The embossed certificate I received as a 6-year-old boy after climbing aboard a Lockheed Electra for my first airline flight is a cherished possession. Not only did the certificate record that memorable moment, but it also promised a pilot interview 20 years later. Although I hedged my bets by interviewing with other companies, no other airline really existed for me. After 29 years of employment with my dream airline, the thought of merging with another carrier is foreign to my psyche.
But it appears that I will soon face a new reality. A merger with my airline may have already occurred by the time you read this column.
