Flight Delays and Terminal Seats

As I sit in the Oklahoma City terminal, staring out at our aircraft that has been pushed away from the gate to languish unused while more worthy aircraft come and go, I find myself pondering whether terminal seats or airplane seats are more comfortable. While the industrial steel frames of the terminal seats seem uninviting, I have to admit that the thin vinyl seat cushions arm much softer than anticipated. I also have a great view of the airport itself and I have to admit that I still enjoy watching airplanes takeoff and land, although now I can add to the fun by mocking the pilots who bounce or otherwise land too hard. As fun as that is, I often find myself shoulder to shoulder with other delayed passengers although my sharp, boney elbows usually protect my armrests from intrusions.

On cooler days or if the AC is hooked up, I’ll usually opt for sitting on the aircraft, however. With a 2” recline, pillows barely big enough to cover my ear, micro-sheet thin blankets, and a cramped cave-like interior, it’s hard to beat airplane seat comfort! Jokes aside, I don’t know why but I actually find it fairly easy to get comfortable and nap in the back of the airplane when it’s empty. Actually, I enjoy napping with it full too, as long as the passenger beside me doesn’t grab my arm and yelp every time we hit a bump.

Well, looks like our aircraft has become more worthy again so I can head that way and hide while the poor gate agent has to explain over and over again that we’re delayed because of weather in Atlanta and there’s nothing she can do to fix the weather in Atlanta!

Crew Interaction

While it’s been tough to stay positive this month knowing I’ll be kicked to the street at the end of it, I’m finding that the crews I fly with are making a tremendous difference. When you spend four days (or more) wandering the country, it’s important that you can get along with a wide range of personalities because you’re stuck with them in a tiny moving room with only two seats for hours at a time. The worst trips are those spent in pure silence or having to listen to problems or issues that you have no real interest in. The only captain I didn’t enjoy flying with this month was the latter – I finally decided that although his wife might have other issues, his marital problems most likely stemmed from his behavior and selfishness, not her lack of interest in him which he brought up every single flight.

On the flip side are most of the other captains I’ve flown with – easy going but at the same time very precise and competent. With every flight deadline oriented, the job can quickly become stressful for the high strung and typically the entire crew seems to feed off the captain’s attitude through the trip. I know that’s life in general, but it’s been rather nice to relax a little at work, even knowing the job will be gone shortly!

Job Searching

It's been nearly a month now since I found out I would be unemployed in September and the job search to date has been rather fruitless. Admittedly, I am still working through all of the stages of anger/loss so I spent the first week or so in step one, denial, even though I had spent the previous six months attempting to happily ignore the possibility. Week two I took out my step two anger on poor dispatchers and aviation forums online. I also came to the conclusion at this point that there was little hope of finding a flying job in the near future. It's so bad at the moment that a job in Nigeria received several hundred applications to fill six positions.

So I've shifted focus to engineering to engage in more futility while job searching. While there actually are engineering jobs available, there are multiple candidates and the six year absence from the field is not helping. I must have skipped step three bargaining because I find myself pondering for hours whether Walgreens or unemployment would pay better so I can only assume that I've moved on to step four depression/resignation. The good news is that step five acceptance is next, but the bad news is I can repeat steps one through three as often as necessary.

All is not lost though - there are several transportation projects due to start up in northeast Georgia this fall/winter and I have my foot in the door with a couple of companies who may be involved. The real question is can Kimberly deal with me being home every night and day until something comes up!

Oh, I can't say there are no aviation jobs out there - Airwolf Aviation in South Carolina is looking for fixed winged instructors. Yes, I know, I was disappointed too when I learned that they didn't fly helicopters. Between that and the hour and a half commute, it just wasn't the job for me!

Air Traffic Control

When I was flight instructing, I often told my students that air traffic control (ATC) was there to provide clearances when needed and look out for us, but never trust them. Sounds harsh, but we tend to stay more alert and situationally aware when we are in charge of our own safety.

Today was a great example of why - our flight number was 4956 and the aircraft ahead of us was 9956. When the controller cleared us for approach for landing, we were at an odd angle and started to comply, but it seemed off so I started to turn back to our original heading. As I did that, flight 9956 queried whether that clearance was meant for them and controller (unaware of the error) cleared them for the approach (in his mind again) and then gave us a heading that made more sense. If we had taken the original clearance, we likely would have come dangerously close to the flight ahead of us.

