Good News/Bad News

[lucky81698]

The good news is my DH should be transitioning to CAL in the beginning of August. The bad news is the 60% paycut, no insurance for 6 months and the slight possibility of being based in Guam! No 3 weeks vacation, no good schedules, back on reserve, having to get a crashpad...back to where we were 9 years ago! Yikes!

So, for me the party is over. Looks like I will have to find a job (can only be part-time) starting in September that has some type of insurance available. Wish me luck finding that! While I'm happy for him since this is what he wants to do, I'm a wreck worrying about all the other stuff.

[TheWife]

I'm so sorry! Is this the only option for him? Can you have a nice vacation or some good quality time together before this happens?

[Kristie]

that's a great idea!! take the vacation before the move to CAL!

it'll be a hard transition, but you beat the odds before - you two can do it again!!!!

what made him decide to move over to CAL?

[lucky81698]

He has vacation this month and was supposed to have it in August too. But he'll just end up getting paid for it when he leaves.

Since no other major airlines are hiring anyway and who knows when they will be he has no choice. He does not want to stay at ExpressJet the rest of his career. The future there is unknown due to the fact that the capacity purchase agreement with CAL expires at the end of 2006.
That means then they can shop around around for other commuters if they are too expensive. I don't think CAL will drop them because they really are the best "regional" that I think is out there. But you never know what will happen between now and then. Plus there have been lots of reports that the RJ is not going to be as popular in the future and the majors will go back to wanting the larger planes. Which will be good for caraeer progression for everyone.

He was supposed to go over to CAL a few years ago under the flow through, but 9/11 happened and screwed everything up. If he had, he would not have lost anything, pay, insurance, etc. But since we can't change anything we just have to accept it. I know that in the long run he will be better off, it's just that first year that will really suck! Like some guys he knows that were at Express and now at CAL say, the worst day at CAL is still better than the best day at Express. I hope that is true for his sake. Although, he really can't complain too much about ExpressJet, he has done well there.


I am mostly worried about how our son will take it. He idolizes his father and it will be hard for him not being around as much. Plus he has had every holiday/birthday off since he started working. I don't think he will continue to be that lucky!

Thanks for listening to my whining!

[Kristie]

how old is your son?

switching over to CAL now then might be a good idea, esp if he doesn't want to stay at XJT... taking it the rear now might be better than waiting and knowing your going to have to take it later on IMO.

does he understand what CAL's bottom line is now a days?? so that he doesn't jump and get caught in any sticky situations there?

[lucky81698]

Our son is 6. He follows his dad around from the second he walks into the door. When he is home it's like I don't exist!
We'll just have to suck it up and I guess it's better to get it over with. Yeah he knows all about CAL. They just agreed to a really crappy contract. But they are hiring 580 pilots between now and August 2006 so he would have those people behind him. Plus they are expecting a boatload of retirements in the next 6-8 years. There is a pilot that does this program with seniority and barring any 9/11 type ordeals or bankruptcy/merger type things, then it says he would be a captain in around 4-5 years. He said even if he got furloughed, he would rather have a number there??? It would be so nice to have a crystal ball to see the future, but since it's not possible I guess we have to go with what he thinks is best. Scary!

Jan

[fly-girl]

Jan,

I feel for ya! The first year is always so hard going to a major (or any airline for that matter) and it is hard to re-adjust to crappy schedules. At least he will be at a major; that is what everyone dreams of right? Do you currently live at any of the CAL/ XJet bases because that could make things a little easier except for the Guam scenario of course. I think the best way to look at the situation is that at least in the big picture this is a good thing that will only get better with time.

I am going through a similar situation myself. DH currently works for XJet (based in IAH) and he is putting off upgrading to captain until he can at least hold a line there. Right now and for the past year and a half, his schedule has been SO nice that i know it is going to be hard to re-adjust. He is so senior as an FO right now he holds check airman lines and gets FBO'd all the time so its great right now but this time next year is going to suck.

Anyways, i just wanted to let you know that i know how you feel and good luck with everything!! I think pilot wives are pretty strong independent women so i am sure you will be fine!

[lucky81698]

Dyane,

We live in PIT so he drives to CLE. It's about a 2 1/2 drive but he like to give himself 4 hours just in case, the employee parking van, etc. He always gets home much quicker. CLE is pretty senior for CAL since the base is so small compared to IAH and EWR. It's pretty senior at least as far as captains go for XJT too for the same reason. We are not planning on moving no matter what!

Do you live in IAH? I think I remember someone on here that lived around CVG that commuted to IAH, but I'm not sure if that is you. My DH waited to upgrade a little while too. He was out with a shattered ankle for 6 months (OJI thank goodness) so he wanted a little more experience. That was back on the ATR though. He was never really on reserve that long because there was so much movement back then. I'm sure with alot of the senior guys going over to CAL, if he waits a little to upgrade he should be able to at least hold a conversion line or whatever it is they are calling it these days. It is so easy to get used to the good schedules and nice pay (after the upgrade of course), the 3 weeks vacation, holidays off, etc that you take it for granted and now it is going to be quite a shock once it changes!
Good luck on the upgrade once he decides to do it, at least enjoy this summer!

Jan

[fly-girl]

Jan,

We live in CVG and DH commutes to IAH. We went back and forth for a while about whether or not to move to IAH but when it came right down to it neither of us wanted to leave our family and friends and support that we have here.

Congrats on the move to CAL. Hopefully the first year will go by quickly and then things will get better from there. And you can always vent to us.

[lucky81698]

Dyane,

Thanks for the congrats! The base cities don't really appeal to either of us, plus my family (parents) are here. I lived away from "home" for 16 years and when I had a baby, we moved here. We ended up buying a house three streets away so it works out really well. Plus my DH gets along great with them (I think they like him more than me sometimes!) Not to mention, it is so cheap to live here it is almost crazy!

DH called the guy at CAL last week and was told his class date now is Sept 6. That will be much better for us. I hope it doesn't change. There's a good chance it can be moved up which I am not hoping for. By the time all of the PIPs (I'm sure your DH knows what they are) move to CAL, he should move up at least 150 numbers! So it will be good for all the XJT pilots. Has he decided to upgrade now or wait?

Oh, I'm sure I'll be whining alot come fall! I can't get any sympathy from my parents, they just tell me to suck it up ..I knew they deal when I married him!I grew up in an airline family (not pilot)so I should be used to all the crap that goes along with it!

Jan