Mon, Jul 17, 2006
Many Saying It Just Isn't Worth It
As the airlines slowly recover from
those terrible days following 9/11... they're starting to recall
flight crews. As many as 8,000 were furloughed as the economic
disaster that befell this industry unfolded. But now that some of
them are being asked to return to work... many are saying, in
essence, "Hell no, we won't go."
Pilots at Delta Air Lines report only one pilot has agreed to
return for every three pilots asked back. Other airlines, such as
American, US Airways and Northwest say that ratio is more like
five-to-one.
What's keeping those pilots away? Well, for one, many of the
pilots furloughed in 2001 have since gotten jobs in other
industries... and as much as they may love to fly, it makes little
sense for them to give up those jobs over the prospect of working
longer hours, and for less money, to help keep finacially shaky
airlines afloat.
Others say they don't want to be away from home as much as 22
days a month... up from the 15 or 16 that was the standard just a
few years ago.
As other airlines contemplate recalls, Air Line Pilots
Association President Duane Woerth tells the Washington Post those
carriers have to face pilots who are very aware of the precarious
nature of the business... and who watch the news like anyone
else.
"Every single time there is some international incident, oil
jumps five bucks a barrel," said Woerth. "The pilot thinks: 'I just
relocated my family once, and I'm going to have to relocate them
again, and some unknown event will happen. Some airline will panic
and furlough me again.' They just don't want to get caught in that
whipsaw."
Could this lead to a shortage of qualified flight crews?
Wouldn't that be ironic...
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