Now, don't get me wrong - with hundreds of approaches, this was the only time an instruction would have placed us in danger, but if we weren't situationally aware, knowing that the flight in front of us had a similar call sign and knowing their relative position, things might have been a bit more exciting!

Being Positive in the Face of Furlough

It's been somewhat difficult to see positive, much less write positive about flying when I know my dream career of flying for a living will be put on hold come September. I've been warning the captains I fly with lately that I'm usually more laid back but, due to my impending furlough, I'm a bit more surly than normal. While I usually enjoy occasional sarcasm, I also tend to fall back on it heavily to diffuse difficult situations. I must say though, the captains I've flown with have been great and I've enjoyed their interactions over the last few weeks a bit more I think.

I've actually been fairly behaved despite my warnings - I've only chewed out one dispatcher and was met by radio cheers and a statement from my captain that she always wanted to chew that particular individual out. I did refrain from name calling although I might have been a bit condescending.

This latest trip has been, contrary to reason, has been more enjoyable than usual! After exchanging the usual pleasantries, the captain (who I've flown with before) mentioned he would be downgraded to first officer next month. I replied 'Sorry to hear that, but if you want, you can have my seat!' So he says, 'Oh, man, why is it the good ones that are being let go?' Set a good tone for the trip even though we're both slated for a significant decrease in salary next month.

Well, back to the job hunt it is!

Scheduling Abuse

It's been a rough summer - the following is very representative of my schedule this summer.

Thursday 7/1 - 0400 EST - called to report to Atlanta for a reposition flight to Tulsa.

1230 CST - sent to hotel in Tulsa for rest because damaged airplane isn't ready yet.

2030 CST - report back to airport.

2130 CST - sent back to hotel because damaged airplane isn't ready yet.

Friday 7/2 - was a scheduled off day moved to 8/4 because the damaged airplane wasn't ready.

0745 CST - report back to Tulsa airport and ferry a storm damaged airplane back to Atlanta.

1230 EST - extended for a Roanoke round trip that leaves 3 hours later.

2230 EST - have "Conversations with Crew Scheduling"

Saturday 7/3 - 0830 EST - called one hour before my on call period begins 'because they can'. I ignore the call.

0930 EST - I acknowledge the 1500 report time and wonder why crew scheduling thought it necessary to call me six and a half hours early...besides 'because they can'.

1500 EST - Fly to Jacksonville, NC and spend the night.

Sunday 7/4 - 0545 EST - leave the hotel for the Jacksonville airport.

0845 EST - extended for a Brunswick, GA round trip.

1300 EST - extended for an Augusta round trip. (guess they had to make up for 7/2)

1730 EST - finally leave for Augusta.

2130 EST - finally get back from Augusta and am informed of another trip on 7/5 at 1710.

7/5 -1600 EST - check in for a round trip to Oklahoma City.

1900 EST - finally leave for Oklahoma City.

Midnight - finally arrive back in Atlanta.

Technically only a 48 hour work week, but the morning duty-in/ midnight duty-out flips are difficult to adjust to!!

Conversations with Crew Scheduling

Pilots and flight attendants have a love/hate relationship with crew scheduling at the airlines. Well, there's not much love involved but I digress! The following conversation actually occurred:

While on a round trip to Roanoke, I get a call from crew scheduling (which I ignore) and they leave the following message: "First officer Nicholson, this is crew scheduling. We have modified your schedule - call us as soon as you get this message." Shortly after that, Roanoke ATC informs us of a three to four hour ground stop in Atlanta due to the weather. So we sit well over three hours and like a good little pilot, I call scheduling when we get back.

after 5 minutes of being on hold...

cs: Crew scheduling.

me: Marc Nicholson, #xxxxx

cs: Yes first officer Nicholson, how can I help you?

me: You told me to call, so I did.

cs: Ok. How is Augusta?

me: I'm not in Augusta.

cs: You're not in Augusta?

me: Nooo, I'm not in Augusta.

cs: Standby.

after a minute of listing to Coldplay while on hold....

cs: First officer Nicholson, you're not in Augusta?

me: Nooo, I'm in Atlanta - I just got back from Roanoke.

cs: Oh. I guess you're released. We'll see you back at 1610 tomorrow.

*click*

I still wonder who went to Augusta