Page 14 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

PILOTS IN PILOTS IN
CRISIS CRISIS

FROM FLEET CAPTAIN I WAS DEVASTATED

TO BUS DRIVER This candid rest. Focused on my health, mental wellbeing
and trust me, it is hard. My mom used to tell

interview by one y flying career came to a sudden me, as tough and hard times show up, it just
makes space for good things to arise. And
of our own Lárkin Mhalt and what I never thought guess what, she was right. I joined World

would be, my last flight on the B1900 with an

ittle did Timo Rebel think that he Keyser. She is a old colleague, mentor and friend. Airnews as a Freelance Business Development

Lwould have to face a third relocati on Still processing my retrenchment, the days Officer - such an unexpected but wonderful

having left South Africa and then Australia pilot turned went by - my mind racing in so many different surprise in my “What now??” stage.

to seek employment as a pilot. Now He directions, trying to come to terms with the Welcoming me with open arms, guiding me

and his wife are planning to leave Ireland World Airnews fact that I was forced to leave my own little in a completely different direction, helping me

and move to the Netherlands again for Business family behind, my metal flying babies and the grow, creating new experiences and events I

never imagined myself in at all. My only option

work purposes. familiar ATC voices - goodbye until we meet in terms of flying was freelancing - but even

A former Airlink pilot, Timo and his wife Development again. that during these tough times it is extremely

left South Africa in 2015 - when the writing Officer It felt as if my whole life came to a complete limited as a Commercial Pilot.

was on the wall about the future of the standstill. What a knock indeed and every new Long story short, this difficult time has

national carrier. Both he and his wife were day was a challenge, the longing to be back in grounded me, moulded me and made me
born from Dutch parents so they have dual the sky grew stronger and I’d tear up at just grow as a human being. Don’t get me wrong,

citizenship. the sound or sight of any aircraft in the air. my flying metal babies are still calling - but

Timo found a job with an Australian avia- What now? what I want all aviators to know is: I KNOW it’s

tion company called Cobham Aviation and That dark deep hole of nothingness winking tough.

everything was secured for the next four at me daily. We are just human and obviously Tough getting out of bed even, and head into

years. But when the company lost a valu- it brings up a sense of regret not appreciating the unknown. JUST DON’T GIVE UP. A new op-
able mining contract, they were facing a the small things you’ve experienced along the portunity will arise when you least expect it.
move to really remote part of the country. way. Keep pushing on, you have so much potential

He then found a job with Irish carrier City I’ve always been extremely ambitious, goals and so many opportunities waiting for you

Jet and the couple moved to Ireland where that need to be met. (even though you can’t see them now) – just
he worked as the RJ85 Fleet Captain. I eventually managed to just take a mental trust. Q
Then everything changed when the
corona virus forced the company to lay

off their staff and retire their fleet. The

company then went into examinership or
business rescue.
“I was laid off in April and placed on un- Expect more.

paid leave. The only money I received was a “What is the future for pilots, zero oppor- Then he looked at local transport compa-

$350 weekly Covid pay. Then on August 24 I tunity,” he said. nies and through a matter of good fortune
he was hired. Now he spends his days nav-
was made redundant, “ he said. Timo went from being the breadwinner to igating the narrow roads and carrying the

“South Africa is not unique, this crisis has dependent on his wife’s salary. So, he decid- orders for restaurants into the businesses.

affected pilots world-wide”, he said ed to look at what other skills he had that he “We are facing our second lock down and
could transfer across to another sector of
CityJet was already suffering. First it went the transport industry. The idea came to him my work schedule has gone from five days

from an airline owning its own routes to a to try and get a truck drivers licence. to three as most of the pubs have closed
wet lease provider or an ACMI, an abbre- “It was not an easy transition and things down but at least I have some work experi-

viation for Aircraft, Crew Maintenance and were complicated by lock-down. I had to ence on my CV now.
Insurance operator for Aer Lingus. Then “I am in a good space mentally. Being happy
it went into examinership and In May Aer try and arrange to write exams at the near-

Lingus terminated the arrangement and the est centre,” he said. But his efforts paid off is a choice that I make every day. Compared
to other pilots I realise that others are in a
and today he has a valid licence to drive all
future of the company. kinds of bus and trucks. far worse position. I had a friend in the travel

“Of the four main industry who through
Irish airlines - City Jet, Covid-19 lost his job, his
Ryan Air, Aer Lingus wife and his home. He
and Stobart - all have has nothing,” said Timo.
furloughed their staff, He and his wife

are not employing and
have disappeared. are currently making
arrangements to move
The future really looks to Amsterdam where
bleak,” he said. she has managed to
“Think about it from find a job. More information from your aircraft, better insights,

a Brexit point of view. “I must admit that enabling well-informed decisions - Spider X delivers.
By the end of this year when I see the planes
the United Kingdom will in the sky - I do get
no longer be part of the Join the revolution today: www.spidertracks.com/spiderx

European Union and emotional but I quickly
put this behind me and
anything that comes in remain grateful that I
will now be taxed and am able to work,” he
life is going to get a lot
harder,” he said. said. Q
World Airnews | November / December 2020 World Airnews | November / December 2020
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