The story starts back in February when I got my first “real” physical in several years. I get an FAA physical every six months but that’s a pretty cursory check. Without disclosing too much of my medical history, let’s just say that my doctor was very “concerned”. I’ve been struggling with high blood pressure for years but I had no idea it was that high.
I was also declared “non-morbidly obese”.
Now the term “obese” carries a lot of baggage. I certainly didn’t look it. I’m one of those stocky guys who can carry an extra 20 pounds around and not show it because it goes everywhere instead of one spot.
I certainly thought of myself as being pretty fit for a 58 year old. I rode my bike 3600 miles last year and have done quite a few “century rides” of 100+ miles. I’m not a super fast rider but I’m no slouch either.
When your doctor starts using words like “heart attack” and “stroke” it’s time to take notice. Especially when there’s a viral pandemic going on I figure the last thing I need to do is make myself more vulnerable.
On my doctor’s recommendation I called in sick. My job can be physically demanding. Long hours, working nights, poor sleep, poor food choices and too much caffeine are a recipe for health problems. They call us cargo haulers “freight dogs” because we age in dog years.
I made sure the powers-that-be knew what I was dealing with and that I could be out for a while. Happens to a lot of us as we get older. Fortunately we have excellent sick/disability benefits. I’m also glad I’ve been paying extra for the top-of-the-line medical plan. I figured at my age I’d probably need it eventually.
Long story short, after four months, medication, multiple doctor visits and 2500 miles on the bike I’ve dropped 35 pounds. I’ve also cut back on caffeine, alcohol and salt. My blood pressure is…….well…...improved. It’s still not where we’d like it to be but it’s good enough to go back to work.
I’ve never been one for fancy diets. If you find one that works for you great, just don’t feel like you need to convert me. I go with the old fashioned “eat less exercise more” which works for me as long as I stick with it.
While all this was going on we’ve had this pandemic to deal with. It’s done horrible things to the airline industry. One of my friends at DAL told me that they were losing $50 million a day back in March. It looks like they’re going to furlough 2,500 pilots soon and that may only be the first round. United has similar numbers of furloughs on the table.
A year ago there was a massive pilot shortage and now there’s a glut. Such is the industry.
Now I know that airline management has done some questionable things like stock buybacks in recent years. It’s the rank and file employees, however, that will bear the brunt of the damage. Upper management will take their golden parachutes and be just fine.
While the passenger world suffers the freight world has been booming during the pandemic. As you can imagine, online shopping is way up.
I realize I’m shilling for my industry here, but I think back to everything I ordered online during my 4 months of sheltering in place and realize what a lifeline it is. Medical supplies like PPE and pharmaceuticals are time-critical and go by air.
A surprising amount of freight goes in the belly compartments of passenger airliners. Since passenger travel is down roughly 80% over previous years, the freight haulers are picking up that “belly freight”.
After four months of not flying I am non-current on takeoffs and landings. I’m scheduled for a short simulator ride plus two legs in the jet with an instructor to knock the rust off. After that I will be “meat in a seat” for the schedulers and have no idea what my schedule will be for the rest of the month.
After four months at home I’m not used to life on the road. I miss my wife, the cat, my own cooking. I find myself giving serious thought to retiring at 60 instead of sticking it out to 65. My pension won’t be as big but I’ll hopefully have more years to enjoy it. I’m fortunate enough to not need the money. We live so far below our means it’s not funny.
I show early Monday morning for my simulator ride. I have an instructor plus a “support pilot” who is just there to occupy the other seat. We all wear masks and don’t use the headsets as a safety precaution. I find the mask fogs my glasses a little bit but it’s manageable. Otherwise I don’t really notice it.
The simulator ride goes pretty well. The flying part is mostly muscle-memory and comes right back. I was rather pleased with my “V1 cut” (engine failure past go-no-go speed). I’m a bit rusty on procedures but that should come back once I’m out on the line.
The next afternoon I show for my flight. It’s a pretty easy profile. One leg to Pittsburgh and then one leg back.
My temperature is scanned as I walk into the Ops building. Everybody is required to wear a mask but I see a few not taking it seriously. I pick up a few snippets of conversation between some of my right-wing coworkers and remember there are things about this job I can do without.
The freight “sort” is almost two hours late and I’m told this has become pretty standard since I’ve been gone. Freight volumes are at the level of our Christmas season “peak” but we don’t have the extra staffing that we would have during peak.
Since I’m the one getting re-qualified I get to fly both legs. I haven’t flown the jet in four months but it’s like I never left. It all comes right back to me. We deal with the typical afternoon thunderstorms on the way to Pittsburgh. I fondly remember back when thunderstorms were the scariest thing about this job.
I was quite pleased with my landings. I’ve been doing this for a very long time and I dare say I’m pretty good at it.
Masks are optional in the cockpit because they might affect communications. I wear mine (cloth) on one leg just to see if I can do it. I’d say it’s a minor inconvenience at worst. I’ve worn a lot worse in the military.
I’m not that worried about being in one of our jets because it’s usually just two of us plus maybe a handful of jumpseaters. What really troubles me is the thought of having to deadhead commercially.
Contrary to popular belief the air in an airliner is not recirculated. At least not to any extent. There is always air leaving the jet and it is always being replaced by air entering the jet. Pressurization is maintained by controlling how fast the air is allowed to flow out. Fly into some place with bad air quality and you’ll notice it somewhere around 10,000 feet.
The big problem is that there is no way to social distance on a full airliner. Even if they leave the middle seat open like a few airlines are doing, you’re still close to the people sitting in front and behind you.
According to the pilot’s union we’ve had 33 pilots out of 5000 or so test positive since this all started. Unlike the passenger haulers we never stopped international flying. We were flying into China and Italy when those were the hot spots. That’s less than 1% which I think is better than the general population is doing right now. Still it’s troubling.
One pilot died from the virus back in March. I didn’t know him but he was my age and presumably healthy enough to hold an FAA medical. We also lost 5 ramp workers (that I know of) in New Jersey to the virus. I share that with people who try to tell me this is a “hoax” or “just the flu”.
The company and the union seem to be taking this seriously. If one of us tests positive they will contact trace and anyone that pilot was in a cockpit with will have to quarantine. So one positive test might take 10 or more people off the line for at least two weeks, which is a big deal. When money is on the line people tend to take notice.
The schedulers wasted no time and I found myself with a Puerto Rico trip on my schedule.
Puerto Rico seems to be taking this a lot more seriously than some places in the lower 48. Masks are mandatory and most people seem to be complying. My temperature was taken at the entrance to the hotel and at the hotel restaurant. There is a curfew from 10 PM to 5 AM. Other than taking a walk down to the beach I don’t know what’s open and what isn’t.
I would definitely feel safer here than in Florida, Texas or Arizona right now.
Lately the numbers seem to have picked up and that’s troubling. Not big numbers but a steady trickle of 3-5 pilots a week testing positive. Some of that may be due to increased testing. The company has generously offered free testing to the crew force. I don’t know how many have actually developed symptoms but it’s still cause for concern.
I think back to my time off and realize that I’ve been in contact with more people in the last week than in four months of sheltering at home.
Am I scared? Yes, yes I am.