Goodbye Career (long)

[EatSleepFly]

Well, I watched all my hard work get flushed down the tubes yesterday.

I was supposed to have the rest of my aircraft training last night. They had me scheduled to deadhead down early Thursday morning. Since there's two direct flights on Continental, I decided to leave yesterday morning instead. That way I wouldn't have to connect anywhere, and I wouldn't have to sit around down there for two days doing nothing, since I had a couple things at home I needed to take care of. I called the CAL non-rev Thursday night, and she said there were plenty of seats available on both flights. Unfortunately, when I got there I found out that Continental's computers are still having trouble with that new CASS program, and I got denied a seat- twice. I did have another backup plan, connecting through ATL, but the flight there was on CAL as well...which obviously wasn't going to work. So I had to call the training manager and get my ass chewed. And did I ever. Now I have to fly down to DFW on Monday morning to turn in my letter and manuals. Game over.

My thoughts?

I don't really know where to go from here. Actually, my biggest thought so far has been how to tell people. My parents, friends, grandparents...they were all so proud that I finally got a halfway reasonable job, did so well in ground school, and passed my initial sim check no problem. I think deep down they were skeptical, since I'm barely 22, and an ERAU drop-out ($$$), that I would make it very far. I think some of my friends thought I was a loser that got lucky. I suppose I was, only the luck apparently ran out, so now I'm just a loser (cue the Beck CD).

On one hand, I'd like to walk away from aviation completely. Its honestly been nothing but one big pain in my ass (financially) since I started doing it for money in March 2003. My credit is probably shot (maybe I'll get drunk and check it sometime), and I've got too much debt (from school) with nothing to show for it except a few pieces of paper from the FAA. I've had two flight instructing jobs, a "corporate" job flying a Bonanza, and a charter job in a King Air. Each time I left a job, it was to move up to something better (or something that appeared to be better)- until now. All of these jobs I earned and was paid for. Other than a joy-ride or two, I haven't bought one minute of flight time since I took my CFII checkride almost two years ago. Although, other than me being proud of that for some dumb reason, I guess thats irrelevant.

Part of me would love to go back and finish my degree in something completely outside of aviation. Because of my debt from ERAU (having gone both as a resident, and in the distance learning program), that just isn't in the cards right now. Take note, people...this is what everyone means when they say, "GET A CHEAP DEGREE IN SOMETHING ELSE AND HAVE A BACKUP PLAN!" Nobody told me that when I walked off the stage at high school graduation, and look what I've gotten myself into.

So I guess that leaves flying. Which is what I really want anyways. Unfortunately now I have a big black mark on my resume. There's not many entry-level flying jobs in my area that I care to take. I can't move out of this area until my lease is up in March either. So I guess my plan for now is to try some freelance instructing again, and take a non-flying job to pay the bills. Once I can move this spring, I'll move for a better job- if anyone will hire me.

In the meantime, here I sit, avoiding phone calls from my family because they think I had my flight last night and want to see how it went. I just don't have the heart to tell them that I am indeed, a screw-up.

Luckily, my girlfriend is 100% supportive and willing and able to move for a job when the time comes. She was really upset at first because she thought it was her fault, since one of the reasons I didn't fly out on Thursday was because it was her birthday.

Anways, I guess that concludes my ramble. I was initially just going to try to fade away from jetcareers for fear of the negativity this post might bring, but I've been active around here for long enough now that I figured I should share my experience. Not to rain on anyone's parade, but so that people can learn from my mistakes.

[mtsu_av8er]

Hey, Marsh....either way you look at it, you're gonna have to get past this. We've all screwed up in the past, and you can't let this stop you now. As you've said, you've got too much invested at this point to drop out of the game now.

Sorry to hear about how it happened, but there's still the future!! Good luck, and march on!

[MQAAord]

I don't know what to say ESF.

Why does ##### like this have to happen to good people.

I'm so sorry.

[crashmbern]

sorry to hear that, keep your head up and follow your dreams

[jonnyb]

Marshall, I PM'd you. Reeeeeeelax dude, this isn't the end of the world, I promise.

[RPM]

man... that suuuuuucks!!! I guess this is a lesson to all of us on what can happen while commuting, thanks for sharing what hapened.

good luck and don't give up....you've come to far to quit now!

and like Lloyd said...we've all screwed up pretty bad at one time...at least I know I sure have! Just gotta learn from it and "keep on keepin' on!! " - Joe Dirt

[MQAAord]

[ QUOTE ]
Marshall, I PM'd you. Reeeeeeelax dude, this isn't the end of the world, I promise.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's NOT the end of the world. But it sure feels like it right now, I'm sure.

I'm so sorry you've had such a bad experience with my former employer.

[Stone Cold]

I don't know you and you don't know me, but I've posted here a few times and seen your posts. I'm looking up at you and seeing where I want to be (not necessarily at a regional, but flying turboprops and jets) and I have to ask...how did you get this far?? I don't want to be a pr!ck about this, but your career's over? gotta find a different career path? Suck it up and get over it. You've gotten this far and now you're going to give up (from the sound of it, anyways)??? Give me a break...and the Turbine SIC. Get out there and keep plugging away. Your career's not over...there are a lot of people with a lot worse on their records. Find a job, survive for now, if necessary, and continue on for your goals.

Sorry I'm not the happy-go-lucky guy but seriously, not everything is a positive in this industry. You'll make it through this and be better for it. BTW, did you learn anything from this experience?

Good luck and good job hunting!!!
tx

Damn dude,

I've "known" you, and followed your progress through these boards for the past couple of years. I was so happy to see you actually make the big step up to the 121 world. You have certainly had bumps in the road in the past, but you've always driven right over them and kept your focus on bigger and better things. This is just another bump. Your down right now, but by no means are you out. Your great at what you do, and sometime in the near future I think a respectable employer is going to come along and realize your potential. Keep your head up man, better days are right around the corner.


