As an alternative of shopping for a automotive in school, Collis Wagner received his personal pilot’s license.
When he misplaced his job as an industrial engineer throughout the monetary disaster, he pursued his interest full time—spending years accumulating flight hours and touchdown a pilot job at a regional service. Final 12 months, he was snapped up by American Airways , the place he flew Embraer E190 jets.
Now, Mr. Wagner, 44 years previous, is driving vans close to Dayton, Ohio, after being furloughed in October. He retains his airline caps tucked neatly in a bed room drawer: “Proof I used to be a pilot for actual,” he says.
The pandemic has modified few professions as profoundly as that of the airline pilot. For now, the aviation business’s most prestigious and profitable profession path is now not a positive factor.
Younger pilots with little seniority are being let go. Older ones are taking early retirement. A technology of aspiring airliner captains is being advised to not hassle for now.
