I’ve placed my final bid just now and the results are to come in tonight. Once the results come in, I will be able to determine a hard date to resign from the company. By the time I go to bed, I should know a date that will be pegged as my final date.
The only other variable in play is that I have requested an early furlough from the powers that be. I sent a written and signed request for such as is standard procedure, and followed it up with an e-mail to the chief pilot. I am waiting for a response. Should they honor my request for an early furlough, I may amend my last day accordingly.
The advantages to the furlough are:
1. I keep my seniority number. The ONLY way this can benefit me is to accept the callback when it comes, WHEN it comes. The chances of me being done with school and in a position to accept a callback are slim. And honestly, I am done with Trans States. It was a great resume booster. But, I am tired of commuting and with the housing market down and my wife gainfully employed at home, especially during these difficult times, it would be the stupidest thing EVER to try to uproot everything to move. I can do SO SO much better than this if I decide to go back to 121 down the road. Trans States was a knee jerk entry into 121 and nothing more.
2. IF, I go back to another company, it would likely look better to an interview board to see that I was furloughed rather than having resigned. However, my cause is noble. I am not moving to another carrier right now. I believe any interview board would have respect for my decision and not hold it against me. Plus, earning the CPA, in my estimation, would actually look good to an interview board. It proves that I can do more than fly an airplane, and I will be a certified professional in another, well respected field.
3. Unemployment. However, if in school full time, I am not eligible anyway. I must be ready, willing, and able to accept a job should one be offered. I will not be, as it is a conscious decision to go back to school. Furthermore, the value of the pay out is about $8,000 dollars over 26 weeks. $8,000 bucks isn’t going to change much in the scheme of things, even if I could collect – which I can’t for the above stated reason.
4. I will keep travel benefits for 60 days after furlough. However, we aren’t in a position to vacation anywhere right now due to our tight money situation, so this a moot point.
THATS IT!
The advantages to resigning:
1. I get two weeks off between my last day here and my first day of school. I believe it would behoove me mentally to have that time to enjoy all the holidays with family (I missed them ALL last year), unwind, be with my wife, monitor registration continually until I can get into the classes I need. I believe I could start school with a fresh mind after having some time to relax at home.
2. It keeps me at cause over this job. I can set a hard date and go with it without wondering what the company will do to me, make plans accordingly, etc.
3. I will no longer have connection to this company. This is an advantage as I see it. I have been faltering back and forth since day one about whether I want to continue this path of professional aviation. If I sever ties completely, I do not have to worry about a recall letter showing up in my box and having to worry about that. I can have a clean mind and focus on the CPA task completely.
The bottom line: If I ever go back to professional aviation, it will not be with this company. Been there done that. And as such, for all real purposes, a furlough is no different than a resignation.
I have already notified my crash pad owner of my intentions to be out by year end. They require 30 days notice. If I was a betting man, I’d say that I’ll be gone in 30 days.