[Joeaksa]

It cost me a job at one company. Was kinda pushed into being a fleet manager, which entailed being over 400 pilots. Enjoyed doing it but never forgot that I was a line puke beforehand and supported the guys doing the work when they needed and deserved it.

New set of managers came in at the top level and first thing that they did was to require all managers to be a manager only, that is not flying half the time and in the office behind a desk the other half. It meant that you lost total contact and touch with what was going on out in the field. I declined and it took 4 months to find someone to volunteer to take my slot over. No one wanted it under the new rules. Finally a ex-cop who was a poor pilot accepted the position and I went back out in the field for good.

Problem was that the guy who took my slot was not liked by many and it got worse as time went on due to his attitude and lack of people skills. Otherwise known as he was a sucka$$ and took the companies side before anything else.

He kept hearing that he did not run things as the two managers before him. When he had the chance he simply eliminated that issue, and I was laid off 3 weeks after 9/11, along with 20% of the rest of the workforce. Went from that to being the manager over the entire flight department at a new startup company. Lots of work but learned a lot and very good experience.

Still, all in all would not change anything. The guys I worked with are still my friends and am in touch with most of them today. They know what happened and why. Also, the manager that took my slot has been applying for a new job outside of the old company on and off for 4 years now. Every place he tries then contacts someone who works or worked at our old company to find out what he is like (aviation is a very small world) and he is then blackballed. After what happened he will never hold a job at a descent place again so has decided to stay where he is. He is getting what he deserves, one day at a time.

Question for you is, how old are you and are you ready to take a chance? Does it require a move and if so are the family (if you have one) ready to move with you? If you are 45 or 50 and nearing retirement it might not be a good time to start something new. A bit younger and you can rebound if it does not go right. Lots of variables here and you need to look at all of them.

JoeA