question to laid off pilots!!!
 

What do you guys do once laid off due to the economic downturn? Do you guys try to get job in other profession or wait few months until called back.

I was furloughed over the phone by an assistant to the Chief Pilot.

Was told that I would be back within 6 months. I was wise enough not to rely on that entirely.

I found a desk job in an entirely other industry (private detective) and eventually ended up back at school.

The recall came more than two years later.

Now is maybe the perfect opportunity to explore new adventures and try something different. Not many people get laid off with the knowledge that the company will/may call you back. Get your feet wet with something else and then go back to the cockpit when you can.

If you sit around waiting for a recall you may shoot yourself in the foot.

Mix it up!!!
 

Cocktail barman...It's actually a rather fun job, the art of mixing cocktails, flirting with nice girls, decent tips!

Right now it seems to be a fairly safe job, in London, the decent bars are always busy and there is no long term commitment so when that illustrious job does finally materialise, it's easy enough to leave without a problem. :ok:

I've been laid off for a couple of months now, but i've been fortunate enough to pick up the odd bit of work here and there in light aircraft (ferrying, instructing etc), keeping my hand in the game. A friend of mine who used to fly buisness jets had saved up loads of money and is using it to go travelling around the world, something he always wanted to do but never really had the opportunity

lads, i am curious, to those of you unfortuenatly laid off-What experience do you have? (total time and aircraft type been operating)
Just wondering, as you never know when its one's self turn....:(

Airforce1

If you're in the airlines then total hours and type are less relevent than position on a seniority list - unless of course you work for a tiny part of a major uk carrier which chooses to totally ignore seniority and the contract you signed with them and the union you have paid thousands of pounds to over the years do bugger all about it, but I digress.

There are jobs about for experienced pilots both F/Os and Captains, but you may find that you can't stay in the UK/Europe or the US if you want to find them. As it has now been proven that seniority, at least in the UK, can be totally disregarded, if you have a job with any company which might even be a little bit shaky then start looking now, start networking, talk to the agencies, and if it does all go wrong you to could be sitting in a third rate hotel drinking warm lager and surfing the internet for your entertainment whilst swatting mosquitos and dreaming of cocktail bars.

Warm beer does'nt sound to good. Or the mozzies !:}

TLbird,

Ok I exagerated about the mozzies.

And you can even get a half decent bottle of red wine for no more than it would cost in Tescos (although you might get mugged if you cross the street in the dark to buy it).

Come on in, the water's lovely:)