Coool Guy
I have spent too many months not being able to defend myself but I am going to try and defend myself to your post.
"Of course resigning from the worlds favorite airline is bound to make it look like you were pushed, you shouldnt be surprised at that. You gave the reason as 'needing more time with your family' and then try and get a job with KAL in Korea?
But worst of all you claimed job seekers allowance when you no doubt received a very handsome payout from BA (not to mention the 6 figure pension you would have got had you stayed on). Knowing that everything you did would be closely scrutinised by the tabloids I dont think you can now complain about hurtful comments"
The decision to leave BA was not one I took lightly. It was not based on one individual reason but rather a build up of varying issues from within and outside the company. No-one will ever fully be able to understand what the last 19 months have been like except for my wife and I. Even close friends cannot fully comprehend the impact the BA38 has had on us. If you had walked in my shoes over the last 19 months, and I hope you never do have to, you would understand that the choice to take the VR from BA was the right decision for my family and I. AND yes I am surprised to hear of rumours that suggest I was pushed out. That is disappointing as all the evidence shows that the BA38 was not pilot error, so why should I even think I would be portrayed as being pushed? To have people imply that I was pushed when it is common knowledge that I took VOLUNTARY redundancy is hurtful and there is no justification or fairness to it.
KAL was an option I looked into back in May which I had hoped to be able to use as an interim, as I was under the impression I had a job to go to with a certain airline once they started recruiting again. It was never going to be longterm and once I discovered that they do not accept an accident I knew I wouldn't be accepted by them anyway. You should never believe everything you read in the papers.
Yes I received 52 weeks basic pay for my VR. A nice figure and enough to last me a year. A 6 figure pension ... I wish! Those days went a long time ago!
Jobseekers allowance. From my 52 weeks VR payout I will pay approx £40k in tax (forget what I will have paid already this year). I have worked since I was 13 in small part time jobs, through Uni and then into BA for the last 20years. I have never claimed anything but probably just like you I have paid a lot into the pot. We get no help with childcare costs or housing costs. My son has a medical condition that in the future he will probably need an operation on his leg as they grow at different rates. Until he is close to maturity the Docs will not know how much length difference there will be between his legs. If there is a length difference in his legs of less than 4cm they will not operate unless I pay privately. So even in this instance I possibly would not be able to make use of medical facilities that my taxes would have helped with, yet if I don't pay privately my son would have one leg 4cm shorter than the other, with an operation possible but not availabe on the NHS.
By taking jobseekers allowance I will have my national pension contributions paid and NI paid for the next 6 months. Surely this is fair? Or am I supposed to lose out on these contributions? If you think that it is wrong for me to take £1664 (£64 week x 26 weeks, if I remain unemployed for 6 months) from the state after what I have paid in? does that mean that those people who haven't worked a day in their lives and don't expect to ever work should take any? We all know people who have no intention of working yet manage to claim all kinds of benefits.
His Dudeness
From Wikipedia:
"The crew received various awards, including Her Majesty The Queen's Commendations for Valuable Service in the Air and medals from the British Air Line Pilots Association."
I'd just like to point out for those who may confuse it with the title of this thread that this statement is for the BA009 and not the BA38. The BA38 were invited to a Queen's Garden Party last year.
Last edited by Mmmayday38; 19th Oct 2009 at 07:08.
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