seven months. Preparing for a deployment involves everything from ensuring that your loved ones are well-prepared for your absence to ensuring that your last will and testament is up to date. As I prepare to leave home for ground school on Nov 30, my preparations are tempered with a different attitude, because this is not a deployment of a few months, where I will come home to a loving family and within a few days everything is back to normal. This is a complete change in our life style, and I must admit that the uncertainty of what lies ahead helps keep my excitement in check. It is not just the uncertainty...the things that I know bring their own apprehension.
I know that I will be paid about $24 per hour, with only about 75 hours a month guaranteed. Most of the uninformed public have no idea how little new pilots are paid, and many flatly refuse to believe it when told. You simply do not become an airline pilot to become rich, you do it firstly because you love flying, and secondly because once you achieve some seniority, your flight schedule will allow significantly more time off than your typical 9-to-5 office job. I have a long time before I will have any seniority, so lots of time off is not likely in my immediate future.
That brings me to something else I know. I know that I will not be flying out of Chicago O'Hare airport, since my airline does not have a Chicago domicile. I suspect that I will either be domiciled in Detroit or Memphis, meaning that I will be a commuter, having to travel from my assigned domicile to my home in Chicago on my days off. Naturally Cathy and I could sell our house and move to my new domicile to avoid this, but the combined poor housing market and the volatility of the airline industry (can you say "furlough?) make this a poor choice financially right now.
Other than the fact that I've been assigned the CRJ-900 aircraft, and that my (old) age has positioned me at the top of my class when it starts on Dec 1, I don't know a whole lot about what lies ahead. This brings me to one item that has occupied this final week, reading and studying, trying to learn what is in store. I received a copy of the company Flight Operations Manual (FOM) on Monday, and I've been buried in it as much as possible, while being sensitive to the fact that I need to spend as much quality time with Cathy as possible before I leave.
Because she has reached sufficient age, Cathy and I took our dog Nikki in to have her "plumbing" removed, and to have some puppy teeth extracted. Doggie orthodontics...who could imagine? In any case, Nikki has come through the surgery and bounced back quickly.
I did have to set some time aside to deal with an unsettled issue from my previous career this week. As I mentioned in my preface post, I was previously the COO and VP of Technical Operations of an election equipment company, and I have been notified that the California Secretary of State is going to subpoena me to provide testimony in an on-going dispute her office has with my previous employer. Although I offered to be available for deposition this week, they stated that it would likely be sometime later in December. Gee, how nice...concentrate on ground school while preparing for a legal deposition.
This week is Thanksgiving (US Thanksgiving, since Cathy is Canadian we also celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving in October), and Cathy and I have been invited to attend Thanksgiving dinner with our neighbors Guy, Connie, and my little Army buddy, Vito. They are great neighbors and we are fortunate to have them as friends.
Speaking of friends, Cathy and I are hoping to get together with our friends Rick and Joan this week. Rick worked with me in the elections industry, and in 2007 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I suspect that many people who are diagnosed with this horrible form of cancer take one look at the survival statistics and feel that they have been given a death sentence. Anyone who has ever known Rick will testify that he is absolutely the most positive, up-beat, not to mention nicest persons in the world. Instead of becoming sullen and defeated by his cancer, Rick has endured the painful chemo treatments and the corresponding side effects with uncanny dignity, and has chosen to live each day of his life knowing what a gift each day truly is. Rich has been my inspiration for some time and his desire to achieve as much as possible out of life that helped inspire me to take the plunge into an aviation career. Rick has touched a lot of lives, and I'm blessed to have been one of them.
I was also fortunate enough to crew what may be my last flight in the Falcon 10 this week. I'm hoping to be able to make the occasional flight with Gene and Ty in the future; I know that I will really enjoy flying the CRJ-900, but there is simply no way it can possibly fly anywhere as nicely as the Falcon. I'm also hoping to get in one more flight in the Bonanza before I leave on Sunday, but it does not look likely.
Some last minute shopping, arrangements to celebrate Cathy's birthday early, medical appointments, study some more, start packing, ensuring the Nissan is ready for the coming road trip, winterize the motorcycle, etc. etc. This week is probably one of the busiest I can remember in a while. As Sunday approaches Cathy and I both are getting more apprehensive, not about the rigors of ground school, but about being separated for such a long time. We've made the necessary arrangements to cope with the extreme pay cut I will experience as I pursue this dream, but it is hard to make arrangements to overcome being separated from the ones you love. Until I gain the seniority to get some decent time off, I have to trust that my love of flying will keep me motivated, and my personal faith and love for Cathy will keep our relationship strong. At least she has her "daughter" Nikki to keep her company!
I certainly have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week, and I wish the best to everyone. Next stop, ground school!
Cobber,
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! Joan and I are behind you 100% with your new venture. You are a true leader of men and I know you'll be an outstanding pilot. You have encouraged and helped me thru many tough times, Thanks. If there is anything we can do to help, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Rick & Joan