Ah, retirement!!

[tonysoprano]

Subject: NWA Captain Retirement Letter


Northwest Airline Captain Retirement Letter

Well , The good news is, Today I officially Retire from Northwest
Airlines and I was hired last week for a Service Advisor job in the
automotive division of Sears (which is the first real job I had while
going to college and loved it and it's what I want to do in my old
age)--pay is good and it includes full medical,dental,401k & profit
sharing---should be more than enough even without the retirement
money---may still consider the same line of work at a regular
dealership at some point, covering my six for now---- I'll be home
every night---no more check rides--no FEDS or commuters on my jump
seat taking up my office space---no more 25% PENALTY for being
legitimately sick---no more scum bag hotels---no more old bitchy
flight attendants---no more 14 hour duty days with 10 hour
layovers---no more drafting my butt downline to fly the remains of
somebody else's trip because they can't staff the airline
correctly---no more zero/zero approaches into blinding thunderstorms
or blizzards--no more strip searches at the security checkpoints by
high school drop-outs ( my I.D. means nothing )--no more subway
sandwiches at the airport served by Somalis that can never get my
order right. Can't sit down and have a hot meal between legs at a
nice restaurant cause there's not enough time---no more missed
recitals, birthdays or holidays---no more 3:30 am (body clock) wakeup
calls on the east coast--no more number 20 for take off behind 18 little
regional jets at LaGuardia---no more company bus rides from the
employee lot in machines, where either the rear door doesn't work or
the A.C. or heat is out of order---no more "fear and intimidation
style management" to live under( the head honcho of the Sears store
actually gave me the second and final intervie w ( not normal) " he
actually wanted to meet me" and said I should consider a position in
management with my credentials and philosophies about how I believe
people should be treated and that he was really happy to see someone
like me consider a position with his company ..he told me I would be
an asset to any organization, unlike my current employer, that has
always "behind the scenes" regarded me and my peers as liabilities
and prima donnas..go figure ! I'm not unique. Most Pilots at this point
still fit the same mold. Unfortunately that mold is slowly and
methodically being reshaped by corporate robber barons into something
they can shackle to a Yoke and, who they hope, will never question
the methods to their madness.
The more I re-read this e-mail, the more I wonder why it has
taken me so long to come to this decision to hang up flying---oh yeh,
it's cause I couldn't touch my retirement money till now, penalty
free....I'm finally ready for the simpler life with considerably less
stress. It use to be that the Airline rewarded us for all these
little inconviences we take for granted and the time we spend away
from home and family that was part of our daily lives in this profession.
We made good money, had considerable time off and the benefits were to
brag about.That is no longer the case. My Plumber makes more a year
now than I do. His labor rate alone is $95.00/hr when he set my
kitchen sink last May and he's a high school drop out. His yearly
salary is based on a 160 hour work month (40 a week) --My $93.00/hr
and annual salary is based on an 80 hour month (hard time in the air)
which doesn't include all the on duty and time I am away from home.

I suspect the New Airline Pilot of the future will probably be one
of those kids you remember in high school that got out of classes
on a 2:30pm work permit to go learn a trade because they weren't
particularly bright. Of course he'll have to be on some kind of Government
program to pay for his training. There's no way he'll be able to come up
with the $100,000.00 in flight training costs to get his licences, and you'll
never see another Military Pilot leave the armed forces for an Air Carrier
position where it will take almost his entire career to reach the salary he
left behind at his Military job. I would not recommend this profession anymore
to anyone I really cared about. My guess is the Airline industry will have to
lower their Standards as well as their requirements as the airplanes get more
automated (the FAA will agree) if they're gonna get any applicants.

Let the buyer beware when he takes his next airplane ride in the future.
I have absolutely no regrets about getting out while the getting is good.
I use to love my job and the adventure that every trip brought. It's just no
fun going to work anymore. It's all about quality of life ---unfortunately,
you don't figure that out till you're on the back side of the clock in most
careers and in the Big Scheme of things, approaching your own ultimate demise.
Life is really too short to devote one extra minute of your time to a company
as well as a profession that is not everything you had hoped for,
I'm baffled trying to think of another industry that has so brutally passed
on the increased costs of doing business to their employees rather
than their customers. Even my garbage man is charging a surcharge
for fuel to me rather than rape his employees.
I'm out - a - here.......
CS

ps: I will forward a short movie to some of you of my Northwest
Uniform going up in smoke so no terrorist can ever use it. My Eastern
Airlines uniform and my Navy uniform still hang proudly in my
closet....

