I was quite surprised when he walked into my office. We were well acquainted, however I hadn’t seen him for awhile and our relationship never suggested something so casual. I knew he had something on his mind. We all have life altering experiences most every day. Some involve some level of conscious effort. However, most occur without any particular recognition. The next hour would be something in between, and would change my life forever.
I had met Jack through my flight instructor, and he had provided me with some helpful guidance in preparation for the private pilot check ride. His career had been as a corporate pilot, but his reputation within the local general aviation community was as an outstanding instrument instructor. He had been employed in recent years by a leasing company that provided crews for planes owned by the Bank of America.
Jack began by telling me that he had just hired on with Air California which had established a strong commuter market serving major California destinations. While the airline industry was still licking its wounds following a controversial labor settlement by United Airline pilots, opportunities for new pilots were suddenly beginning to appear everywhere. Jack explained that he was now flying as a First Officer for AirCal’s newly expanded service into the Midwest, Canada and Alaska.
Although he was approaching 45 years old, Jack believed the opportunities were growing so fast that he would be sitting in the Captains seat within two years. He concluded by saying, “You are exactly what the industry is looking for at this time. Start right now, and you could be a Captain before the minimum retirement age.” There was much more to the conversation, but Jack thought he was finally standing in “tall cotton”.
Historically, the major airline resume required military trained pilots with thousands of hours in heavy equipment. As the government supply began to diminish the parameters changed, adding and subtracting a college degree, depending on supply and demand. From time to time demand greatly exceeds supply. When that occurs an ATP Certificate (Air Transport Pilot) is the minimum requirement. A college degree provides a competitive edge.
The opportunity to join a glamorous high paying industry while working as few as 10 days a month was tempting. I could continue building my consulting practice without any interruption. And upon retirement I would be in the prime of my business career. Jack agreed to provide instruction for the needed certificates. I had more than 500 hours of the minimum 1500 hour PIC (pilot in command) requirement. They were not all logged, but with a little creative editing and six months I would be eligible to apply.
I was getting excited. Given my age and experience, I had at least a one-percent chance of being hired. It was a great opportunity to work all hours of the day and night, weekends and holidays. I would get to stay in cheap hotel rooms. Spend untold hours sitting in the terminal, at the departure gate, on the taxiway or a dark flight deck exchanging nap time (Yes, they do!) with the other pilot. In time there might the benefit of scheduling seniority, and I could enjoy this flexable lifestyle at my convenience.
There was also the opportunity to dine in Fairbanks on a Saturday night, and be furloughed in Freeport the next day. I might even be assigned to a distant Base. Jack lived in San Francisco’s East Bay, but his flights originated in Chicago. And if I was lucky, just like Jack, I would not be paid for up to 150 hours of ground time, not including the time and cost of traveling to my scheduled trip.
This was beginning to look good. I just had to figure out how I was going to live comfortably beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60 if my business plans didn’t work out. My airline pension when combined with a healthy dose of Social Security should be enough. Although I might have to add a couple of well placed retirement accounts. It was euphoric. Up to twenty years of fun and sun were waiting for me as long as I didn’t fall prey to an industry among the leaders in divorce, depression and suicide.
The United Airline agreement was disastrous for the pilots, and the immediate future of the industry was in serious question. In the years that followed my flight instructor retired as a UAL Senior Captain with a much smaller pension than had been promised. At 84 he is selling mountain property near his home.
I never saw Jack again. A few years later AirCal was acquired by American Airlines. Last I heard Jack was operating a small aviation concession that scattered cremated remains over the Pacific near Seattle.