[jetengineman's wife]

Ok... so, it's been a while since I posted anything. I managed to find a great new job NOT working in fast food and things were going great at hubby's job with Kalitta Air, so we were feeling pretty fat, dumb and happy for a while. Then Kalitta began to experience his worst year ever, losing his son, 2 airplanes crashing and having various other issues that impacted the business. Needless to say, having been through aviation down-turns before, we started stock-piling money in savings and reducing our spending. Thank goodness for a little foresight, because hubby lost his job a few weeks ago. Now we are stuck in the dilemma facing so many in Michigan (and other states, too)... we own a house that is no longer worth enough to justify putting it up for sale in an area where every fifth house seems to be on the market.... we have too much in savings to qualify for aid... there are NO jobs available in this area (a MichiganWorks search recently showed 20 jobs in a 25 mile radius... all in the medical field, insurance sales or for minimum wage... not exactly worth giving up unemployment!)

We are lucky because we can probably make it fine on my pay and his unemployment until his benefits run out... but what then? Do we walk away from our house like so many others are doing... I don't think my pride could take it. Do we rent it out and hope to God that the tenants don't destroy it while we look for work out of state? Do we play the lotto and hope like heck we win??? (Ok... just kidding).

Is anyone else out there in the same position? Does anyone have any great wisdom to impart? Does anyone know anything positive about the airline industry that they could share with me??? I understand that this is a tired old story for many.... but I just was looking for some support. Thanks.

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by jetengineman's wife

Ok... so, it's been a while since I posted anything. I managed to find a great new job NOT working in fast food and things were going great at hubby's job with Kalitta Air, so we were feeling pretty fat, dumb and happy for a while. Then Kalitta began to experience his worst year ever, losing his son, 2 airplanes crashing and having various other issues that impacted the business. Needless to say, having been through aviation down-turns before, we started stock-piling money in savings and reducing our spending. Thank goodness for a little foresight, because hubby lost his job a few weeks ago. Now we are stuck in the dilemma facing so many in Michigan (and other states, too)... we own a house that is no longer worth enough to justify putting it up for sale in an area where every fifth house seems to be on the market.... we have too much in savings to qualify for aid... there are NO jobs available in this area (a MichiganWorks search recently showed 20 jobs in a 25 mile radius... all in the medical field, insurance sales or for minimum wage... not exactly worth giving up unemployment!)

We are lucky because we can probably make it fine on my pay and his unemployment until his benefits run out... but what then? Do we walk away from our house like so many others are doing... I don't think my pride could take it. Do we rent it out and hope to God that the tenants don't destroy it while we look for work out of state? Do we play the lotto and hope like heck we win??? (Ok... just kidding).

Is anyone else out there in the same position? Does anyone have any great wisdom to impart? Does anyone know anything positive about the airline industry that they could share with me??? I understand that this is a tired old story for many.... but I just was looking for some support. Thanks.

Lucky for you the Government will probably just keep giving more unemployment when his runs out, if he hasnt found a job by then. Not a cool way to look at it, but its true.

[jetengineman's wife]

Last we checked... I think he can get up to a year of benefits... after that, it seems like they'd be telling us to move on! He doesn't qualify for "re-training" either, because he's already certified as an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic... the state's attitude is "hey, you're already trained to do something, so go do it". What they don't realize is that we have to leave the state for him to find work... which means we take our taxes with us so the state will lose, too. We'd love to stay but if things don't turn around, we'll have to go eventually. I don't want to live on unemployment benefits forever... We'd like to be able to retire some day before we are 80, after all!

[MICoastieMom]

Has he checked Phelps-Collins in Alpena? It would be a long commute, but at least you could stay in your own home.

[flyingwriter]

Unfortunately, I'm starting out in the aviation industry. Well, not exactly, seeing as how I can't find a job in aviation if I tried! I'm graduating from college with an aviation degree, and I have NO aviation job prospects whatsoever. I'm hoping for a stable job in fast food or insurance sales so I can support myself. It's frustrating, and I can only imagine what it must be like with a family and mortgage.

While I don't have any experience in the airline industry, I do know that no major airline is hiring right now. Most are furloughing (laying off) or instituting hiring freezes. A few of the regionals are hiring (Mesaba), but seeing as how your husband worked for Kalitta, I doubt he'd be willing to step down to a regional. Riley Aviation in Sturgis may be hiring pilots, but I'm not sure. The aviation industry is cyclical, so there will be hiring again, but no one knows when.

[embroidery_rocks]

We came from a situation close to yours....as you can see we now live in Connecticut! I'm sorry I can't give any advice about your home (we rented) My husband was an A+P working for a small FBO in northern michigan, lake michigan side. Very thankful we never went the kalitta route (sorry!) Once we cought a whiff that the industry was turning (Not just aviation, but the tourism industry since the local economy was based on that) We, thank the good Lord, got a job out here, packed what we could fit into our two trucks and headed east.

Every day I wish we could have stayed. Not just where we were, but anywhere in the midwest. My husband hunted, i had horses, we had a yard for the dogs, we had space to breathe. We currently live one of the most populated states in the union and one of the richest, which isn't good for lower/middle class. The only real advice I can give you is if you decide to move, visit the place first if at all possble. Trust what the majority of city-data'ers tell you about the place too!

Also, JSfirm.com i found is a great site for aviation industry jobs.

[jetengineman's wife]

Thanks for the advice, embroidery_rocks... as they say... hind-sight is 20/20! For some reason we decided to jump into buying a house 3 years ago... things were looking good up here then so we thought it was an ok investment. Now we wish we had rented! If we get lucky and sell our house, where ever we go, we'll be renting for at least the first year this time!

Kazoopilot... good luck to you! I remember when Hubby first started in aviation, he had a heck of a time getting in with a company that didn't require 5 years experience, even though he already had his A&P license... very frustrating. He started with a small company at Willow Run airport making $8.50/hr... luckily it only took a few years for him to make his way up the pay scale. Now I'm afraid we've gotten spoiled and he won't be able to find a job making what he was before being laid off. May have to seriously adjust our standard of living... hard to do with 2 kids who out-grow their clothes as quick as I can buy them. Looks like I'll become a garage sale shopper!

[embroidery_rocks]

Goodwill is your friend! I seem to remember another church thrift store in the area that my mom and I frequented when my dad's work took him to Oscoda a couple times a year (he's FAA...lol!)

I just thank God every day that we got out when we did (summer 2007) and that we were broke enough that we didn't get a house!

Same for my hubby too, he applied where he is now right out of school, but it took two years of bottom rung of the ladder mechanics work to get accepted when he applied again!