[KAG]

That was awesome!!!!!

[balfour]

Sure does make you think if it's all worth it. The job sure does have it's perks but the down side sure outweighs the up. Great post!

[Just another canuck]

Great post, but slightly depressing.

[sky's the limit]

Yes, if it's real, it is awesome.

That's why I left fixed wing for helicopters. While it's better in rotary, I'm still giving myself 5yrs more of full-time, then hanging up the helmet except for the summer months, make my living doing other things. While it's easy to bag on the airlines that have fallen so far from grace, the problem is the same the industry over.

stl

[Bell]

Awesome. After what I've experienced in this industry, I'm done. I've seen what other trades make compared to ames and I'd like to have the chance to buy my own place and have some $$$ - difficult to achieve in aviation and too much hassle. Wonder how many others will abandon 'The Dream'.

[KAG]

This topic got me thinking, what would you do if you wern't flying?
Myself, I'd be a contractor. I've discovered I really enjoy working with wood/houses.

[Cat Driver]

This topic got me thinking, what would you do if you wern't flying?
Myself, I'd be a contractor. I've discovered I really enjoy working with wood/houses.

That is what I did.....

...and I no longer have to be probed by some wand monkey every time I want to go to work...that alone makes it worth while.

[AV8R]

Great post..

the sad part is the most of the general population sees pilots walking through the airport with the white shirt and epaulettes and thinks that this guy has it made. "wow your a pilot you must be loaded"...what a bunch of garbage.

Ticket prices have never been so cheap; you can fly almost anywhere for 200$

[jalexb88]

GOOD Let the ones that hate their job leave so we ones that consider flying a privilege can takeover.

[yfly]

A realistic email for sure. The reason I got out of airline and into corporate when I could. Never looked back and have enough time to run my own company on the side.

[sky's the limit]

GOOD Let the ones that hate their job leave so we ones that consider flying a privilege can takeover.

Flying for a living is not a "privilege," it's your job.

stl

[tonysoprano]

I have to admit it does come across a bit depressing. Sorry. But you'd be surprised how many guys think that way these days. I don't ever recall wanting to do anything else but fly except with some mild flirtations with architecture as a younger lad. I do agree with much of the letter but still glad I'm flying airplanes.

[yfly]

GOOD Let the ones that hate their job leave so we ones that consider flying a privilege can takeover.

Working for a living is a right, not a privilege.

[Lurch]

GOOD Let the ones that hate their job leave so we ones that consider flying a privilege can takeover.

Sounds like a 200 hour wonder who's working the ramp

[jalexb88]

Its a job, I know. I meant those that have a passion to fly. I fly about 12 hrs per week on average and I would love to fly more. I find it depressing to see a post like this where someone gives up his dream.

[Just another canuck]

Its a job, I know. I meant those that have a passion to fly. I fly about 12 hrs per week on average and I would love to fly more. I find it depressing to see a post like this where someone gives up his dream.

It sounds to me like he lived the dream and is now coming back to reality...

12 hrs per week eh... half ramp, half FO?? I'm not too old either my friend, but it sounds like you're too young to know what the hell you're talking about. Forgive me if I'm wrong.

some mild flirtations with architecture as a younger lad.

Me too!! I wanted to be an architect or fly airplanes... looks like I zigged when I should have zagged.

[yfly]

Its a job, I know. I meant those that have a passion to fly. I fly about 12 hrs per week on average and I would love to fly more. I find it depressing to see a post like this where someone gives up his dream.

We all start out with that passion. Like Mr. Soprano said above, it is still a great way to make a living (paraphrasing) as long as you can.

I once had a passion for playing professional soccer but when you have been kicked in the grapes and trodden when you are down a number of times, that passion fades.