Matt

[EatSleepFly]

I probably should have named my post, to "goodbye career at AE." I didn't say I was walking away from aviation. I said that I'd like to (sometimes). And then I said I couldn't, and wouldn't. It just gets frustrating, and after all this my resume certainly isn't very strong.

I know it isn't the end of the world, but this is the first "big thing" I've ever screwed up, and its kind of disheartening.

[JEP]

[ QUOTE ]
and after all this my resume certainly isn't very strong.

[/ QUOTE ]

Here is a question I have for those that are flying (other than CFI) fora living. I know he ESF is concerned about his resume, but being that he never "Flew the Line" for AE, would or should he feel the need to place AE on his resume. I understand that one needs to be upfront with info on the resume but I was jsut curious what others thought about it.

[EatSleepFly]

Well, I received like 4 paychecks from them...

...so even though I was only there for 2 months, I'm sure I have to put it on there.

[Stone Cold]

I would think it's a questionable thing to not list your job since you were there for 2 months (I was wondering the same thing until you said you've been there 2 months); just find a job flying and work your way back up to where the AE thing is just a minor blemish.

No matter what, I wish you luck and hope you find that next step.

tx

[JEP]

Oops, I didn't realize you were there that long. I didn't follow back through the thread.

[rausda27]

Marshall..I am really sorry to hear about your experience. It is easy for people to chastise you about the inference of second thoughts about this career and armchair quarterback any decision you have made... but unless you are the person whose name is printed on the certificate then you may as well keep the Dr. Phil to yourself.

Being in aviation, albeit a short time, I have realized that there is absolutley no standard way to go from zero time to the right seat in a pressurized metal tube. Every person regardless of social stature, economic background or intelligence level has to make some sacrifices to "make it" in this industry. As your post illustrated, sometimes those sacrifices are harder to swallow than others, but knowing you personally throughout your training and hiring successes, I know you will persevere, learn from this and come out better in the end.

I am sure there are not to many pilots out there who have at some time in their career questioned whether or not they were doing the right thing or pondered giving up their dream for better job security and pay. If they havent then they are either megalomaniacs or just too simple minded to realize how crappy their situation actually is. Would any of us trade places with you..probably not, but I feel that you have learned from your experience and your narration and honesty about the situation will hopefully provide some insight to others considering a career in aviation.

Your example brings up many good points that are often brought up in discussions here. Having a degree is like having insurance..there are absolutely no guarantees in this profession.

I hope that some good will come out of this and if there is anything I can do to help you out, you know how to get hold of me.

[VaughnAir]

[ QUOTE ]
Now I have to fly down to DFW on Monday morning to turn in my letter and manuals. Game over.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not knowing the entire conversation. Do you think that the fact that you have to show up he/she may have been "putting the fear of god in you"? Seems pretty drastic to cut you loose in this case. Hopefully things work out well for you.

[Windchill]

AE doesn't need to be on a resume ... a resume is used to help illustrate qualifications and reasons for being hired, and if one has jobs to leave off that were irrelevant, don't waste space ...

... however, on an application where it states to list employment history, be sure to include AE.

Ommiting AE on a resume says I do not wish to include it, what does it show?
Ommiting AE on an employment history is saying you never worked for them and would be wrong.

I would think a company seeing AE on an app and not on a resume would ask why, thus providing you a forum to explain what happened, and what you learned from the experience.

Bad things happen, we make mistakes, but a company may hire you based on how you learned from such experiences.

[Doug Taylor]

Keep your head up bro.

Seriously. If you still want to "doowit", keep your head up.

A few years ago, I had a close friend get hired by a regional. Went thru groundschool, did pretty well and scored a percentage point too low on the groundschool final written test to qualify for training.

"Game Over" he was told.

A few months later he started getting his resumes back out and got a call by another regional airline, ended up getting hired, discussed his previous situation and was offered a job on the spot.

A few years goes by and he eventually ended up as an Airbus 320 FO for a major airline.

It's really only "game over" if you want it to be. I've been told "can't do it" almost every step of the way in my career and if I can do it, certainly you can.

[cargopusher]

I don't know you personally,either - but I can tell you this - from personal experience 'cause it just happened to me again -things like this happen for a reason - at this point in time, the reason will not be clear. You have to keeping looking forward because another door will open for you. It was not meant to be this time and you will have another opportunity when it is right -

[cmsuav8r]

A door may have been closed, but where there is a closed door, there is an open window! Keep your head up buddy!

[E_Dawg]

I really don't buy the 'things happen for a reason' BS. Plenty of $@H* happens for no good reason at all.

I'm sure things will work out for you because I'm sure you will make it happen... for now this royally SUCKS.

[Doug Taylor]

But, Ed, you have any contacts at your current employer that you could help ESF out with?

[E_Dawg]

sent a pm

[aloft]

Seriously, I don't think it was you, dude. Look at the big picture there at AE: flowbacks from mainline on the way, job offers being rescinded (jdflight, et al), it's very likely that you would've been furloughed shortly anyway.

It's only the end of the road if you let it be.

[cessna2351]

[ QUOTE ]

. So I had to call the training manager and get my ass chewed. And did I ever. Now I have to fly down to DFW on Monday morning to turn in my letter and manuals. Game over.



[/ QUOTE ]

Is it just me or does that seem like a severe knee-jerk reaction by a company that has spent several thousand dollars training a pilot? I can understand the ass chewing but being let go seems waaaaaay overboard.

ESF, I wish you the best of luck!