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Day Job?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author observes a growing trend where the airline pilot profession is becoming a secondary or part-time job for many, with pilots actively pursuing alternative business ventures or side incomes.
  • This shift is primarily driven by declining pay, erosion of benefits, increased workload, and a general decrease in job satisfaction and respect within the airline industry.
  • The article expresses concern that this focus on external ventures could lead pilots to lose concentration on their primary duties, potentially impacting professional proficiency and flight safety.
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My copilot walked over to the counter top in JFK Operations where I had scattered various segments of the flight plan paperwork. His pace was quick. He introduced himself and apologized for his slight tardiness. He had commuted in from South Carolina to La Guardia and had taken a taxi ride through rush hour traffic over to JFK. We were departing to Zurich, a destination I had never been.

Almost nine months had passed since my last trip across The Pond. I felt a little rusty with the procedures. A proficient copilot would keep me out of trouble. My biggest challenge was to shake off the lethargy of almost a month’s vacation. The next challenge, about nine hours away, would be flying the arrival idiosyncrasies into Zurich.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.

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