[skat0r]

well that is motivating...............................................................................................................................

[flying4dollars]

Good but depressing post. I'm always asked what I'd do if I wasn't a pilot. The list isn't very big at all. I still love what I do, granted I've only been doing it for a mere fraction of what many of you senior guys have done it for, but at the end of the day, I still proudly enter in my flight times in the log, and I still have a big grin on my face when the engines start and we taxi out for a departure, or when the wheels touch down for landing. No matter how bad aviation has gotten since the glory days, I'd still do this for the rest of my life. Though if it got to a point where I couldn't live a respectable life (having a savings, a house, and not living paycheque to paycheque), then I'd probably consider something else. I just hope it never gets to that point. My dad always wanted to be a pilot, but never had the means and his parents wouldn't support that dream, so he lives vicariously through me in that regard. That's another motivator for me.

I just hope it all gets better and the glory of 'living the dream' can be restored for most of you. Cheers!

[KAG]

I'm one of those guys that only wanted to fly for a living. Now that I'm at my retirement job (god willing) I have lots of time to think about other things outside of aviation. There are few careers that afford you the time to have a second job/career/business, or work towards a degree (or a trade) at the same time. I don't know about you guys, but my reading quantity has gone through the roof since joining the airlines, and I would really like to get into a business outside of aviation on my days off. I’m kinda lazy though so that may be a problem…

For the record, I still love to fly, and look forward to going to work. But it is just a job, don't let it define you.

[pic777]

Your story reminded me of many of the unpleasantries of flying short haul, although the flying itself was fantastic!

Now happiness is V1 and flying for 13+ (of which half are spent watching movies or laying down )hrs and then party for 24, rest 24, then 13+ back and 11 days off.
Hotels are getting worse indeed, some other things too, but it still beats working for a living, even the shorter flights with less time off.
I'll challenge any plumber to have a take home pay, (yes, after tax) of well into 6 digits, while working part time. He doesn't get to spend time in Singapore, drink wine in Capetown, shop in New York, or be locked up in a hotel in Lagos. OK never mind the last one, but most of the trips are fun and you get paid for it too.
I have a chance to retire early in just a couple of years and will probably take it, for health reasons, but no regrets doing what I'm doing or what I've done. From bush flying a twotter in -40'+' (or is that 'minus'?) to wide bodies in +30
I always allow and usually enjoy people in the cockpit when there is space available, but we kick 'm out fairly quick and they go into the crew rest and are usually quite content when they show up for the landing again. I still hand fly the thing and take pride in flying a nice approach and putting a dent into the runway.

But, Congrats! You made it with no major accidents and now are doing something that you feel is appreciated more. Good for you.
The rest of us will have to worry if the airline we fly for will survive until we can retire

[Jet2099]

A realistic email for sure. The reason I got out of airline and into corporate when I could. Never looked back and have enough time to run my own company on the side.

This email is way too gloomy. I don't think it's realistic at all. It only focuses on the negative aspects of the job. I know that those aspects exist but what about all the positive aspects? They certainly do exist even if you choose to block them from your reality.

A more realistic approach is to balance the good with the bad.

[tonysoprano]

And now for something completely different....
My job sure has changed. I got in it just as the last of the WW2 captains were retiring. They were the icons of our industry at a time when pilots ruled and a man had nothing standing in his way. Smoking in the "cockpit" was a God given right!! But as attractive as that sounds I kind of like the world of a pilot today. Sure, it's more difficult to go to work and everyone is more important than me. But why is it that I keep having to pinch myself when I'm up there enjoying the scenery or having a cold beer in Rome or Munich at an outside patio watching pretty ladies walk by and tease me? Yep, if only I could combine some of yesterday with some of today. That would be ideal.

[MUSKEG]

Jalexb. You obiously are one of those that hears only what he wants to hear. We all started the same as you, viewed everything thru rose colored glasses and pinched ourselves everytime we go to hit the start button. Given time your dream will turn into a nightmare. Listen to those that have been there done that and get into something that will reward you long term. There is way more to life than pursuing flying like it's the be all end all of life. I still fly but for myself. I'm done being inconvienianced so someone else can have a life.