My fate has a date

The furlough notices have been released and it is official, I, along with 67 other pilots, will be on the streets as on November 1. There are 10 somewhat luckier pilots that will continue flying until December 1, which I suppose makes it bit of a Christmas Layaway Plan.


Even though each of us on the furlough lists has known this was coming, seeing my name of that list in black and white creates a lump in my throat. I have been employed either full or part time since I was 15 years old, and this is the first time I've been laid off, but then again, this is the first time I've worked in a union environment where work ethic, technical skill and knowledge, customer service skills, and ability to get the job done take a back seat to seniority number. Welcome to the world of airline flying.

So, the game is afoot. Cathy and I will do some praying and soul searching and try to figure out what is next for us. Stay in Chicago? Move somewhere else? Sell the condo in Michigan or perhaps rent it out? Head back to Canada? Try to find something (anything) in aviation, or go back to the power industry?

Between now and November 1, I hope to do as much flying as possible, but this month does not look good. I was assigned "P3" reserve this month, which means that I'm on reserve from 7:00 PM until midnight. This is a great reserve period for someone who does not want to do anything, since there is very little chance you'll be called out. For me unfortunately it means sitting around the condo and praying I get a call. So far this month nada. I suppose that this does get me time to start preparing for the furlough. Most of my training documents and manuals are back in Chicago and I'll have to turn those in, along with my company and DTW badges, and according to the contract, even my pilots wings. It sort of conjures up this image of having to walk a gauntlet of fellow pilots on my final day while they strip the books out of my hands and rip the wings off my uniform! Interestingly enough the contract states that only pilots with less than a year (read that as probationary pilots) must turn in their wings. But for one additional month I'd be able to keep mine.

So, I will continue this blog down to the last day to keep my followers posted on the furlough process. I've been told that you are not a "real" airline pilot until you've been furloughed at least once. I guess that on November first, I'll finally be able to say I'm a real, unemployed, airline pilot!

Take care everyone!